Well its the weekend after WTAC 16, and the first chance i have had to sit down and write up something for the forum; back up in my now home in North West WA, mid 30's sunshine like nothing ever happened (WTAC withdrawals much?)
So whilst enjoying a nice Johnny Walker and dry; and watching the dog have a swim i will try to sum up the last 2 weeks.
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Everyone following progress on social media and here would realize that 7 days out of WTAC there was still plenty to do; also that having not tested it was always going to be dangerous waters. Smart builds have small modifications done in increments with testing in between to make sure the changes work. After 2014 the chance of developing the car in a sensible time frame was the objective. The mining downturn, the development of Lukes HPproof block and long lead times with parts really pushed us to the end. But that's 1/2 the fun.
so, 7 days before i flew out from work heading East. This flight was full of uncertainty. The car had just been started under its own power for the first time; exciting but nerve racking. A block with so much modifications; so much welding, so much machining anything could happen.
A fair investment of not only money but a combination of shops times to get it where it is.
Not only Lukes 100's of hours, Cave hill engines dedication to making sure its right and true to Ravage Raceworks time in ensuring the whole thing fits back where it came from.
There was an issue; in which i thought was far behind me. The choice of using a custom MLS gasket as part of a group buy was a poor one. The gasket although top dollar; didnt provide the seal required; the fire ring on the gasket sat just outside the bore and was far too close to the coolant galleries. even with an insane amount of head tension this failed within a couple of dyno pulls.
1st Dyno pull before the failed gasket shows how promising this motor is. Not running the big cams or solid lifters until the motor proves itself; and not leaning on the motor at all it pulled out a 250kw pull. Cant wait to see how this motor progresses in the next 12 months!
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It's here where i thank my lucky stars and the entire Suzuki community for assistance. Phone calls with the racers in the community had me concerned of the lack of genuine gaskets in the country! Zuboo provided quick assistance offering up a gasket he constantly has on a waiting list

at suzi-auto, good thinking on his behalf. But being a friday it was not going to arrive before the Monday...which would give us 2 days to put it back together, tune and get it onto the truck. Time we didn't have!
Luke Burkill (HPproof) had a spare that he had already modified for the block; small modifications required to the gasket to accomodate the 12mm head studs and the larger dowels. and with a quick call to Southy a deal was made for him to courier the gasket to Gundagai where we would meet him..roughly half way from Syd to Melb. Thanks to Southy for sacrificing a full friday night for the cause!
Pistons came out of the motor for a quick health check to ensure everything was A-OK.
Gave me a chance to take a snap of the crazy crank brace and cap design in the car; absolute work of art.
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Davies Craig EWP a tight fit
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With the Gasket in my hands, and back at Ravage it could go back together. The idea of making WTAC as easy as possible on the untested motor and drivetrain, some efficiency modifications to run less boost for about the same power result where done. Cooler piping was made for a much more straight and direct route; as well as adding in some Plazmaman clamps to make sure the cooler piping didn't blow with big boost pulls.
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