Dr. Destructo blows a rocker apart

[Element Tuning]

Originally Posted by Calum

Loosen the lash adjustment, remove rocker arm. He'd need to adjust the lash with the new arms anyway. Wait, shims... WTF? Did he manage to compress the valves with the heads on? I know you've said you don't run much seat pressure, but damn.

It's a mystery ha ha We talked about making a tool that would allow us to compress the spring while the heads were in the car and the cam in place so I guess he made the tool. Luckily the shim we had originally used had the correct valve lash with the new rocker.

Not something I would recommend unless you got as lucky as I did. Normally the engine would need to be taking down but after cutting the oil filter apart with no debris (bearing or other), perfect leak down results, and we accounted for the shim, rocker, and pin I felt it was worth it to "get her done" and go racing this weekend.

There is still a little risk but I've decided I'm ok with it for my personal car since I really want to continue long term abuse/durability testing of Elment Tuning motors.

[Element Tuning]

Modified a rocker to test so the pin cannot walk out again and got the motor back into the FRS last night. She's ripping to 9k rpm again! Those Perrin pulleys sure do look sweet next to my corroded stock ones. LOL!



A couple more things to iron out and hopefully we'll be on the road to Limerock tomorrow.

[gramicci101]

What do you think the possibility is of our rockers being the same dimension as existing rockers for another vehicle? I wonder if there are already aftermarket options out there that fit and we just don't know about it yet. If there are, that seems like an easy way to have stronger rockers with more precise measurements.

[Element Tuning]

Originally Posted by gramicci101

What do you think the possibility is of our rockers being the same dimension as existing rockers for another vehicle? I wonder if there are already aftermarket options out there that fit and we just don't know about it yet. If there are, that seems like an easy way to have stronger rockers with more precise measurements.

It's possible but unlikely since this is a newely designed Subaru engine and they really haven't used these in the past. We'll continue testing our fix to make sure it's reliable over time. It survived a race weekend at Limerock so I'm happy so far.

[cdrazic93]

This is why im getting my engine eventually built by @Element Tuning. Nice job Phil.

Also kinda wanting to work for Element Tuning now

[Calum]

Originally Posted by gramicci101

What do you think the possibility is of our rockers being the same dimension as existing rockers for another vehicle? I wonder if there are already aftermarket options out there that fit and we just don't know about it yet. If there are, that seems like an easy way to have stronger rockers with more precise measurements.

Now that you mention it, I have a fleeting memory of someone saying there is some similar parts between the top end of the FA and another toyota motor. You might try looking through Homemade WRX a.k.a 3MI Racing's old posts or maybe even argx7's posts.

[mike the snake]

I remember reading here about someone saying they saw crank and bearing failures on engines with lightened parts on both front and rear ends.

Maybe something to do with harmonics? They seemed to indicate they'd seen more failures on engines with both lightened pulleys And lightened flywheels.

Maybe since you're wanging your engines out to 9K you might be out of the harmonic range?

I'll know in a couple months if I'll have enough to get the built engine from Element Tuning.

[Element Tuning]

Originally Posted by mike the snake

I remember reading here about someone saying they saw crank and bearing failures on engines with lightened parts on both front and rear ends.

Maybe something to do with harmonics? They seemed to indicate they'd seen more failures on engines with both lightened pulleys And lightened flywheels.

Maybe since you're wanging your engines out to 9K you might be out of the harmonic range?

I'll know in a couple months if I'll have enough to get the built engine from Element Tuning.

Mike, honestly people have been trying to make that connection for years and I'm really not convinced at all with these boxer motors it has anything to do with bearing failures. It's like saying cars that run on gas have bearing failures

In all seriousness I do think with inline motors with long cranks I can see making a case that a heavy damper could help if the motor isn't balanced well.

With that said this fine girl's Element Tuning engine got us through the weekend with flying colors. She was absolutely screaming around the track!



Here are the 25 seconds of Lime Rock Park that make you want to go back!!! We just missed out on first place at the Trans AM and Whelen USTT Championship in TT1 to a race prepped GT Viper by 4/100ths of a second. Given that has been a winning car and we are no where near TT1 spec (we just decided to up class the car and even the TT3 winner was faster on the straights. LOL!) I'm happy with the result and the testing we got out of the weekend.

I think I'll discuss more about the oiling and the engine in the other bearing and oiling thread as it's most relevant over there.

Thanks,
Phil Grabow

[Nigelr32]

I don't suppose you want to let us all know how you stop the pins coming out Phil?


I'm thinking a spot welded tab, connected to the rocker at the outer ends so as not to affect the strength of the main stressed parts of the pressed steel?

[350matt]

Originally Posted by Nigelr32

I don't suppose you want to let us all know how you stop the pins coming out Phil?


I'm thinking a spot welded tab, connected to the rocker at the outer ends so as not to affect the strength of the main stressed parts of the pressed steel?

wasn't there a thread a while ago about using an lexus ISF follower? these had a bigger roller and pivot pin retainer

don't know if they drop right in though, bound to need some mods though

[zooki]

This thread (and the few like it)are why I keep coming back to this forum and wading through all of the "my air filter on a piece of muffler pipe is better than your air filter on a piece of muffler pipe " threads... Actual useful information.

[themadscientist]

Hey all this talk off muff and pipe is getting me excited.

[Element Tuning]

Originally Posted by zooki

This thread (and the few like it)are why I keep coming back to this forum and wading through all of the "my air filter on a piece of muffler pipe is better than your air filter on a piece of muffler pipe " threads... Actual useful information.

Shhhhh! That's how we solved the rocker issue

[Element Tuning]

9k RPM on the dyno and still hanging on. Oil pressure is good too
http://instagram.com/p/xNjK8Bx_hH/