DDK - Die Deutschen Klassiker

Yes that’s a shame Keith. If it’s any consolation my car was trying to kill me all weekend after my suspension development helped one problem but created another, much worse one.

That’s motorsport! Hope it’s an easy fix as Graham said.

Thanks for the update Keith.

sladey wrote: ↑Mon May 01, 2023 5:49 pm Thanks for the update Keith.

Thanks - I'm worried that it seems too self indulgent, but intend it to be a real world look at what it's like to get involved at the budget end of motorsport, warts, frustrations and all...

KS wrote: ↑Mon May 01, 2023 6:42 pm

sladey wrote: ↑Mon May 01, 2023 5:49 pm Thanks for the update Keith.

Thanks - I'm worried that it seems too self indulgent, but intend it to be a real world look at what it's like to get involved at the budget end of motorsport, warts, frustrations and all...

Not at all "self indulgent". A realistic and candid account of your involvement in the sport. Thoroughly enjoyable read. Thank you.

KS:
People love this kind of stuff, away from the glitzzzz of California and 6 917 etc with posing people everywhere.

Grass roots is very real and for many something you can actually do if so inclined.
Your reports are great.
I started a thread on me and my Lola some 12 years ago to seek the chassis number to the car, which of the 120 or so built was mine?
Confirmed my chassis number about 8 years ago, job done, but the story certainly continued.

It has been quite a tale, now 873,000 hits and 2400 posts and a 1,000,000 pictures. It is read the world over and now it is far from how it started, but blow by blow race reports with an engine build every now and then and a few trophies, and just all about a simple little club racer in England.

Don't stop however tempting it might become!

Car looks good Keith with them go faster stripes,keep at it.
Good to chat at goodwood.

Quick update - the oil leak turns out to be a split oil cooler, so engine out... Bugger.

KS wrote: ↑Mon May 01, 2023 6:42 pm

sladey wrote: ↑Mon May 01, 2023 5:49 pm Thanks for the update Keith.

Thanks - I'm worried that it seems too self indulgent, but intend it to be a real world look at what it's like to get involved at the budget end of motorsport, warts, frustrations and all...

Agreed…not a bit of it… part of my weekly routine to see how people are getting on. Love the solutions!

Hope to get to Shelsley, Prescott when one of you are up there…or Curborough! Even closer!

At least it’s not a case of trying to track down the leak, and ferret around looking for something Keith. It shouldn’t be too long a job. Is your pressure relief valve working OK?
Anta, Laura and I will be at Shelsley in the 911 in June and August, Yellow491 is there this coming weekend as well. We’ll also be at Shelsley in July for Classic Nostalgia in the 914/6
Cheers
JW

KS wrote: ↑Mon May 01, 2023 6:42 pm

sladey wrote: ↑Mon May 01, 2023 5:49 pm Thanks for the update Keith.

Thanks - I'm worried that it seems too self indulgent, but intend it to be a real world look at what it's like to get involved at the budget end of motorsport, warts, frustrations and all...

I’ve been thinking of doing the same - on regularity rallying my orange 914- equally both exhilarating and frustrating I suspect.
Not quite as glamorous though?
C

I'd definitely be interested in reading some background on the rally scene...

OK, so into the workshop and out with the engine/box, etc... Actually wasn't too bad a job, working alongside Harry at W-C. He got the engine out in an hour or so, while I met up with Graham Rawlings who happened to have a brand new Type 4/914 oil cooler to hand, along with some new seals.

Tearing the cooling system apart to get to the cooler was easy enough on the trolley and it soon became clear there were two problem areas causing the oil leak.



The first was the oil cooler itself - it seems that new coolers are slightly bigger than the factory originals, and so the support bracket designed to prevent the cooler vibrating doesn't fit very well. In fact, in this case, the bracket was missing a screw and was effectively doing nothing. I reshaped the bracket so that it supported the new cooler properly, hopefully preventing a repeat of the problem. You can see where the bracket had crushed the corner of the old cooler in the above photo.

The second arrow shows the second problem – one that was easy to miss. The sandwich plate for the Accusump has one port blocked off, but unfortunately one 'corner' of the blanking plug fouled the oil filter. There was a clear witness mark on the filter which meant that it was impossible for it to seat on the sandwich plate properly. A little touch of a grinding tool cured that...

By mid-afternoon, we had the engine back in the car and it was with some trepidation that I fired it up... NO LEAKS! Woohoo! For the first time in a long time, the underside of the engine was bone dry. Even a spirited drive home didn't show up any leaks. So, onwards to Wiscombe Park in 10 days...

Best of luck Keith, hopefully it will stay in one piece for the rest of the summer!

I’m glad it was relatively simple Keith

See you at Wiscombe!
JW

Glad it was a fairly straightforward fix Keith. Keep up the posts, I'm enjoying following your hill climbing journey.