8000 rpm 3.2 engine?

[911hillclimber]

Yes, that is always the 'joke' with speed events, ie sprints, hill climbs and Drag racing, even rallies.
Value for money goes down the faster you go.
Positive side is that there is only you fooling around on the track, no others trying to apex into the same spot as the other 4 of you....

Hillclimbing of course is far more than the run, the weekends are a real delight esp if the weather is good too, 200+ racers and all their troops having great time.

 

[Motorhead]

Just to mention that there’s a PCGB discount for Saturday 18th June at Prescott, with a current ticket price of only £11.70.

I’ve been there before but not for an actual meeting, so it would be a good opportunity to pop along to see you in action Graham … and to give you some encouragement too! []

Jeff

 

[911hillclimber]

Save me from wiring!
At very long last got to the end of all the wiring on this simple car. Takes ages and ages to do.

The XDi controller is wired and in place, about the driest space I can imaging in this far from sealed car.
Getting the pins into the large multi wire block was a real pain all refusing to simply push home. Had to open the whole connector up and do them. Hate it.

Made a splash shield in ABS sheet velco'd to the unit. The unit is a heat sink, so air much freely pass around the exterior.

The controller has to get to ground, power is needed (3 power lines) so they have to be 'enabled' only when the full ignition /fuel pump circuit is live. The kill toggle switch then shuts off power to the ignition and fuel simultaneously. They have to be individually fused too.
All the gauges have to get 12V prior to that status, but all done finally.

Put 12 litres of Shell's best oil into the engine...
Put a refreshed mega red-top racing battery int the car, and connected it up....
Went to remove the top set of plugs. Plug spanner too short, so mad one the correct length...
Pulled the 3 power leads to the XDi, no petrol in the car deliberately....just to ensure it would not start!

Turned the electrics on and pressed the starter motor. All churned over for 30 seconds and got 3 bar oil pressure at cranking speed.

Put all6 top plugs back in with my new plug spanner and nipped them up.

Cranked the engine over again for a few seconds, sure sound like a high compression engine!

No fuel means no first fire-up.
Planning to do that on Wednesday afternoon once i have the silencers on.
Too busy tomorrow and Wednesday morning.

So nearly there, no excuses left, just the

Moment of Truth.

 

[ralphmusic]

The suspense for the onlookers is almost too much! [8D]

 

[944Turbo]

The suspense for the onlookers is almost too much! [8D]

I was tempted to use the 'report abuse' button for keeping us in suspense!

Hope it all goes once the fuel is in!
Tony

 

[AndrewT]

Only [strike]two[/strike] one more sleeps…… ??

 

[911hillclimber]

Funeral today, helping a fellow long time 911 friend put the engine back in his 73T rally car tomorrow in the morning, but hope to get 2 gallons of fresh Shell on the way back, pour it in, check things, fill the carbs, open the ignition shut-off switch and press the starter button tomorrow.
He is close to the river Seven....so goodness knows.

Have arranged to visit the rolling road man on Friday to discuss the Clewett kit and book a day on the rollers.

 

[911hillclimber]

Well!
Engine will not start.
All turns over but not a pop, cough or fart.
According to the Diagnostics fault finder, the crank sensor is at fault (which would account for the total lack of life), but the resistance of the sensor is 616 Ohms, and the general figure for a good one is 620 Ohms, so nothing wrong there.
Have power where it should be and the right level, all grounds ok, all wires in the right holes in the ecu 23 pin connector.
Have emailed Clewett for guidance, have a clear morning tomorrow i hope to look again with fresh eyes and a reply from Clewett.

I hate car wiring.
Damp squid and all that, but will sort it tomorrow I hope.

 

[AndrewT]

I’m disappointed, but not as disappointed as I’m sure you are. Fingers crossed the solution will come to you overnight and it will be all systems go in the morning.

 

[911hillclimber]

After emails with Clewett, looks like I will have to totally re-wire the engine plug leads and coil packs!
The crank sensor must be min 8" from any of the leads or coils or the signal is drowned out by electrical noise, so this means ripping out all the careful lead routing i did and mounting the lot where i very nearly did in the first place!
Only 2 days to do, so not too bad.

 

[944Turbo]

Frustrating, good luck with the re-wire!
Tony

 

[911hillclimber]

Thanks all.
Bit down-hearted atm, but I never give up.
Have a re-install plan for tomorrow in the garage. hope to re-use a lot of what I've made but much depends on loom lengths etc, but all doable!
Will have to remake a few leads but nothing expensive just takes time.
Plan is to have it done by the end of this weekend.

Wife sympathetic!

 

[Motorhead]

Just a minor hiccup I’m sure Graham … and at least the engine turned over successfully! I assume that it’s fuelling OK?

Good luck with the rewire job tomorrow, and we’re all looking forward to hearing some more positive news as a result.

Nearly there!

Jeff

 

[911hillclimber]

Growingly looks like I have a duff ecu.
If so, sending it back is full of risk, expense and delay.

In fairness, Clewett who sell these dedicated Porsche systems, are standing by me.
I need to re-wire the engine, now started and see if that fixes things.
If not, the ecu to duff. They will sort it when they get it, but i have told them I will not be paying to return and post back the ecu when it is duff.

I currently have little faith in Electromotive the manufacturer, the person looking into it works 1 day a week.....

Plan B is to cast aside the ecu and replace it with a UK or more common ECU, Emerald comes to mind and claim a refund off Clewett to pay for it.

Next few days are key but for the first time in 31 years I feel i won't be hillclimbing for at least 1/2 the Championship, and that really @isses me off!

 

[Motorhead]

That’s really disappointing news Graham … I feel for you after all your hard work.

I suppose you’ve no option but to proceed with the rewire and hope that she fires-up and if not proceed along the lines you’ve outlined. In the event that it turns out to be a duff ECU maybe you could get Clewett to send you a replacement unit while you’re returning yours? At least that would save a fair bit of transportation/repair time.

Here’s hoping for a positive outcome.

Jeff

 

[911hillclimber]

I will fit the plug leads today, tempted to just fit 6 of them and see if it tries to run.

If this all comes to nothing, Clewett have stated by email that they will NOT cover any shipping costs for a faulty unit.
That I must send it directly to Electromotion for repair, who say on their web site they are not accepting repairs now for anything.
If i send it to Clewett they will charge me to forward it to Electromotion.

Dollars are a test of Customer Service.

BUYER BEWARE?

 

[AndrewT]

That’s so disappointing that your engine will not fire especially after all of your precision work, and to be apparently let down by the ECU which is out of your control is not so much the "icing on the cake” but more of a "burnt bottom” ??. I hope there’s a speedy resolution for you.

 

[Motorhead]

Not a great advert for Clewett Graham … and as you say, very poor customer service and presumably with no chance of them sending a replacement unit. Having fallen foul of German customs recently when I returned a faulty item to a German supplier (which thankfully they sorted out!) make sure that you declare clearly that you’re returning an unserviceable item for repair by Clewett otherwise it may get bogged-down in US customs with inherent delays.

Your plan to try to run the engine single-plugged sounds sensible, maybe even jerry-rigging it as far as possible just to ensure that the leads are well clear of the crank sensor?

Good luck!

Jeff

 

[911hillclimber]

Needless to say, but all the changes have not changed a thing.
I have demanded a replacement from Clewett today. Free.
I think I know the answer.
I feel very dissapointed, maybe they will surprise me.

They have recently demanded i return the unit (my choice) to Electromotion direct (who say on their web page they are not accepting repairs).
If i send it back to Clewett, they will charge me post and admin to forward it to then, faulty goods or not.

It may be better and less frustrating to kiss them goodbye and use a UK ecu like DTA to substitute for a faulty unit I have paid dearly for and the seller could not care.
Customer Service claims are tested when it comes to money.

What an utter mess, and is any of this really worth it.

I could just drive my Boxster!

 

[Motorhead]

That’s very disappointing news Graham, but as you say hardly unexpected. How well and how quickly Clewett deal with your situation will define the validity of their customer service.

Speaking for myself and no doubt others on here who have been following your journey I can only urge you not to be too despondent. You’ve done a brilliant job getting to this point, only to be thwarted in the final stage by something completely out of your control. Whatever course you choose from this point you have our admiration and moral support … for what it’s worth!

Jeff