The VN Great Escape

[ToyHicko]

Well one step close the body was painted today
Still have to paint the spoiler and the bumper and grill

Edit: Added photos

[ToyHicko]

Another Quick Update

Another sponsor/donation has been made to the car team. Making two one from Rockwell Automation and one from Int-Elect Systems just need to raise about $2000 more now.
Bumpers and spoiler have now been painted.
Engine sump Bash Plate fitted.
Sponsor Stickers are been made up
Door sticker I believe is on it's way.
Starting to look like a Bash car now.

[ToyHicko]

Ok not much Progress due to work commitments out of town.

So far V8 Front spring fitted giving about 30mm more ground clearance.
At the same time replace Shock dust covers, Wheel bearings, Seals.

Now building the front tow/recovery point using a damaged Hayman Reese Style towbar off a camary.
Build a reenforced RHS to join the two mounting points for the Bullbar. Cut the bar up into pieces and rebuilt with 3 changes in direction from the bullbar to the sump guard where the back is bolted to. I hope this Will be strong enough to pass for a Tow point. Personally I think the car chassis would almost bend first. Weakest point just below the radiator support if front impact bar would bend away from the radiator.

Still have the Diff to fit.
Plus raise money

[ToyHicko]

Well things are slow progressing

The LSD is fitted and working already tested it out in some mud and both wheel spin just failed just lack of tyre grip.
Bad news now have to pull the front end out again the strut tops have failed. they were second hand but looked fine last i week driving around. Anyone know if it's possible to replace these with out removing the strut completely from the vehicle.

Tyres as Traction is an issue start hunting down some beefy looking tyres. only 4WD style tyre i can find is a Cooper ATR 205/70-R15 but at $210 a tyre and i need 6 the tyres are worth more then the car. Some have suggest getting some Retreads but never been a fan of retreads. Other option is a light truck Winter tread tyres at about $120 a tyre.

[ToyHicko]

Quick question guys about the ACSP Coolant senor option. I'm unsure what is fitted the the current engine but with the engine cold (unstarted for serval hours) the air temperature of 16 degree when looking ath the dash board on TP show a coolant temperature of 2 degree. Had another sensor avaliable (to be in the celica) just pluged it in to the loom and the dashboard was reading the correct temperature. Then I remember about the ACSP option swap back to the orginal sensor ticked the box update the ECU and the dashboard was showing the correct temperature. So my question is how can i tell if i have a ACSP installed and not just a dead sensor.

Cheers

[VNracer34G]

Well things are slow progressing

. Anyone know if it's possible to replace these with out removing the strut completely from the vehicle.

With the sway bar disconnected you can sometimes lever the bottom arm down enough to clear the guard but its a big chance of damaging your new paint job so i'd just pop the strut out - might be worth the practice and carry a couple of spares for the event as well as bottom arms and a panhard bar- thats what get bent on our speedway commodes.

Tyres as Traction is an issue start hunting down some beefy looking tyres. only 4WD style tyre i can find is a Cooper ATR 205/70-R15 but at $210 a tyre and i need 6 the tyres are worth more then the car. Some have suggest getting some Retreads but never been a fan of retreads. Other option is a light truck Winter tread tyres at about $120 a tyre.

Are you allowed hand grooved tyres? I had great results this past season with GT radial wingro tyres i grooved - budget tyres but good rubber

[ToyHicko]

I did end up swaping the strut tops with removing the struts by droping swaybar and the losening the lower control arm i was able to gain enough room.

As for the hand grooved tyes not sure it they are allowed or not has to be road worthy. Any found some 4WD style tyre to fit MAXXIS Bravo 751 nothing special tread wise but have to be better then normal street tyres.

Also the Temperature sensor was dead turns out that a ACSP sensor must have the same resistance at 80 degrees to a standard on as both read the same warm engine temperature. Anyway swapped the with another sensor now reads 92 degrees at normal operating range instead of 78, hoping this will reduce some fuel consumption too.

Car is starting to take shape with flashing amber lights fitted to roof. New fuse box wired in for all the New addition like lights, CB radio, trip metre. Anyone have a spare A/C switch and plug on the back so I can make a Factory looking Driving light switch?

I know photoes would be good I'll try to post some up this weekend.

Here is a photo as the car currently stands

[ToyHicko]

Ok Know I'm stumped I've been taking a few logs whiule driving around lately trying to increase fuel economy by 11L/100km. In doing so I'm seeing a Lot of Knock Retart values on what is a Standard engine with nothing more then a K&N air filter as a mod. Just mainly out of interest could the Air filter lean the mixture out that much to cause it knock by running lean? Next weekend plan to hook up the Wideband to see if there Mixtures are that far out.

Was runnning basically the $12P V1.11 BLFD program with the PPK changed. I've know retarted some timing hoing to reduce the Knock but all it has done is less the vehicles perfornace and a slight reduction in the knock value. The Narrow band VE learn has increased a few VE values in the table already.I've post the Bins I've tried and logs.

[Holden202T]

well if ve learn is increasing cells that tells me its lean in a few spots so i wouldn't be suprised if thats half the issue.

but it could be something like failing fuel pump too, or even just carbon build up in the cylinders creating hot spots that are then more prone to knock.

[ToyHicko]

Funny you should say fuel pump as i only replaced that 2 weeks ago as it failed so I had just ruled that out. Also just before those logs were taken and VE lear was turned on the O2 sensor and spark plugs was replaced. Only thing is with the wideband the only way i can currently attach it to the car is via tail pipe sniffer that i made up for the Celica. I now this it not ideal for a car with a Cat fitted but hoping i will be able to get enough information to working out the issue or would i be better of removing the narrow band and using the Simulator in the wideband.

If Fuel filter should be easy to pick up by keeping constant high engine load and seeing if the AFR drifts but what sort of indication do dirty injectors give.