Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

Let's not let drive-ability get in the way of a decent sounding lumpy cam idle!!

sorry - dunno what got into me there...

mark at fisher alwys sets it too low, so that when it is hot as fuck, the car idles like a harley

I was clutching at straws.

The worst thing is when you can find a cause as it won't go away in the back of your mind.

That speed shouldn't be a problem. As you say track days are harder on cars than sustained speed.

Where was the hole in the piston?

Slap bang in the middle of the face.

Doesn't that usually mean a spark plug/fueling issue?

Stoopid question but have you indexed the spark plugs? http://www.enginelabs.com/news/getting-the-most-out-of-your-ignition-spark-plug-indexing-101/

I never knew this was a thing! Makes sense though. Motorbike has two spark plugs per cylinder, when it's running with just one it's a bit shit, backfires, parps, stinks of fuel etc, not completely combusting, and thats on an engine that breaths ok, doesn't have any inheritant flaws. Not sure I can make both sparks face the right way though, will see!

I'd always though fuel/leaning out is bad but that incorrect spark or over energetic spark was a myth when it comes to piston melting.

Re: that link... I know there's logic behind it but if the direction of the earth shield on the plug was important Shirley there'd be a more precise method of placement.

As I said clutching at straws.

The issue is that the threads on spark plugs and heads aren't equal. Different engines different locations.

A load of my mates were in to Banger & Hot Rod Racing 'The Bexley Suicide Squad' in Mick's Hot Rod the Ford Pinto lump had such high compression we painted a line on the ceramic in line with the electrode so when you put them in it had to face within the top half because if it faced down the piston tapped the electrode shut :)

Ah skimmed a bit too much off ;)

No that's how Dave at Boss Racing used to build them for Oval Track racing , I remember he used to put the con rods in back to front as well for faster rev pick up, trade off was faster wear but they were rebuilt often enough anyway. :)

That is what I did. Took a bit to figure out.

Does the con rod trick work?

Apparently because of the offset it creates more leverage on the downstroke to the crankshaft, the trade off is a bit of piston slap, not sure it would be practical for a road car, these were built to power a seat and some angle iron around an oval track spending most of their time between 5000 and 7000rpm a few times a year then rebuilt for the next season sometimes during the season

Dont call me Shirley.

I'm willing to entertain the idea that spark plug orientation can marginally affect bhp in conventional engines and can be crucial in extreme high compression engines.

But I call bullshit on saying that it has contributed to my piston hole. Sorry.

I call bullshit on saying that it has contributed to my piston hole. Sorry.

I am in mega bluff mode here, how am I doing?

I'd say you're doing great. Very convincing!

Lolz

My point was that basically ninety percent of conventional cars drive around with spark plugs screwed in at Kwik fit or similar. Not an index in sight. Where is the great mountain of holed pistons?

BTW, @russmeyer, not sure if sarcastic or not, but I think it's a valid comment either way!

I'd say I was being semi sarcastic. I don't know anything about car engines and your statement seemed believable enough to me!

I asked if you had indexed the plugs. That is all.

The holed piston, by deduction, was caused by carburation/combustion issues. But what were they.

Given the MG / engine chat... this just popped up on my subscriptions:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bF1u_xZrJtA

Apparently stuffing a 5 litre V8 in an MG results in something terrifying, who knew.

Surprised it didn't permanently twist with that in it. Quite a heavy motor, lots of torque and prob a "Corrosion lightened" chassis.

I used to have an uno turbo that was a solid 30kg lighter than any other uno, that's how much metal had removed itself.

I've been sent this vid about four times.

I don't get the shock - there are hundreds of mgbs with big v8s in them. and cobras, tigers, etc.

look at this one:
big block roadmaster

But, but, this one was hot-rodded by tattooed and bearded guys!