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The Big Block has had it's first major problem. Last weekend during a sprint run at Queensland Raceway it spat out almost 1L of oil through the catch can & all over the engine bay. I'm still investigating the issue but it's likely to be either an oil control problem (too much oil in the head not getting back down to the block) or the rings are going. It was a frigging hot day (37degC ambient & 57+degC track temps) & I am using a fully synthetic oil for the first time (Penrite SIN10) so that may be contributing to the troubles. I'll be going back to Penrite HPR10 for summer and dropping to HPR5 for the cooler months once this is sorted.

On the track there wasn't any smoke from the exhaust but starting the car 2 days later did produce a cloud of blue/white smoke for a second. The engine still runs fine & makes plenty of power so there's no major damage. I'm buying a leak down tester and getting GT Auto (dyno tuners) to give it the once over. Thankfully it happened now & not next year when I'll be mounting a serious attempt at taking podium places at Lakeside in the very competative Road 6 class (turbo 4's get bumped up a class).

Tune in next week for the doctor's diagnosis...

In other news, a while ago I bought Lister's old work ute to use as a tow car. It's a Navara D21 dual cab with a 2.5L oil burner. It's finally on the road & registered & given the sad news above this is a good thing. I'm surprised how well this thing moves as I've driven a petrol 720 ute before & they're absolutely hopeless, I figured a diesel would be even worse, but no. The only thing that's not Gazelle MotorSport about it is all the panels are the same colour (for now)

good to hear its nothing major but still unlucky anyway itll be back full strength tho

That engine bay looks so well set out! you've got tonnes of room everywhere!

Sweeeeeeeeeeeet!

Ok just got word from Doctor Dave, the leak down test says cylinder 3 is down. The bore scope shows no damage to either the cylinder wall or the top of the piston, but his best guess is a ring land may have failed. It's almost good news then. A new set if pistons, rings & bearings & she'll be good as new. Once that gear is run in we'll spin her to 8000rpm & see what the power/torwue does as I could use some more revs to save a couple of gear changes on the track.

Hey Rog, bad news Huh?, Did you use forgies in that or just castys?

Lister wrote:Hey Rog, bad news Huh?, Did you use forgies in that or just castys?

I seem to remember him saying his engine (or rods?) were 400,000km's old, so that's a hint possibly...

Perhaps...

Anyways, custom CP forged pistons can be had for around the $750 mark.

That news isn't too bad at all. At least the bores are clean.

The pistons were new non-forged ACL castys & rings. The rods are still the 350,000k stock standard items.

That's not a bad price on the CPs. I was just going to go ACL casts again, but this time treated & coated.

Wiseco's are 880.00 inc rings and heavy duty pins..................

I picked up a pair of 16x8 +35 rims for the front of the car to clear the 4 pot brakes & they fit perfectly. They're Modias by none other than Keiichi Tsuchiya. I've never heard of them before & they're not in great condition due to a back yard paint job, but a little stripper & down to the powder coaters & they'll look mint...


Clearance of about 5mm...




Also the Bride seat & Takata 6 point harness I've been using. Very snug...