Trophy Winner
The 2012 pulling season, apart from being the wettest on record, was a brilliant start for the Bluebird Express team as we gained second place overall in the UK Pro-Pullers Championship!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAWECgeVAw6qhmuc-rTf-Q_NTJwz1myAsSMIj5TBqTiMntDj_U9ggFQ-P20BMcGs9u3ehTW2j7CSh9xr1YYTbpEtd73U6WWDla4pTl0dwOw8vc-bJRpfK0qsSZKrhkX7xfF-EXSmfpaeCV/s320/530354_4998936686678_614353007_n.jpg) |
Owner & Driver Mark Fewtrell with the Trophy |
But after a couple of months of hard financial saving it was time to see how the 2012 season had taken it's toll on Bluebird Express.
Striptease
Bluebird gets undressed.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2knmO7vuUs_h2gTghRW8XPJWaR2IY6BWZqPoEIngiH88wfMnvyJbv5YUFJRLCO1lDv8ZpJ_1KbkK9_Qfwu0bDuxaIaQHR7k7z6eeBPecU8clJZ7MYAMwZxLsvP8bAyIiP0Ta1ANve5SO/s320/WP_20130119_017.jpg) |
Splitting Bluebird to Check the Clutch Wear. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKXozBEe0eOAvtVVRNSqxCUjbu6ZRk2Wjz-mxQu5HzB9LxV6K8itH0b2M71GifqH5CF_GhQYABKjhQYeZ0Sg1fBqDrJVzX30o-QlJd2LEQtmLf1b4xfvFmnuW_GvpijXtUvIOX2zYoaO7N/s320/WP_20130201_003.jpg) |
Removing the Cylinder Head. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDbCHVJG7lz3emgyaagivE5nRI4RTgWsMQshR3w6g5gCgVdb6ERtvoFurD-0PqXpnZemfvDymjqgLlR1B2IHRT7uQigDIvkDrY3y2yvp4YT-2j2V3hs3RUIPJBsiiwhZmyHCZ1CwoFS1sM/s320/WP_20130201_004.jpg) |
Badly Worn Bores. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7zyPQDdIrC3rxpLNwO-aJVA3o3lZ8t8VQeooX8J0oBZoG5FS83bLSe6bAG0J8Q2LXjdr5gyGJ8YOcthJ3kgelSuSj1aNOdfK7R_m5ljpQ6MqJmLyE_bUN5lfLCIp1_pyuwba1lpkIskUF/s320/WP_20130201_011.jpg) |
And Pistons. |
This engine didn't look like it was going to see us through the 2013 season, so another engine block needed to be sourced.
The Rebuild
We found a 380cui block to replace last years 360cui.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpopjE-AwDGDyjS_kVrjXkpHyU0s_tMFm2iYlj85pjkYDrYdlquafVbOh24wjFwoH2y4TbZ9MJxsx1ogyRhc6YLMaH8XYGPXxjheU7qwpgyTOqicq8htAKK7S63IU6RyIAly4VL7TljvzX/s320/WP_20130221_002.jpg) |
New Engine Block. |
And thanks to Richard at Billcar Precision Engineering Ltd for all his help.
Whilst the engine was out we cleaned and painted the chassis.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEika_Hy_AifwZB4Ao7IeX6b35a41bzFn6LwTU9FD4PJFr3Y1gI2P74xrGp9ckS2TPdcwTwJDYc7yPV6JmJek9-qj3cUsrQRUFwN3bxIdHAUMkVHFQL8mHNzpQUrjiA7DsZI5IfZqaj4hHEE/s320/WP_20130204_001.jpg) |
Wot No Engine? |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI91C-mPlUg0S-13bXgp_8zrsiVmLgurhSun7OBSwdmbDRobAcvdAuAnPlvumk_eWsEGPatIfUqT9wm09gyra3kIuKl8DTZXFcLuEmHZ7XHHkDmR9wzaL8FN8N0HQ6EvtJDPlSRHao5e0m/s320/WP_20130203_001.jpg) |
A Long Way To Go. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm6nI8_NsnEiaJ9A1yKZSkFyitvSDLuLuiIY85Z18QMxD5s4T4EdNNfL1m8cOWefUze5S37VSJmkvGKRLKfwsUQkcMge5iydRSeF7loam4-_nsxEaNiROlWmGQEXdS2qBkYY3Zi1Y7rW7U/s320/WP_20130227_001.jpg) |
New Block in Place. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_BSMMS5AhcXHUF7HFRlOv_QbkNkyjCzwRvvSVbq_ohfw5TuKPKq50BGH_Te_m5kJM8Lthkhsolf76fHe4U4qCJTkrYKqU8tv_3OxUhn2l47334O6N_L_U-sKl0o3zCLXyY1YkAmP54ZB/s320/WP_20130201_001.jpg) |
Resetting the Clutch. |
Redesign
We thought we would have a go at a new manifold to relocate the new bigger turbo. So we began by CAD drawing and profiling our own new face plate and flanges.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-Lfb_Dx_D7f2ck8y8tPQ-P1JY9LDpw9_SaKuk3Ny2Hj5buTemnmaggRS9nEc9g9xHs-Zae4XqKfcCIdTCiUYsS4mg0-JYAPaN-sFshf_qtCVf7CYbosIfwitVKC59t2CDCRVoG0-l0hJ/s320/WP_20130119_011.jpg) |
The New Face Plate. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguUk3VwW_plFUJSYwYityNPBTbyOHkXIk8OqgdIEbqNe764lRgM-PsctJc93_oSpC20PAUi_nreGdxfYB8ygmNspwkI11Jx6KmimBWURA9Id6s8LXCGzxAE98DqoPihgrsEM_MOT9yj08D/s320/WP_20130302_005.jpg) |
Adding Bends. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh423HSph5JYVM61-S4KzSwvoX4CK3scczCT_K8WcJlKVD2YIkov74j0LOszJUfvgpRlB-ejFQYZA76WSBz3dKroOHbZxGl5Mk3v_9qt4hQYYNBkYmHfj7yMvtg-cWPdRURxXo6yT63SW4u/s320/WP_20130302_004.jpg) |
Checking Alignment. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF0qknezF5YNddQyOpVcdPvLqOo3iuRmctx9sGKLv8PdUZIWnIj1Qb-doeKvAh3a0RNfB8P4GHaNPoaglUnS8hrnbauCMfYYXGkaIc_uzRefKxL_08EbrpPnUW-AaIv6fDrBVZKoYA2udx/s320/WP_20130303_002.jpg) |
Getting There. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW9M_dEfehte0btdTcHD2KH8MLDn3x-80f4u30V6UILLUvINC7F3bvCMYRdn0OE0AnXZT2Cewt1Zp1rifhqaYpiu8ABq5th-jdJJNjqLzu0lLQXGcnx7rXRLCMd-O59cnasGo3TMiibaY4/s320/WP_20130305_007.jpg) |
Turbo Fitted on the Exhaust. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKedT7dwgISDamvNbKBfg24dUszAPyXDOwTc-wld3PN1I0s5d6QP9iqphyphenhyphenoH0_0NBpISeo866_4bfY_Hc5ymm6I1sgPUmVrD0UHAe8OxV9TejMGrIiRx0jHhxiwQhW_cYYxAT9P0KnxjY/s320/WP_20130309_001.jpg) |
Stainless Steel Inlet & Exhaust. |
The sharp eyed amongst you will also notice the new aluminium Kirkey seat!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkg5fOmXDPTi1UXKdFbaCMz7mFYJs1iocWtRgeptCUtD-rI7EehPpF8u032fk66WnY0Ig1wVMhs6uE6Qqbqm5FU58z1amkG1RblOT9LoCOtxZVMW_hLIFETPopVI9O-E5maAU9lIUsS96U/s320/WP_20130303_003.jpg) |
Ooooh! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuBikwHySbQXSs24Iw4Ys-hLW1lg5jOMoOWjLuk_ATCSCHOqLAiPXDsKNYCHLHfENiCVlGV6L3r-LHY6j7v5WPt4viDeFJO16JeCTzRgiqnSCsXUEapiaQGGmlZJCvX7IaeALLdpAQhZqN/s1600/WP_000785.jpg) |
Where's the Eject Button? |
We'll be back soon in Bluebird Express - Naked! Part II, with a few more modifications including some data logging gear.