OMG it works!

73SpeedBuggy · Post by **73SpeedBuggy** » Mon Jul 07, 2008 3:34 am

Just wanted to report in that I finished my engine rebuild today and it's running great! I was so nervous during the initial startup that something was going to go horribly wrong. But now I've got the timing and idle set, I revved it up and down for 15 minutes or so, then changed the oil and replaced the filter. Took it down the street for the first time and it runs like a dream now (at least compared to what it was before)! It's mostly a stock rebuild, but I did use 89mm pistons and cylinders and had a small flycut put on the new heads. Before the rebuild I had trouble hitting 60, now I can fly right on up and past 70. It also sounds much better and of course the engine itself looks a thousand times better. I'm so releaved and happy to finally be done with this. Ok, lets' see, what's the next project? Should I do the rollcage, or get some carpeting installed? Argh, it never ends!

5150bossman · Post by **5150bossman** » Mon Jul 07, 2008 5:34 pm

Congrats! I had the same feeling when we got ours running with the new motor 4 years ago. Depending on what you plan on doing with it, if you have ANY off-road in mind, I would go with the roll cage first. The carpet will jut get dirty....

73SpeedBuggy · Post by **73SpeedBuggy** » Tue Jul 08, 2008 7:48 pm

It's pretty much going to be strictly street, though I may haul it down to OBX this September when we go down for vacation. Interesting story, I was out on a short run the other night and noticed my altnerator light would come on whenever my engine RPMs would go up (I'm still watching everything very closely until the engine is thoroughly broken in). This is completely backwards from what you'd expect with the light. I couldn't figure it out, but everytime I let the engine go back to idle the light would go out. So I got back home and start investigating... Well, it turns out that the lines going from my alternator to the voltage regulator (mounted on the FRONT of the doghouse) and the line for the altnernator light were getting sucked into the fan whenever the RPMs increased and it shredded the wire. Apparently though when the altnernator light wire would get sucked in it would ground to the fan causing the light to come on. Crazy stuff. Fortunately I had enough slack in all the wires to repair them without much hassle.

5150bossman · Post by **5150bossman** » Sat Jul 12, 2008 6:18 pm

Yup, those first shake down runs help to get all the bugs out. When we got ours built, we were about to go on our first Manx run. I put everything back together and went to fire it up to put it on the trailer (I had already broken in the new motor). No go! It would not fire. I worked until 2 in the AM to find the problem. After messing with everything I could think of, it turned out to be a loose wire to the condensor. Clipped it back on..... and it fired right away! Got two hours sleep, and went off to our first buggy run. Had a great time too. Found a few other issues, but nothing that couldn't be overcome.

croakintowd · Post by **croakintowd** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 5:25 am

When I fired mine, I resisted the urge to dress up like a Bomb Squad Technician. Like yours, mine fired up and ran. I was surprised! So far, no BOOM. Congratulations on your accomplishment! C-Ya,

73SpeedBuggy · Post by **73SpeedBuggy** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 12:50 am

[quote="croakintowd;12773"]When I fired mine, I resisted the urge to dress up like a Bomb Squad Technician. Like yours, mine fired up and ran. I was surprised! So far, no BOOM. Congratulations on your accomplishment! C-Ya,[/quote] Hahaha, my wife suggested I wear a bombproof suit when I fired it up.

Manx Club

OMG it works!

OMG it works!

I know how you felt!