Bugzilla - Mid Engine Madness

[Bugzilla]

That sucks, taking longer to build is part of this hobby but waiting for parts a second time is a kill joy. Stay positive.

I am trying to stay positive. I already missed the first race of the season so its not like it really matters if I miss this next one. I was hoping to do the whole season this year. But at the same time, in a month or so, its going to be so hot out that I am not going to want to drive it. So then its going to sit even longer until it cools back down...

Boy that looks like too much fun digging that motor out.

Yep almost too much fun. And just think, I still have to put an engine back in. At least when it came out, the head was off. When it goes back in, the head will be on. Even tighter of a squeeze through the door.

[Centerforce]

Looks like it wasn't mating evenly. Was everything bolted up with the correct order/torque?

[Bugzilla]

Looks like it wasn't mating evenly. Was everything bolted up with the correct order/torque?

I sure hope it was! I hand tightened all the pressure plate bolts a little at a time going in a star pattern. After the pressure plate was touching the flywheel on all 6 stands, I used the TQ wrench and did the final pass. It does seem like the pads have uneven wear on them. Is this not normal for a very very very low mile disk that doesnt really slip when releasing the clutch? Another odd thing is that my engine / trans combo does not use a pilot bearing.

[Streetbu]

How is the end of the shaft supported then?

[andrewb70]

How is the end of the shaft supported then?

Various engines/transmissions don't use a pilot. The input shaft is just supported by the bearing in the trans. I was helping a buddy with a 91 Eagle Talon and it was the same way.

Andrew

[Bugzilla]

Ya I think most FWD style trans are this way. This is the first FWD trans I have really dealt with so I cant be 100% sure. I know every RWD trans I have worked on required a pilot bearing. I do know that if you try to wiggle the input shaft around, it does not move in any direction. It is nice and solid.

Also, when I say the clutch has very low miles on it, it has 350. 250 of them were freeway miles. So literally it has 100 miles of actual start and stop use. And again, the clutch is impossible to slip. Once it starts grabbing, it sticks. The clutch pedal is more like an on/off switch (which is what I wanted).

[Bugzilla]

In other news, I just got to drive my brothers LS7 powered C5 Z06 for the first time. That thing runs good! Too bad it cant put the power down. I still think the Bug is faster and has way more traction. But it was a good feeling being behind the wheel of an over powered car once again.

[Bugzilla]

Well I am still here waiting on the second set of pistons to show up. Hoping they will be here in a week or two. So in the mean time, I took the Jeep on a nice 1100 mile road trip. Made it all the way up to San Francisco and on the way back down, stopped by Pismo beach for a little dune action. Was a fun little trip. It was the Jeeps first long adventure and I was glad nothing went wrong.









After I got back from the trip I actually started working on the Bug again. Havent done much yet but I started painting some more. When the Bug goes back together this time, its going to be all one color. No more multicolored beater looking Bug! Have I ever said how much I hate doing body work? Yep top of my list.

[Bugzilla]

And the door is temporarily back on. Dont want it laying around waiting to get damaged. Ya the rest of the Bug is a bit dirty from sitting for 6 months and a shade of brown now. Ill wash it one of these days.

[Bugzilla]

Still waiting on pistons.... So more body work it is. Got the rear deck lid done. Normally, when I race, I pop the lid off. It just gets too hot when sitting and idling in the staging lane with the lid on. So this time, I cut a nice big hole in it to hopefully help vent the heat out so I can leave the lid on.

[454bug]

Hang in there... This can be a frustrating, expensive hobby. But, if you are a car nut, it's just the cost of doing business! I've tried a number of other hobbies in my lifetime and none of them have given me the joy and friendship that this one has. It always helps if you have like-minded car nuts around to give you a hand through the tough times. It makes it much tougher doing projects like this by yourself. I've had it both ways over the years. It's definitely a hobby that's much more enjoyable with car buddies around.

Here's to you and getting the car back on the road!

[Bugzilla]

Ray - I know what you mean. I work in the auto industry and deal with the same issues everyday. So I expect to have problems along the way. But at the same time, we are going on 7.5 months without pistons. That is more then excessive. If I knew it was going to be this long, I would have just thrown my other engine in so I could be driving the Bug. I guess the good thing about the down time is that I can get all my painting done. It had to happen sometime so why not now while I cant do anything else?

I do have some friends who are car nuts. Well more like Jeep nuts which works for me. 2 of the guys renting rooms from me have Jeeps and love working on them. So I always have some help if needed. And when we dont feel like working, we just take the Jeeps out to one of the local trails. Its a nice little get away to get your mind off things (like waiting 7.5 months for pistons!!!). Cheers!

And I got one fender painted and hung. 3 more fenders to go! Then a door and a hood and I am done. Going to try to get most of it painted this weekend since the weather should be nice. Starting to look like a new Bug!

[wfo guy]

I don't remember, did you mention who you ordered pistons from? When I was a drag racer all my pistons were custom ordered. Usually 3 weeks, no more than 6 weeks. That was 20 years ago.

[Bugzilla]

I don't remember, did you mention who you ordered pistons from? When I was a drag racer all my pistons were custom ordered. Usually 3 weeks, no more than 6 weeks. That was 20 years ago.

I think I did mention it but I am getting them from JE. I order custom pistons through them all the time and of course the one set for my own project has got to be the longest time frame ever. Typically it is about 6-8 weeks to get them and about 1-2 weeks longer if you go for coating. They claim that it is their busy season right now so everything is taking longer.

[Bugzilla]

Well I didnt get as much done as I wanted this weekend. Was hoping to get all the fenders done and painted but my dogs decided to make that not happen. Spent an entire day at the animal hospital getting them stitched up and another day making sure they rested. Get dogs they say. It will be fun they say....

Anyways, I at least got one fender done and set it back on. I finally got to see what a white Bug looks like! Well its partially brown but for the most part its all white. Once I finish painting the last 2 fenders, I am going to roll it outside and wash it. Then, hopefully, it will be all white. Still undecided on what color its going to be. Keep it white or do something else? Sorry for the bad pictures too. Pretty sure I had some grease on the lens.

[Streetbu]

How about a smal red and blue stripe down the length, slightly off center with #53 on the hood and doors?

[Bugzilla]

How about a smal red and blue stripe down the length, slightly off center with #53 on the hood and doors?

Haha that would be very fitting for a white Bug but I just have this strange feeling that someone has already done that... I wonder if it would be able to do the auto-x events for me too?

But on another note, PISTONS HAVE SHIPPED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Should be here early next week and they better be correct.

[Bugzilla]

Well the new pistons are here. They look exactly the same as the last set. But they arent! Thats a good thing. Wrist pins actually fit and the compression height has been changed to my specs. Now I just have to hope everything balances out fine.

[Bugzilla]

Getting closer and closer to being done painting this thing! The hood was pretty bad. Took the most bondo out of any other panel. Lots of spraying and sanding. Still have to sand it one last time and then on to its final coat of paint. After that, only one door and one fender left to paint!

[Bugzilla]

Well guys, its official. I can start building my engine. Got the rotating assembly back from balancing this morning. Dont think I will have time to do it this weekend but should be able to build it next week. I might get a 4 day weekend for 4th of July so there is a good chance it will be up and running by then! I am very excited to see what this new engine is going to do. I am hoping it will be a night and day difference over the last one. If it makes the kind of power I am thinking, its going to be a scary ride!