All the nice new exhaust parts have now arrived, so its time to start fitting it 🙂 Im running a 2.5″ 316 stainless from the manifold back and will have flanges so i can take off any of the parts if needed. The plan is to fit the middle and back box and use the old system as a template to get it all fitting correct and then have the new pipe bent and the flanges welded on. I wont be doing the welding myself as its stainless, but hope i have found a good place to get it done….

The holes are all cut out and the bulk head filled ready to fit the master cylinders. I have a  bit of a clearance issue to work out on the clutch one so the throttle bodies dont hit it but think i have a plan as to how to sort it. (i will add some pictures in the next day or two when they are all in)

Just testing out the new Wilwood master cylinders to check there is enough room under the throttle bodies to fit it all in! I will have 3 as running one for the front, the back and a clutch one so might be a bit of a squeeze 🙂 Im using the Wilwood pedals and want to try to keep the pedal position as close as standard as its such i nice setup, but it will be hard to get them in the right place for the driving position and to keep the clearance for the throttle bodies and also not…

Finaly im at the stage where i can start to look at the exhaust and brake setup as i have the bottom end all in place and the head ready to fit on for a test. The Risse inlet manifolds need a little bit of a file out, as the holes that locate on the dowels on the head are a bit small, so once this is done i can bolt on the inlets and fit up the throttle bodies so i can see how much room (i dont have!) to fit in the Wilwood master cylinders. I have two…

As i have a nice new cam from ENEM (a Y12) and new lifters i thought it would be good to try and get some new rockers, nets and the little ball seat for the rocker. So after a look through http://opeloem.com/ to find the part numbers, it was then a quick google and i found them listed on here http://www.vauxhall-car-parts.co.uk/acatalog/Vauxhall%20Parts.pdf and then a quick call to vauxhall car parts, and they had them all in stock. So a few day later and this is what i now have 🙂               Rocker part number:…

The bottom end is now completely rebuilt, with new piston ring! and in the engine is now back in the car and on the later front cross member with the round engine mounts (that are easier to get new ones for)               The flywheel is now on with new ARP bolts from Risse motorsport in germany. (just a note that the ARP bolts are all the same size so you will need to have the locating one turned down a fraction to fit) The new clutch has been fitted again with high tensile cap…

After a slight mishap, where i buggered up the bottom oil control ring on the new piston 🙁 which has set me back £50 and two weeks while i found a new set of rings! the bottom part of the engine is now in the car 🙂 Jan at http://www.zymo-tech.de/ found me a new set of rings in super quick time and they arrived on tuesday (my day off) and the sun was out. So very carefully i replaced the broken ring and got the piston in. new con rod shells in and engine ready to go into the car. Im still…

And anyone else rebuilding an engine. When you buy i bottom end bearing kit, it dosnt come with the con rod bearings 🙁 as i found out as i opened the Glyco box! now im waiting for the con rod bearings to arrive and with this bank holiday its going to be the end of the week before i can get on and finish the bottom end now!

Steve at Rhino Alloys (www.rhinoalloys.co.uk) has done an amazing job of refurbishing the rocker cover.