Nick M Posted July 25, 2002 Posted July 25, 2002 Well, after a 18 months, a new kitchen, severe open wallet surgery, lost hair, what hair that's left going grey and few problems along the way (some small, some not so small), the new engine (1.6 16v Vauxhall Ecotec engine) finally burst into life yesterday morning !!! After a process of elimination (you need a 30 amp fuse for fuel pumps !! to sort out the last remaining niggles it's now happily running like a little sewing machine, albeit a rather powerful sewing machine.... I now have to wait to hear if its passed its MOT and then I'll be tearing around all weekend putting some serious miles on it before it's rolling roaded next week and then let loose on its first track day at Silverstone on Wednesday The *really* annoying thing is that 4,000 rpm is just about the point where the cams are starting to operate and you can just hear it beginning to clear it's throat in readiness for a serious attempt at catapaulting me at the horizon !! I can't wait until it's ready !!! Quote
westy Posted July 25, 2002 Posted July 25, 2002 congrats....look forward to seeing the beast around Quote
Stueyboy Posted July 25, 2002 Posted July 25, 2002 Nick is ".....a new kitchen..." a euphamism for the amount spent on your 4 wheeled beauty or was it an unwanted distraction along the critical path to glory for your car? Stu Quote
Nick M Posted July 25, 2002 Author Posted July 25, 2002 No, it was a distinctly unwanted distraction along the way And all I did was get an engine delivered to the house... If you haven't seen the article in Westfield World, the conversation went as follows : Wife : What’s that on the driveway ? Me : Errr, it’s an engine dear. W : I can see that ! What’s it doing there ? M : Well, it’s going in the Westfield. W: What’s wrong with the one you’ve already got ? M : Well nothing really, but I was thinking about rebuilding that engine to get a bit more power when I figured that a new engine would be a cheaper and easier option, mumble, mutter, cough, cough….. [looks sheepishly at feet] W : Hmmmm. So how much is it going to cost ? M : Errr, I don’t really know. Perhaps about £4,000 ?? W : I see…. So you’re going to spend £4,000 on an engine ? M : Yeesssss. But it might not be that much ! W : I see. So your argument that a new kitchen would be too expensive is looking a little shaky, isn’t it ?! M : Well no, not really. I mean, the kitchen is OK for now and I’d rather do it properly and that would be much more expensive than the engine. Besides, everything works doesn’t it ? W : So does the engine in the car ! M : Yes, but the new one will be better ! W : So would a new kitchen ! M : Yes, but, but……… Oh b******* !! So there you have it - how *not* to go about an engine conversion !! The one consolation is that the kitchen was *waaayyy* cheaper than the engine, although if wifey ever figures that out I'll probably have to do the bathroom as well Quote
Blatman Posted July 25, 2002 Posted July 25, 2002 YIPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE Well done and congrats, my friend. There's a L7Club gathering at a place called Penn, near Beaconsfield, Bucks, on Saturday, starting at 12.00. I'll be there, should you need an excuse for a long-ish run.............. Quote
Nick M Posted July 25, 2002 Author Posted July 25, 2002 Hmmm, I'll check the map. Might be heading up towards Stafford way but I could try and factor in a bit of a detour Quote
Blatman Posted July 25, 2002 Posted July 25, 2002 There's a nice route to Stoneleigh from Jcn 5/6 of the M40 on this very site, posted by me (and nicked from Fat Arnie ) on the events section, IIRC, posted around the time of the Stoneleigh show........ Quote
Stueyboy Posted July 25, 2002 Posted July 25, 2002 W: What’s wrong with the one you’ve already got ? Women ! Will they never understand? Quote
Mrs Westy Posted July 25, 2002 Posted July 25, 2002 We had a new engine arrive this week. I will shortly be obtaining quotes for a new kitchen. And a new bathroom Congrats on finally getting the car on the road Nick, if u want a medium-ish run, come and visit us to annoy our new neighbours just up the road from where we used to annoy our old neighbours Mrs W Quote
Nick M Posted July 25, 2002 Author Posted July 25, 2002 Ta, might just do that on Sunday. You going to the Essex area meeting ? If so, see you there. BTW, wait until January for the sales - you get loads more kitchen for your money then And I can recommend a really good web-site for any new kitchen appliances you might need ! Quote
Mrs Westy Posted July 25, 2002 Posted July 25, 2002 Not sure about Sunday, we're going to Banbury for a Cocktails & Spacehopper housewarming parteee on Sat night, I suspect we might just be waking up and nursing a hangover by the time of the Essex meet. Westie isn't very well at the moment either, he's a cycle wing and about 5 litres of oil down Quote
Nick M Posted July 25, 2002 Author Posted July 25, 2002 Flippin eck !! Nothing *too* serious I hope ?? Quote
Mrs Westy Posted July 25, 2002 Posted July 25, 2002 I don't really know, but what I do know is that it involves another engine (technically, I don't think this is necessary to the repair...) and a weekend visit from MB. The cycle wing however is a different matter I fink it's dead Quote
westy Posted July 25, 2002 Posted July 25, 2002 sump is pee'ing out oil near where the oil pump is and the cycle bracket broke again (the only unwelded spot on there). this time it caught the tyre and got run over by it Quote
Nick M Posted July 25, 2002 Author Posted July 25, 2002 Ah, not good then, especially if it involves a visit from MB And I should point out that, technically, a new engine is *always* required as part of a repair. And it has to be a better one that came out, otherwise what's the point ?! And it has to have lots of new shiny bits inside. And make the car go faster. Much faster ! It's the law, honest !! Quote
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