Europa TCST

[TurboFource]

Today produced worse news… the block shows some “notching” but between 2 and 3 (some evidence between 1 and 2 also) which looked like it was getting ready to blow but hadn’t yet… which makes me wonder if this happened to a previous owner and they just slapped a new Felpro gasket on it since there is no reason the block should be notched at this position as 3 still had a good compression test…...this all means the block should be decked…..


Not sure I mentioned the gasket was gone between 1 and 2

BDA the head is cast iron.

[BDA]

Cast iron head and block! That engine sounds over stressed! Presumably, all the turbo engines of today are properly designed and not over stressed but it makes me wonder...

Sorry you're having such bad luck! That really stinks on ice!

[TurboFource]

Project Descent has touched down

[TurboFource]

I am stoked! The rear wheels and tires are about as wide as possible without rubbing and the turbo system will fit without cutting any fiberglass! 

[BDA]

  

[TurboFource]

Removed water/methanol injection system(those two brackets weigh 9lbs!, they will be severely lightened as I plan to keep the two tanks in the spirit of the original build.) Moved engine compartment wiring out of the way and cleaned engine compartment for painting.

Two Facet fuel pumps showed up, one will be operated by a Hobbs switch and come on under boost ...  It will be my "spare" if the other quits by bypassing the Hobbs switch and keeping out of boost.

Next step is to paint engine compartment 

[TurboFource]

Engine compartment painted, water/methanol tanks brackets lightened (3lbs lighter ) and painted, surge tank sanded and painted.

[TurboFource]

Brackets and tanks mounted, made coolant catch can out of an aluminum automotive freon bottle
(making oil catch can/breather out of one too). Since the Facet fuel pumps do not have a check valve and I will not have both running at the same time (one will turn on with boost) I made my own check valves with no springs so there is very minimal "cracking" pressure, gravity will close them or pressure back flowing from the other pump. The check valve is to prevent fuel from just looping back through the non running pump and never make it to the carb. The "seat" for the valve was made by just using a hammer and punch with bearing in the fitting and gently persuading the fitting to take the shape of the bearing.

[TurboFource]

Finished freon bottle breather system and got some bling today

[TurboFource]

I got my seal tracks apart by soaking them in a toolbox of vinegar and salt for a week...some repairs required   Working on fuel system .....

[Kendo]

I’ve heard of using vinegar for this. But what does the salt do for it?

[TurboFource]

I read somewhere it works better ... seems to be true ... chemistry is better (It increases the acidity)

[Bryan Boyle]

I read somewhere it works better ... seems to be true ... chemistry is better (It increases the acidity)

Did you consider using the washing soda/electrolytic method? 

I was trying to figure out where to get an iron anode...everything in my garage is stainless or some other alloy...and you really need plain iron.  Then I remembered that I had a shoulder bag full of plain iron tent stakes left over from my CW reenacting days.  Shazam!  I have all the bits now to try using that method to clean out my new old gas tanks of rust...and they are heavy, and at least a foot long.  Plenty of surface area to react!

[TurboFource]

I have not Bryan, hopefully that was the last of my rusty parts…..

[TurboFource]

Pumps mounted ..... Not much room .... Had to drill one hole twisting a carbide burr with my fingers ... Good thing it was fiberglass!