Winter Projects

[grantp]

Originally Posted by jan bot

Hi guys,
Had to drop this here. Video of the winter project that we posted on page 73 (2011!)
Took a bit longer and will still take a lot longer to make it a perfect project.. but we got our first race under our belt
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqZaV4ya9Fc

If you want to know more, our report might be usefull..
http://www.botspeed.eu/en/news/

That's a great effort and result.

Have to say the downshifts seem very tricky indeed.

It always puzzles me when things that work one day suddenly stop working the next with little or no warning.

Thanks for posting the video. Very enjoyable.

[Chigley]

Jan, really looking forward to seeing this "monster" on the track, Silverstone Classic?

[midgetman]

What a fantastic brute, thanks for the great vid. I love the way it just gobbled up the proto early in the race.

Young timer looks great, such a change from fixation on 1960s stuff, the FIA should adopt it!

[terence]

Originally Posted by midgetman

What a fantastic brute, thanks for the great vid. I love the way it just gobbled up the proto early in the race.

Young timer looks great, such a change from fixation on 1960s stuff, the FIA should adopt it!

Its the way to go!

[delta]

Flyping fantastic Jan, I love all the missed gear changes as the engine sounds fantasic.I remember testing an old F1 car at Pembrey which had a BRM V8, the owner was asking why I went through all the gears down changing at the hairpin,I just said for the noise.
Well done and I hope you have loads of fun.

[Mike Bell]

Guess who the first and last poster was......

[delta]

Well done Mike, be good to see what everyone is up too again this winter.. BTW WDYT to me putting the heater back in the Escort.

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by delta

Well done Mike, be good to see what everyone is up too again this winter.. BTW WDYT to me putting the heater back in the Escort.

Before you wonder why I am posting at this hour- I'm having a break from doing overheads & cash flow projection for next year.....

Heater in Escort- well if you want it be correct for Gp1 then it will need it. Not sure it actually needs to work, though, but even if not providing heat the air it provides into the cabin would be useful. My Mk2 has all the assembly in place, and apart from where bias pedal box gets in the way, the vents work.

[Cliff Ryan]

Here's the start of my winter project

[zefarelly]

Last years winter project was supposed to be the Tornado . . . which will probably be next years project as this years/winters will be reassembling the Cortina, which started well but has stalled already.

[Moosehead]

I'm talking to a nice man in America about my winter project, just need to work a few more hours (days/weeks/months!!) to pay for it

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by Cliff Ryan

Here's the start of my winter project

There's enough there for two Pintos, Cliff!

Talking of boat anchors, main priority for me as winter approaches, is to get the Gp1 RS2000 race ready. Mid March is not that distant!

The engine is back and ready for fitting, but before then the crossmember has to be sorted, cluch lever pivot modded, and gearbox checked for leaks. Then there's the suspension....

The crossmember is a new 'World Cup' item, and interestingly when fitted the front wheel camber was posititive, rather than the factory gnat's of neggo. Measuring across the TCA mount holes showed why- the centres we're closer than standard! Perhaps the makers assume we all use adjustable arms now.....Measuring front track confirmed camber reading, as it was 20mm less than homologated. So, the holes have been elongated, allowing correct setting to be found when car back on the ground. Tack welded penny washers will then hopefully keep it so.

Using front struts with standard (large dia) spring cup means having to get some springs made. Stiffest OTS are 220lb, which is not enough, and they are also too tall. Also swapping ARB to the thicker Mk2 item, which entails changing the mounts as they are different to the others! Rear suspension needs lowering a bit more, but will do this with lowering blocks, as springs are already de-cambered. Any more and the dampers will have no travel.....

The clutch actuating arm locates on a small peg inside the bellhousing. Well it did, the peg went AWOL at Goodwood when testing. It explained why I triggered the noise meter at Lavant, as the peg did a few laps around the bellhousing before exiting! Thought for a better replacement is an M8 button head bolt threaded in.

Not sure what is wrong with the (new build) gearbox, part there was a lot of oil under the car after half a day testing. Maybe Ford floor pan rust proofing, as in period......

Final thought is to fit a Rev limiter, as the engine has correct early rods, and they are not good for over 7k. The standard Rev counter is not happy at top end, either, so may have to replace it with a modern one. Looking at doing so inside the cluster, if possible. We will see!

[morninggents]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

Using front struts with standard (large dia) spring cup means having to get some springs made. Stiffest OTS are 220lb, which is not enough, and they are also too tall.

Do your regs state you have to use original diameter springs, Mike? If not why not weld in a smaller spring seat and fit the smaller 2.5 or 2.25 inch coil springs? Much more choice of lengths and rates.

[Peter Mallett]

They used to run adjustable coil overs. They are the same system as production and app j allowed it.

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by morninggents

Do your regs state you have to use original diameter springs, Mike? If not why not weld in a smaller spring seat and fit the smaller 2.5 or 2.25 inch coil springs? Much more choice of lengths and rates.

My take is that Gp1 regs don't allow adjustable height spring seats, but as you suggest, spring diameter is not specified. Was looking at couple of Portugese RS2000s at Portimao, running in a domestic series. Although some departure from Gp1 with a few things, they had fixed seats with smaller diameter springs. It is an alternative am considering! Cost comes into it, the struts are brand new and reluctant to carve them about....

[Peter Mallett]

Of course you can also insert starter motor springs into the struts, that worked for many people.

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Of course you can also insert starter motor springs into the struts, that worked for many people.

Think that was a prod-saloon tweak- and am sure they had many more equally clever!

[morninggents]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

My take is that Gp1 regs don't allow adjustable height spring seats, but as you suggest, spring diameter is not specified. Was looking at couple of Portugese RS2000s at Portimao, running in a domestic series. Although some departure from Gp1 with a few things, they had fixed seats with smaller diameter springs. It is an alternative am considering! Cost comes into it, the struts are brand new and reluctant to carve them about....

Yes, I meant fixed seats/smaller diameter springs. There is far more choice available. A couple of spot welds should hold the seats in place.

[Peter Mallett]

Well, you do need to look at the AppJ regs for the period. Depending on the ASN there were various mods to the FIA Group 1 regs. A bit of a minefield and sadly now the MSA has "lost" its history. I'm having trouble with an original race car, yet I have the bar code on the car! Paid for the HTP yet now they seem to have a problem. Fortunately I've got various mags and reports to demonstrate the veracity of my claim.

[delta]

Tell me more about these starter motor springs in struts then.????. So what was the purpose.

[Peter Mallett]

Originally Posted by delta

Tell me more about these starter motor springs in struts then.????. So what was the purpose.

Gordon S can tell you how it was done. I just know that certain well known racers of the time used the "tweak".

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by delta

Tell me more about these starter motor springs in struts then.????. So what was the purpose.

'They' put small springs inside the strut around the damper rod to increase the overall spring rate, as the standard springs couldn't be changed......

Nowadays the FIA seem only accept their rules of the period, and not those of any individual country's championships that took place.......

[Lancsbreaker]

Our winter project is going through the recently acquired ex-Dave Messenger Alfa 75 V6 so that we can get back on track next year......a few mods of the slightly chaotic wiring system, and replacing the somewhat noisy straight-through exhaust are the start points

Hardest part might be (a) passing medical after a few years off, and (b) losing enough weight to get into my race-suit

[Peter Mallett]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

'They' put small springs inside the strut around the damper rod to increase the overall spring rate, as the standard springs couldn't be changed......

Nowadays the FIA seem only accept their rules of the period, and not those of any individual country's championships that took place.......

Which, if true, would exclude most of the original grids. Go figure. What you, or the FIA, are saying is that most of the CER Group A, Group 1 and Group 2, cars are ineligible.

I'd build the car to British Saloon Car regs, because it will reflect real life. If you can't run at the Nordschlief, then so be it. MRL and Barry Sideways will still accept you.

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by Lancsbreaker

Our winter project is going through the recently acquired ex-Dave Messenger Alfa 75 V6 so that we can get back on track next year......a few mods of the slightly chaotic wiring system, and replacing the somewhat noisy straight-through exhaust are the start points

Hardest part might be (a) passing medical after a few years off, and (b) losing enough weight to get into my race-suit

All sounds good to me, including the incentive to get fit and lose weight! Reckon we need a pic or two of the Alfa.....

Peter, you are preaching to the converted. I have already decided not to renew HTPs, and if that means not being accepted for some meetings, then that's life. There's plenty of other places to race.