SCCA EMod MGB GT V12 Build

In reply to bentwrench:

That is a very good suggestion, I'll pass it on to my tuner

Time for an update and I'm not sure how much of this you may know already but here goes: The operating system (OS) from the original car permitted use of a flexi-fuel sensor but not a vehicle speed sensor (VSS). When driving the car, the electronic throttle (ETC) does not open more than 40% or so, even when the pedal is mashed. We figured that this is because the ECM thinks the car is standing still because there is no signal from VSS. Now, I am running an OS from an Ecotec powered car with a manual transmission and hooray, the VSS works. However, now the flexi-fuel sensor does not work and the ECM keeps registering a fuel system fault code (and the ETC still doesn't open up). I have now convinced the ECM that the clutch pedal is not depressed but that didn't change anything, I still get only 45% throttle and 7 psi sustained boost. A scan of DTC codes doesn't reveal anything, they are mostly Evap or Fan fault codes. While I'm trying to figure all that out, Briget is doing bodywork and the cowl is ready for paint.

Not that it will be any consolation or help to you, but reading your post, I am getting quite a bit of insight into the finer details of getting a late model DI engine swapped into another chassis.

NOHOME wrote: Not that it will be any consolation or help to you, but reading your post, I am getting quite a bit of insight into the finer details of getting a late model DI engine swapped into another chassis.

The problem is that I chose an engine that has too new an ECM. I did my research, I emailed Trifecta before buying the engine and asked them which is the best one to get. They responded with "Get the LHU with it's E39A ECM" and that's exactly what I did. After getting the engine, I contacted Trifecta about getting a tune and they responded "We no longer offer a tune for that application". I should have gotten an engine out of a Solstice, they are well supported.

loosecannon wrote:

NOHOME wrote: Not that it will be any consolation or help to you, but reading your post, I am getting quite a bit of insight into the finer details of getting a late model DI engine swapped into another chassis.

The problem is that I chose an engine that has too new an ECM. I did my research, I emailed Trifecta before buying the engine and asked them which is the best one to get. They responded with "Get the LHU with it's E39A ECM" and that's exactly what I did. After getting the engine, I contacted Trifecta about getting a tune and they responded "We no longer offer a tune for that application". I should have gotten an engine out of a Solstice, they are well supported.

Early on in the Miata Station Wagon project, I considered the LFX as an option for the power-train. Trifecta was one that was encouraging about how easy it would be to do the engine management without all the body modules. Research suggest that Trifecta might be a legend in their own minds.

With the views that my car has, Trifecta would be wise to blow the dust off that tune they had and send to me. However, rumor has it that their standalone tunes needed constant adjustments to get right, and that meant a lot of back and forth between Trifecta and customer. The solution is to charge a little more then provide an unlocked tune that the customer can adjust using HP Tuner or EFILive.

The first time I competed with the Pink Panther in Lincoln, I was told that I couldn't come back until I made the car quieter. The turbo is a remarkable muffler but to play it safe, I added something extra. I have always liked Flowmaster mufflers so I looked through their catalog and chose the DBX, which is supposed to be quiet, high flow and light. I forgot my camera so I didn't capture any of the process of welding it up but here it is, and I can't believe how quiet it is. [URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/loosecannon/media/MGB-GT/IMG_5080_zpsvmykfqtc.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/loosecannon/media/MGB-GT/IMG_5079_zpstykustu2.jpg.html][/URL] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkEwssB9NZI

Bad News Racing sent me a tune to try so I loaded it into the ECM and fired it up. I got it up to temperature and put it in 2nd gear then mashed the brake and gas at the same time. It quickly became clear that something was very different, the boost hit 20 psi and the brake discs started to glow red from me trying to hold the engine back. I waited until customers left the kart track then I took the car for a little drive. I have done many laps with the V12 and the V8 and the track never felt really small, until now. The boost comes up and suddenly I'm going way too fast inside a building. It's not enough time to see if the engine was going to go into some kind of limp mode or reduce power so I did donuts with the loud pedal to the floor. It bounced against the rev limiter but didn't seem to fall off. I need to study the data logs and put it on a dyno but it definitely took a step in e right direction today. [URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/loosecannon/media/MGB-GT/IMG_5104_zpsabb4unbj.jpg.html][/URL]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfhLey5Nw4U

Super sweet!

Congrats!!!

I was measuring motion ratio of the different rocker holes and noticed that I may have a conflict between the lower bar mounts and the floor. I used my suspension program to check anti-squat at the various holes and realized that I didn't need that bottom hole anyways, so it had to go. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kiu_T4BFjc&feature=youtu.be

This thread continues to make me feel dumb and lazy. Congrats? Good progress on the car!

pres589 wrote: This thread continues to make me feel dumb and lazy. Congrats? Good progress on the car!

LOL, you would be surprised what you could do if you tried. I'm not that smart or talented, I just keep trying things

I need the car painted soon and Briget has been doing the filling and sanding of the panels so I grabbed a few of them and painted them [URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/loosecannon/media/MGB-GT/RIMG0082_zpszwlykvct.jpg.html][/URL]

Video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMzdZfoBvS8

I installed the painted panels on the car. There is dust in the paint but I'm afraid I don't have the money to get a professional to paint them in a booth so I'll just have to put up with it. I really dig how the pink and grey go together. Photobucket is having problems [URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/loosecannon/media/MGB-GT/IMG_5177_zpstchizn2l.jpg.html][/URL]

[URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/loosecannon/media/MGB-GT/IMG_5176_zpsnkgsmft7.jpg.html][/URL]

Yup...one of the better MGB restorations I have seen!

Not sure what is more impressive, the sheer audacity of this project or the fact that you have a wife that WANTS to drive the thing in competition.

That color combination is really sharp! Keep up the great work.

Worry about the paint later. Testing season is here.

Front clip and boot lid are painted so I took car into sunshine to look at it. I had to remove front clip to get off of tiltdeck truck. [URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/loosecannon/media/MGB-GT/IMG_5189_zpsivcjp664.jpg.html][/URL]

[URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/loosecannon/media/MGB-GT/IMG_5188_zpsnivix6dk.jpg.html][/URL]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwg_cI2lckY&feature=youtu.be

I think the dusty paint is certainly good enough for racecar. That said, it might be interesting to give it a month of drying time and then see what you could do with a wet sand and polish. I'm betting a couple day's work nets you something that is damn-near show car. You also seem to have the patience required for the job.

In reply to DILYSI Dave:

Completely agree, that looks like ti will sand out nicely.

I put the car on the dyno today and everything went as smooth as glass. It made 282 HP before even touching the tune. Jerry from Bad News Racing used TeamViewer program to make the changes remotely on my laptop and I just loaded the tune and made another run. After a few runs it was making really good power and I didn't have to stress the engine at all. We didn't run it to risky RPM or even close to lean. We didn't run the big cooling fans on the car and it's temp stayed at a steady 185. I also took it for a drive and it really goes and feels amazing. My rear brakes are bigger than the fronts and even with full front bias, it tended to lock up rears. I have already solved this but milling away 1/3 of the rear brake pads. It's crude but it works. I'm going to source some higher octane fuel and will try again another time. [URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/loosecannon/media/MGB-GT/IMG_5202_zpsumhy0lae.jpg.html][/URL]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbB3n2pGGFc

Nice work. That should scoot 1600# (or whatever, I lost track) along very nicely.

DILYSI Dave wrote: Nice work. That should scoot 1600# (or whatever, I lost track) along very nicely.

I haven't put it on digital scales but if the wheel load checker is even remotely accurate, it weighed 1400 lbs before I added steel floor and ballast. Now it weighs around 1750 lbs. It didn't feel crazy fast on the test drive but maybe that's because it's base set up is pretty good? I don't know

I have been tinkering with little things here and there, just tying up loose ends. There was a small coolant leak and there was a gap on the drivers side between fender and frame that I had to block to keep debris from getting kicked up on me. Both of those things are solved and the drivers side door is on. I need to come up with a plan for graphics but the car looks pretty good as is. [URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/loosecannon/media/MGB-GT/IMG_5232_zpsunaibrhe.jpg.html][/URL]

[URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/loosecannon/media/MGB-GT/IMG_5218_zpsgu8wan6k.jpg.html][/URL]