Aarons Mcgregor 7 Build

Radiator

aarons7 — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 00:25:34 +0000

While I have been away from the car my dad has been busy organising a radiator. Due to lack of time went with a custom built radiator by A1 radiators in Christchurch (http://www.a1radiators.net.nz/)

First off we built the radiator mounts to the chassis, then a wooden mock up to get where everything needed to be and to ensure it would fit in the nose.

Then pictured is the radiator just tacked up for a test fit prior to full welding and adding the inlet pipes etc

Specs are:
All Alloy
Core 400mm*390mm * 56mm
Dual Pass radiator
14inch high flow fan

Internal Panels

aarons7 — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 10:17:24 +0000

Fitted the internal panels, see before and after shots.. Still need seam sealing round everything to tidy it up and fill in the gaps

Air Intake and Oil Filter

aarons7 — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 03:30:19 +0000

Have finally sorted out what to do with my air intake, these engines are very fussy on where the MAF sensor is mounted, and many cheap pod filters have caused issues for others with the same engine.

So decided to see if the original airbox would fit..

So after much cutting of and grinding off all the random bits of plastic and taking the top of the airbox, I have found something that will work in the space I have, and have managed to keep the all the airbox from the filter to the MAF sensor intact, just need a silicon joiner now to attach it to the throttle body, and make up some brackets to hold it in place.

Also made a mount to locate the remote filter next in front of the engine, should be easy to change here from underneath

Fuel System

aarons7 — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 03:09:39 +0000

Work has been completed on the fuel system, with the surge tank internal to the main tank, and the original engine high pressure pump mounted inside this surge tank

Photos show

1: The surge tank, with the pick up for the lift pump and the level sender mounted.

2: The Fuel tank with surge tank mounted inside

3: The lift pump mounted low beside the tank and also shows high pressure fuel pipe heading to the engine

4: Fuel pipe connection to the engine fuel rail, using the original pulsation damper and blind fuel rail

Rear Calipers and Oil Lines

aarons7 — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 06:35:00 +0000

Have been doing a bit of work while away from the car.

Cleaned and painted my rear calipers, nice and shiney now

Also a rather big item, all the dry sump oil lines were made up by a friend (as payment for wiring a 1uz v8 into a Hilux)

Going down to Christchurch at the end of the week, so hopefully get some more work done to show everyone.

Cambelt Cover and Dash

aarons7 — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 08:02:35 +0000

Well its been a while since the last update but here is the progress

Mcgregors have modified my steering rack mount and also have made my new front A arms so they should be on the way soon
Did some more work on the dash to finish it off, looks good now – just need some perspex to cover it
Also cut and hacked up my cambelt cover (as it didn’t fit with the new cambelt route now the dry sump system is installed, and also at the top was to tall to fit under the bonnet, so a bit of fibre glass and some bog later, everything is all good just needs some paint to finish it off.

Also while in christchurch I managed to get a few laps in a friends racing mini, was great fun to get out on track (although I was very slow – first time driver at Ruapuna) but was a good day for it, and only 3 other cars there for the morning session.

Pictures as proof of progress (doesn’t look like much though)

Engine and Gearbox Dimensions

aarons7 — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 09:13:59 +0000

Here are a copule of PDF’s that I created with some general dimensions for the Altezza Beams 3sge engine and J160 6speed gearbox, also the dry sump system, sorry I don’t have a standard sump to measure anymore.

Here is a sample, download the PDF for the full size pictures and from different angles

http://aarons7.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/engine-top.pdf

http://aarons7.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/engine-lhs.pdf

http://aarons7.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/engine-rhs.pdf

http://aarons7.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/engine-front.pdf

http://aarons7.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/engine-rear.pdf

http://aarons7.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/dry-sump.pdf

http://aarons7.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/gearbox.pdf

I tried to be as accurate as possible with a tape measure, to the nearest 10mm or so.

Rear Brakes

aarons7 — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 04:51:51 +0000

Manged to get some more time to work on the car last week, and pretty happy with the progress that was made.

First off was getting the brakelines P-clipped in place.
My dad finished the first rear brake caliper bracket and also made the second one too
Handbrakes cables were purchased and bracket made and fitted.
So now the rear brakes are all complete (all except some longer wheel studs to fit the mags when they go on the car)

Here are some of the details of the parts used to go from sierra drums to disc brakes:
2 times rear calipers from a 1988 crx (also common to most early model civics and some smaller fwd nissans)
2 times rear brake cables from a 3door EG civic
2 times rear brake discs from a nissan pirmera (same thickness as civic but with correct offset and about 10mm more diameter.) Redrilled to suit ford 4*108 stud pattern
2 times spacers for under the hub (replaces where the drum backing plate used to be)
2 times custom caliper brackets

In the process saved about 3.5kg from each side. (A fair bit of unsprung mass and alot of rotating mass too)

Also got the fuel tank fitted into its final resting place

Car is ready for travel to Mcgregors now for some alterations to the steering rack placement and new aero shaped wishbones.

Here are some photo show I have actually done some work.

Bonnet Vents Added

aarons7 — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 22:23:36 +0000

The new bonnet vents have been added now, they look really good! They orginally came from a bmw z3

Fuel Tank and Body work

aarons7 — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 08:40:59 +0000

Ok time for another update, due to a bit of good luck instead of a week 4wd course (because of the bad weather) I ended up in Chch and working on my car, which makes a change!

Anyway, the plan was to have it painted soon, but got a few quotes etc, and have now decided paint can wait, I will be sporting the popular un polished alloy and white gel coat fibreglass for now! This means I will have money to put towards getting the car finished and on the road sometime in the next 6months (fingers crossed)

First of the pictures is the great work my dad has done on my Stainless Fuel tank and inbuilt surge tank. Filled with water to test for leaks (only one which has been fixed) total of 34L in the tank, and 2L in the surge tank with pump fitted.

Next photo is the lift pump for the surge tank

Next was a lot of fitting and testing the side and rear panels ready to be installed, and also making up the 3/4 panels. Big news is I actually stuck down a few of the internal panels with glue and rivets! (in the boot area and under the scuttle)

Recieved a set of guards thanks to Mcgregor Motorsport, here are some pics of one in place with the wheel, and can also just spot the new rear brake disc (drums have been removed now)

Next things to do are
Finish setting up rear brakes (caliper bracket and handbrake cable)
Send the car to Mcgregors for some front end adjustment and new front wishbones
Line side panels with vinyl (in cockpit area) and cut some holes for the exhaust etc
Bonnet is getting z3 vents fitted