158.48 mph with a slipping clutch!

[Permanent grin]

Thanks Jeremy. The way that clutch was slipping, I wouldn't bank on the carbon plates being serviceable but I do have 2 Carbonetics triple plate clutches, one new and one that needs new carbon plates. Unfortunately we have lost our European Carbonetics distributor. Who is the Zcarbonetics contact in the USA?

Either way, I just need to make sure I end up with a setup that will work reliably.

André

[2fnloud]

How about that T-case plate that you was testing.....Any thoughts on that yet?

[Permanent grin]

Haven't run it yet as Andrew is making a slight change and sending a new one over.

André

[Permanent grin]

Just a few details for you guys

Race weight was 3256 lbs including me and fuel was VP Import. Short block was Matt's old 3.5 EN30B stroker crank, Rods and pistons but custom Cosworth main studs. MLS stock gasket, DR Stage 3 heads with 2mm custom oversize inlet valves, high rev spring kit and titanium retainers, A1 head studs, solid internally shimmed pivot lifters and MY custom cams.

DR1400 turbo kit with headers 3" O2 housings and hot sides all Zircotec'd. Screamer pipes and 3" down pipes each exiting the side of the vehicle soon after the front wheel.

Clutch was an RPS carbon carbon which was found to not be at fault. We have found there might have been an engine vibration and we are busy stripping down to have it balance checked. Of the 7 flywheel bolts, one had come loose preventing the clutch plate making full contact with the flywheel, 2 were tight and the other 4 were only finger tight!

Tyres were 26x9.50x15 QTPs.

I will share more as we find out more.

André

[CoopKill]

Yikes! That could have been a LOT worse it sounds....

[TT4ME]

Anything new?!!

[Turbo Beast]

Racing season in the UK is a little shorter than here due to the weather

[Permanent grin]

The motor got back to us too late for round 1 of the JDS so we installed it a couple of weeks ago, broke it in and were going to do some back to back testing between water / water wetter and Evans Power Cool.

However, there were small traces of oil in the coolant. We spoke to my engine builder who wondered if it could be where he oiled the heads while they stood on the bench over winter. He suggested as there was no water in the oil system that we run it up and monitor closely.

We had huge clutch slip problems with the new clutch but once hot, gripped well. We got the car up to 1074 hp but we were seeing coolant push into the expansion bottle and oil with it each run. The oil level was dropping very slightly each run too.

We have pulled the motor to check what is causing this and approaching it in terms of quickest / easiest / cheapest first. Possibilities of the cause that we are checking are:

water cooled laminar oil cooler seals - checked ok but replaced anyway
cracked CHRA* - turbos have been sent to Owen Developments for investigation
head lift - I would be surprised as I have virgin heads with the headlift fix and A1 studs
failed HG - we looked in the bores but couldn't see anything, strip down will show
cracked head - ?
cracked block - ?

* I don't know if you remember, last year I melted a rear PU engine mount? This resulted in the turbo pressing hard against the bulkhead to the point where it was touching the rear rocker cover (it almost did normally maybe 1cm clearance). If we get the all clear on the turbos, the next step will be for the engine builder to strip the engine

In the meantime, I am playing with 1st and 2nd gears plus the centre diff looking to improve strength, reduce stress on the TC and improve 60'. The gearbox will hopefully be ready in a month.

As a side note, I have one of the AASCO flywheels and QM twin clutch packs with Tilton HTOB. I bought it 2nd hand unused but we don't seem to have enough clearance for the HTOB. It is a Tilton 61-602. Which HTOB part numbers have people had success with installing over there?

André

[spamsonite]

You may want to look at the Tilton 61-8002. See this old 3si post: 3000GT/Stealth International Message Center