House's ITB XE build and re-build

[totalnova]

Exciting times, this will be a real weapons when it's done.
Nick

[nova_niek]

Manifold ready for Zircotec coating

I've read about Zircotec coating before, but don't have any experience with it nor have I heard of people's experiences with it. Any good? What do you think House?

[novarally]

I've read about Zircotec coating before, but don't have any experience with it nor have I heard of people's experiences with it. Any good? What do you think House?

Zircotec is something I've thought about, so I'm interested to hear House's view also. But what a shame to cover up those welds!

[House]

Well,

The options are leave it as is, we all know that XE's in Novas suffer with heat so this doesn't work for me.

Exhaust heat wrap... not matter how hard I try with this, after a few months it just frays and ends up looking awful and it's itchier than a loft insulation duvet so doesn't work for me either.

That puts us onto Zircotec.

I discussed this with Tim at the Phirm and they use it on a lot of their big powered cars to keep temps down. I know it's harder than a coffin nail and they do it in black now, it used to only come in white, which was a nightmare as thumb prints wouldn't come off it.

They claim on their website to reduce a manifold temp from 1100c surface down to 700c so it seems to work.

I do know people that have cracked manifolds on turbo cars and can't clean the zircotec off to repair the manifold.

I'm gonna call them tomorrow and discuss options and time frames as I'm away from home for a few weeks so can't send it to them.

[House]

So with the shell off for paint I've got a lot of the bits back with me in the workshop.

Been sorting and prepping stuff now Ben doesn't need it for mock up

Managed to source a set of driveshafts



Now these I like!! Titanium bolts for crank sensor bracket, little dowty washers to seal, as the sump will run in a vacuum the washers should be plenty.



And as I'm paranoid, lock wired in



Filter back plate also painted as I didn't want the aluminium oxidising and looking crap.



Got the special 510cc Pico injectors, sourced specifically for me by SBD, fitted and in, I also stripped and cleaned the throttle bodies, ensuring they went back together properly.



Got the tank painted and added some heat resistant matting to the underside of the tank, I'll be using the same stuff on the underside of the tunnel aswell to keep the exhaust heat from radiating into the car.



Stat housing cleaned, painted and assembled with 82 degree stat and brand new sensors in



I couldn't resist a little gear indicator test, displays gear oil temp too

[House]

A quick squirt of seam sealer and she's been dropped off with the painter.







Aiming for 3-4 weeks to get the shell back with the doors, boot and bonnet a week after, this should allow us to get the engine back in and build the car up, then just bolt the doors and bits on when they're back.

[8valve-craig]

This is great news mate. Cant wait to see this all built up.

[House]

This is great news mate. Cant wait to see this all built up.

Thanks mate!!

Another step closer today, all stripped and inspected, as suspected it's never been used in anger.



Despite being sat upside down on the bench at Modus for nearly 18 months there's still loads of assembly lube stuck to everything!!



Belt and pulleys all off



Pump on, had to cut a lug off the block for it to fit!!



Had to modify this cover and make this little spacer for it to work properly



All stripped back ready for the crank seal and new belt to arrive from SBD in the morning

[House]

Sump went on today





I was short on 4 bolts, they're on order!!

All safe and sound back home, only took me 2 years to pick it up after it was finished!!

[totalnova]

Rocker needs painting.....
But seriously looks brilliant, I bet you feel like a kid at Christmas.