Ewing Family Racing

28/05/2023

More progress this weekend on 'Black'. The engine and trans have come out once again and there was some more "massaging" (read as 'bashing') completed on the tunnel to make just a little more room. Angle grinder got a go as well with some brackets on the firewall that needed trimming.

But they are now in their correct location and the bolts are in the engine and trans mounts. Woo Hoo!!!

Started the process of getting a custom tailshaft now that I can get a measurement. Using Final Drive Engineering for this.

Should have the radiator back from Adrenaline Performance & Fabrication soon after a little welding job.

Will now be planning out where everything goes around the engine and trans so that it can come out only one more time.

09/05/2023

May Update on "Black"

Work on transformation isn't going as rapidly as I would like, but I can put that down mainly to me. You get that and I don't want to rush anything. Also, there is the lack of real ability and even less trust in the said ability. Ahhh, its all part of the fun and I am having fun so all is good.

I have been collecting more parts along the way including catch can, Mako Motorsport dash surround for the electronic dash, a Chase Bays replacement alloy bottle for the windscreen washer fluid, Chase Bays brake booster delete master cylinder, Turbosmartt fuel reg and filter.

Ive received the clutch pedal back from Mal Wood Automotive who have modified it and fitted an internal master cylinder all setup for the clutch that they supplied with the transmission. A great service and great people to deal with.

Special thanks to Sean from Adrenaline Performance & Fabrication for helping with the fuel reg and filter. If you need any work done in the Bunbury region (or further afield) give Sean a call. Mention us for a mates rates deal. They do all manner of performance work and Sean's welding is mint. He races a saloon car and does a lot of motorsport tuning and work.

After much fun the old trans bracket in the tunnel has been removed. 50 million spot welds to drill out. Fun Fun Fun and then its out.

I think I have now stripped just about everything that has to come off now. "Black" is truly all over the shed !

It is time to start adding bits back on. So, some of the boxes have come down and actual progress has begun.

I test fitted the PWR Advanced Cooling Technology radiator and it looks mint. A few mods required to make this totally happen but that's par for the course.

Ive fitted the Sikky Manufacturing sump + engine mounts and the transmission on to the L77 so that I can do the first test fit. Almost fitted first time but I have verified that I need to "massage" the tunnel a little more and that I really do need the Sikky Manufacturing subframe spacers + steering rack offset bushes. Like I really knew anyway but worth a try. The Sikky Manufacturing headers look real nice and fit, a close one but they fit! Like they were designed to fit in there.

I will add some more pics up and hopefully I can get some more updates as more things start to come together.

02/12/2022

Update on "Black"

The L77 engine is sitting there patiently waiting to become the heart of "black" the 86 racecar. But any driver knows that unless you can get the ponies to the ground you are not going anywhere.

The first link in chain is the clutch and transmission. The stock items are quite good for what they are designed for, but just won't be up to the task with the new 6.0 litre heart.

So its time for some new gear. It arrived last Friday and here are a couple of pictures. It is a Tremec T56 Magnum-F which is an aftermarket version of the 6 speed transmission in the commodores. Its stronger! A quick shifter (the gold bit) and an 11inch clutch, flywheel and billet concentric slave complete the picture.

Shout out to Mal Wood Automotive who supplied the gear. They are ultra-helpful and knowledgeable. Would definately recommend them for your transmission and driveline needs. They are modifying our clutch pedal when it comes out so that the master is on the inside of the firewall as the engine is where the standard one is. They do this as a service and its super easy and heck just makes the swap that little bit smoother. Feel free to mention us if you deal with Mal or Paul.

Things have been coming in thick and "almost" fast so expect a few more updates over the next days.

02/12/2022

Meeting Report - State Speed Series Rnd 12& 13

last weekend we competed in the last 2 rounds of the series. These are sprints and unlike regularity the aim is to set the fastest lap times. Not head to head racing but still needs you to be as quick as possible.
We dont go as well in this at present as there are some quicker cars in our class. But we did set some times that are close to our personal best (PB) on both the long and short circuits at the CollieMotorplex
For information on the CollieMotorplex and the 2 tracks visit their website at https://colliemotorplex.org.au/

Best times for the weekend were 57.9575 seconds on the short track and 1:29.4076 minutes on the long track.

Great weekend was had by all and a shout out to Graeme j Howie from https://www.sportpixx.com.au/collie-2022-events.html for some great shots of all the racing.

That ends the racing for this year. Black will now be pulled apart and the fun can begin. We have had some deliveries and I will put some posts up about those separately. Fun Fun Fun.

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20/11/2022

Spent this afternoon at the WA Sporting Car Club (WASCC) presentation in Perth. The event was held at Burswood on the Swan to congratulate the club champions for 2022. Yes, somehow it is almost then end of the year!!
We managed to pick up a 2nd place in the TarmacSportz - Time Challenge.

We have one more event next weekend with the last 2 rounds of the State Speed Series on Saturday and Sunday at the CollieMotorplex. Then black will come off the road for his transformation.

Anyone around Collie next weekend feel free to drop in and see some cool sprint action. Last I heard there were 60+ cars entered and increasing.

Quick Shoutouts...
Harvey Tyrepower
Adrenaline Performance & Fabrication

09/11/2022

Competed at CarCo.com.au raceway last weekend and the weather was GREAT. Not too hot and not WET!!
We had 3 trials and although we were quite consistent in times the rest of the field really stepped up their game. We placed 9th, 7th and 11th. The 7th we had a score of 276 and that would normally put you on the podium.
A great day was had by all.

Thats the end of the regularity season and we have two rounds of the state speed series to go at the end of the month. Then the transformation can begin.

I will include a couple of pics and after I download the gopro I should be able to put up a video, Ive had troubles getting the remote to work of late, but I think I got some footage.

04/11/2022

The next step has been taken for "Black" in his journey of transformation. 🚶

We received some new bits today to help put the L77 V8 heart into him. These came from a company in the USA called Sikky manufacturing. They include Engine and Transmission mounts to mount the engine as far back and low as possible. This is good for weight balance. Some headers that look great that are specially made for the LS into 86 swap. A new sump that allows engine to fit around the subframe but also has nice features like extra oil capacity, internal baffling with trap doors and all the holes ready for sensors and other things. Also a remote oil filter kit, a fuel line kit and brake kit to help everything fit nice.
At first glance all the gear looks really well engineered and manufactured. 🤩

This is starting to get real now. Wont be long and the real work can start. 👏🔜

22/10/2022

Want to put a special shout out to Chris and his team at Tyrepower in Harvey.

When the race trailer needed new tyres at short notice last week, they put in the extra effort to ensure we had what we need pronto.

They always do this, but for people in the regions you know what Hay season is like and they were flatout busy and some.

So we really appreciate the effort and great customer service they give us.

So if you are in the Harvey region drop in and say hello to Chris. Make sure you mention us for a "Mates Deal".😀

9 Newell Street, Harvey 6220
or phone us on (08) 9729 1111

22/10/2022

Competed yesterday (Friday 21st October) at the CarCo Raceway for my first night event. This is part of the WASCC tarmac sportz series. See the WASCC website for more info.

We kicked off at approx. 6:30pm for practice and there was still some Twighlight around. Then 4 trials when it was fully dark. Lighting at the circuit is really good but not as good as the sun. Proved to be really enjoyable racing at night.

We had a win in Trial #1 and then mixed results after that as it started to rain and the track got real slippery.

Final result was a 3rd for the meeting and I am really happy with that. we also managed to pick up the "Time King" trophy for the closest lap time to your nominated time for the meeting. A 1:16.2256 on nominated 1:16.2 so pretty close.

We had our first major "off" in the second last trial as well. Was a little off line coming into turn 7 (end of long straight) and under brakes got out of shape. This resulted in a 180 degree rotation at somewhere above 130-140km/h. We normally hit the braking point at about 170+km/h. Used the whole track in the process and ended in the grass on drivers left. Off the wall which is the important part.

Put it down to driver error in the "wettish"/slick conditions and another learning experience. It was interesting though. 💩

Our next event is again at CarCo Raceway for their November meeting. This is the final round of the State Regularity Championship and looking forward to get back out there.

02/10/2022

Competed at the Coalfields 500 this weekend at Collie Motorplex. Great weekend with the only rain being Sat night !!
Practice and Trial 1 on Saturday, and the then 3 trials on Sunday. Each trial is a like a race but in regularity it is called a "Trial".

Our group had 17 cars and we had a 7th, 5th, 1st and a 3rd.
This gave us a 3rd overall for the event.
It all came down to the last corner on the last trial with the event winner and runner up passing me on the corner. This slowed me down a little and made all the difference.
Great fun was had by all.

Special thanks to Chris from Harvey Tyrepower for all your help. It is appreciated. If you need tyres in the Harvey area go see him and tell him I sent you for a "mates deal".

Next event is the November Race Meet at CarCo raceway (aka Wanneroo Raceway) on Sat 5th November.

15/09/2022

Long Track test and tune at Collie Motorplex 10-11 September. New vented bonnet helps keep under bonnet temps down and it looks cool too.

Did some practice for the upcoming Regularity event at the CoalFields 500 on 1-2 October. Should be a great event. Looks like there are 60+ Regularity entries at this stage.