The Taisan Replica Track Car

[Smokey 1]

We have owned this car for quite a while now so some pics of her and a little introduction.

We bought the car last year from Tim Webster (top man) . Tim had bought the car from an auction wanting to build a R32 track car, so it was shipped off to his friends body shop to be stripped down and repainted. As most of us who have had a car painted will know that choosing the colour is the hardest decision to make, step in Tim's son George. George had a Di-cast model of the Taisan JTC car, Tim walked into the body shop and ask them to paint his car the same as the model.
























We have driven the car twice at Brands Hatch, first outing the car was very quick and showed up quite a few of the super cars that had been out on the same day. I then bought a set of 25/30's for it and on our second trip to Brands, five lap's in no oil pressure
It was suspected that the oil pump had failed.
Once the engine was out of the car, the damage was plain to see. A big end bearing had failed and picked up the rod on number six, firing bits of bearing through the engine, it was fooked. Crank, Rod's Pistons in the bin. Luck the engine had been a NUR from Tim's R34, which had only covered 4000 odd miles, the block was shipped to the engineers to be re bored.
Disaster the waterway to head bolt had cracked on number 4, the block was skipped.
I ordered a new block and shipped it direct to the engineers for re boring, to accept the Tomie 2.8 kit that will be used to replace the old NUR item's.










Good news is the car should be ready for this weekend, where I will get to drive Silverstone for the first time.















Massive thanks to Rob and Justin for the work they have done on her.

Just need to get some more shots of her at Silverstone next weekend.

Hear are a few pics I found on the net of the actual car racing in Japan.











Smokey

[Smokey 1]

And a few Miguel from Newera sent to me from the Nismo festival last year, great to know the original one is alive and still seeing some track time












Smokey

[magoo]

cool

[matty32]

good stuff!

[cyberspyder]

LMGT4s needed here!

[hodgie]

Its abit scarey to think that the engine was knackered with only 4k miles Good to see that its up and running again though.

[Smokey 1]

Originally Posted by hodgie

Its abit scarey to think that the engine was knackered with only 4k miles Good to see that its up and running again though.

Not quite yet up and running Hodgie, the boys still have some work to do this week, Saturday has been set aside for the run in and mapping. As usual we are up against the clock but fingers crossed it will all be ready in time for Silverstone on Sunday.

[Smokey 1]

Originally Posted by cyberspyder

LMGT4s needed here!

dude I wish I had the money, just spent way toooooo much sorting the engine so new wheels are at the bottom of the list right now.









Smokey

[323ian]

Cracking thread mate.
Bad news about the engine, the oil pumps really seem to be the weak link on these engines.

[Smokey 1]

Originally Posted by 323ian

Cracking thread mate.
Bad news about the engine, the oil pumps really seem to be the weak link on these engines.

The oil pump never failed, it was a shell on number six that let go.

Anyway water under the bridge, she is rebuilt and up and running. 3:45 this morning Rob and Justin finished putting the engine back in, gear box in tonight. The Taisan fired into life with the first turn of the key, top job boys. I owe you big time.






Smokey

[Miguel - Newera]

Good stuff Smokey1!

Looks like this could end up being even more powerful than the original
Look forward to seeing the trackday videos!

[matt j]

Well done John (& PT)

Post up some rebuild pics and the vid when you get chance.

[m6beg]

Originally Posted by Miguel - Newera

Good stuff Smokey1!

Looks like this could end up being even more powerful than the original
Look forward to seeing the trackday videos!

Originally Posted by matt j

Well done John (& PT)

Post up some rebuild pics and the vid when you get chance.

Thanks guys, you will have to wait till next week for a few video's but in the mean time a few pics of the new internals

The Tomei Rods and pistons assembled







Tomie crank




The N1 block being degreased, so a good hour or so of constant cleaning to make sure that it is completely clean. First with the jet wash and then into the steam oven







I spoke to Jeremy at Keith Michaels yesterday and got the car insured so I can get some road miles on the new engine. Might drive it around London with my crash helmet on Stop me getting embarrised from all those starring eye's. It turns enough heads when on the trailer so I am sure a quick few laps of Piccadilly Circus will be on the cards.





Smokey

[Smokey 1]

[quote=m6beg;858783]

I spoke to Jeremy at Keith Michaels yesterday and got the car insured so I can get some road miles on the new engine. Might drive it around London with my crash helmet on Stop me getting embarrised from all those starring eye's. It turns enough heads when on the trailer so I am sure a quick few laps of Piccadilly Circus will be on the cards.

QUOTE]

Nice one Mick




Smokey

[Smokey 1]

The car had its first outing today with the new engine, it was a meet and greet for the Nippon Challenge which I will be taking part in this year. I finished running it in on Saturday and Tweenirod remapped it Saturday night. With 1 bar of boost the figures where impressive but being the loon that he is Rob pushed the boost up to 1.2 bar, which made 609 bhp and 485 ftlb's the main difference between the 2.6 and the new 2.8 is that peak torque happens 1090 rpm sooner.

We woke up to a very wet day and the breakfast weather reports where warning of flooding and heavy rain . Anyway after pulling out all the stops's to get the car ready, we where not going to let a bit of the wet stuff dampen our spirit's.

I had taken the T1R's off the whistely job just in case and thank God I did. Silver stone was bloody soaking, we waited for the first session because the safety car was not happy with the condition's. Once out on track it was hard to tell if the car was any better because as you can imagine standing water and flat out in 4th gear was not happening. As the day progressed the rain eased off and the track was starting to dry out a bit. The 888's where swapped over onto the car and the fun really began.

After a passenger ride with Rob earlier on I decided not to go out with him again, having known him for a while I never knew he wanted to be a D1 Driver LOL Jezz I felt sick, so he headed out on his own. I stood on the pit wall watching the Taisan rip up the start finish straight, bloody great sight but little does the drift king know there is a new guy in town. The next lap Rob seemed to be a lot slower I stood there waiting for him to fly past, turned around to see the Taisan behind me in the pit lane covered in mud. WTF way toooooo much opposite lock, no damage done so it was all good.

We let the car cool down and I headed out to tarmac that was fast becoming very dry. Fist time all day I needed 5th gear, really got to grip's with the car and got a few lines around the circuit nailed which had been imposable earlier on with the wet conditions.

The new engine has SO much torque and the 25/30's seem to be on boost as soon as the loud pedal is pressed, the car ran faultless all day which in itself is reflection on how good the guy's who built the new engine are at there job. We clocked up around 150 miles in her at Silverstone today most of that flat out on full boost.

The video's are uploading as I type this so I will post them up later.

Once again I cant thank Tweenirob and Justin enough for there time, effort and enthusiasm for the car.





Smokey