History of a Lola T492 Sports 2000 chassis?

[911thillclimber]

Thank you.
Have been sent this pic found on facebook

[911thillclimber]

Have an entry for the Championship meeting at Shelsley Walsh at long last.
Seems ages since going up a hill in the Lola but only a few weeks.
Cleaned the car down and so checking everything, no surprises anywhere.


This car has become extremely reliable the last few years, best work on something that hasn't broken....but have fitted a proper rubber boot over the UJ in the gear linkage.


Stiff stiff competition in the class, as all the strong-and-mighty have also entered!
The killer Metro, the EVO Mini the fiesta and the V8 engine Pilbeam, all of them with 2 or more times the power of the Lola and all but the Pilbeam 4x4 and all evil drivers.


They will squabble amongst themselves for top spot, my money is on the EVOMini if it stays together.
We will roll up last, but still get some points.


The Championship class win of 2021 is very much in the balance.


Just 2 more events after this one and I'll be dropping my poorest points.

[911thillclimber]

Saturday at Shelsley Walsh, dry, dull and coolish, so perfect conditions.


As expected, Mike in his Fiesta was a no-show, but all the others arrived, so doomed from the start.
2 practice runs were uneventful for all the class, usually one has a mini-adventure, but all safe and sound.


The Metro was 29.12/113 mph
The EVO mini was 29.33/ 111 mph
Pilbeam was 32.98/ 97
The Lola was 32.95 /99 mph.


My pb was sent several years ago at 31.58/ 100 mph so I have a LONG was to go tomorrow.


I need the Mini to will twice against the Metro to keep ahead in the Class Championship position, so need some help from my class mates as I simply cannot go fast enough.


600bhp v 260 bhp is hard.

[911thillclimber]

Frustrating day.
All my fault and must think harder.
We had a practice run this morning and what a circus it was for me.
Bogged down nearly stalling on the line (never in 30 years have I stall a car on the line) but recovered from that and ran up the hill, my mind 'behind' the car. Not good.
Tried taking 4th up the strail and steepest part of the hill. Not Good.


Coming into the Esses, changed from 4th to third and then from 3rd to 2nd except this pratt went back to 4th...Not good at all.
Came into the Esses at speed in 4th and it sounded/felt the engine had dies, it was just doing a fast tick over.
Naffed-off, floored the accelerator in 4th and came out of the esses to the finish straight and just left it to recover. Not Good.


First race run went much better and gave 32.08, so close to getting to a 31 something.
The others blasted up the hill in the class, the Mini just getting the better of the Metro, 28.74 v 28.83, the Metro clocking a 1.77 start, quite startling!


Most awesome part of the day was the first Top 12 run off where the Hill Record that stood for 13 years finally fell....
Three times!


The quickest ran into 22.3 seconds and 155 mph I think over the finishing line, simply stunning.


We are home in one piece, clean the car tomorrow ready for Prescott on 4/5 September, nd then the final meeting at Loton Park on the 25/26 Sept.


What to do over the winter break?

[Gerard C]

If your engine nearly stalls on the line then almost dies later on, may be you have to find something in the carbs, will be better than blaming you as a driver.
600 bhp vs 260 is not hard, there's no match not forgetting your friends' cars are 4x4. We know you wont give up!

[911thillclimber]

Interesting comments and I will be checking the carbs tomorrow as I fear something is not in balance (or something).
Feels like the engine response has changed.


Mind you, I'm older too!
More and more cams and injection beckons.

[911thillclimber]

[Gerard C]

Originally Posted by 911thillclimber

Mind you, I'm older too!

Mind you it started from your day two on earth! No excuse, fix your gremlin, flat out where possible and pleasure everywhere! Have fun!

[911thillclimber]

Ha!
Good outlook G.
I'm just sliding down the curve of life, hope some way to go yet.


Winter time soon and dreams of this engine running to 8,000 red line.
Now, that would be like going up the curve again!


Need to get a Permission for that.

[911thillclimber]

After some investigation, a screamer engine would be about 6K.
Not convinced that money is a wise spend when all around me would still have 2 x the bhp....
There is a 1/2 way house for literally 1/2 that cost that stands a better chance of getting approved, we shall see.


We are confirmed for Prescott car #121 incase any wish to follow the cae on Live Stream.
3 in the class, Allan from Scotland in his EVOMini and a replica Metro 6R4 with a blown Mitsubishi engine.


I have now done 14 rounds of the Championship, so the lowest points I have will be dropped leaving me with my maximum scores for Prescott and the season finisher at Loton which I nearly forgot to enter but the wife stepped in!

[911thillclimber]

For only the 2nd time in 30 years doing this I've had to scratch from the meeting tomorrow.
Really disappointing. Stubbed my toe last night going to the garage with no shoes on.
Didn't hurt that much.
7 hours in A&E followed and I now have no nail on my left big toe...


Thus, no tow driving or car driving for a week or so.


It will be me to watch the sole surviver in the class on Live Stream as the replica 6R4 also has scratched leaving the EVOmini all alone.

[E.B]

Sorry to hear that Graham... best wishes for a full and speedy recovery.
I guess that was the Midland round at Prescott you scratched from?.

[911thillclimber]

Yes, it was/is.
Toe feels a bit sensitive as I did when I saw it taken off by a very nice nurse in A&E.
Waited 7 hours, treatment was 20 mins!


'Service' at the treatment point was utterly superb, the treatment process was fantastic, utterly professional and very friendly.
The skill dressing it has to be seen, work of art.


We next run in late Sept and she thought all would be well enough by then so I will do the Loton Park meeting to wrap the Championship up there.


Not bad though, 2 scratches in over 320 entries, 2 breakdowns, 4 crashes.

[911thillclimber]

Toe feeling good!
Walking and driving again 2 days ago, amazing healing just 10 days after knocking it off.
Entry arrived for the Loton hillclimb on the 25/26, #94.
Only one other in the class, someone I don't know but in a 2 litre turbo Escort which I suspect is a rally car.
Meeting looks a bit light with spaces in the paddock, but the last of the year.


Big plan for the winter on the car, serious spend on serious mods, but will let you all know after the event.
This will be the swan-song of this little race car for me, doubt I will do anything else but simply use it until I get fed-up of trailers or simply too old!


Wife is on-board so far, going to draft a detailed cost estimate and see if w are both happy to spend this money or go on 2 good Euro tour trips while we have the energy.

[911thillclimber]

The final event is here already, just where has the last 6 months gone?
Three in the class now, Allan in the EVOMini got in so him, the Escort and me.
We are #94 if anyone cares to watch Live Stream.
I think only Sat pm and all sunday will be running.


The engine parts are on order.
Really looking forward to this winter and April next year.
An old friend is returning to the hills after at least 10 years in a car similar to the Lola, but with a rumbling Rover V8.

[911thillclimber]

Good practice day today at a perfect Loton Park near Wales.


P1: 59.18/ 2/29 start
P2: 57.14/ 2/18
P3: 56.14/ 2.09


Pb: 55.33 secs/ 2.1 set a long time ago!


Escort is behind me so far, the EVOMini way ahead by a couple of seconds...


For some this will be a record breaking Sunday, conditions are perfect.

[911thillclimber]

What a day of hillclimbing at Loton!
The hill record was cut no less than 14 times by successive runs of the big single seaters into a breath taking 41 second bracket, simply fabulous.
Perfect weather, a capacity crowd (tickets sold out) and an electric atmosphere.


If you can, watch the Live Steam.


Meanwhile down in the over 2 litre Sports Libre class, we had a great day.
The EVOMini won as ever, a full 3 seconds faster than me, the Escort was fast too esp on road tyres, but the Lola came 2nd in a 3 car class.


The car ran great, gave me a few 'bloody hell' moments as I tried to get to my 5 year old PB, but it was not to be.


R1 was 56.48 and R2 was 56.54.


Tried too hard.
But, a wonderful weekend to finish 2021 on, back in one piece and I cannot think of another car I would have rather had this year.
Awesome!


2 weeks off now and then to the Lola's engine build.


I want 300 bhp and a red line of 8,000 rpm, self built.


I hope you all will follow me on my first modified engine ever.


If I'm right, we have won the class in the Midland Hillclimb Championship for the 2nd time, this will be a lovely end to the year.





And here the picture of my year that sums up the Lola to me, I am so very lucky to have this little race car.

[911thillclimber]

https://youtu.be/UYdW5tkJ_wk?t=4008

[911thillclimber]

Thought it best to start a thread on the rebuild of my engine out of my hill climb Lola sports racer:



The car currently has a stock 3.2 engine with DIY headers, PMO carbs and a flat fan conversion made by Crispin Manners for the engine's previous owner.
I wont bore you all with the story (a long one) behind the car, but I've been hillclimbing it for over 10 years and have won lots of Class wins in the Midland Hillclimb Championship.

The gearbox is a mag cased 915 some special bits inside inc a LSD, bit more on this later.

The car is not fast enough for various reasons, so time to take this very heathy engine and modify it to take 8K rpm and maybe generate 300 bhp and 270 lbft.
This is the purpose of this project.

It will be the last evolution of this little car before we retire together.

This thread will detail the various things that can and will happen as I DIY this engine which ha to be fully tuned and running by the end of March 2022, the start of the season at Prescott hillclimb.
It will be a slow start then will get very busy.

Spec:
JE Pistons @ 10.5:1, Ordered, arriving Xmas 2021
Carrillo rods to 8500 rpm, Ordered, arriving Xmas 2021
GE 60 cams from Kent Cams
Light spring kit
Twin plugged heads if I can find someone to machine them!
Twin plug ignition from Clewitt
Keep the carbs
Replace all the bearings etc and build up from the crank.
Probably a few other things as we go along.

The 915 will get a WEVO Shift Gate mod done by the builder of the box, Mike Bainbridge, safe hands.

So, we have to get it apart which I have spent a few hours on. First time this drive train has been out of the car since the last huge engine blow-up...5 years or so ago.
Engine oil out, nothing on the magnetic pug ( ), box oil out after 10 years and clean, small steel filings on mag plug, nothing scary.

Exhaust and gear change linkages off, transmission cross member and support frame.



With that lot clear, the drive shafts freed off, engine frame braces off, fuel line off and it's regulator, engine loom free, alternator off and finally the carbs.





With the inlets fully open and with some trepidation, I shone a torch down each cylinder. What a lovely sight! All perfectly clean and looking new, love it!



The WEVO kit is on order, ex stock at Twin Spark and I will call Mike when I have it to get the box to him. Be nice if he is coming to the Swap Meet to save me a run to the Lakes.

The 911 will go into professional storage in Nov so to free the 1/2 garage space to do the engine.

I just wish I could find someone to machine the heads for twin plugs!
People say they do them, but never respond when asked.

[911thillclimber]

Picked at the engine a bit more for an hour, very busy weekend, Bike show yesterday, Bicester today.

Exposing the flat fan, hidden for the last 5 years.

The fan shrouds hand made by Crispin Manners are fabulous. must have taken hours and hours



Custom made cross bean with drive and angle drive box for the fan driven off the custom alternator pully belt



A better view of same maybe



Quickly getting to the point of until the 911 goes to storage on 1 Nov I can't do much more due to space.

[911thillclimber]

a bit about the fan.

I like the flat fan, if I close one eye the car looks a bit like a Porsche 908 (ok, maybe both eyes)

To return the engine to stock fan I would need an alternator (£120), a fan (£150 ish) and the shroud (£250 ish), pully fan belt parts, so about £500/£600.
That would buy the engine bearings etc.

Thus the nice (to me) fan stays and I'll carry the weight (7Kg)
Drive all cleaned and the oil leak on the drive box fixed.

[911thillclimber]

a bit about the fan.

I like the flat fan, if I close one eye the car looks a bit like a Porsche 908 (ok, maybe both eyes)

To return the engine to stock fan I would need an alternator (?120), a fan (?150 ish) and the shroud (?250 ish), pully fan belt parts, so about ?500/?600.
That would buy the engine bearings etc.

Thus the nice (to me) fan stays and I'll carry the weight (7Kg)
Drive all cleaned and the oil leak on the drive box fixed.

[911thillclimber]

With all the space I need time for the engine to come out and see how things are down the exhaust ports.

Bit of a fiddle, but so easy compared to a 911 extraction, just keep on getting CV grease everywhere....
Remembered to get the light weight flywheel off before roping up:



Removed the one header and that came off well, inverted the engine to get to the other and the dry sump scavenge pipe off, thought I had the flood of oil from every hole sussed, but not quite.
However, the 6 exhaust port are just perfect, this is a great little engine!







A hole like this is one BIG opportunity..
Was originally to have a V8 but bought the 911 engine instead on the day.

[911thillclimber]

Bob Watson told me it takes a week to strip, clean and inspect a 911 air cooled, doubt he is far wrong.

The engine is down to the point where the barrels will fall off the pistons if I let them.
Everything came off to plan with one small exception and that was getting the cam housings off the heads. The large contact area of the sealent stops the parts parting with a tap of a plastic head hammer, so resorted to a good heating up with my hot air gun. Takes about 5 mins of overall warming before the sealant is softening, and a gentle lever with a good screwdriver saw them both ease off the heads.

Each head removed, but I was not expecting the difference in torque on the sleeve nuts, some 'loose' and some not so loose, not as tight as I expected. Studs all ok, so maybe a new digital torque wrench for me this Xmas!

The bores are to die for, the cams are exceptional, all 1986 parts, but the heads/pistons are quite carbon coated, far more than I expected, bit too rich maybe.

Pressure is on to get the heads 'clean' so they can go to the machinist in Warrington to be twin plugged.

Anyone know of a good quick way to get all the old orange sealant off?





Organised!!

[911thillclimber]

Spent 3 hours removing all the hard sealant off the heads and cam housings in prep for taking them to Headshop in Warrington for machining.
Tedious and even had the tedious radio on to ease the boredom.

I think the Loctite solvent on it's way will remove te much smaller bits left and they are ready to soak overnight in neat brake cleaner to remove the last of the carbon residue in the ports.
The cam covers have a casting number of early 1988, so this engine s 1988, always thought it was 86.

Will order the Kent Cams and spring kit tomorrow, big outlay as ever.

Getting bothered about WEVO/Twin Spark and the gateshift order I have with them.
2 broken shipping promises and I'm not alone according to Impact Bumpers....