Out of hibernation for 2023!
I started prep last week to get it out and to the Pistonheads Sunday Service, oil change, fix the alternator plug and a general check over.
Oh HAI!
It is tucked up, but has been moved in and out of the garage being built around it
Up in the air
Despite the oil only have one track day and around 500 miles on it, I wanted to change it because of all the cold starts with little warm up it has done over winter. Good call it was too, the oil stank of fuel, inevitable given the use. I could have taken it for a long drive to boil off the fuel, but oil is cheap and it is good having clean stuff in it.
I use Mannol after a lot of use and experience with it, it works well and I can change it often at the price it is. It kept the valve stem oil seals in my N73 in tip top condition up to 140k miles, not many BMW's of the era can say that!
I have also changed from a 5w40 to a 0w30. The car doesn't get driven in the cold at all and make excellent oil pressure, possibly too much at over 100psi cold.
(if you haven't got one of these oil jugs yet, just get one. They are cheap and make filling up a joy, plus with the caps they don't get dirty between uses!)
Next up, alternator connector. I have moved the alternator to make space for the turbo manifold and because I am using a black top head the mounts are no longer on the front of the block. So it now resides on the back of the block, and with the angle the Celica engine is at, access is.......difficult.
Glad it doesn't need changing
The connector I am using is the original toyota one, some 29 years old. Unsurprisingly the plastic has gone brittle and last time it was installed a number of pieces cracked off. A new one from Brands Hatch Performance was installed using crimps and self sealing heat shrink.
All done, I prepped it for Sunday with a quick wheel bolt check and a wipe over. Little did I know that was a bit pointless, given the state of the 'orchard'!
Had a great time and managed to take virtually no photos
, Here is what we did get
This caterfield sounded bonkers, heavily supercharged lump of unknown origin
Loved this little Y10 turbo swapped Fiat too, the owner was very friendly and we had a quick chat
Did I mention it was muddy?
Got the boy on the pressure washer when we were home to clean it up
Great weekend overall. Going back again on the 22nd in the Celica for the Midlands Hillclimb club practice day, then taking the M3 out on the 23rd for the Bicester Heritage Breakfast Club thingy
Oh and oil pressure is still high on 0w30, seeing 30psi hot idle and around 90psi over 5krpm. Doesn't seem to mind, it doesn't leak or anything so no point chasing it really.
More soon
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So it will be staying for the time being 