Trains, Devils and Details.

Like a train, we´re moving on, we're on track. But as a train, we're sometimes delayed. Delayed by small workshop devils, who lives in the details and like to obstruct. Luckily we've managed to take them down, one by one. At least so far...

 

Here's some ongoing fights.

Why is the Torsional Vibration Damper (TVD) removed? 

It's because the adapter to the external oil cooler from the Volvo 960 engine doesn't package with the TVD from the S80 T6... 

 

The fix: TVD in lathe since we need to remove the conflicting material. Will this have an impact on crankshaft durability. Hopefully not.

Yes, we needed rearrange the tank position a little. but now the pump's are in position,

 

The fuel filter is holding on to the frame.

 

The pressure regulator has found a nice position as well. The fuel system 95% ready by now.  Yes, we know, only 100% counts.

Coming back to the devils...and workshop troll's. Only one detail is stopping us from final assembly of the complete powertrain; The cranks sensor! The S80 cranks sensor bracket doesn't fit. The sensor from the 960 would fit, but it's gone. It's gone in a typical garage kind of way. We've all seen it in the workshop, there's even photo evidence and we've all spent hours looking for it.  We needed debriefing after checking the price of a new one, so now we're determined. Determined, to modify the S80 sensor bracket and move on with our lives.   

Anders in action. Soon another obstacle is gone.

The beauty of self medication ! ?

Self medication is not seen as a safe or preferred route forward according to science. Salt Slush Racing is not up to challenge this, but sometimes a "shortcut" can make wonders.

The last weeks including weekends have been very busy and full of things that just has to happen and work out, leaving no time and mental space to recuperate and to refill the joy and curiosity power.

Joy and curiosity power is very good and needed both during the work week and the weekends (kind of work also in the SSR garage).

What do you do ? Well, since we always claimed that we are in to cars instead of drugs and golf, which we see as examples of very destructive and dangerous habits, I had to find a potent alternative.

The normal and probably by science heavily recommended cure would be to exercise and practice yoga etc.

It is here we in the SSR team have the opportunity to reveal a secret and describe a potent alternative to the most powerful drugs, bad habits and most focused Yoga exercises.

Buy some new tools! Yes, that is what I did today, a pneumatic baby tiger saw and a pneumatic baby power file…. It only took a tour to Biltema. OK, I know, there are other more upmarket alternatives, but it works for me and just imagine if I would have been on to Snap-on Tools. Much more expensive, more like being on Heroin instead of having a couple of beers.

Here they are ready to use, Anders had bought some gauges (self medication) at Biltema before I went to Biltema, (Yes our Workshop is pretty close to Biltema)

Please be aware of that the dosage is important. To strong and you will find ypurself spending most of your money on tools and have way to little left for parts, ending up with only tools.

To weak dosage and you suffer the risk of destroying your "expensive" parts when using the cheap crappy tools.

Another perspective is that you seldom have any leverage from buying toy tools (Very cheap). What about placebo effect so far science have only seen some traces conected to surfing on tool sites and planing your upcoming tool purchase although degrading pretty quick if not turned in to action. 

Ready to work !

I think it's fantastic to have found such pleasant "self" medication compared to drugs, golf and other painful treatments !

A word of advice, sometimes excessive tool shopping can develop in to a bad habit, so please remember to ask yourself; 

 -Do I really need this tool ?

If the answer is No to many times, then look for professional help. Or try at least to buy cheaper tools without passing the thin line in to toy tools.

Can't start a fire without a spark!

Even the best vehicles need some kind of electrification. 

A nice homogeneous mixture need a spark in order to burn and allow good times to roll. The Holley EFI system has been bought and examined and meanwhile it is still in its box, waiting for some voltage and a computer connection to appear, you can imagine thar we're in disperse and in need of a computer geek and a Master Of Electrons to help us.

As a stroke of lightning, he was standing there.  Per Andersson, the wizard of systematic approach to electrical systems and computers, determined and prepared for some pro bono work.  We're more than grateful. We'll try not to disturb him.

PA found old race car stuff which he had  built many years ago.

 

As a true oracle he mumbles for himself; -We can use this box, we only have to change everything inside.

  Meanwhile, at another side of the chassis, Anders is working with allocating the fuel pumps.

These pumps will soon be installed close to the tank.The main hose has already found its way in the left side member.

Fuel for the Fire !

It's time.

 

Time, for to reach for the First Fire. To smell the first fumes from our speedy six cylinder as they emerge. To move on to that magic moment when we'll fill up the workshop with smoke, happiness and freedom and continue towards our dream of pure speed and white salt. Let us show you how.

A man had a plan. A furious fuel plan.

Stuff's been stocked

Paths to Power in Place. 

 Pressure Provider Present.



Fuel distributer on Salt Slush Amazon Firewall. We're approaching take-off.

 

Don't miss out. We're getting there.

Hungry ? One step closer to Guide Miche…...

Christmas is definitely over. New Year promises has already been forgotten. But we need  to get back to the right fitness again. Therefore we introduce the Weekend Warrior Workshop Exercise. When conducting this mechanic's workout we still need energy. Salt Slush has reluctantly understood that we can't (should not) live on Coffee, Fika and Beer only. Not fair...

Luckily, Carina has got parts for a WOK kitchen as Chrismast gift. Which she now has manufactured and assembled. 

The burner is made in Spain. Luckily the Spanish is most likely translated to Swedish using Google. Which is why Carina decided to go for the last sentence and use applicable law.

January-get-in-shape-type-of-broccoli.

Cina, here using applicable rules when making Workshop WOK for hungry mechanic's 

 

Carina only use the essential ingredients when preparing garage food for garage people.

Stable Marriage without Future Slippage.

There comes a time when a power couple need to get together. To accept each other and merge, in order to finally reach a win-win situation.  But as always, there's obstacles on the way...let me be your matchmaker.

 

Rule no 1: The release bearing needs to reach the clutch.

Rule no 2: Measure and conclude. And so we did. Only to realize that we needed a 10 to 20mm adapter to get the Tilton clutch working.

 

Decision: Make it happen, and make it now. Grab a piece of 20mm thick aluminum, rev up the old Sajo milling machine, cut the corners in the metal saw and let the lathe run free. 

Consequence: There must be an external force. Pressure needs to be applied. The Wilwood break & clutch cylinders is now all lined up and ready to provide this service. Still we had to put a stop to too much clutch movement and design a stop. Someone always has to set limits...

No, you've got it all wrong. There's no symbolic value here. Sometimes a clutch is just a clutch.

 

The Volvo Aluminum Engine-to-GM (Tremec...)-rear-face-of block assembled. We're now working on the cranks sensor and the starter motor adjustment. Yes, we spent hours on manufacturing a new treaded water plug as well, but that's nothing to talk about, really.

 

To cut it short, we'll soon be connected to a heavenly force. This Force will not only be with us. It will be transferred.

 

The cam the myth the concept

I have the engine in my Ford Model A coupe apart to hunt down a scary noise and also do some work I didn't have time for when I built it. The noise proved to be a blown head gasket so no big deal.

But what I wanted to show here is the cam I'm running. Looks innocent at first glance but there is something unusual about it.

It's a high lift cam to say the least, compared to a stock Model A/B cam

Yes the lobes are in fact so tall the cam cannot be mounted thru the cam bearings. It's a trick split cam. I was discussing camshafts and the possibility to grind tall lifts on stock cores with a guy I know. My Idea was to bore the cam bearings larger and somehow insert bushings after the cam was in place or make a new core with bigger bearing journals (which is now available by the way). But my friend came up with this neat split cam solution. I think it's lovely in many ways. It has given me the option to run a more modern high lift cam profile with reasonable short duration. There was no need to modify the engine block. Well that's not really true, but the modifications is made because of the combination of components I used. But one of the most interesting things about this cam is the engineering and machining. I think it's a masterpiece. A new solution for an old problem.

This is how it looks apart

It has held up good for the 5-6000 km I have used it. I did fail to run it in properly sine the engine wouldn't run good on first start up. Also in combination with super stiff Iskenderian Flathead valve springs, oil with to low zinc content and possibly lifters of low quality. So the nose of the lobes got a beating. But since then nothing has happened.

Here's two short clips of me drag racing. The roadster had an overhead conversion Ford Model B engine. I use a flathead Model B with this cam.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIJ2zVAlOUA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6yplyAHDsQ

Go to http://www.agap.se/SplitCam.htm if you want your own split cam. But don't order one wilder than mine. I don't want anyone being faster.

OK! Wrench and repeat.