Rally Car

[coanda]

Did you guys end up going down the electrical water pump route?

If so - how did it go? happy with it?

[aw11rally]

The Davies Craig electric water pump is still in its box. We solved our temperature problems by completely rebuilding the cooling system. It now has a pressurised header tank in the boot which is self bleeding.

We havn't had a problem since.

We are currently running without a thermostat so the engine does take a while to get up to temp but then runs at about 90degrees regardless of abuse. We are still using the standard rad and fans but with a manual over-ride switch to turn on the rad fans if we feel things are getting too warm, they never have.

[coanda]

okeydoke, thanks.

[aw11rally]

Driveshaft fixed.....almost.

The fix suggested by Mr Woods was spot on, the Mk2 N/A shaft slotted into the C64 diff and mk1 hub perfectly. Unfortunately I didn't realise that the mk2 hub nuts are much bigger than their mk1 little brothers.

Its all together, just awaiting the washer, nut, lock washer and split pin. Jobs a good'n.

We will be out on the Glynn Stages Rally at Trac Mon after all. Last rally of the season, looking forward to a good thrash around in the dark.

[aw11rally]

The drive shaft held up to 60 miles of abuse at Anglesey over the weekend. 8 stages saturday evening and 8 stages sunday morning. It was all going swimmingly until stage 15 when we lost syncro on 2nd which made things a bit chellenging. The this annoyance caused us to overshot a square right off one of the small service roads up over the top near rocket. We were stuck in the mud for 10mins. We were helped out of the mud by the crew of a Subaru WRC who had lost a wheel near by so came to our assistance. The result was a stage max of 12mins which made a good finish impossible. We were on for 12th or 13th overall which we were getting rather excited about, the 'off' dropped us to 19th.

We've got until feb to sort out the box, this opens up a few options. Do we get it rebuilt with standard bits? Uprated standard bits from Jubu? A 5:1 final drive with standard ratios? A full dog gearset with 5:1 final drive and shorter ratios? Another standard Exige box from the scrappers?

I know which one I want, but the £3,000 price tag is a bit of a hurdle.

[cogboy]

I know which one I want, but the £3,000 price tag is a bit of a hurdle.

Damn. If only you knew someone with a spare 3 grand who doesn't fancy having a C64 gearbox dropped on his chest another 25 times.

[Neil_turbo]

Are you both at the North West Stages this year?

[MartG]

Are you both at the North West Stages this year?

Doesn't look like it - no sign of them on the entry list https://www.rallies.info/webentry/2013/ ... php?type=s

[Neil_turbo]

Thats a shame

Are you still going to watch Mart?

think we are heading to the fleetwood stage?

[MartG]

Yes, I plan to be at Fleetwood on Saturday morning. I hope the weather is better than last year - thanks to freezing drizzle I ended up with a thin sheet of ice on my back

I also plan to pop along to scrutineering at the Norbreck Castle Hotel on Friday afternoon - a good chance to look over the cars ( including under the bonnet ) as they are scrutineered

[Neil_turbo]

I didnt make it last year, though heard it wasnt pretty cold!

[cogboy]

Are you both at the North West Stages this year?

Afraid we're not competing this year. The car needs the gearbox rebuilding as synchro on 2nd gear has gone. Paul bought a farmhouse before Christmas and has been busy moving - we've been using the service van & car transporter trailer for removals.
I've had a number of relatives who've been unwell over recent months - I just got back from my Grandmother's funeral in Ireland on Wednesday evening.
The lad who normally navigates for us on the NWS also seems to be too busy with work this year, and one of the lads who helps us with service got run over when we were unloading a car during Paul's house move a few weeks back and has a broken leg as the result.

I am going up to help set up the Fleetwood stage today and to marshal Fleetwood on Saturday. At all other times this weekend I will be in the bar at the Norbreck Castle Hotel.

I hope we'll be back out competing on the NWS in 2014.

[Neil_turbo]

Wow sounds like a hectic few months!

Sorry to hear about your gran's passing.

Look forward to seeing you back in action next year!

Cheers
Neil

[MartG]

Quick update while waiting for my tea to cook, before going out to watch the Group B demo and 2nd spectator stage at Norbreck.

Interesting afternoon watching scrutineering - took 1.5GB of pics which I need to sort through and upload a few.

Got chatting to the guy who owns the Stratos replica that was entered last year ( but failed to get as far as Fleetwood ) - unfortunately not in this year as he's just finished rebuilding it after wiping the front end off He very kindly opened her up so I could get a few pics of the engine bay though

The rally village is sponsored bt the GT4OC, so lots of Celicas on display, plus a couple of Quattros, an RS200, a Manta, an Ascona, a 6R4, Rover SD1, Ferrari 308, and the inevitable Subarus and Mitsubishis. Also a GT86, though just in road trim.

One car caught my eye - rear wheel drive Toyota Starlet powered by a Vauxhal 20XE - Will watch out for that tomorrow.

[Lauren]

Sounds like a fun day out!

[MartG]

Someone caught cogbay marshalling - he's the one stood next to the broken Escort http://www.flickr.com/photos/76160590@N03/8468270188/

[elbon50]

Someone caught cogbay marshalling - he's the one stood next to the broken Escort http://www.flickr.com/photos/76160590@N03/8468270188/

Big lad by t'looks of things

[aw11rally]

6'4" I think, we have to squash him some what to fit him in the rally car with a helmet on!

[aw11rally]

It has been a while since I posted anything on the rally car thread so I thought it was time to bring it back to life.

We've taken an extended break from rallying due to marriage, house and job moves etc, my life getting in the way basically. Things are now settling down so thoughts have moved to recommissioning the car. Should be a simple task, either a gearbox rebuild to fix some synchros or a new box, whichever works out most cost effective.

Now I've got a quick question for you guys.

Will 13in wheels fit over standard aw11 front brakes?

Does anyone have any 4x100, 13x6-8, et20-40 wheels lying around that they could test fit on the front of a mk1 before I go blindly into bidding on wheels?

Yes the car well look strange with 15s up front and 13s on the back but with the correct tyres the gearing will be shortened by over 10% and our choice of rubber will be much improved and cheaper. Win win.

Any help much appreciated (pics if possible).

[kaiowas]

I've been pondering 13x8s for ages but haven't yet been able to definitely confirm fitment (I'm always watching eBay for a decent priced set but there's very little comes up). I've seen pics of autocross cars in the US running on 13s so I'm sure there are some that will fit although I don't know whether they were running mk1a or mk1b brakes.