R1 Fuelled XE GSi project...

[CorsaTD]

if you were gona get new pistons ect why didnt u set it up for turbo charging and do that?? its still a hella kool project but did u ever consider it?

x

[Chrex]

yep, i did think about it...but i dont want to yet. it means a different (and very expensive) turbo exhaust manifold, as well as getting a box for the carbs, finding room and then there is the reliability issues.

So, N/A was just the sensible idea tbh. CBA wit the hassle.

[Chrex]

Well, rather big update. I have new wheels...Team Dynamics Pro Race 3's.

From what i can tell, there are very few of these around at the moment, partly due to them being pretty new most likely. But...i bit the bullet and ordered some. 15x7, et45 and they weigh nothing...i was amazed.

So, this is how they look...









Im at oulton park tomorrow so will get some decent pics then...but these should give a good enough show of what they're like though.

[kie-1200sxi-shed]

what you doin with ur old wheels now then ? btw ur new wheels look very nice must say

[Chrex]

im gonna keep them and use them when im on track i think. I need to rinse the paradas that are on them atm before getting another set of T1R's for them and the track is the perfect way to do that. Hopefully i can get the car sorted by november and then get in on the winter track days when its £100 for the day.

[mradz]

Very nice, your new wheels are very smart!

[MattyB]

looking very very smart chris, loving the new wheels!

You order them through work?

[Adam-D]

there may have been a small fire.....

she'll be back soon enuff

[Chrex]

hey all.

sorry i've been quiet, have been busy and well...something happened yesterday that scared the poo outta me!

I needed to play with the alternator bracket as it was moving quite a bit and i thought it was the bush. So, i threw a load of superflex sealant into the bush and it sured up nicely. However, as i was going about prepping the tools, adam noticed the alternator bracket at the back had twisted, and that one of the bolts had fallen out. I remember exactly where and when this bolt fell out coz i heard it, but put it down to a big stone.

Anyway, i found a bolt to replace the missing one, so as i've got that one in, and i go to tighten the other one that was still in there...this shears. i now have a sheared bracket bolt right where i cant get a drill or even a dremel in there. Bastard!

So, i put the alternator (pulley down) on the driveshaft to try and sort this. Realising i can get a better angle from below, i jack the car up. All of a sudden there is a cracking noise...and i thought it was the jack not secure on the chassis, so i lower again to re-place it. Next thing theres smoke in the car...

The alternator was shorting on the steering rack, and so the starting/charging loom is on fire (under the carbs) as is the neg terminal on the battery (behind the passenger seat).

Adam is pulling at the alternator, and as i pull at the neg wire, the terminal comes off the battery and kills the connection. (the battery and neg wire still on fire at this point, which i was able to then blow out - only a little flame).

So, adam then towed me home, and we were outside until about 11, when it was too dark to continue, sorting it. Ad made up a new loom, whilst i tidied and checked everything else, and tried to get this stud out the back of the block.

Well, its ok now, running again and for the moment...bodged up. Need to get my new block sorted and built, and in the car asap!

So, i got away with it tbh, as if the fuel lines had caught...or the seat...it could have gotten nasty! Lesson of the day: disconnect the battery!!

Thanks to adam anyways...massive help as always. Vicious repairs were undertaken last night and they were mostly of better quality than what we had done originally...so cheers ad!

[mradz]

Glad you and the car both survived could have been so much worse. You were lucky

[Chrex]

heres some pics of the loom after the incident. There were about 3 wires there...and well, now they are kinda one. plus some plastic...which may hinder conductivity...









yea, and the battery terminal was completely melted off, with the surrounding battery case plastic also melted. Pretty bad tbh!

[Chrex]

quick update. Tonight adam and i fitted some Eibach sprintline springs to the front of the GSi. Hoping to serve 2 purposes, with a number of reasons. I want the ride to be better and the handling to be a little more stable and predictable. pretty simple really.

So, after some research, i decided to buy the Eibachs off ad, and get them on the front. These are the best springs for the Bilstein shocks i've got, so should do the job nicely. The spax's weren't a bad spring, but from what i expect from it, and having no ARB on the front, the springs are doing alot of work, and tbh, the spax's just werent complimenting the B8's at all. Even driving home the car feels much more composed.

The Eibachs are a much higher rate than the SSX's so that should certainly make quite a difference. I have left the Spax springs on the back for the 50mm drop. With no weight in the back, its not too important tbh, so i havent put the 30mm eibach rears on.

Just gotta get the tracking done tomorrow and it should be even better through the bends.

I also took all the engine parts to AB for cleaning, honing and polishing. The block, crank, pistons and new rings are all there getting sorted out and hopefully i will be getting them back all ready for getting put together and eventually...in the car.

thats all for now folks...

[Chrex]

Crappy update...

AB rang me before and having tried to hone the worst of the cylinders on the XE block, its no good...too much of a lip for a stock rebuild. If i want to get it sorted i need to bore it out.

I dont know what to do now because the only thing to do is to get new pistons if i get it bored out, and thats at least £400. Bit disheartening, all i've done is throw money at this engine and it just keeps throwing back at me. Considering i got mis-sold it in the first place its a bit utterly bollocks. Am fed up with it and i really dont know what to do.

I dont want to XE it, so the only other option is find a C16XE or maybe a 1.6 8v turbo.

When i eventually get this block out...its getting burnt, bent, belted and whatever else i may be able to do with it...all it has done is piss me off and be the most expensive piece of poo ever.

Rant over.

[roperstun]

what blocks fits it chris ill look in my local scrappy for you

[Chrex]

XE...i need an XE with little or no lip. Considering even the newest engines are 15 years old...i seriously doubt that one will be found.

I think im gonna have to go for accralite pistons...pretty much totals at £460 for pistons, rings and main cap and conrod bolts.