T16

[p_b82]

One step forwards another to the side!

I went to drive the ZS the other night after putting it all back together - flat tyre and battery!

Hopefully nothing too serious for you to fix on the coolant side!

[ZS]

Doesn't matter how much fluid I put in the header tank, it just flows straight out the water pump! So... yeah.. deffo water pump.

I have purchased 20 (I know I only need 5!) M6 bolts and a water pump with all O rings etc, for around £30, just waiting for it all to turn up now

As I see it I have two issues, otherwise its a straight forward change over.

1. People report the crap OE M6 bolts will be corroded and snap when I try to undo them, at this point its a 50/50 if they need drilling out on a bench drill or can be removed with pliers or similar.

2. Since this system is all Stainless coolant pipes and Samco silicone pipes there is no bleed screw... so I will have to work out another way of bleeding the system.

Oh and the F has issues with oil (none in the sump and it wont let me put anything in the filler pipe...) and the RX8 died a death and needs a new engine... leaving me with one working car, the 180 that desperately needs a respray and some other bodywork! - Still at least we are mobile still

[Dan1971]

Something to be said there then for the 180 even after it took a prang recently. Get her sprayed up - show her some love.

[ZS]

Some good news and some bad news...

I have been quiet on the T16 front for a while as a few weeks back (months!) we took the T16 up to Halifax and while there it started to idle odd and stalled a couple of times at lights. She made it home without drama though and then parked up and refuses to start at all since.

The other week I decided to check her out and see what I could find, I pressure tested the engine to find only 1-2 PSI in all cylinders. So thats it, dead engine.

Now when I picked the car up it was suffering, what I now know was, boost cut due to the boost being set to 24psi. I suspect what has happened is that the ring lands have gone as is when you run over 12 psi for any long time (Pete ran 14psi since the rebuild).

Since then I have been quietly amassing parts, I have some wossner pistons on PEC rods (weighted set), new big end bearings, head gasket kit, sump gasket kit (which should fix a small oil leak it has as well!) and new piston rings for the wossner. Also purchased a few new tools to help me fit all this (pistons ring pliers for example).

All that is left is new stretch bolts and then I can begin the rebuild

Then I think she can go into the booth for a much needed paint refresh!

I will keep this updated as an when I start the process.