A late night at Zen

After 2 solid days on cleaning everything up, repairing (time-serting) 14 stripped threads in the block – it is now all together…

Everytime we bolted something on, the last bolt would just strip the little thread it had, so it had to all come off again, block any open ports to stop swarf getting in and use another insert.

Anyway it is worth it in the end.

Block halves joined:

Shelf full of engine bits..

Richard busy doing his thing:

New fuel rails courtesy of Carl Davey:

And lots of aeroquip hose/fittings:

on the stand and having heads on:

Zen’s new mystery engine builder

Forgot to take a pic of it all together, will do that today but it will go in tonight.

Massive thanks to Team Zen for working with me til the early hours of this morning getting it to this stage… above and beyond.

Now in a Zen like state of knackeredness

Silverstone … 8 days and counting

Just an quick update on where it is all at…

Engine out on the way back from knockhill due to the big end bearings going on rod #4 so it is time for a rebuild.

The engine is split, and now the block halves are being prepared for:

• new STi crank
• crower rods
• mahle pistons
• ACL race bearings

Various threads have also been repaired that eventually go in an alloy block – mainly around the sump area as this had been on and off in a hurry a few times to repair issues.

Whilst cleaning the block Zen and I have spent a large amount of time deburring it and refacing it to ensure the best possible fit of the new head gaskets and also port the oilways to ensure a better flow of oil around the block.

Hopefully this will make this engine last and perform well.

The plan is to finish cleaning the block tomorrow and start reassembly shortly afterwards – aiming to get the engine to a state to fit back into the car on Monday.

Huge thanks go to Mark at Lateral Performance for the rods, crank, bearings, shells, gaskets, seals etc needed and for stretching the boundaries of customer service to help with the very short timescales.

Also big up to Zen Performance – I couldnt ask for better support or for better engine builders.

and also to the countless offers of help and words of encouragement… thank you.

Silverstone – 8 days and counting.