Today at Atelier Kaz - ex-Honda R&D, F1, Indy/CART engineer

Just a quick update as super busy week and weekend.
Also dealing with the situation back in Japan.
















The engine was ready last year but not me, lol.


Came a long way to get here with this engine.

Will touch on it once I have added the comments to all the photo.







Engine back in place, sub-frame carefully aligned.
As mentioned, if you study the structure and how the Eng/Gbox mounted, you'll understand why there is a specific sequences in tightening all the bolts/nuts.


Drained the aged fuel.

Despite the use of heavy duty glove, managed to get some fuel on the finger so some of my fingerprints are gone.
Some of the skin are still peeling off.
Shell V-Power... Amasing....


Didn’t want taking any risk so first pumped out as much as possible from the filler neck and then drained slowly from the bottom.
Total of about 35L drained.

And that’s when I realised my mistake with the sealing washer spec.

As my friend replaced the fuel tank so many times, asked about the size of the sealing washer without double checking.
I think we both got confused talking about gbox in parallel when it should be 12mm and not like 14 or 20mm.

Finally got the proper washer and installed.


To start with added 5L only and stayed under the tank.

After 120% sure that there is no leakage, closed the filler cap to pressurise the tank.

Still no leakage so left overnight and added another 5L of fuel in preparation for the MOT.

Now that confirmed no leakage, will apply dash of paint around the area for protection.



Just kept pushing preparing for the eng fireup than had to deal with emergency case with family back in Japan.

While Japan lifted the restriction for covid from this May, some areas are struggling with the pandemic again after all these years….
Many areas are said to be hit by the 9th wave.

For my family’s case, it’s very serious so normally should be handled by A&E, immediately hospitalised for observation for a few weeks or go through the emergency operation.

Turned out the usual biggest hospital in the city couldn’t take anyone due to covid cluster so had to find alternative place.
Fortunately, found another one nearby but they are also under immense pressure that after hours of MRI/CT until early morning, they asked us to return in a few days.

On one side, appreciate the ease of access to any surgeries/hospitals on the same day with Japanese medical system but at the same time, that’s the weakest point of not having centralised system when it comes to pandemic and that’s even after more than 3 years of time for learn from other countries.
Quite disappointed and just fingers crossed that not going to be too late.
Ranting over....


Kaz