S122A project commencing

[Eccentric shaft]

Freed the front brakes again today. Let's hope they don't get stuck again at first opportunity. The tie-rod end rubbers caught my eye. Looked a bit wonky. Mildly speaking, they were! Fell apart at the slightest touch, so new hardware ordered. The security clips on the left-hand-side caliper locking block were missing, too. Could have made a video, but this was a rather cramped and messy job and not very aesthetically pleasing to watch, so I dropped it. 

[Casey]

The joys of owning a classic car   

I spent a very unpleasant few hours today on my back under KIIMI 3 attending to some surface rust whilst I have the fuel tank out (fuel sender replacement. Wire- wheeling (rust dust  ), de-greasing and metal prep treatment - all not nice when you are underneath the car. Not a surprise than I didn't take any photos of this messy process.

Thankfully, all ready for 2 coats of POR15 tomorrow   

[Eccentric shaft]

Well done! I'm planning to spend some time in petrol fumes, too. Next, I'm emptying the tank of old fuel and filling it up with proper non-ethanol stuff (yep, we can still get it from one pump in town!). Then the new battery goes in – 680 amps on tap for the starter, compared to 480 in the old battery (no wonder it was difficult to get the thing fired up!). Turned out the battery that came with the car was meant for the solar panel @ the cabin, not for 12A starting procedures. 

A shady dude nicknamed Robberhouse
Deserves a good whack with a rubber hose
He stuffed the Rx-2
With boom boxes, damp foam, and glue.
Well, that's how the story goes!

You think he'd choose the right battery?
Even that would be flattery!
The plug leads were swapped
The carpets badly cropped
He'd left it all heading for tattery

[Eccentric shaft]

Did you know that Front 242 were Mazda fans? Bet you didn't! 

Start up successful!

[Eccentric shaft]

The weather just can't decide if it's still February of not, so some time for minor tinkering in the meantime. Another little parcel just arrived from Gunleiv. The tie-rod rubbers were so tired, they decided to evaporate during the steam wash before undersealing. Got some new tie rod ends and rubbers, but they'll have to wait until I can get the car on a proper lift (and an appointment for adjustment to go with it)

[Eccentric shaft]

The weather had spoken: It had to happen on that day or not at all. So after nearly 20 months of storage, Noriaki hit the road for a 466-mile journey! A bit like signing a heart patient up for a marathon, but he got there in good style, with flair and on schedule:

The trip started with a fright or two, learning how to handle The Mother of All Flatspots going up the hills. Thankfully things got gradually more enjoyable and even the Nightmare Mørsvikbotn Tunnel (dark, narrow and 4,5 km of 7% rise) went with a roar in 3rd. I'm not sure heart patients should drink quite that much, though. Noriaki gulped down a hundred litres of petrol. No wonder he looks so casually pleased with himself after arrival... We'll have a serious talk about those drinking habits soon!   

[Eccentric shaft]

Left Noriaki in the "heart surgery unit". He's being looked after by the very best doctors available...

[clive]

Excellent story, thankyou.

[Eccentric shaft]

Still no news updates from the heart surgeons. Meanwhile, a beer in the hot sun to shorten the wait...    Cheers!

[Casey]

Great story and glad to see you're getting some sun too 

[Eccentric shaft]

Noriaki's engine is out and has been thoroughly examined. And declared utterly dead and gone.

The pathologist's report holds some interesting findings. Firstly, the Rx7 rotors had been fitted with carbon seals, which sort of explains why the thing lasted 25,000 kms in the first place. One of the rotor housings had the chrome layer peeling off anyway, so that one is shot.

However, whoever did the job had left out a few other essentials: The tensioner for the chain that drives the oil-pump was missing, so the chain had been left chipping away at the eccentric shaft counterweight, causing severe damage. Six of the seals for the oil and water channels were missing, so coolant had seeped into the oil and into the combustion chambers. Also, one of the distributors had begun shaking itself to pieces, which might explain the wild backfiring going up the last tunnel. Was lucky it held together for those last 466 miles! 

Well, may the cursed Frankenstein Engine rest in pieces. The new twin-dizzy 12A goes in tomorrow!   

[MattScott]

Wow. Sounds like you had some luck on that drive. I thought frankenstein engines was a honda thing but clearly there have been interlopers in the rotary scene

[Eccentric shaft]

The new engine is in and looking good. Only looking this far, because one of the ignition boxes decided to give up on us. Upstart delayed until new part arrives. Thanks to Totte for all the hard work. 

[Eccentric shaft]

...apparently my engine builder's hard work isn't over just yet. Among the parts transferred from the old engine, there seems to have been a 10A pulley with the wrong timing marks! And there are carb issues and other things to sort. But on the upside, Noriaki is getting out for test drives, being tuned in, run in, and is recovering steadily. Fingers crossed. I'm ready to fly down and pick him up as soon I get that call!   

[Casey]

Great news to hear Noriaki is now up and running