'86 Capri Turbo

Very menacing.

Awesome... just awesome !!!

Still going strong - it's a new record! Couple of things that spring to mind:

It really needs a better diff, for some reason it's struggling with traction in the dry too (I'm sure it didn't used to). In the wet, the very slightest hint of boost and one wheel will start spinning and it'll red line in about half a second! the dry is loads better but i can feel one wheel trying to go in 1st and second when i give it a good pasting. I have a welded diff on the shelf but I'm reluctant to fit it.

Maybe there is a little more power now the sensors are doing their jobs properly? I'll have to find a rolling road to get to.

Also, the standard Nissan oil pressure sender is dying. Had a bit of a panic when the light started to come on, the last time that happened, the bearings went My durite oil pressure guage hasn't changed it's readings though - 60-70psi cold idle and 25-30psi hot, happy with that. I've got a new Nissan dial cluster to fit, might help but is probably the sender.

Looking forward to Santa Pod this year, although I worry slightly that the sticky track will snap a half shaft off the line in 1st - unsure how I'll launch it.. 1st lasts about 1 second and is very violent, maybe a 2nd gear launch would be an idea?

Yeah, that's the reluctance! Can't afford a proper diff so they're my only two options.

In other news, still using it daily!

Had a couple of issues. One being that the oil pressure light started to flicker when it was getting warm. The last time that happened the big end bearings spat their dummies out :/

I have a pressure gauge too, but it was reading healthily. Although the needle has a tenancy to stick a little, a tap on the face seems to settle it.

It would only happen as the oil warmed up and only at low revs but it was getting worse... i worried the pump wad failing, or that there wasn't much oil left in the sump. If you know these engines, you'll know that reading the dipstick is a dark art. I kept checking it, but it kept telling me all was well. So there was a problem somewhere!

this is what was happening:



at the same time as this:



I wouldn't have used it like this, but i had to as the Cavalier's in the middle of a carb conversion.

Now, 30ish psi at hot idle seems very healthy to me, but the oil pressure light didn't think so! One of them was lying, and i couldn't be sure that the level was correct either. Soooo, I bought a new oil pressure switch from driftbitz, 5 litres of 10/40 (I was running 15/40, more on that on a mo) and an oil filter.

Fired her up...

let it get warm, no light!



Slightly higher pressure.. Could have been slightly low due to the switch weep.



All good

On to the grade. When it's cold, the lifters don't like 10/40. They tap for about 5 seconds before quietening down. They were silent with 15/40. I'll monitor the situation!

The day after the repair, at Oulton Park:

Still using this daily - still have nasty feeling steering!

I've ordered a pair of heavy duty track control arms to see if i can sort this issue. I'm guessing having lowered the front that there is extra pressure on the bushes. The last time i changed then i fitted poly bushes but it clearly hasn't worked as I've only done about 5000 miles on then and they're worse than ever! New ones have the following mods:


1. Inner bush housing increased diameter to 43mm.
2. Heavy Duty `I` section ribs increased thickness to 7.3mm.
3. Ball joint housing increased diameter to 43mm.
4. Section ball joint housing to main body increased to 17mm.
5. Inner TCA bore fully machined to accept Polysport / Race or heavy duty rubber bushes.
6. Outer TCA bore fully machined to accept Polysport / Race bushes or compression strut cone & link.
7. Extended thread length on taper pin.
8. Neoprene dust seal with deep retention groove.
9. Supplied with heavy duty outer TCS rubber bushes fitted.

I'm hoping that the steering and front end in general will feel better than ever after fitting these bad boys.

Random fleet shot:



Also, I'm looking into proper brakes! the 2.8i stuff - even drilled with EBC pads and braided hoses, just doesn't cut the mustard. I'm side stepping the servo upgrade and looking at body diameter disks and 4 pot calipers. I've seen some conversions using Fiat Coupe Turbo calipers so in looking into that at the moment. I've decided to sell the Cavalier to help fund the brake upgrade and I'm maybe going to look into a 2 wheel drive conversion too - not a weldy one though! brakes first..

Oh, and here it is being a Practical Performance Car again!:

So, after a successful morning, I carried on with the tinkering. Nothing major but lots of nice little achievements.

Fitted some sound proofing in the back and gave the boot area and where the rear seats used to be a coat of paint, bolted my new fire extinguisher in place, tidied up some interior parts and trimmed the old Range Rover boot mat so it fitted better. Just satisfying little bits!

Looking good, may have to get a set of those TCAs for Lauren's Capri, as it's got something odd about it, no vibration though just feels a bit vague

Thanks fellas - a very satisfying weekend's work!

You should definitely get a pair dude, the transformation was ridiculous! I had poly bushes, brand new springs, decent tyres and the tracking was freshly done before fitting them, but it was like night and day!