Said it before and on "the other forum" but I think this is going to be the best Cab on the road when it is all finished :) MOT is a great milestone

http://www.ricola.co.uk/images/cabri...is_in_sump.jpg

http://youtu.be/4RAvymvPTNc

:(

:( Gutted for you Rich

Oh that's heart wrenching, especially after all the clean up work you did. Where was the motor sourced from? I suppose it's far too late for any kind of warranty?

Hi Richard

That's bad luck. I guess no warranty after all this time, maybe a rebuild with some more performance is the way to go now.

Steve

Sorry to hear that Ricola. You going to tear it down and find out what failed?

Ouch. I feel for you.

From the research I've done so far it's not really worth rebuilding stock as they normally take the crank with the big ends.. My most likely plan is to get a second longblock and swap it in as any other option is likely to get expensive and I'd like to get the interior and roof trimmed before moving on to more engine tuning...

the engine came from a private seller over 5 years ago so no comeback, it's a closed deck block so still very much worth keeping, just expensive to rebuild after all the swarf contamination into ancillaries.

Sorry Rich, I guess your left with building a 400hp monster! That just sucks, but now that the foundation is complete you can just focus on a motor I guess.

Jason

Well I've got another engine (secondhand replacement in the end but it has only done about 50k miles) and am currently stripping it down to a longblock for a clean up ready to take my modified intake manifold and other bits.

http://www.ricola.co.uk/images/cabrio/engine_2.jpg

Looking over the engine block it seemed remarkably similar to my RA closed deck block and after a quick search it seems some very early WRXs came with them too! Looks like I lucked out on this engine! I'll be able to confirm tomorrow when I've taken the rear cambelt covers off to check for some typical hatching marks above the oil/water heat exchanger...

Should be back on the road in a couple of weeks :)

Thats great news! Hope you have better luck with this one.

Do you want to keep it 2 liter (being a WRX block, not Sti)? I ask since not many 2 ltr subies make big (400 range) hp without very peaky torque curves.

The biggest power subarus tend to use closed deck blocks, I think the P1 2.2l CDB is the most saught after and a capacity of around 2.35 seems to be good to contain really high boost. My ultimate plan will probably be based on a CDB opened out to 2.5l with sleeves. At the moment I just want to get the car 'finished' and on the road before re-doing things...

I've just come in from stripping the long block right down and cleaning it up, it's definitely a CDB!

The replacement engine is now in and working well! The only issue I have is hitting the fuel cut with overboosting but this should be relatively easy to sort out and is an indication that my exhaust porting and downpipe are working better.

I'm doing some fine tuning of the set-up and found that the air dam was definitely a necessity, rather than put all my time into something untested I cleaned it up with a bit of paint and got it on the car and I'm pleased with how it looks and works.

http://www.ricola.co.uk/images/cabrio/splitter.jpg

I wanted the rear seat to look stock over the transmission tunnel so modified the seat framework to clear it.
http://www.ricola.co.uk/images/cabri..._seat_hump.jpg

All in and no evidence of what's underneath!
http://www.ricola.co.uk/images/cabrio/rear_seat.jpg

Time to finish off the dash... Some wooden strips were used as a guide to keep a constant thickness of the binnacle over the instruments
http://www.ricola.co.uk/images/cabrio/binnacle_1.jpg

I then filled in the gaps frm underneath with some fibreglass matting
http://www.ricola.co.uk/images/cabrio/binnacle_2.jpg

Cavity builders expanding foam was then used to build up the volume without adding too much weight, it is very easy to sculpt to about the right shape too
http://www.ricola.co.uk/images/cabrio/binnacle_3.jpg

Then skimmed with filler. I just need to radius off all the edges and do some final finishing now..
http://www.ricola.co.uk/images/cabrio/binnacle_4.jpg

I really wasn't keen on the Porsche 'nipple' lenses so after carefully picking the surrounds off I was able to remove the lenses and make up some new flat ones from polycarbonate sheet. While they were apart I sandblasted and repainted the rims and they look brand new now.
http://www.ricola.co.uk/images/cabrio/gauges.jpg

All back in the car I'm happy with how it's all looking. I painted the dash binnacle as a temporary measure until it's re-trimmed in leather.
http://www.ricola.co.uk/images/cabrio/binnacle_5.jpg

I also re-fitted the running board chrome trim and I think it finishes them off nicely.
http://www.ricola.co.uk/images/cabri...board_trim.jpg

I also made up a strut brace. Coming off it are a brake reservoir bracket and also a cover to protect the fuel pump and fuel level sender.
http://www.ricola.co.uk/images/cabrio/strut_brace.jpg

Next big job will be the heater but I have to figure out what matrix to use, I need one that is about 100x200mm, any ideas?