Vtecmec's 4th Gen

[4thgenphil]

Have you blanked off the side that doesn't have a radiator or is it just open to the engine bay? You'd probably be best blocking it off if you haven't, force a bit more air through the rad rather than around it.

[Vtecmec]

That's a good point, and something I probably should have done, but it's now radiator all the way across. I've managed to get something in where the aircon rad would normally sit.

[Vtecmec]

I've mummified the exhaust manifold and down pipe to reduce under bonnet temps a tad:



And fitted a radiator in the space that used to contain the aircon radiator:



It's a 'race' radiator from a MK1 Golf/Scirocco, fits in the space well and is 45% larger than the civic rad that was there before.

As the Germans have a funny coolant expansion system, I had to get inventive and add my own rad cap with overflow port:



Changed the BOV over again as the plastic SAAB one felt flakey, I think it was leaking boost on second and third gear pulls, third time is a charm with an adjustable piston (last one was diaphragm) type made by prosport:



Works like a charm.

Final shot with the car back together:

[h10ndr]

Wow...this has moved on a bit since I was last on here..

[sol-lude]

Havent been on here in a few months but this being the 1st catch up has been worth it. Absolute beast before and now, just sheer epic.

[Vtecmec]

Thanks gents, nice to see you are both still around.

Done a few more bits to this.

I've swapped the rear light gaskets as they may have been leaking water, I don't seem to have any pics, bit its not that exciting anyhow. I ordered the bright red ones on eBay and they fit really nice.

Then moving onto the steering, I've had a weeping power steering rack and pump for years, not really leaking but always a little seepage and wetness. After a failed several month search for a replacement rack, I decided to strip my own and refurb it. It was actually more straight forward than I'd anticipated.

One disassembled steering rack:





The hardest part was having to manufacture a tool to fit the rack piston ring.

And steering pump.



Both now back on the car with fresh inner and outer tie rod ends. Booked in for Hunter alignment next week.

I've also sorted all the boost pipes, as I had cobbled my own together, some of the aluminium pipes did not have the beads on the ends to keep the hoses from popping off. Originally I had planned to buy something that I could use to make my own, but having a look around they are bloody expensive, like 3 figures expensive, which for a few uses is way too much.

So I did some googling and found a good ghetto way of doing my own. Cost me nothing as I used stuff I had lying around.

[h10ndr]

Is there nothing you cant strip down and rebuild? Impressive...

[vanzep]

Excellent work - not many folk would tackle the steering rack.
was there a kit you could buy for the refurb?
ive made a mental note your the guy to speak to about steering racks

[Vtecmec]

Cheers guys.

The rebuild kit for both the pump and rack are by Gates. I ordered them from RockAuto.

[simonc]

Sorry it's a bit late but many, many congrats on the LOTM. She's a corker and a testament to your commitment. Ten out ten, Sir