233 replies to this topic

[soldave]

Not so much a big update as an observation. I found out the car doesn't like being driven through about 1km of 6-8" high water coming down the road like a river! I know, it's hardly a revelation, but was certainly an interesting experience. Driving home from work and the rain was torrential, even in a very wet rainy season we're in now. As I was driving up this hill though the water was just getting deeper and the car in front annoyingly was getting slower. Bizarre as everyone knows the best way to make it through standing water is to floor it and not go slower.

Then the wipers started to slow a little and the lights dim a tad and I thought... well, not good things. Managed to get off the road and into a parking area (pretty lucky there was an opening as my windshield was fogged up and the lights not too bright so it was an educated guess that I wasn't going to hit a 6" high kerb). Just as I parked up the battery light came on. Turned all electrics off apart from the engine and it recovered fine after a few seconds of idling so it must have just caused a short at the alternator or in the battery line running under the car.

Saw a Prius make it up the hill and thought, "Awww, hell no!". Got to the end of the taxi parking lot and damn near launched it out of there past the river and onto marginally drier land! Car was fine after that so just needs drying out a little I think. Don't want to do that again any time soon though.

[soldave]

Riddle me this,
Riddle me that,
What in the name of all things sacred,
Would cause my fan to go splat?

Noticed my temps about 3-4 degrees higher than normal a couple of days ago. Not a huge amount, especially with temperatures soaring now summer has hit, but enough to make me have a look into the engine bay. And what do I find but this!



The gaps in the shroud I cut open to inspect, but all bar 3 blades have been broken off at the centre. Now I refuse to believe that those little Chinese children working 48 hour factory shifts would make something shoddy, but god knows what has caused it. There are no marks on the radiator from where it could have hit. There are no marks on the inside of the fan shroud from where there could have been contact there. It just seems like the fan decided summer was coming and it was time to pack in.

I'm driveable for the moment with temps just a little higher, but need to get another fan on order ASAP.

[caged]

Get a spal fan and you wont ever have a problem.

[DOUGMO]

/\ /\ this, S blade

[bazeng]

get a SPAL...

What may have caused it?
Pusher or Puller fan?
Do you still have the blades?

[soldave]

What may have caused it?
Pusher or Puller fan?
Do you still have the blades?

No idea. It was a puller fan on the back of the radiator, with no signs to indicate it struck anything. All I can think of is having to drive through that water in the post above weaked the blades or possible caused one or 2 to break then.

[bazeng]

Ah yes, the water... That would explain it...

[DOUGMO]

I agree Baz, most logical explanation,

[soldave]

Well it never rains but it pours with this car. Got a replacement fan on order but am ok driving around with one so far. However, I've not been doing much driving at all as about 10 days ago when driving I was hearing a squeaking noise at a certain rpm (around 1750) near the timing belt area. Got home and inspected it and the 4-5 year old OEM crank pulley wasn't looking in the best of shape. Seems like the Okinawan elements were claiming another victim. Decided that with the engine internals an upgrade wouldn't go amiss, so got a Fluidampr on order.

It arrived today and I've just come up from fitting it. Glad I've not been driving around while it's been squeaking, after taking a look at it when I pulled it off.


[img]http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv99/soldave/2013-06-29161719_zpsf467bc39.jpg[img]

Threw on the Fluidampr and things seem a lot smoother with the car on idle now. Might just be a placebo effect and me trying to think there's a difference, but I'm sure it's a lot better than the old stock one.

So that's another bullet dodged and my new fan should be in in a week or so. Then it's counting down to August 25th and the first and only drags of the year. This time they're on another island about an hour away by ferry and will be a 200m or 300m run on a disused airstrip. Somewhere new and we can make a weekend of it, so providing there are no typhoons in the area that weekend it should be a great couple of days. Need to do a spot of tuning before then though - see how close I can get to 2bar

[jack be nimble]

Mmm fluidampr goodness.

[DOUGMO]

was the fluidamper heavier than the stock one? and if so by how much?

[soldave]

was the fluidamper heavier than the stock one? and if so by how much?

They felt about the same, and just looking online it looks like stock are 4.8lbs and the Fluidampr is 5.5lbs.

Hope that helps a little

[DOUGMO]

cheers, that's what I expected

[soldave]

cheers, that's what I expected

What are you going for on yours?

[DOUGMO]

mine is stock(new aftermarket) at the moment, mind you I now only use one of the sections now (only 1 belt onto the balancer) so may look at something else.I certainly don't want to add weight though

[soldave]

mine is stock(new aftermarket) at the moment, mind you I now only use one of the sections now (only 1 belt onto the balancer) so may look at something else.I certainly don't want to add weight though

I'd definitely consider it, thinking about the mods you've made and what different vibrations the engine's gonna make compared to a stock one. The weight difference really is minimal, even when every pound is counting.

Just a thought

[jack be nimble]

mine is stock(new aftermarket) at the moment, mind you I now only use one of the sections now (only 1 belt onto the balancer) so may look at something else.I certainly don't want to add weight though

If you dont run one you will shorten the life of your crank bearings because of the extra crank vibes. Probably in your case dougmo I would run either the stock one as you are or run a lightweight underdrive aluminum one and keep your eyes on the bearings. ..
Its not like you are wanting to get 200k km out of your bottom end

[BMGTZ]

in my opinion....good idea to have one but there are heaps of older 70s engines that dont. Rotaries dont...t series toyotas dont....some 4age dont...k series dont.....all of these rev their tits off.

there is a lot of evidence to back up jacks statement on the main bearing life...so I would run one and infact mine is a shit load heavier than stock...but my crank is way lighter

[jack be nimble]

I just hope the bolts arent still rubbing on the discs anymore or your mph will be down a bit..

I wanna see some 1.6 60' times. Give it to her..
Woo hoo

[soldave]

No, since the new brakes and brackets went on everything is smooth. Will report back with tuning reports soon, and some 1/8 mile times at the drags at the end of August.

Can't wait, although I have to admit tuning scares me