My bug - ANGRRR - the ongoing project

[riaanj]

That looks awesome..

Once again, this is one of those things that really isnt necessary and no-one would think otherwise if it wasnt polished. But I did it for me as one of those touches that someone might see or might not. I see it and thats what counts....

My thoughts exactly, you do things to your liking and to your standards & on this bug all I see is high standards..

[Tony Z]

Thanks Riaan
Its also one of the reasons that the project is taking so long....

[4agedub]

I actually pulled out the Gotech for the CB crank trigger kit, its currently sitting in a box in my cupboard
I initially wanted to install the different wheel purely so that I can change pulleys - as you know, the other wheel was bolted to the pulley. Then i decided to add a vacuum signal to the system, so got the CB kit for that too as it was easiest.
Then I changed my mind and decided to do the whole CB system so I can tune from my laptop and not solely from a PC - 3 serial to USB cables later and I still cant connect an XP laptop to the Gotech ECU.

I'll give you feedback as it goes. I find the dashboard easier to use, but they dont have a fuel pump OFF function which doent override the ON function. I'll be fitting another relay to the oil pressure light for this...

Any serial RS232 communication is kind of a problem when it comes to interference. I used a ST labs convertor with my Gotech previously without too many hassles. With my new Spitronics ecu I have not had any communications issues as the comms is no longer rs232 to usb. But rather UART to USB.

Please post some screenshots etc of the CB stuff, it'll be interesting to see what they do.

[Tinfontastic]

Looks great. Job well done.

[Tony Z]

Once again, very little progress, but progress none-the-less
Slipped a disc in my back, so have had to take it rather easy the last week or so.

Anyway, a job I have been wanting to do for a while, plus another job which I needed to do...

The CB Magnaspark ignition box works very well indeed, except that it does not have a fuel pump stop feature.
i.e. I want my fuel pump to start up when the engine runs, and then stop when the engine stops. Or in case of an accident, the pump must not pump fuel all over the place.... Problem is, that to stop my pump, I need to turn off the ignition.
So what to do?
I have now added a second relay to the fuel pump circuit. This is a NC relay (normally closed - or switch is closed when no power is supplied). This relay gets power from the oil pressure light. So when the oil pressure light comes on, the relay changes over and the fuel pump stops. Problem solved.

While I was at it, I wired in another brighter oil pressure light and mounted this to my "dashboard".
Ever since my oil pressure problems a few years ago, I have been very weary about loosing oil pressure. If you dont remember, I lost pressure twice at 6000rpm and once on the highway while cruising at 4000rpm. I have no idea how long I was driving without pressure, but it was long enough. The stock oil pressure light doesnt get ones attention while you are focused on driving.
So hopefully my new light will get my attention should I ever have issues again. Hopefully I wont ever have issues again, but at least i can now relax and not worry too much about not noticing the light come on.

No oil pressure


Oil pressure

[4agedub]

You can also use a VW golf fuel pump relay... it works in the same way as the fp output of an ecu

[4agedub]

fuel pump relay complete.jpg

Just make sure the fp relay does not have a internal rpm limiter as some of them do

[Tony Z]

Cool. I never knew about that. I'll keep it in mind for my next project.

[Qkickslvr]

You need some petrol money there Tony? Haha

[Tony Z]

nah, thanks... filled her up today

[Qkickslvr]

Haha saw the needle looking a little sad there! I know the feeling with a big motor. What kind of consumption do you get open road and naughty driving?

[Tony Z]

to be perfectly honest, I have not bothered to keep track
but I did burn through a tank in about 150km trying to jet the carbs. About 70 of those 150 were at full throttle. I have a 1km dead end road leading up to a farm nearby that I "test" on.

[62vwbeetle]

Let's be honest you never even considered fuel efficiency hehehehheh how's the superbug coming along @tonyz

[Tony Z]

True, I built it for fun, not economy.
The Super is another project. Currently sitting in JHB at Buggers place. He'll be doing some body and gearbox work for me and will store the car until I get back from work in July.
I'll open a thread for the car once I get it.

[Tony Z]

Well, an update on the weekends adventures and the consequences of my latest tinkerings...

I took the bug for a quick fuel tank refill on Sunday, then after filling, I decided to go visit HR. The car ran perfectly covering roughly 80km during the trip.
What have I learned?
Well, my change in fuel pressure regulator since I drove it last has thrown the jetting off by a long shot. The car still runs well and the fuel mixture at lower rpm has improved, but it is running too lean for my liking higher in the rpm range. She also isnt as crisp above 4500rpm as I had her before. She feels like she wants to have a gear change at around 5200 instead of 6000 plus rpm.
Needless to say, this will take some spare time to sort out.

The oil cooler mods worked well.
I drove home and for the last 15km I stuck to 90mph (145km/h). A poor little Kia spent ages trying to catch me and when he finally did at the bottom of an uphill, I powered up the hill hitting about 170 at the top with the poor Kia loosing ground and probably not able to maintain the 140...
anyway, during this time my oil temp hit 110 and stayed there.
seems a bit high
but then I got home and plugged in my laptop to check what temp the ECU was reading. Oil temp was 80 on the ECU and I have the fan start temp at 90. So needless to say, the fan wasnt even starting.
So I drove 80km without the oil temp getting too hot, without the fan switching on
Progress I say....