Monday, April 29, 2013

How to Change Your Gearbox Oil in a Rcolt Z27AG


I believe this is a good read for the people still getting there hands around a car. A good little maintenance tip. From changing brakes, engine oil, coolant flush, brake bleeds and gearbox oil. Will pretty much cover all the small things faced in owning a car.
Then when you get serious a timing belt change.

For more info on the gearbox and clutches and LSD try here
/removing-gearbox-installation-tips-for.html

--------------------------------------------
NOTE:
 DO not remove gearbox drain bolt until you can remove the filler bolt
 DO not work under a car that isn't supported
 DO not exceed GL-4. The synchro's are not designed to have a material that reduces friction beyond that spec, so any GL 4/5 will lead to premature hub/slider wear. From memory is the suphurs that damage the syncros.
--------------------------------------------
Tips from me:
 - I don't remove wheels or anything off the engine bay items, I get right under the car and use an 8mm hex bit on the end of a ring spanner. I couldn't get clearance for anything else.
 - let the fluid settle, run through the gears and try top it up again.
 - easier to fill the car while it is on 4 stands, hence a level car.
 - EVEN EASIER IF YOU DO the overfill kit listed below
 - Spray the bolt with WD40
 - if it doesn't come out cold, try doing it after a short drive
 - one gearbox I worked on wouldn't come out. With the gearbox out of the car, it took some brute strength. They all give way, some just take longer.
 - Make sure it is a good quality hex bit e.g. kinchrome. You don't want to round off the sump bolts.
 - Nothing wrong with over filling. I usually go 2lts. There is a breather port at the top of the gearbox if you are worried about foaming.
 - I NO LONGER USE Redline due to the fluid going waxy after a 1000km or so.
 - RoyalPurple, Amsoil or Neo Racing are my recommended option.
--------------------------------------------

Tutorial: How to change gearbox oil by lawocg

Distributed with his permission - Sure mate by all means feel free to use! your blog has been very helpful for me!

Since I had a bitch of a time changing my gearbox oil, figured I'd write up a short thread as there's bits and pieces of info here and there but nothing definitive on how to do it.

It seriously helps if you have a pair of helping hands, pain in the ass if its a solo job ( but manageable none the less).


A magnetic drain plug. Handy for those worried about metal or run a clutch type LSD



This is the oil i am using. I have also used royal purple.
/gearbox-drop-part-4-axles.html

DISCLAIMER: I hold no responsibility if you round the bolts, snap something, get oil in your eyes, lose an arm, have the car fall on you etc. Use common sense!

Stuff needed

1. 2L of Gearbox oil. Pick whatever you want as long as its 75W-90 GL4.
2. 8mm Allen Key (Quality one will be better as a crap one will round and bend)
3. 8mm Socket and extension
4. Jack and handle ( will need handle as a breaker bar )
5. Jackstand
6. WD40
7. Pump or a funnel and some tubing.
8. Socket set to undo wheel nuts
9. Eye protection

Before we start, theres bits and pieces of info out there about doing it different ways. The below steps are easy enough that anyone with common sense should be able to tackle it.




Step 1
- remove top intercooler piping, battery, airbox and snorkel (leave airbox-turbo intake pipe intact)
- unbolt 3 bolts holding battery tray in place
- squeeze the little clip holding the negative terminal and MAF cable to release them from the battery tray.

Okay, so now with all the above removed. You should have a nice emptyish view of the top of the gearbox, also should be able to wiggle the battery tray up and down to give you some room to move in the next few steps.

Step 2
- Undo wheel on front passenger side.
- Jack up the car and place jack stands under chassis frame rail.
- Leave Jack there as well holding some load for double protection.

Now its safe to work under the car. Get under and look for the 8mm fill bolt on the gear box, it will be right next to the drive shaft and sway bar. WD40 the bolt for good measure.




Step 3
- place one end of the 8mm allen key into the bolt with the long end point straight up.
- now look through the engine bay from the top and you should see the allen key pointing up straight at you

- slip the jack handle over the end of the key and slowly pull towards you (Will take a good amount of force and it should come loose). This is the hardest step in the entire process, make sure the allen key is seated in the bolt fully and persist, it will come loose. helps if you have another set of hands holding the key in while the other person cranks it at the top. Note: wiggle the battery tray towards you so you dont crack it while trying to crack the bolt.
- undo the drain bolt from under the car. This one is a lot easier, same process but instead of using the jack handle for leverage. Just slip a 8mm socket and extension on the end of the allen key and break the bolt.

Step 4
- Get a pan and drain out all the old oil, hopefully its not black and smells of ass. Once drained redo the drain bolt.
- Either use a pump to get the new stuff in or use a funnel and tubing to gravity feed it in. Pump is much more preferable. Best position to pump is from the front passenger wheel arch for the easiest access.

NOTE: You can either put the wheel back on to level out the car when refilling to get the factory 1.75L OR you can leave the car jacked up and pump a little more in. I chose the latter option and pumped 2L in.

- once full, do up the fill bolt and presto your done! Now just reinstall everything in the engine bay, clean up any spills and you are good to go.

Rather long guide, but its a slut of a job and I wished I had something like this when I was tackling it.

PS: if you plan on changing oil regularly, would make a lot of sense to replace those hex bolts with normal M18x1.5 bolts. Which I am contemplating on doing, credit to Ayu452 for the sizing of the bolt. /home-brew-overfill-kit.html
Sales people got confused, apparently in providing the items i used. General names include:
1)
M18x1/4 BSP (which is a generic sensor adapter)
e.g. Brass adapter bush, suits threaded port in the turbo outlet pipe for Australian DTS, MTQ & Safari systems with threaded Metric M18 x 1.5.
2)
Barbed Brass Fitting - No P6 Male Elbow - 1/4 x 1/4 (Hose x BSPT)
Code: 06006-0404
 - used to create the right angle in the sensor adapter
3)
Barbed Brass Fitting - No P10 Female Tailpiece  - 1/4 x 1/4 (Hose x BSPT)
Code: 06010-0404
 - used to block the end of the open hose that runs into the engine bay
4)
1/4 BSP Taper plug
 - used to close the end of (3)


I use 6mm hose with hose clamps. The hose has an outer cover, with some electrical conduit. I didn't have any issues with heat, it was more so protection from rubbing or getting pinched.


**Part numbers from TubeFit. They were found on my Enzed receipt.

-------------------------- Handy Engine Oil Change Tap --------------------------
It can also be used on the gearbox. But I use a magnetic plug. Also i feel it will stop the gearbox from emptying fully.















Also note: This little item is super handy for those doing there oil changes. A simple little tap.
No mess :)
/fumoto-f106n-14mm-15.html

No Limits - 25/04/2013 - ANZAC Session - Personal Best Set!

Exciting times. My car was once 33 out of 99.  I shall move to around about 15th place, why?
I finally changed tires as you saw in this post:
/track-prep-z27ag-goes-to-war_29.html



Previous ranking:
/leader-board-no-limits-33-out-of-99.html





Last session i was out:
/no-limits-10012013.html

Long - 10 laps - 1:11.209 (fastest lap was 5 of 10)
Short - 6 laps - 59.246  (fastest lap was 1 of 6) - RaceChrono time was 59.26s







This session out, I was brutal. Too bad i left early :( 
Too sick to stay, turbo to FMIC kept popping off. But I did manage.......drum roll
Actual times:
Long Track - 5 Laps -  Fastest was Lap 2 - 1:09.9469 - Split - 0:07.2743
Short Track - 10 Laps - Fastest was Lap 7 - 0:58.1755 - Split - 0:04.3635

Last Setup 
- Front 42psi, rears 40psi + alignment change 3.4deg @ the front
- Brake and clutch RBF600 flush + oil change
- Lightweight RRP flywheel and new carbon LSD
- alignment change 3.4deg @ the front
This Setup
- New rcomps on 8.5" and 7.5" wheels, plus hub spacers & weight reduction
- Front & Rear Left Side 32psi
- Front & Rear Right Side 30psi
- No idea on alignment as a raisied the front 10mm
- Small brake bleed RBF600 flush + oil change (Penrite Racing 0W-50)





RaceChrono Times: 
Long Track 
- 1:09.96 - Optimal Time - 1:09.38
Short Track 
- 58.16 - Optimal Time - 58.16

Optimal and actual times are equal. That only means I can get quicker :) 57s!























This was last time vs this time. I was running the Toyo R1Rs and a bit extra weight.

My mates VMAX vs Mine.
He runs a 55s on the short in his stroked Evo V.
Setup:
Yoko A050 mediums also DMS front and Proflex rear suspension
Evo V is a stroker 2.3 Manley kit with IX turbo & cams - everything else is targa spec

My mate was saying you can't compare VMAX? Because the car can reach 200km but you dont know at why point he reached.









New track shoes :)
See previous post for fitment issues :(
/track-prep-z27ag-goes-to-war_29.html



















Track Prep - Z27AG Goes to War

It has been awhile since my last update. I have been busy preparing for the all day race.
I convinced myself it was time for some new tires. I need to get serious.
Hence i went with some Z221 Hankooks. Its cheaper than the Yokohama A050s.
Lucky for me I found one shop in Perth selling them.
Kostera http://www.kostera.com.au/
They also do the famous Dunlop RComps.
My friend said they Hankooks in his mind won the WTAC. As all three top finishes ran them. They are now banned and only Yokohamas can run in the competition. I wonder why :)

First things first. The compressor needed new oil.
I hadn't changed the oil in a year :( Lazy me.
In went some fresh compressor oil.



When i bought my rims i measured up a rough fitment. I begun to realise that nothing would clear due to my camber setup.
So i went and ordered proper bolt on spacers. That are hubcentric and not lugcentric.
They match the hubsize so there is no stress on the studs. They are from a Volvo S40 4stud.
I also went and purchased hub centric rings 67mm to 73mm. This allows the rims to sit nice and snug without any movement of stress on the lugs.







Trak+ Hubcentric spacers CB=67.1
/ls400ucf20-or-ls430ucf30-front-brake.html

The rears proved a pain in the ass.
They use a 10mm spacer, the snag was it required installation of new studs. These were strengthen extended studs and they would not go in!
I use a torch to heat the hubs but no luck.
I stuck them in the freezer for a day and it proved to help.
I used WD40 and copper anti seize to help drive them in.
They ruined my cro-mo impact installation tool.






Another little present came all the way from NZ.
This is an Evo III to brembo conversion bracket.
It will allow someone to bolt their brembos off a new evo to the older ones.
The rotors you will need to run are 320mm which are factory evo5-9 front rotors, but 330mm will also work with these plates
At the moment i run a 276mm disc and soon to be a 294mm
A cheaper and lighter option for now.
More on the two rotors:
/project-mu-or-carbotech-276mm-or-294mm.html
My twin pot Evo III:
/ct530-xp10-carbotech-to-evo-iii-twin.html
How to fit bigger rotors:
/z27ag-rcolt-mr307282-with-294mm-discs.html





It just got more serious. I just bought an AC TIG.
For those that don't know. AC is required to weld aluminium. It does cost a bit more than your usual DC TIG (stainless etc) and even more than your MIG.
More info to come as i teach myself how to use it.







The winning tires. Too bad they ordered me the wrong sizes.
I wanted the 205/45/17 on the fronts and a 215/45/17 on the rears.
I ended up with a 215 and a 225 :(
They don't fit at all. I can't even full lock.
Stretch wise they aren't bad but the rolling diam is too big. I should be running a 40 profile. But they don't make these.










I also went a bit crazy and started ripping stuff out of the car.












Zero clearance. Hence a lot of the guards got cut and bashed.
Lucky i had already flared the guards to fit the 15x8+0 otherwise it would be impossible.
Flared guards:
/wide-body-fenders-rcolt-version-i.html









I used the angle grinder. Extremely messy.
I have now bought a Shinano air saw. Sooo good.
I no longer burn my face with molten plastic
More photos below of the cutting.








Bye bye interior.
I believe i have removed about 50kg from the interior.
Between all plastics, un-used seat belts, passenger chair and carpets.
I have also remove the fog lights, heat shields, drivers Recaro to a lighter race seat. Only 5kg saving from memory :(
Can't afford a super light seat.
I also changed to a smaller battery a few years ago. 9kg saving from memory.
Maybe I am about 100kg lighter than a OEM car. Carbon hood etc. Rear seat were the heaviest item
But the manifold and turbo would weigh abit more, plus all my swaybars and anti roll bars.



Before and after :)
















Too bad i can't get 40 profiles. Would have been perfect :(









Not the best fittings for a 17" wheel @_@









Wednesday, April 3, 2013

20k+ Image Timelapse Compilation - China - Chengdu to Jiuzhaiguo Bus Ride


A rough video i put together with a collection of images taken with my contour while travelling through China.
I also had some small segments from a trip down to Denmark (shot with a D700) and another trip down to Bluff Knoll.

Most of the images were from a 20hr+ bus trip to & from Jiuzhaiguo.

Music by: MrSuicideSheep - He does some of my fav Chillstep mixes. More people should check out his work.
http://www.youtube.com/user/MrSuicide...

Yet to completely update the blog - but images are here
http://ayu452-adventures.blogspot.com...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iv9xyucA3U&feature=youtu.be&noredirect=1