The build gains momentum

Just 9 days to go…

Another full day of work work - it’s nearly midnight and I am still here (complete with the 6 and 8 year old kids) trying to get the admin back log cleared!! Tim, Rich and Paul were all working on customer cars till 7pm again too!

So updates…. We sorted the brakes today, yeeeeha! Going back to the weight saving principle of our 2009 upgrades, one of our main concerns when choosing a new brake kit (apart from the obvious stopping power) was opting for something lightweight. So, after much research (and elimination of a lot of kits due to lack of funds) we settled on a front and rear system from Compbrake. With luck they will arrive tomorrow. That makes Compbrake the fifth new supporter for ZEN in 2009 and a new supplier for stock products too.

Andy T made a huge difference to the team effort again today by kindly picking up the block from the machine shop, post- bore and hone. Even better than that, he also delivered our Cosworth cylinder heads and pistons. Andy set to cutting out the frame around the drivers window and then together with Paul they layed up some carbon fibre to re-attach the frame as desired and with extra strength.

Leaving that to go-off, Andy scooted home and Paul has begun to build up the bottom end of the engine - he had hoped to use last year’s crank but as soon as he put it in the lathe for a cleanup it was blindingly obvious it was no longer straight! That’s the budget stretched again! Paul got the new crank out the box at about 10pm and now at midnight the bearings and rods are on. More tomorrow.

Whilst Rich and Tim attacked the aero fitment issues… Starting from the back, the bumper was cut to make way for the rear diffuser and new fixing points were found. Next the main piece of the flat floor was affixed as per last year and then on to deciding how to make the front splitter work (yeah we are still umming and ahhing this one)

Bedtime!

The work / Time Attack balance!

Progress seems to have slowed somewhat There are plenty of emails going back and forth but nothing much physically happening. The CE28Ns are ordered (wooohoo) but need to come from Japan. We are still trying to strike the right deal on brakes and Paul is still corresponding regarding connectors etc for the Solaris loom. We are waiting on the Cosworth inlet manifold and having decided time was running too short, we are now also waiting for a full pair of Cosworth AVCS cylinder heads (instead of having to port, polish and fully assemble our own).

The bank holiday is screwing with everything this week. We are fitting a very full 5 working days into 4, with everyone working late this week every night on customer cars, so we have happy customers enjoying their newly built and / or finished cars over the weekend. Paul has had no time from last night basically, to do anything race car related, so looks like we have reached a temporary halt till after the bank holiday. Paul and I have a long standing engagement in Cornwall for Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, visiting family and fitting / mapping an ECU.

Mr T brought the block halves back tonight having been busy machining to Paul’s plan. Luckily RS Components can accept orders for next day delivery up until 8 pm and so the materials needed to finish the job have been bought.

Another late one for Paul and I on regular ZEN work. We simply have to finish by tomorrow night so we can get to Cornwall for Friday.