This guy has been pretty helpful so far. He's charged me nothing and looked at the car twice. As far as parts go, I've done lots of searches but found nothing for the VF13. If you can find a kit, then send me the part number please.
He said if I can find decent 2nd hand turbos then go for it, but he's dubious that they'll exist. When I went to the wreckers 2 years back he had a whole crate of them. Here's hoping they're still there.
SOLD - 1600 TURBO + oval + downunder
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Piledriver
- Moderator
- Posts: 22520
- Joined: Sat Feb 16, 2002 12:01 am
Re: NEW plan - 1600 TURBO + oval + downunder
No luck on the VF13, but its bigger brothers seem well covered.
A GT17 off a Saab 2.0 or such would likely work well for you.
(*Not off the 2.3L V6, has a tiny turbine to run off 3 cylinders)
A GT17 off a Saab 2.0 or such would likely work well for you.
(*Not off the 2.3L V6, has a tiny turbine to run off 3 cylinders)
Addendum to Newtons first law:
zero vehicles on jackstands, square gets a fresh 090 and 1911, cabby gets a blower.
EZ3.6 Vanagon after that.(mounted, needs everything finished) then Creamsicle.
zero vehicles on jackstands, square gets a fresh 090 and 1911, cabby gets a blower.
EZ3.6 Vanagon after that.(mounted, needs everything finished) then Creamsicle.
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petew
- Posts: 3920
- Joined: Sat Oct 07, 2006 4:05 pm
Re: NEW plan - 1600 TURBO + oval + downunder
So the good news is the wrecker still has a few more turbos. Here's hoping I can find a decent one...
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rubenski
- Posts: 2033
- Joined: Mon Jun 30, 2014 3:28 am
-
petew
- Posts: 3920
- Joined: Sat Oct 07, 2006 4:05 pm
Re: NEW plan - 1600 TURBO + oval + downunder
Picked up my new WB sensor today. Man I love the local parts store they totally do me great deal. Shout out to Auto One St Marys. Then off to the wrecker for a new turbo. I had 2 to choose from I picked what I thought looked like the cleanest turbo... although it's very hard to tell from the outside.
It's a VF31 rather than the VF13 I have on the motor. A later version of the same turbo.
When I got home, I was looking it over and stuck my finger down the outlet of the compressor. It came back out with oil on it. Hmm. There was some coming out the exhaust side, but the wrecker me, "don't pay a lot of attention to that. The motor was probably sitting on it's side for a long time." I believe him. He also told me, "I've never had any of these motors come back with leaking turbos". He then grilled me on whether I had restrictors in the oil line, a proper drain, vented crankcase, etc, etc. When I told him what the turbo specialist said, he looked genuinely perplexed. Like a it was total shock to him. He then asked the other shop guy if he knew about cases of leaky turbos on the B4 subarus. Both have never heard of it. I'm not saying they're lying. I don't think the turbo specialist is either, but then maybe he only sees the problem turbos. In the end, the wrecker asked me what he'd charged before ($100) and told me he'd be happy with whatever I was comfortable to pay. I offered him $50 and he took it. So I don't think I've lost much even if it's all bad. He also told me there's another wrecker about an hour from me who would have heaps of them. So that's something to look at if I have future dramas.
So I've started soaking the exhaust housing/cassette joint in WD40. Hopefully it'll come off easily.
Then I need to re-clock it in the right position to have the drain pointing down. When I get the cassette out, I'll clean it up and have my mate check and pressure test it, but I have to say, the bearings do feel really good.
It's a VF31 rather than the VF13 I have on the motor. A later version of the same turbo.
When I got home, I was looking it over and stuck my finger down the outlet of the compressor. It came back out with oil on it. Hmm. There was some coming out the exhaust side, but the wrecker me, "don't pay a lot of attention to that. The motor was probably sitting on it's side for a long time." I believe him. He also told me, "I've never had any of these motors come back with leaking turbos". He then grilled me on whether I had restrictors in the oil line, a proper drain, vented crankcase, etc, etc. When I told him what the turbo specialist said, he looked genuinely perplexed. Like a it was total shock to him. He then asked the other shop guy if he knew about cases of leaky turbos on the B4 subarus. Both have never heard of it. I'm not saying they're lying. I don't think the turbo specialist is either, but then maybe he only sees the problem turbos. In the end, the wrecker asked me what he'd charged before ($100) and told me he'd be happy with whatever I was comfortable to pay. I offered him $50 and he took it. So I don't think I've lost much even if it's all bad. He also told me there's another wrecker about an hour from me who would have heaps of them. So that's something to look at if I have future dramas.
So I've started soaking the exhaust housing/cassette joint in WD40. Hopefully it'll come off easily.
Then I need to re-clock it in the right position to have the drain pointing down. When I get the cassette out, I'll clean it up and have my mate check and pressure test it, but I have to say, the bearings do feel really good.
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petew
- Posts: 3920
- Joined: Sat Oct 07, 2006 4:05 pm
Re: NEW plan - 1600 TURBO + oval + downunder
I've been hanging out to go racing all year. So far I've only managed one meeting. There's a dirt autokhana (khanacross) tomorrow and I figured, why not. But that means skid plates back and front. Here's the back one. Still need a few adjustments.
And now on the car.
It doesn't cover the exhaust, but what I'm trying to do is stop big rock etc from removing the deep sump/sump plate. I still have a guard to make for the drain tank too.
And now on the car.
It doesn't cover the exhaust, but what I'm trying to do is stop big rock etc from removing the deep sump/sump plate. I still have a guard to make for the drain tank too.
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petew
- Posts: 3920
- Joined: Sat Oct 07, 2006 4:05 pm
Re: NEW plan - 1600 TURBO + oval + downunder
Right, so my turbo guru friend pressure tested the cassette up to 20psi of unrestricted oil flow with no leak behind the compressor wheel. 
Hopefully this is the trick. #fingerscrossed
Hopefully this is the trick. #fingerscrossed
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Piledriver
- Moderator
- Posts: 22520
- Joined: Sat Feb 16, 2002 12:01 am
Re: NEW plan - 1600 TURBO + oval + downunder
The only other thing I can think of is the scavenge pump being too big and cavitating.
Addendum to Newtons first law:
zero vehicles on jackstands, square gets a fresh 090 and 1911, cabby gets a blower.
EZ3.6 Vanagon after that.(mounted, needs everything finished) then Creamsicle.
zero vehicles on jackstands, square gets a fresh 090 and 1911, cabby gets a blower.
EZ3.6 Vanagon after that.(mounted, needs everything finished) then Creamsicle.
-
madmike
- Posts: 3146
- Joined: Mon Jul 24, 2006 3:11 pm
Re: NEW plan - 1600 TURBO + oval + downunder
Last edited by madmike on Fri May 12, 2017 3:55 am, edited 1 time in total.
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madmike
- Posts: 3146
- Joined: Mon Jul 24, 2006 3:11 pm
Re: NEW plan - 1600 TURBO + oval + downunder
fingers crossed good luck racing , by the way, it is 'addicting' 
good luck racing , by the way, it is 'addicting' -
petew
- Posts: 3920
- Joined: Sat Oct 07, 2006 4:05 pm
Re: NEW plan - 1600 TURBO + oval + downunder
EVENT REPORT! 
CACA Club Khanacross, Cataract Pk.
As you know, I've been prepping the car for the event today. I'm home and I'll tell you the story of the day and the prep...
On thursday night I managed to get the sump guard made up, but I still had some shimming and the like to finish it up. I had a HUGE day at work on friday, but come 6:30 I hit the shed and hit the prep, HARD! I managed to get the sump guard on and then started on a skid plate for the front of the car. I ended up using an old speed hump sign I scavenged locally. (No I didn't steal it. It was roadside trash from a building site and would have been thrown away.) After bending and drilling it to fit the bumper, made two straps and it went on pretty easy enough.
Then I got to work on a cover for the drain tank. I was particularly concerned about a big rock knocking the fittings out of the end and bleeding the engine out.
When it was almost bedtime (and my wife was super tired) I realised I had nothing covering the scavenge pump. Uh, oh... So I pulled out some old volvo bonnet and hastily made this shield up. Not my greatest work and it being 11:20pm meant I couldn't use the grinder, sander, etc. So I was slower and dodgier with just a pair of tin snips.
Still it was done and we were finally ready to go!
CACA Club Khanacross, Cataract Pk.
As you know, I've been prepping the car for the event today. I'm home and I'll tell you the story of the day and the prep...
On thursday night I managed to get the sump guard made up, but I still had some shimming and the like to finish it up. I had a HUGE day at work on friday, but come 6:30 I hit the shed and hit the prep, HARD! I managed to get the sump guard on and then started on a skid plate for the front of the car. I ended up using an old speed hump sign I scavenged locally. (No I didn't steal it. It was roadside trash from a building site and would have been thrown away.) After bending and drilling it to fit the bumper, made two straps and it went on pretty easy enough.
Then I got to work on a cover for the drain tank. I was particularly concerned about a big rock knocking the fittings out of the end and bleeding the engine out.
When it was almost bedtime (and my wife was super tired) I realised I had nothing covering the scavenge pump. Uh, oh... So I pulled out some old volvo bonnet and hastily made this shield up. Not my greatest work and it being 11:20pm meant I couldn't use the grinder, sander, etc. So I was slower and dodgier with just a pair of tin snips.
Still it was done and we were finally ready to go!
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rubenski
- Posts: 2033
- Joined: Mon Jun 30, 2014 3:28 am
Re: NEW plan - 1600 TURBO + oval + downunder
Ready to rally!
Verstuurd vanaf mijn SM-A520F met Tapatalk
Verstuurd vanaf mijn SM-A520F met Tapatalk
Better to be blown than to suck!
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petew
- Posts: 3920
- Joined: Sat Oct 07, 2006 4:05 pm
Re: NEW plan - 1600 TURBO + oval + downunder
RACE DAY
I got up just before 7am. Had breakfast, packed some tools and hit the road. The club grounds are just over an hour from my place. To be honest I was petrified. It's a LONG time since I've driven the car a long distance. Longer still since I've been on the freeway with it. I pulled over twice to check things, chiefly the smell of oil burning on the headers. I think the case is weeping around the join and the oil pump a little. Nothing serious though. I also filled up with fuel close to the club grounds. I noticed a few things. Firstly, the tune is a little too rich. Seems I've been tuning with a dodgy wideband for a while. I need to calibrate the new one again and then I'll be good to go. Secondly, the 2 lawn chair cushions I put in the seat made the world of difference to my backside. Pulling out the passenger seat lightened the car and made packing tools that little bit easier.
On arrival I unpacked, entered and had the car scrutineered. The official had me tighten my battery strap (by wedging a stick in it. No joke) and the screw holding the fire extinguisher bracket on. As he looked through the engine bay he commented, "this isn't standard".
As per usual, one member of the club was horrified I'd be dirt racing a vintage car. I'm used to this now, but I still don't have much patience with it. He said to me, "my father would be in tears if he could see this". I replied, "Well, your father can cry. Coz it's a car and I'm driving it. That's what they're meant for". I find it ironic that people think nothing of historic track racing with these sorts of cars, but get on the dirt and everyone gets all bent out of shape.
Before we started racing I asked a few guys from the club what the track was like. The answers I got concerned me a bit, "pretty rough". However, it transpired that the event organizers had taken the smoothest paths through the property and we'd be racing on them. Either way, I'd be "driving to the conditions".
We did a recce run of the track at the beginning of the day. 95% of the track was smooth and pretty good driving. Even on the recce, I could feel that car was going to be easy to throw around. At the same time I could see lots of fist sized rocks, gravel and sticks. I was very relieved I'd been so paranoid about damaging the oil system.
The first and second runs were pretty reasonable. The only issues I had were in the very tight sections of the track. Hairpins stacked on the hairpins in chopped up, sandy soil. That and my handbrake was not working. Across the day, I worked on the handbrake. By the last run of the day it was finally working well, but I was still having issues with understeer in the tight stuff.
By the end of the day, I was driving the car as hard as I ever have. I pegged it in 1st, 2nd and 3rd gears. One of the guys said the sound of the blowoff valve was, "the last thing I expected from it". I felt confident about scandinavian flicks in some of the more open corners. I slalomed it sideways through a few places even in 3rd gear. Bear in mind, my back wheels have about 1 deg of positive camber and the front is neutral with no castor shims or anything. I was also racing on my street tyres with 40/30psi rear/front. These are cheap, mud and snow tyres, 165/85R15. It should have been an understeering pig of oblivion. But it wasn't. It was balanced, measured and surprisingly, soaked up the bumps. I say surprisingly, because I was terrified I'd rip something off the car. After every run, I went round the car checking oil lines, the front radiator, etc. No dramas. The front of the car is probably 4" off the ground. Crazy stuff!
But how quick was I? Werl... not much.
This was the quickest car of the day. A Mitsubishi Mirage... with an FTO 2l V6 that revs out to 9,000rpm. It's got Evo suspension and brakes, a full cage and a very able driver. It sounds like a Porsche race car and smashed the next fastest guy (My friend's Datsun 510) by 2 secs. The whole course took around 3min to complete, but he was way under that. There was another FTO engined Mirage there too, but it didn't come near him. I was down the slow end of the field, for good reason. I was trying not to destroy the car with not enough ground clearance. As the day progress 30 cars chopped the surfaces up more and more. By the last run I was really picking my way around things. Some places I was more confident but I had to quite careful.
I've come home feeling even stronger about putting a stock front end back in the car. Even with adjusters wound right up, it's still too low. I'd really like to go crazy and build a rose jointed front end like this one...
Either way, I want more height, camber and stock width. I don't exactly know what to do with tyres. There's not a lot of room or options and I already have the smallest steer tyres you can put on 15" rims.
The other thing I struggled with through out the day was getting off the line well. One time I rolled off the line like a Nana. Seems like I can't quite get the hang of keeping the revs up. I also found that on handbrakes turns where I didn't have enough speed the motor wasn't as strong as I thought. I drop the clutch in and the motor would just bog down, but I got used to going back to first. I think I need to load it and rev it up to get the boost before dumping it. I'm also not convinced the handbrake is working as well as it could. Truth is I'm missing my turning brakes from my old buggy, although I don't know if they'd have helped a lot today either.
At the end of the day the engine bay looked like this...
The line wrapped in white rag on the left is the breather for the turbo oil drain. I had it under the car next to the gearbox, but I was concerned it would spend the day sucking in dust. Very glad I did now. Everything else is a little dusty but not to bad. The sock filter will need cleaning.
A few other observations...
1. I wore earplugs on the way there and back. With the sump guard and everything else, it's pretty noisy. I could still hear the radio though.
2. I finally feel like I "trust" the car again after all the dramas I had with the turbo leaking. Today, I just pulled the intercooler and wiped any oil out of the piping before the event started. There wasn't much in there. I've haven't checked it yet, but I drove pretty sensibly on the way home.
3. The oil temp sensor is finally giving me a decent read out now the sump guard covers it. I had 75degC on the free way, but it never got hotter than about 60degF the rest of the day.
4. Below about 100km/h, the intercooler system works really well. It just cycles off and on as the intake temp goes up and down. I was really concerned the front skid plate would ruin the airflow. Instead, I think I'm getting a gurney flap effect and it's dragging air through from behind.
5. I'm pretty sure the fuel smell I've been getting after boost is the gas cap leaking. I checked the cap on the way home and it was damp with fuel. I reckon venting the tank is going to sort it out. I might put a new seal in it too.
6. Even with the cushions, my butt was almost numb by the end of the drive home. I need better padding!
7. I drove home through a beautiful sunset. I felt tremendously relaxed and thankful for the car and the day. Sorry, this sounds sentimental but with all the dramas with the car I was genuinely concerned going today would be a mistake. Instead, I had a really good day. Only one other car was driven there, raced and drove home again. Everyone else had trailers. I can't afford a tow car or a trailer (and they would be wasted on me with time constraints). But how awesome is that for a 61yo car?! So the whole thing was an adventure and I feel tired, but refreshed. Isn't that what our hobby is about?
I got up just before 7am. Had breakfast, packed some tools and hit the road. The club grounds are just over an hour from my place. To be honest I was petrified. It's a LONG time since I've driven the car a long distance. Longer still since I've been on the freeway with it. I pulled over twice to check things, chiefly the smell of oil burning on the headers. I think the case is weeping around the join and the oil pump a little. Nothing serious though. I also filled up with fuel close to the club grounds. I noticed a few things. Firstly, the tune is a little too rich. Seems I've been tuning with a dodgy wideband for a while. I need to calibrate the new one again and then I'll be good to go. Secondly, the 2 lawn chair cushions I put in the seat made the world of difference to my backside. Pulling out the passenger seat lightened the car and made packing tools that little bit easier.
On arrival I unpacked, entered and had the car scrutineered. The official had me tighten my battery strap (by wedging a stick in it. No joke) and the screw holding the fire extinguisher bracket on. As he looked through the engine bay he commented, "this isn't standard".
As per usual, one member of the club was horrified I'd be dirt racing a vintage car. I'm used to this now, but I still don't have much patience with it. He said to me, "my father would be in tears if he could see this". I replied, "Well, your father can cry. Coz it's a car and I'm driving it. That's what they're meant for". I find it ironic that people think nothing of historic track racing with these sorts of cars, but get on the dirt and everyone gets all bent out of shape.
Before we started racing I asked a few guys from the club what the track was like. The answers I got concerned me a bit, "pretty rough". However, it transpired that the event organizers had taken the smoothest paths through the property and we'd be racing on them. Either way, I'd be "driving to the conditions".
We did a recce run of the track at the beginning of the day. 95% of the track was smooth and pretty good driving. Even on the recce, I could feel that car was going to be easy to throw around. At the same time I could see lots of fist sized rocks, gravel and sticks. I was very relieved I'd been so paranoid about damaging the oil system.
The first and second runs were pretty reasonable. The only issues I had were in the very tight sections of the track. Hairpins stacked on the hairpins in chopped up, sandy soil. That and my handbrake was not working. Across the day, I worked on the handbrake. By the last run of the day it was finally working well, but I was still having issues with understeer in the tight stuff.
By the end of the day, I was driving the car as hard as I ever have. I pegged it in 1st, 2nd and 3rd gears. One of the guys said the sound of the blowoff valve was, "the last thing I expected from it". I felt confident about scandinavian flicks in some of the more open corners. I slalomed it sideways through a few places even in 3rd gear. Bear in mind, my back wheels have about 1 deg of positive camber and the front is neutral with no castor shims or anything. I was also racing on my street tyres with 40/30psi rear/front. These are cheap, mud and snow tyres, 165/85R15. It should have been an understeering pig of oblivion. But it wasn't. It was balanced, measured and surprisingly, soaked up the bumps. I say surprisingly, because I was terrified I'd rip something off the car. After every run, I went round the car checking oil lines, the front radiator, etc. No dramas. The front of the car is probably 4" off the ground. Crazy stuff!
But how quick was I? Werl... not much.
This was the quickest car of the day. A Mitsubishi Mirage... with an FTO 2l V6 that revs out to 9,000rpm. It's got Evo suspension and brakes, a full cage and a very able driver. It sounds like a Porsche race car and smashed the next fastest guy (My friend's Datsun 510) by 2 secs. The whole course took around 3min to complete, but he was way under that. There was another FTO engined Mirage there too, but it didn't come near him. I was down the slow end of the field, for good reason. I was trying not to destroy the car with not enough ground clearance. As the day progress 30 cars chopped the surfaces up more and more. By the last run I was really picking my way around things. Some places I was more confident but I had to quite careful.
I've come home feeling even stronger about putting a stock front end back in the car. Even with adjusters wound right up, it's still too low. I'd really like to go crazy and build a rose jointed front end like this one...
Either way, I want more height, camber and stock width. I don't exactly know what to do with tyres. There's not a lot of room or options and I already have the smallest steer tyres you can put on 15" rims.
The other thing I struggled with through out the day was getting off the line well. One time I rolled off the line like a Nana. Seems like I can't quite get the hang of keeping the revs up. I also found that on handbrakes turns where I didn't have enough speed the motor wasn't as strong as I thought. I drop the clutch in and the motor would just bog down, but I got used to going back to first. I think I need to load it and rev it up to get the boost before dumping it. I'm also not convinced the handbrake is working as well as it could. Truth is I'm missing my turning brakes from my old buggy, although I don't know if they'd have helped a lot today either.
At the end of the day the engine bay looked like this...
The line wrapped in white rag on the left is the breather for the turbo oil drain. I had it under the car next to the gearbox, but I was concerned it would spend the day sucking in dust. Very glad I did now. Everything else is a little dusty but not to bad. The sock filter will need cleaning.
A few other observations...
1. I wore earplugs on the way there and back. With the sump guard and everything else, it's pretty noisy. I could still hear the radio though.
2. I finally feel like I "trust" the car again after all the dramas I had with the turbo leaking. Today, I just pulled the intercooler and wiped any oil out of the piping before the event started. There wasn't much in there. I've haven't checked it yet, but I drove pretty sensibly on the way home.
3. The oil temp sensor is finally giving me a decent read out now the sump guard covers it. I had 75degC on the free way, but it never got hotter than about 60degF the rest of the day.
4. Below about 100km/h, the intercooler system works really well. It just cycles off and on as the intake temp goes up and down. I was really concerned the front skid plate would ruin the airflow. Instead, I think I'm getting a gurney flap effect and it's dragging air through from behind.
5. I'm pretty sure the fuel smell I've been getting after boost is the gas cap leaking. I checked the cap on the way home and it was damp with fuel. I reckon venting the tank is going to sort it out. I might put a new seal in it too.
6. Even with the cushions, my butt was almost numb by the end of the drive home. I need better padding!
7. I drove home through a beautiful sunset. I felt tremendously relaxed and thankful for the car and the day. Sorry, this sounds sentimental but with all the dramas with the car I was genuinely concerned going today would be a mistake. Instead, I had a really good day. Only one other car was driven there, raced and drove home again. Everyone else had trailers. I can't afford a tow car or a trailer (and they would be wasted on me with time constraints). But how awesome is that for a 61yo car?! So the whole thing was an adventure and I feel tired, but refreshed. Isn't that what our hobby is about?
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-
madmike
- Posts: 3146
- Joined: Mon Jul 24, 2006 3:11 pm
Re: NEW plan - 1600 TURBO + oval + downunder
What an 'Awesome' Raceday and you "Finished" don't worry about what 'Place' u finished It's all about the "FUN" and you nailed it
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petew
- Posts: 3920
- Joined: Sat Oct 07, 2006 4:05 pm
Re: NEW plan - 1600 TURBO + oval + downunder
One of the guys in the club took a few pic on one corner and sent them to me today...
Gave it a quick hose and wipe down today. Checked the oil and everything looks good. I've just got a bit of a leak from the passenger side axle boot. Will have to check that.
Gave it a quick hose and wipe down today. Checked the oil and everything looks good. I've just got a bit of a leak from the passenger side axle boot. Will have to check that.
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