Project Beatrice. (1999 Birkin S3)

[scannon]

Probably not, parts still have not arrived from the UK. Also found that I need a spigot bearing. Ordered that today, it has been sent airmail..oh well!

:nopity:

 

I'll bite, what is a spigot bearing? Might that be what is called a pilot bearing for the nose of the input shaft?

[lancylad]

Right on the "nose" ...aren't we ex pats odd things with our terminology...O:-)

[scannon]

Right on the "nose" ...aren't we ex pats odd things with our terminology...O:-)

 

All part of the fun of owning an LBC.

[Jackal]

Let me know when the blat is, and even f all the cabins are full, I could still meet you all and see you off. Photo opp and all.

[lancylad]

Wot he said! !:iagree::iagree:

[Z3 Stalker]

Lets see if we can set something up for Sunday July 8/12

[Jackal]

July 8 does not work out for me as I promised Kitty that I would take her to Waterton lakes that weekend. Not that I'm suggesting that it get moved on my behalf, but just that is doesn't work for me......I'm going to stop now before I start sounding like a jerk.

[XR4Bill]

July 8 does not work out for me as I promised Kitty that I would take her to Waterton lakes that weekend. Not that I'm suggesting that it get moved on my behalf, but just that is doesn't work for me......I'm going to stop now before I start sounding like a jerk.

 

Waterton could be the blats destination? 2 birds one stone?

Is it running yet?

 

Bill.

[Jackal]

I like the way you think Bill. Great country to drive though down there too.

 

We plan on camping through the weekend in Watertown, coming back Sunday.

[biquet1957]

Hello Jackal

 

I'm having trouble with my alternator on my 2.0 zetec is below left.

Can you give me the information about your brand alternator model and amperage.

thank you again peter from Belgium

[Jackal]

Hello Jackal

 

I'm having trouble with my alternator on my 2.0 zetec is below left.

Can you give me the information about your brand alternator model and amperage.

thank you again peter from Belgium

 

Hi Peter,

 

I purchased a kit from Great British Sportscars. The link is attached.

 

http://www.kitspares.co.uk/shop/item.php?product=5021

 

I found that the mount for the Alternator itself, did not work without some heavy modification. I ended up making one from scratch to solve this. The belt tensioner, pulley and belt, I am using though.

 

I hope this helps, and let me know if I can offer any more information.

[biquet1957]

hello thank you for the information

But my engine is a 2.0 zetec water pump is different and the timing cover is different.

I think buying only the alternator power to the bindings myself.

For now the 70 A of the left engine that mepose problems.

I guess 40A enough for the birkin.

Thank you again.

 

Peter

[biquet1957]

hello jackal

 

This kit is not for my Birkin ,My birkin is driving on the right ? my steering column is in the way!

 

bye peter

[Jackal]

Peter,

 

I am sorry that the kit doesn't work for you. I had to do some major revisions to the kit to get it to work for me. The alternator is small, and can be made to fit on either side I would think, but the brackets would need to be custom.

 

Thanks

[lancylad]

After waaaaaay to long, I am officially back on the road, let the blatting begin!!! Feels so good to be back in the cockpit of Her Madge. And yes... the 1.9 is so much better than the 1.6.

[Jackal]

Well it has been a couple months since any updates. Not a whole heck of a lot has gone on with it that's for sure.

 

I am glad to say that it started for me on Friday with one twist of the wrist. It sounds great too, not too loud considering it is essentially a straight pipe. There is a bit of a challenge with the collector though, as there seems to be a pretty significant leak pushing exhaust out the front of the collector. I don't see how that can be as the fit for the headers is pretty tight in the collector. Since it's all wrapped, its difficult to see where the leak is coming from other than from the spaces in between the pipes. Worst case, there could be a crack in the collector, where the four tubes meet. This will have to be sorted out as the O2 sensor really needs a good solid flow past it for the tune.

 

The next big thing to sort is the Alternator. Apparently the alternator is not charging the system, so I'll have to dig in an sort that out too. It may be connected to one or two other little challenges I have going on with the electrical right now. I'll be digging into that this week, as the shop has allowed me to come work there.

 

All that's left after that is to fill the brakes and clutch lines and tune the beast. I was really hoping to be street legal by now, but deal with what I have and move forward. If I spent too much time looking in the rearview mirror, I'll end up hitting a wall.

[lancylad]

Progress, good to hear, don't give up. Next year will be a good blatting year for you.

[Jackal]

Progress has been next to nill since the last update. I managed to get both the Diff and the trans filled with Amsoil. I have also filled the front brakes, and am gravity bleeding the rears as we speak. Yes, gravity bleeding the rear means that I filled the lines and ran out of time until the next time. I decided to go with a Motul 5.1 non-synthetic for the brakes and the clutch.

 

The rad fan has been wired up front, and all I need is to wire the relay to the ECU and the cooling system will be almost done. Unfortunately the coolant reservoir needs one return line (top) plumbed for the cooling system to be complete.

 

 

The shop is committed to getting the car done with the tune before christmas, and that means I can get it to another garage space I have secured to finished the things needed for inspection.

[Jackal]

......and disappointed again. Seems to be a theme here. The harness is wired, the front brakes are bled, and the she runs.

 

The challenges are that the headers are still not sealed to the collector very well. There are lots of significant leaks around the slip joints. This will cause trouble for the O2 sensor in the collector, and needs to be resolved.

 

For some reason the brakes are having trouble creating pressure, and the rears have not get fluid to them yet. I left the rears to gravity feed for the last two weeks because that's as often as I get to visit it at the shop.

 

Lastly, and most disappointingly, there seems to be brownish "goo" in the coolant. I have not checked the oil yet to see if there are deposits in the there, yet. I have read a little, and hope that the problem is only the head Gasket. Seriously though, a head gasket on a 0km motor????:banghead:

 

I have decided to get the car home to work on it in my garage. Since it runs, I can work on sealing the headers and test it. All the other little bits can be sorted before the tune as well. I have never removed the head from an engine before, but I guess it gives me the opportunity to swap out the VCT head for one that will help provide more power.

 

With that, I may be looking to borrow a trailer over the holidays (just for one day though) anyone have one gathering snow?

[lancylad]

Geez Duane,I feel for you...I know Stewart had his car housed in his trailer, not sure about Bill, maybe give them a call and see if they can help out.. Do a compression test, it's a Good place to start to see if the head gasket is the culprit. I have a compression test gauge if you need one.