Early April with my own set “target” in mind, 19 April, Super Trax Day ……

Engine: Our Anglia’s engine has finally been assembled. Once again I will call it an experimental using our AX block as the base. We had to do a lot of repairs on the block due to engine mount and engine to gearbox points stripped and broken because some people should not be allowed to touch tools. An interesting observation, the oil pump fits over a space that has one less hole than our other blocks, it does not have the hole to accommodate excess oil back to the sump. Point to remember on future builds. Stripping Gary’s old engine has provided more questions and some of the lessons learned and spares from that engine have been used. Not to be criticized, these will be kept a secret until and if success can be proven. We have opted for the “unlucky” HPHV oil pump due to the “experimental” side of the decision.

Carburettors: As previously stated we decided to implement the 40 DCOE Weber carbs given to us by Philip Pritchard. Due to mismatched jets and chokes research leads me to Johan Coetzee, a historical Escort legend in his own rights. A few days and bucks later we collect our carbs. Another point of controversy, the inlet manifold to be used. Make one from exhaust pipe, used a short one, use a long one ……. Well done to those that said, use the long one! The long manifold allows for fitment to our Anglia without body modifications. Either choice however needs changes to the braking system.

Brakes: This is currently our challenge at hand. Initially we looked at moving the master cylinders of the brakes and clutch to the front of the engine bay. Firstly, this would mean air flow obstruction to the carbs and secondly it would hamper access to the distributor. A visit to a brake shop had us acquire three master cylinders, step one to our bias based home built pedal box. Due to their obvious strength and look I will be using the original pedals. With the old “pedal box” removed and stripped I compile a parts list. A piece of sheet metal, a new shaft and some spacers. The sheet metal, arranged and never arrives. The shaft and spacers, handed to an engineering company finding the owner on the job of making the shaft at collection time. It is very obvious he has no clue how to setup a piece in the lathe or how to set up the lathe. I stand there struggling not to shake my head. Being desperate I leave without any spacers and a tapered and stepped undersized shaft with a surface finish to destroy the brass bushes in the pedals.  At home I manage to polish the surface to some level of acceptability and start reaming out nuts to be used as spacers …….. Later today, now 03:00am, I plan to attempt the box using some aluminium sheeting we have in stock.

Baby steps …….              Cheers

Only one day to go before the next “available” race and our Anglia is still standing with her engine stripped.

A few factors leading to this. The company I work for had their annual stock take, That included a Saturday and a Sunday morning. That was exceptionally taxing on all that took part. And our washing machine decided to conk out, …. The decided replacement required some new piping, what a project. Solder the pipes, turn on the water, spray, close, fix that spray, turn on the water, another spray …… eventually got that sorted to really acceptable levels after about 12 hours labour on my haunches and a nice burn wound. (A little damp and a drop every three minutes in another spot).

The combination of above left us low on power and on bucks. The entry fee at Kyalami also made the decision to not rush assembly. After Kyalami the 7th, the following event is at Dezzi’s 11 April, highly desirable but very far, Kyalami 9 May and then Zwartkops 6 June.

My provisional target is 19 Apr 2015, Super Trax Day at Zwartkops Raceway to enable testing and adjustments.

Coming Saturday we will be track side armed with our camera’s. It is NOT going to be easy not being on the track, brings tears to the eyes.

During our absence we want to make the required changes to facilitate the 40 Weber’s. Can only wonder what that will do in terms of power and performance. And then we also plan to accommodate the promised oil cooler. And all of this on our repaired AX block with some additional goodies. Currently searching for suitable 40″ big end bearings. Litts, no go – Midas, does not even bother to assist – Auto Zone, can get in a few days – Beras, no go – Kotwals, awaiting reply – Alert, awaiting reply …..

Till next time, cheers.

Kyalami, conrod through the block, Passion for Speed, Zwartkops, practise, run a bearing, raceday overheating and then there was past Sunday, Super Traxday.

On race day stopping in the pits, I noticed water pouring out from one of the waterpump bolts. An engine that can not hold water pressure, reaches water boiling point sooner, followed by … and …. Not an ideal situation. We also suspected a blown cylinder head gasket.

Well, we promised ourselves two weeks rest from working on our Anglia. That rest was over in two days. Removing the cylinder head, expecting an easy quick repair, ya, right. Lift the cylinder head to find a near perfect cylinder head gasket. The cylinders are almost perfect mirrors. Not looking for too much work I removed the waterpump to find the leaking bolt hole open all the way into the water pocket next to the number one cylinder. The hole was cleaned and sealed from the inside of the block and then pressing the excess from the inside of the hole with the bolt giving me the depth required for fitting the waterpump and alternator bracket.

We then reassembled the engine using a new head gasket. A start revealed no air bubbles in the radiator and our leaking waterpump bolt was sorted. Not wanting to make too much noise at home and avoiding public roads, Sunday morning we load Fossa and head to Super Traxday.

We are there to test and for probably the first time, with absolutely no expectations. Just as well. We only do two stints. Both ending with a very hot engine and the second stint ending with us pumping oil into the catch tank. Yet another first for us!

Gary said that during his last time out with the engine he tried to break it, apparently he came quite close to it!

Next race, 7 March, Kyalami. Is that a target date. No not really. I plan to start researching the reason for the overheating tomorrow and maybe pull the engine tomorrow. I will then strip both engines and look at our options. With a bit of luck, buy spares again on Saturday …..

I am in desperate need of some success! Trust me, sometimes it is very hard to stay positive and motivated.

Greetings