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The methanol/water injection system was something I'd always been keen to put together and try. I'd come across it in the RAF as it was fitted to the Harriers we used to take the Falklands back and I knew it had been fitted to the Supermarine Spitfires we sent for the Russians to use against Adolf, which meant they could run on the sub-standard, low octane fuel that was all the Russians had available.
Without going into too much detail about the why's and wherefores, it did work very well, mostly - the engine ran much smoother and economy improved by about 10mpg with it switched 'on', but the very fine nozzle needed for a 100hp motor kept clogging up despite the filters in the system. I removed it and sold it on ebay, for about £110 as I recall, which was around double what I'd spent on the parts (don't pay a tuning specialist £200 for a 'water injection' pump, it's actually a £30 fish-pond pump put to better use). If I fit another low powered car with Methanol/Water injection, which I probably will, I'll go with a gravity fed exhaust manifold/capillary system, which is obviously much simpler than the high pressure pump, solenoid and superfine nozzle I used last time. I would definitely be interested in relieving you of a fibreglass bulkhead. PM me with the deal you'd consider (hopefully a simpler one than Brexit) and we'll sort something out. :) |
Methanol-Wasser 50
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MW_50 Regards, Mick |
That's a great article, Mick, thanks for sharing it. It explains exactly why I fitted it - to allow the Vitesse engine, designed to take 100 octane (5-star) fuel, to run on 95 Octane modern unleaded without running in to detonation issues (pinking, for those old enough to remember that).
I tried various ratios of water to methanol and settled on a 10% methanol solution. The positive effects mostly come from the water anyway, so you could run 100% water injection, but some methanol still really needs to be added as it stops bacteria growing in the water and clogging up the pipes and nozzles. The simplest form of water injection is just a water tank located above the exhaust downpipe but below the intake manifold, with a gravity fed copper capillary tube running from the water tank wound a dozen or so times around the exhaust downpipe. That is then connected to the air intake tract on the throttle side of any filters. With the engine running, once the exhaust heats up, the water in the capillary that's wound round it boils. The steam created can't go back towards the tank because of the flow of cold water, so it exits the capillary into the intake tract, where it is sucked into the engine along with the incoming air. As the wikipedia article explains, that has the effect of cooling the inlet charge and increasing its density, which can give around a 30% increase in power on a highly tuned engine (less so on a standard engine). Steam has been proven to have exactly the same effect as cold water in doing this, btw, and there are a host of side-benefits with no down-side. My original plan on fitting it to my Spyder was to modify the engine, raising the compression ratio and fitting a wild cam to make best use of the benefits of water injection, but, in reality, around 100hp was quite enough to enjoy a very light car on the road anyway. I can't say exactly how much extra power the system gave my mk1 Vitesse engine as the day I put it on the dyno to check was the day the system decided to clog itself up and stop working for the first time. That was ultimately down to the very fine nozzle needed on a low powered engine - I'd run the calculations to get the correct volume of water in the inlet charge and too much can cause a hydraulic lock in the engine which is likely to either bend the con rod, smash the crank out through the sump or blow the cylinder head off. :( Anyway, that really sums up the joy of self-build cars - building and fitting a methanol/water injection system not because it needed it but just because I could. :) |
Was that what Nubodi were selling?
Snake oil? |
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They were selling some kind of water injection system that gave greater mpg and performance.
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A potential donor for someone in Scotland - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/303031515969
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As a matter of interest Mr Towed, where were you getting your methanol from and were you self-mixing?
I’ve just installed a system on my supercharged MGB Locost to reduce pinking. I’ve been put off self mixing a bit having read how nasty the stuff can be! (If you are ex-RAF, then I’ll add....but not as nasty as AVPIN!) |
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I also packed in a tour working on missile systems, participated in the ongoing EOD clearance of the Falklands (I blew up the 13,000,000th item of unexploded ordnance there in 1993), had a couple of positions in armouries and taught sabotage techniques to some troopers from a regiment that's a bit Special (my job at the time was to find and disable ied's in buildings and they wanted to know how to make that job more hazardous for my equivalent on the other side). I did spend some time alongside a Lightning Squadron in Cyprus one year, and most of their Phlegms (Flight Line Mechanics) had brown scorch marks singed into the tops of their berets where they'd used them to put out Avpin fires on start up. Ahh, memories... Anyway, Methanol. You can buy it on ebay - I found an ebay supplier based in Norfolk who happened to have a boat moored a few miles from my house and I picked it up from him there. I was paying about £5/litre for 25 litres plus a one-off payment of another fiver for the (reusable) container. You can have it delivered, though, but it'll cost a bit more (quick ebay search threw this up) - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/20-Litres...Gxb8:rk:6:pf:0 Handling and storage are no problem so long as you follow some pretty basic health and safety rules - don't drink it, wear gloves and eye protection, keep it in a proper container with the hazard symbols clearly displayed so Trumpton know what it is if your garage catches fire, etc. I mixed it with distilled water, also available on ebay for around £4/litre - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/25-LITRE-...6wo:rk:13:pf:0 To eliminate pinking, unless the instructions that came with your system* say otherwise I'd go with about 20% Methanol to 80% water. *Is it an 'off the shelf' system or did you build it yourself? There's a lot of useful information on the 'net (and a load of crap from Jap turbo-drift-mod-tyres-too-narrow-for-my-wheels idiot bhp boasters who like to ruin Nissan 200SX's by 'improving' them). Anyone who's interested in the real benefits of water/methanol injection could do worse than starting here - http://www.enginebasics.com/Advanced...injection.html While this is a useful chart detailing the nozzle size to choose for your engine's power output - https://www.aemelectronics.com/forum...uld-i-be-using Good luck with your supercharged motor, would like to see some pic's btw :) |
My car is actually featured in the current TKC mag - pre-water meth fitting... I made up the system from parts from Devils Own but used advice from various MGB forums. The nozzle blows through the centre of the airfilter and through the HS8 carb. The charger is from a Mini and was installed by the previous owner. I was having some issues with calibrating the pressure switch but with just water it ran a lot smoother. The switch is now sorted but I’m now waiting for decent weather to try it out...
I’ll work out how to post pictures on here and start a new thread somewhere to avoid a hijack!! I used to fly Hercs - Avpin was hated by us when we carried it for the Canberras, we used to put it right on the edge of the ramp so if we had any probs we could chuck it overboard...the lightning had just left service as I joined unfortunately :( |
Ooh, I got to see the World by Fat Albert, you may even have been driving one I was cargo in.
Did you happen to go out to Malaysia in '97 for the joint Special Forces' exercise 'Elang Osprey'? The Herc I was in had a faulty cabin conditioning system so it rained inside the aircraft when we descended. We always felt that the Herc fleet just didn't do maintenance. We also got diverted into Colombo right in the middle of the civil war, which was rather disconcerting. All the Canberras I worked on were cartridge start while everything else was either electric start from a Houchin or pressure started from a Palouste, so I didn't suffer the delights of invisibly burning overalls experienced by those working with Avpin. I did deal with a few start up and brake fires, and I also had an F16 dump Hydrazine all over the pan in Saudi while I was bombing up a nearby Tornado, though. Now that's really nasty stuff that eats anything organic, including people. The Lightning went out of service in 1988 and I was in the Guard of Honour at the parade at Binbrook where 5 Squadron (Lightnings) handed over the colours to 5 Squadron (Tornado F3's). There was a barrel afterwards and when I got on the bus back to Coningsby I found that a bunch of our lineys had 'borrowed' a drill Firestreak missile that they'd found just lying around, apparently, and had managed to load it on the bus as a 'gizzit'. Anyway, with apologies to Mickey for the thread hijack, that's enough reminiscing for now. :) |
Working on the 2CV based Leighton I'v fitted the body hinges.
The boot hinges on the front edge giving maximum access. https://i.imgur.com/cYCcDQqh.jpg The bonnet has been cut allowing for the dash to remain fixed. https://i.imgur.com/f8KVQxvh.jpg Also fitted most of the bulkhead sealing panels. https://i.imgur.com/3D0pU2Rh.jpg |
I like it!
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Delivered a Spyder body to a new customer and after a long chat traded a wind screen and half tonneau cover for this.
https://i.imgur.com/SjRgMt3h.jpg His son abandoned it a few years ago. He thought it was a Z600. Turns out it's a ZX10. :peace: |
Had a chap come to look at the Spyder and his mate expressed a serious interest in the "D" type!
I dusted it off, got it out and onto my newly installed 2 post ramp so he can have a better look next visit. :thumb: https://i.imgur.com/syHrf75h.jpg The project has been overlooked due to a few build problems. One of the problem has been awaiting a friend who promised make a very tricky Stainless steel exhaust downpipe. https://i.imgur.com/Jh154fxh.jpg Some how the new downpipe has to exit the manifold 90% to the engine, snake across the bulkhead and finally curve backward along the chassis rail to enable me to fit a side mounted exhaust silencer much like the original "D" type has!! I think this is why I hav'nt heard from him for a while. :gossip: |
D-Type Exhaust
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Hi Micky I believe only the prototype, early cars, and the XKSS had side exhausts. I plumped for a rear exit on my A352, which was simple to achieve. Scottie's side exiting version was considerably more complex, but then he was going for the full XKSS look. Here's XKD503 at Bromyard last Sunday. If I'd known we'd be talking exhausts I'd have taken it at a more oblique angle. https://live.staticflickr.com/7921/4...399cea26_b.jpg Anyway, good luck with build whichever route you take :). Regards, Mick |
I was going for the simple rear exit exhaust but it hung to low under the chassis so it's got to be the complicated side exit. :icon_rolleyes:
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After much effort and no success trying to contact my friend regarding the new down pipe I though I would fabricate one using the original down pipe.
This is not my best work but it'll do the job. https://i.imgur.com/YpJsN73h.jpg Turning the original exhaust down pipe from this. https://i.imgur.com/Jh154fxh.jpg To a bespoke side exit exhaust pipe. https://i.imgur.com/c5bMUTBh.jpg |
That will work just fine!
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I fitted a new exhaust to a friend's Freelander and kept the old pipe work.
https://i.imgur.com/isvuHiTh.jpg I trimmed it down a little. https://i.imgur.com/eRULUKEh.jpg It was a near fit but the silencer exit pipe fell short so I extended the whole thing by about 60mm and all was good. https://i.imgur.com/X1TXL8jh.jpg So, it might not be a shinny £600 stainless steel performance exhaust but it is a complete functional side exit exhaust that has been made for the cost of a little time, a few scrap parts, some welding consumables and a few rubber exhaust mounts. :dance: If I get a spare £600 I might replace it but for now you just can't beat "much cheapness" :amen: Finally, just to put the cherry-on-the-cake the GPS speedo arrived and fitted perfect. https://i.imgur.com/ywqqiG3h.jpg On the whole it's been a very satisfying day all round. :lalala: |
Nice work on the exhaust. A dab of high temp paint will do wonders.
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The finished exhaust ended up very close to the body.
https://i.imgur.com/NBmGsS0h.jpg. As I like the way many of the original "D" type's recessed the silencer into the body I thought I would try and copy them. First I cut a hole a little bigger than the silencer into the body. https://i.imgur.com/WFQZI8uh.jpg Then I made a fiberglass mould using a cardboard tube. https://i.imgur.com/6sLTnVqh.jpg I fitted the moulded section into the hole which matched the silencer just right. https://i.imgur.com/kXgTwWoh.jpg Finally I took moleur advice ad added some VHT paint. https://i.imgur.com/q6z2wMuh.jpg Again I very pleased with the results. :roll: |
looking good! Well done
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I think wrapping the pipe before the silencer would look good
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Mike – Great news that you might have a potential buyer lied up. :cool:
Especially as if they put their money where their mouth is, they could decide the final colour etc. Good luck, Paul. :) |
Had a chase-up phone call on the "D" type so it's back on the ramp!!
This time I removed the body work. https://i.imgur.com/PKGieoth.jpg I intend to finish the electrics, note the GPS speedo sender on the top rail. https://i.imgur.com/QvW2IVzh.jpg The passenger side dash is now finished and the gerrbox tunnel covered :smile: https://i.imgur.com/agYgCosh.jpg The fuel tank was behind the seats but after I reworked the hand brake setup I was able to re-use the original tank which sits under the rear floor. https://i.imgur.com/DtoAN5th.jpg. https://i.imgur.com/Y6JA3zHh.jpg With the fuel tank removed I rebuilt the rear cage frame giving better access to the "new" luggage area under the rear body. Now that most of the interior floor is now covered I intend to re-paint every thing in silver before finally fixing the body down. :target:. https://i.imgur.com/nvInJWrh.jpg |
Repainted the interior in silver.
I also re-worked the rear body support giving better access to the boot area. https://i.imgur.com/ORpBmOHh.jpg https://i.imgur.com/tWu4Ox6h.jpg Looking much better. :eusa_dance: |
Repainted the interior in silver.
I also re-worked the rear body support giving better access to the boot area. https://i.imgur.com/ORpBmOHh.jpg https://i.imgur.com/tWu4Ox6h.jpg IMHO, It Looks much better. :eusa_dance: With the body off the effort that when into the exhaust down pipe is evident. :ohwell: https://i.imgur.com/tCq19YYh.jpg |
The body is now screwed and bonded into place.
https://i.imgur.com/q6z2wMuh.jpg I can finally start "filling in" the gaps left behind. :icon_biggrin: https://i.imgur.com/ynnLwEyh.jpg |
looks like this is all coming together nicely. :cool:
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Got around to finishing the aluminium work on bulk head area. :high5:
https://i.imgur.com/Hin8IoNh.jpg https://i.imgur.com/lprIeArh.jpg As there was room I thought I would make the N/S inner wing into a storage box, which should prove very useful in the future. :nerd: https://i.imgur.com/DoNNOQ7h.jpg Mental note = get help when handling and cutting a 8' x 4' sheet of aluminium !!!!! Next troublesome task is fitting the doors properly!! :fear: |
Some good progress there ...If you are using the Tribute 'Mono-hinge' items , I found them quite easy to fit , getting the flex out of them , as with any hinge of this style , is the tricky bit ...it didn't matter so much on a race car if it chipped the paint a little by flexing , but it's a bit more important on our recreations ..The blue F120GR has little locating pins at the rear bottom corner of each door to hold them when closed ..in the same way a lot of cabriolets over the years have done ..
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The hinges are the Tribute " Mono-hinge" style..
There are now welded to the frame work but getting the door to shut well is going to be an effort ! Not helped by the fact I fitted the inner body door shuts flat to the car only to find out they should have been set on a angle to accommodate the door inner skins. :icon_redface: I intend to use these bear claw door catches. https://www.carbuildersolutions.com/...ches-pair-75mm They will hold the doors shut and the pins should help locate the doors in place. :tape:. |
Here my problem with the doors.
Unfortunately I made the door inner shuts flat where as they should have a inward slope. https://i.imgur.com/fZKraSRh.jpg This meant the hinge bottom edge had to be cut to fit. https://i.imgur.com/wK6p7shh.jpg As did the bottom of the drivers door. https://i.imgur.com/XOa3e7Nh.jpg https://i.imgur.com/aCe4EDLh.jpg In contrast the passengers door fits much better! Although the bottom of the hinge still had to be cut to clear the inner door shut. https://i.imgur.com/gLx0PsYh.jpg The main time and effort will go into getting to door to function properly and get a reasonable shut line. :eusa_think: . |
Got to play with the front suspension today.
This was the standard set-up. https://i.imgur.com/sWhOC5Dh.jpg This is the first effort which I thought was about right. https://i.imgur.com/ggiPCBEh.jpg I was going to leave it at this height but found I couldn't get my ramp jack out as the ground clearance between chassis and floor was only 50mm !!! After some effort I ended up with this. https://i.imgur.com/tSd9TYvh.jpg I am left with a ground clearance of around 70mm which will have to do for now. :doubt: |
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The question now is what to do with it? :nerd: I have always fancied building a "drop tank racer" but getting hold of a suitable tank is difficult now-a-days. :icon_frown: https://i.imgur.com/Ywf9XxGh.jpg |
foam and fiberglass come to mind.
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The "D" type replica now has a lovely bright blue spark but fuelling issues have now appeared.
I think it's because the carbs are at the wrong angle to the manifold. https://i.imgur.com/6NiBbFzh.jpg If you look closely the "flat edge" of the float chamber is angled back about 15 degrees. I think this angle is preventing to floats from doing their job of shutting off the fuel. When I turn on the ignition I get fuel pissing-out of the carbs like six water pistols which is quite funny to see but dangerous in the workshop!! :scared: The regulator I have on the fuel pump is turned right down but this makes no difference. :sad: I think I am going to have to remake the inlet manifold !!! |
Re-made the inlet manifold using the first part of the old manifold and added silicon tube to make up the rest.
https://i.imgur.com/4SSdQEoh.jpg This has now altered the angle the cabs sit at. https://i.imgur.com/RBkjqNlh.jpg I also adjusted the float height on all carbs. Thankfully this stopped the water pistol effect and I could now try and start the car. :thumb: On turning the key the engine spins over but not at a good speed. I suspected the battery so a new battery was purchased. This helped but I had to bite-the-bullet and get a new starter motor so not much change out of £250!!!:mad2: https://i.imgur.com/aOr3hlth.jpg The motor now spins over nicely with a nice blue spark and after much effort I finally got the engine to run but it would only run at idle speed and run very lumpy. When I tried to open the throttle it just coughed and spluttered. As the ignition timing was about right I think it's a fuel issue so on checking the jets I found the idle jets are 12.5 and main jet are 137.5 Idle jets range from 10 to 60 so I went for a mid range jets at 35. Main jet range from 10 to 160 so I went for the largest jets at 160. All should be here next week. Again not much change from £70 so a very expensive few days. :faint: Also I have now fitted an alternator in the tight spot between the engine and suspension turret and attempted to completed the cooling system. I say attempted because the cooling system appeared quite confusing with several strangely placed take off points so I just took an educated guess at where I thought the pipes should run and have hopefully got it some where near right. https://i.imgur.com/lnfJcQth.jpg Still hopping the drive this on or before the 21st of the month!:lalala: |
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