February 2020

28Feb

I have programmed the Datastream on the ECU to accept data from the EcuMaster EGT-CAN box. So the ECU is now able to read, log and react to the temperatures from the four sensors on the exhaust manifold, plus the 5th sensor which is sat in the exhaust pipe. It was easy enough to setup. Once the address of the Ecumaster box is known, the ECU is setup to look for data on frames 1 to 8, using the address of the Ecumaster box. Pictures on my instagram feed.

The pair of cooling fans that direct air over the Fuelab regulator and Radium tank, are wired in, and can be turned on and off manually. I will look at using the ECU to control them, with a sixth temperature sensors.

The Exhaust VVT sensor is now connected to the ECU, using the Rain Light output. This will be tested on Monday at the Rolling Road session.

26Feb

The ECU was unlocked today. I finally have 100% access to the ECU settings. The culmination of 3 years of negotiations with Ford. And I'm now free to take the car anywhere I like for tuning. And I kept my calibration too.

23Feb

Back on four wheels again. First time since September. The ECU is being worked on tomorrow, to replace the Ford ID with the Generic ID and update the firmware. I'll post screen shots of the config once its done. Looking forward to getting full access after 4 years of negotiations.
Moody
A fifth EGT sensor has been added to the car, this one sits in the exhaust pipe post-turbo, so I can monitor the temperature pre and post turbo, to keep an eye on the engines performance.

22Feb

The carbon floor panels are now fitted. It took me all week to bond the new pair of boards to the original fixing panels that I cut off the Mygale boards. But they look great, are several kilograms lighter than the Mygale boards, and are hopefully also more aerodynamic.

The Rolling Road session is booked for the 2nd and 3rd of March. I'll have the Generic ID placed on the ECU this week, and collect the van and trailer for the journey, next weekend.

Bonding the sections together.

Fitted the boards and drilled all the fixture holes for the body panels etc.

Fitted the air bottle, and tidied some of the cables.


These are a pair of 60mm brushless DC HP Proliant server fans, which are under microprocessor control, and will reduce the fuel temperature I hope, when running.

13Feb

I have finished pop riveting the floor to the car, I used around 50 closed head rivets in total, the majority around the area where I sit and the floor has to take my weight. I hate rivets, the hand tools I use are really awkward when lying beneath the car, and I've a few scrapes and bruises from using them. Still, its done now so I can put those tools away again.

I've wired the Ecumaster EGT-CAN box in to CAN1. I cut the twisted CAN1 wires at the GPS connector, ran a pair of twisted wires down to the EGT box, and then another pair back up to the GPS module, making sure to regard the CAN bus HI and CAN LO polarities. I've tested the ECU and I can still see data coming from the GPS module so I'm confident the EGT-CAN box is also working. I wont be able to see the data produced by it until the ECU is unlocked. Speaking of which, the invoice from Life has been paid, and I just need to arrange for Support to take remote control and make the changes to the ECU.

The list of remaining jobs is getting shorter:
Relocate the Lithium starter battery in to the near side pod, on the carbon floor
ECU Generic ID patch
Exhaust VVT needs wiring in
Fuel pump override button wire-in
Swap both driveshafts
Order yellow No 8's (Coalville Signs)
Close the 50mm hole I drilled in the radiator cowling to gain access to the chassis bolts

12Feb

This week the championship coordinators back tracked on their statement that only 100RON fuel was legal. I pointed out that the definition of Pump Fuel in the Blue Book includes Part (b) FIA Appendix J Art 252, Article 9, which allows the use of 102RON fuel. About a week after my email, they then sent the retraction to all competitors. It pays to read emails! I also pointed out to fellow competitors that a fuel sample take-off is mandatory for car's running in British championships, a rule that has been around for a very long time, and some drivers complained, but have bought the necessary hardware and plumbed it in. The email wasnt aimed at existing drivers, but at the many new drivers we have this year. But it seems not everyone had one fitted, so for this year, all cars should be 100% compliant. If they're not compliant, and a scrutineer chucks them out, I'll be dishing out the Told You So cards.

The bigger quesstion here though, is why tell everyone 100RON was the maximum fuel? Are there concerns about people using rocket fuel in their cars? I dont, I run 102RON, and with some drivers running Methanol, does it really matter anyway?

10Feb

The new floor has been stuck on to the chassis, with Sikaflex. To be honest I've used the Sikaflex to prevent water getting trapped between the chassis rails and floor. The floor will still be riveted in a few places to take the load when I stand inside the car etc.
The rear suspension is back on, rear brake lines are connected and need bleeding. The EGTCAN box is now fixed to the floor in front of the Gemzoe fuel tank, and I need to get the CAN connections wired up. Easier said than done. I'm going to have to split the pair of wires where they emerge in the chassis split connector, and divert them to the EGT box and then back to the chassis loom, using twisted pair wiring. Thats Tuesday nights job.
The Koso Mini 3 fuel gauge is now wired in, and the cables sleeved and heatshrinked. I then calibrated it with the tank emptied, next I refitted the fuel filler neck, and refilled the tank with 10litres, and calibrated the gauge for full. When I ran the two pumps to prime the Radium tank, the fuel level dropped to 95%, so I added 0.5litres back in to the tank and recalibrated it again for full. So now I can see the fuel level as I fill the tank. Another step towards ensuring I never suffer from fuel surge again. And no more emptying the tanks to see how much fuel remains. This will make running the car solo a little easier.

7Feb

The oil leak on the rear of the sump has been cured. The replacement aluminium floor has been drilled ready for riveting to the chassis floor. Life has come back to me with a very reasonable cost for Unlocking the ECU, so I'll raise a PO and get the ECU unlocked asap and then I can get it tuned. I'm testing at Mallory Park on 12th March so I need to get my act together to get the car tuned and setup in time.

1Feb

Ran the engine for an hour, water temp reached 90, oil temp sat around 78C as I had the big blower fan on keeping the fumes out the garage.