Domcr250
04-10-2008, 03:03 PM
Peeps, the cars now been completed for nearly a month now, and I’ve learned quite a few things that I thought I would share with you – it may make your completed builds easier in the long run.
1. Buy a new fuel pump, the old one is 20 years old, has probably been sitting about for 18 months and will run for a week or so then packup.
2. Don’t assume that the gearbox has any oil in just because it did when it was in the swift! Mine took 2L of oil, and that was only after it started making funny noises in 4th and 5th. I assumed that the oil was still in the box for when it had been in the swift – a lucky eascape.
3. If you are running 10” wheels really consider hard about final drives. I am running the standard Mk2 GTI ratio and 1st gear is not really worth having plus 5th feels like 4th! I am going to move to a 1.3 GS ratio ASAP.
4. Consider how much the engine will move, if I stomp on it the intake manifold hits the bulkhead cross member and it’s at least 15mm away. My solution will be to upgrade to a Superflex rear engine mount, however its almost an engine out job to swap the rear mount.
5. If you are using the standard swift injection system check the TPS settings before you put it on the car, its much easier to get to the TPS connector when it’s out of the car.
6. Double check your alternator pulley alignement, I maganged to shred the 1st belt in less than 10 miles, all it needed was a couple of washers to mover the alternator out half a mil.
7. Make sure that if the engine does move under hard acceleration that the throttle cannot get stuck open, mine has on a number of occasions and although you overtake other cars very quickly your legs tend to turn into jelly as you realise that it’s not shutting down!
One thing I will say is that it’s super quick, all in it weighs 660Kgs, so with the limited mods I have done to the engine that’s 175BHP per ton, when you put your foot down it’s a maximum grin moment.
PS. Any one got a 1.3GS gearbox they don’t want!
Dom
1. Buy a new fuel pump, the old one is 20 years old, has probably been sitting about for 18 months and will run for a week or so then packup.
2. Don’t assume that the gearbox has any oil in just because it did when it was in the swift! Mine took 2L of oil, and that was only after it started making funny noises in 4th and 5th. I assumed that the oil was still in the box for when it had been in the swift – a lucky eascape.
3. If you are running 10” wheels really consider hard about final drives. I am running the standard Mk2 GTI ratio and 1st gear is not really worth having plus 5th feels like 4th! I am going to move to a 1.3 GS ratio ASAP.
4. Consider how much the engine will move, if I stomp on it the intake manifold hits the bulkhead cross member and it’s at least 15mm away. My solution will be to upgrade to a Superflex rear engine mount, however its almost an engine out job to swap the rear mount.
5. If you are using the standard swift injection system check the TPS settings before you put it on the car, its much easier to get to the TPS connector when it’s out of the car.
6. Double check your alternator pulley alignement, I maganged to shred the 1st belt in less than 10 miles, all it needed was a couple of washers to mover the alternator out half a mil.
7. Make sure that if the engine does move under hard acceleration that the throttle cannot get stuck open, mine has on a number of occasions and although you overtake other cars very quickly your legs tend to turn into jelly as you realise that it’s not shutting down!
One thing I will say is that it’s super quick, all in it weighs 660Kgs, so with the limited mods I have done to the engine that’s 175BHP per ton, when you put your foot down it’s a maximum grin moment.
PS. Any one got a 1.3GS gearbox they don’t want!
Dom