The Black Rat

ManiacLachy · Postby **ManiacLachy** » Thu Jul 09, 2020 1:02 pm

Lokiel wrote:If you don't have them already, I can lend you my carbide bit set.

Where did you find carbide bits to fit the dremel? I couldn't find any a while back when enlarging the holes on my seat brackets. I could only find ones that would fit a drill, worked well on stainless steal but might be a bit overkill for the delicate work on an aluminium manifold.

plohl · Postby **plohl** » Thu Jul 09, 2020 1:04 pm

When does the standard throttle body become a restriction? Or do you replace it cause the vvt throttle body can fail?

The American · Postby **The American** » Thu Jul 09, 2020 8:06 pm

ManiacLachy wrote:
Lokiel wrote:If you don't have them already, I can lend you my carbide bit set.

Where did you find carbide bits to fit the dremel? I couldn't find any a while back when enlarging the holes on my seat brackets. I could only find ones that would fit a drill, worked well on stainless steal but might be a bit overkill for the delicate work on an aluminium manifold.

Thanks Lokiel!

Lachy, I met a fellow in Bunnings (as you do) who suggested to buy a larger fitting for the dremel to fit regular sized bits. Apparently dremel sell these attachments

The American · Postby **The American** » Thu Jul 09, 2020 8:24 pm

plohl wrote:When does the standard throttle body become a restriction? Or do you replace it cause the vvt throttle body can fail?

I doubt the stock item becomes a restriction of any real concern. This is just insurance against broken throttle shaft /screws.

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Thu Jul 09, 2020 8:54 pm

ManiacLachy wrote:
Lokiel wrote:If you don't have them already, I can lend you my carbide bit set.

Where did you find carbide bits to fit the dremel? I couldn't find any a while back when enlarging the holes on my seat brackets. I could only find ones that would fit a drill, worked well on stainless steal but might be a bit overkill for the delicate work on an aluminium manifold.

eBay of course, search for "10x Solid Carbide Burrs For Dremel Rotary Tool Drill Die Grinder Carving Bit" kit and you'll get lots of hits:

Also ordered some flapper wheels but didn't end up using them after reading about FM's issues with them.
Photo also shows my grinding stones I'd used in the past on aluminium, which is why I ordered the carbide bits.

Here's my final effort:

That section from 0000 to 0200 in the photo, just above the notch, is where I would have liked to take off more material but the neck is too thin in that arc, I've just removed material from the flange, otherwise I'm happy with the port, even though it's not shiny-smooth.

More details can be found in my garage thread starting at https://mx5cartalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=57&t=76716&start=98, there's some casting burrs inside the manifold that can be removed and I also improved flow out of the rear runner.

plohl · Postby **plohl** » Thu Jul 09, 2020 10:23 pm

My screws are brazed in place, so even if they break, the engine won't eat them... I hope.

The American · Postby **The American** » Mon Jul 13, 2020 10:55 pm

plohl wrote:My screws are brazed in place, so even if they break, the engine won't eat them... I hope.

That’s a good idea, and you know your throttle will still work properly. Did you do it yourself?

plohl · Postby **plohl** » Tue Jul 14, 2020 7:58 am

nah, its a gary trick, he did it for me.
Probably something i should learn to do though

The American · Postby **The American** » Sat Jul 25, 2020 9:54 am

ManiacLachy wrote:That's awesome. Something I've always wanted to do, tear it down, examine it and then build/have it built. Not sure I'd trust myself though, and I don't have the environment to do it cleanly right now. But I'll be following your progress eagerly.

That photo you shared of the semi enclosed area under your house would probably be fine for what I’ve done.

I’ve been taking photos and overdoing bagging and tagging bits. I bought a couple of bins, one for parts that will be reused and one for things that (I think) won’t be.

The crank and block measured up fine. The crank is standard size and the block had .02mm wear.

The American · Postby **The American** » Mon Aug 10, 2020 8:48 pm

Over the course of the weekend I rubbed the cage back with green scrubbies and and prepsol and then painted it with VHT gloss roll bar paint. The 'gloss' turned out more like a satin to my eyes. My eyes also struggled to see clearly enough with the lighting in my shed and I missed a few spots, and created some runs, so there will be a round 2 attempt at this, perhaps on the weekend if there is a warm enough day forecast.

In any case, I'm pretty happy with how it is turning out.

The box full of engine build parts is filling up, and I had a call today to tell me that the pistons are in Australia and on their way, and the only other missing pieces ex-japan cleared customs today.

The new-to-me balancer that had the manufacturing fault was replaced in about a week, so that is also tucked safely in the 'new bits box'.

GR124 · Postby **GR124** » Tue Aug 11, 2020 9:51 am

Hi there,
My new Skunk2 arrived yesterday, have you looked into the mods that are commonly done to them? I have read that there is an issue with the return spring on the throttle shaft. Allegedly, it's a bit weak and needs to be re drilled to tighten the spring tension.
I haven't done or looked at it more closely as yet but I thought I'd ask if you intend or have looked at?

love the build thanks for sharing

greenMachine · Postby **greenMachine** » Tue Aug 11, 2020 11:09 am

Yes, I have put in two Skunks on different cars. Take it apart, redrill the return spring hole (I drilled a few new holes to give me options on the 1st one, but didn't feel the need on the second). When you put it back together locktite everything. IASTR that I replaced a bolt or two, but the details are lost in the mists of time. They do the job (and don't break), but they aren't the best engineered/built pieces of kit :roll:

Regarding the paint job, it's a racecar FFS, not a concours car! :roll:

Paint runs are a problem!???! You do realise that every coat of paint is slowing you down? :lol:

bruce · Postby **bruce** » Tue Aug 11, 2020 11:48 am

They make paint for roll bars? Wouldn't that just be normal spray paint?

GR124 · Postby **GR124** » Tue Aug 11, 2020 12:08 pm

greenMachine wrote:Yes, I have put in two Skunks on different cars. Take it apart, redrill the return spring hole (I drilled a few new holes to give me options on the 1st one, but didn't feel the need on the second). When you put it back together locktite everything. IASTR that I replaced a bolt or two, but the details are lost in the mists of time. They do the job (and don't break), but they aren't the best engineered/built pieces of kit

Thanks GM for the heads up :beer:

The American · Postby **The American** » Tue Aug 11, 2020 12:58 pm

GR124 wrote:Hi there,
My new Skunk2 arrived yesterday, have you looked into the mods that are commonly done to them?

Yes, I’ve been fiddling with it and thinking about the spring tension issue. It seems really crisp and snappy as it is, but the consensus seems to be to drill another hole. I will probably do this when I get around to matching the manifold.