GTM Libra (Honda Engined)


Finally got my head built up

I decided it would be criminal to fit it without doing some mild porting first, by that I just mean basically copying what mr Honda did. There's a fairly pronounced ridge just before the valve which can't help flow at all so I blended that out on all of them as well as removing any nasty casting marks and gave the exhaust ports a good clean up.

Lapped the type R valves in, built back up with type r dual springs and new collets :)

When I got home I finally finished plastigauging the rods which were all good so torqued them all up and all the main caps... Pistons all have new rings and block was honed the other week so some good progress today!







 
Built the motor up last night, note that I am a keen fan of recycling so I re used my pizza hut boxes as protection for the block ... The mrs said I should spend more time with her so I built it up in the dining room, hahahhaa

Buttoned all the bottom end up, fidanza flywheel and new clutch



Knew I kept the shaft from my old gearbox for a reason, made aligning the clutch dead easy



Flipped it over and dropped the head on and new gasket, then dropped the cams in.



At this point I had a ******* major ordeal with some JUNK 2 (or skunk2 as they're also known) low profile valve cover bolts. Two of the 4No. that replace the OEM posts on the cam caps snapped at not even 10ftlb. Now I know they probably would've been OK just nipped down but at the end of the day they bolt through the cam caps so everything IMO should be torqued to spec. These couldn't even manage half the specified torque. Utter shite. One was dead easy to get out having snapped just below the head of the bolt, the other snapped flush with the head so yep you guessed it, frigging cam had to come out, cap off and just about managed to tap the bolt round with a punch and get it out.






Put the cam back in and fitted the OEM ones.

Then finally got onto getting the belt on, new gates belt, koyo tensioner and new water pump installed. I don't like how close the GTM engine mount is to the tensioner/belt so will be grinding that down a bit, although the tensioner is all the way back in the photo, there is a gap but very close... Hopefully I'll get that done tonight and maybe get it mated up to the box. Then I'll see about getting the lump back in the car.

 
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Just realised I need to fit the lower casing brace thingy that goes below the flywheel too
 
Couldn't resist popping this on last night, removed again now until the motor is fitted in case it gets marked. Nicest part of the whole car :))

Just need to get the bloody thing out the back door and into the garage, mate is comng round tonight to help me man handle it.



 
Oh yes indeed! Engine is looking fresh your cut knuckles has paid off looking forward to hearing her bark.
 
Thanks mate

Hoping to get the engine back in tomorrow

Mated the box to the engine, starter motor etc last night. Was fitting the injectors and found that the o rings were ****** and there weren't any spares in my gasket set. So need to find some suitable o rings, gonna buy a box and try a few sizes until I get some that are a tight fit.

Need to fit the alternator and some other bits tonight, start plugging the engine loom into all the sensors and it should be pretty much ready to go in.
 
Got the engine back in over the weekend, few bits of plumbing left to do but mostly done. Need to fit the gear linkage back up and fit the rose joints I've sourced instead of the old rubber ball joint type ends on the gear change cables.

Going to do the valve clearances tonight and fit my valve cover I think. Then I'll get some pics of that. New shocks are on the back etc..

Rear ARB is back on was cleaning the drop links up last night. Even after 3 lots of paint stripper it just didn't want to come off fully and they seemed a little stained by the paint so out came the grit paper.

Was quite difficult until I realised I could just about fit them in my drill chuck :D



40 odd quid worth of the best rose joints I could get from McGill motorsports later

 
Ohhh shiny parts! ! Glad it's all working out for you mate ,
 
What a engine! Induction sound at ear level, check ! Win win . Fair play man .
 
Sound test or video would be nice when you stop looking at it, lol !
 
induction noise is going to be fun with this. J's racing intake sounds sweet!
 
You excited Lee?? More than me haha

It's not running yet I have no exhaust from the manifold back I need to start making it next week ordered loads of bends and ****
 
It sure is a sweet motor, and in a fabulous body ,
Better than most cars on the road today ,
 
I think if they withdrew kits back in the day and only made them as a factory car they would've took off. I think to most people the idea of a kit car is like a poorly finished toy but these were leagues ahead of everything else. Very cleverly designed, easier to live with than an Elise or VX220 and much cheaper to insure!! I'm expecting this one to be a bit better than my old one.
 
Not that they didn't do well but only to a small audience, although this car was factory built. I think the guy paid in the region of 18k for it in 2007 and just ran it into the ground. Can't understand it but if he looked after it a bit better I would never have got it!
 
That's pricey! But hay ,it's landed in the right owners lap this time around, I always say if you look after your car
It will look after you.
Can't wait for some fresh pictures and a sound test in a few weeks , engine bay and engine it's self is a credit to you .
 
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