Engine problems - Formula Vee chat

[@sammiecaisley]

Hey guys thanks for sharing, I build and race vees in Australia. Many late nights have been spent on these little bottom ends

[@samuel6816]

Great video, waiting new races =D

[@jcaterracing]

Thanks - that's all for this year, though... We're starting a big Winter strip-down of the chassis and engine, but will be back much stronger for the 2019 season! I will still post blogs of the progress, and maybe a few vids like this if people want to see them. :)

[@plan_b_racing5326]

More vids like this would be great!

[@PatBuckleyracecar]

I would be interested in the corresponding cylinder wear pattern as well as the cause of this crooked case - was it overheated? Either way, it looks like either it needs to be machined or replaced.

[@jcaterracing]

I believe we burnt a piston or two in this case, which we think was down to low octane fuel. We used Shell V Power from the same place twice and had the issue twice... So it could be they sold us the normal 95 octane fuel instead of the 99.

[@PatBuckleyracecar]

@@jcaterracing We used regular fuel because there are more BTU's per pound - higher octane fuel has more additives to prevent pre-ignition etc which takes away for power producing BTU's per pound. At FV level compression ratios and timing (32BTDC?) there really isn't a need for higher octane fuel. Just a thought.......

[@daos3300]

using bearings from another engine is not a good idea. all engines wear differently, not surprised it's tight. was the case checked for alignment? guessing this didn't make it into a car at any point.

[@jcaterracing]

This was a last minute attempt to get the car out by swapping all the internals from one case to another... unfortunately it was game over when we found this, and we pulled the entry. Now we have this case that's having various bits ground down, and the other one needs line boring. Not the best way to end the season, but we did well getting out there at all, looking at what we found!

[@daos3300]

@@jcaterracing consider it good fortune, wish you luck for next season. would be nice to get more info on rebuilding the engine etc and how it goes, though i appreciate the time and energy making/posting vids takes.

[@jcaterracing]

@@daos3300 Cheers! We should be getting this case back this week, so will see what I can do. I'd like to get more of Glenn's old racing tales but he thinks I'm weird if I try to record him - I was quite surprised he let me do this one! :D