View Full Version : My MK2 Rally car
Hi All,
Well about 6 weeks ago i bought my mates Mk2 off him. He has built it over 5 years or so, it started off with a pinto, then he swapped it with a 2L Zetec :thumb: .
I have competed in one slalom and one rally with it so far, and what a step learning curve RWD is!
The rally was the Three Counties Stages near Honiton in Devon. I was so glad to get to the finish due to the weather. It hammered down with rain, it was foggy early in the day and the wind wouldn't stop.
A few pictures of me can be seen here (Car 60) http://rallyphoto.co.uk/3counties07/imagepages/image96.htm
and a few more here http://www.teltphotography.com/index.php?file=/2007/Rallying/3+Counties+Stage+Rally+4th+Feb+2007/Cars+51+-+60+Images+by+Ian+Hanson
I can't re size the pictures right now (i'm getting seriously :wall: ) So will try another day.
I'm on the reserve list for this rally http://www.quintonstages.qmc.org.uk/D'isis%202006%20homepage.html
So fingers crossed i get a run.
Future plans are a 5 speed straight cut box, 8" wide wheels with tarmac arches, as i think no mk2 is complete with out a set :dance:. The wiring needs tidying up as well, fit some new tinted perspex windows and respray it all white.
Paul
lewismk2
18-03-2007, 01:59
looks like a nice car mate
we're also on the reserves for the horiba d'isis too :thumb:
hopefully see you there!
what does the 2l zetec go like?
this is ours
Thanks very much :thumb:
The Zetec goes well enough for me. Its got a pair of 45's, some cams and a bit of head work. Its very reliable (touch wood!)
Yours looks very smart indeed.
I want to stick some wider wheels on mine. I've only got an english though, and last night i spent a lot of time reading about how they tend to break! So i'm undecided as to whether to go down that route :dunno: .
Have you sorted yours out from Rockingham?
Paul
lewismk2
18-03-2007, 16:10
yeh we got an atlas i think english's tend to break when coming back down to ground?
but they're lots of money :(
yeh got all the work done from rockingham yesterday just needs suspension setting up etc
(note: its not mine but i co-drive for the guy who owns it does that count as mine :D )
Here are some pictures to peruse!
The power plant
http://media.turbosport.co.uk/2007/3/2007031815296042176DSC01861.JPG
http://media.turbosport.co.uk/2007/3/2007031815292520752DSC01863.JPG
Front volvo callipers. Which work very well.
http://media.turbosport.co.uk/2007/3/2007031815292904358DSC01864.JPG
Watts linkage
http://media.turbosport.co.uk/2007/3/2007031815294561158DSC01878.JPG
not sure what the rear callipers are :confused:
http://media.turbosport.co.uk/2007/3/2007031815298121033DSC01872.JPG
And the pictures are still massive! Sorry about that :doh:
Paul
lewismk2
18-03-2007, 21:27
looks very nice- dont see too many watts linkage on an english?
i think i've seen the car about before? maybe just pics on here but i reconise that paint job.
what sort of power does the zetec push out?
Its been to Longcross, Avon park and Goodwood in this colour scheme.
Is there any reason why people don't fit a watts linkage to english axles??:dunno: I am impressed with the way the car handles.
As for power i've no idea! I was told 180 ish but who knows with out getting it on some rollers.
lewismk2
18-03-2007, 22:53
i dont know why people dont use watts on atlas but if i works then its good
well hopefully we'll see you at the horiba d'isis
well hopefully we'll see you at the horiba d'isis
I've now had confirmation that i have an entry :thumb:
Paul
lewismk2
20-03-2007, 21:23
ah nice work! hope you have a good 'un
lewismk2
25-03-2007, 20:25
we've got an entry for saturday
Excellent!! Are you seeded 14?
http://www.quintonstages.qmc.org.uk/Disis_2007/regulations_entry/Entry%20List.pdf
I'm seeded number 56 :help: i've never started that high up :D . As i like plodding at the back. But i decided just to give my last results on the seeding form, rather than ask to be at the back, like i normally do :lol: .
See you there then :thumb:
Paul
lewismk2
26-03-2007, 22:01
yeh thats us at 14
i like it closer to the front as theres less people to make mistakes that you can get caught up in, also you can get your stage finished then might rain bit later on for that stage meaning people at the back get effected
i dont like how the classes are run we're in with all the subarus and everything else :doh:
lewismk2
02-04-2007, 20:39
http://www.turbosport.co.uk/showthread.php?t=116697
thought you might be interested in this?
I had the 5 speed box fitted this week that i bought from Barn. I tried it out today on a slalom with my local club.
I didn't get out of first gear all day!! I wanted a longer 1st, but it kept bogging down which meant i had difficulty with the handbrake turns and 360's as the power wasn't there on the way out. I'm running a 3.9 diff and have a 4.1 in the shed to try out when i've got some money.
Still love the sound of the straight cut gears :thumb:
The next one for me is Fat Albert in 2 weeks.
Paul
I've had my CWP changed in the last week to a 4.1, and it turned out i had a 3.7 in it. So that explains why 1st gear would do about 50 mph!!
I've raised the rear suapension today by about 5mm one side and 10mm the other. It sat wonky as hopefully it will be leveled out now.
Fitted my wet tyres ready for the Longmoor loco stages on the 30th this month.
Its a 2wd only rally, tight and twisty. So its not all about power.
Just got to give it a quick spanner check and make sure it starts :watchout:
Had a great day on Sunday at the loco stages. I've been there twice before, once marshalling and once servicing. But it was my first time competing.
I was praying that it wouldn't be wet, raining or icey. The weather was good to us all day long.
My usual navigator is away in Oz so someone else from my club stood in. His crash helmet intercom wasn't compatable with the cars intercom, so he had to resort to shouting all day.
Whilst queueing up for scrutineering the car over heated which turned out to be a dodgy connection on the fan temperature switch.
On the first stage i was my usual over cautious self. I had no idea where i was going. But we made it round in one piece. The second stage was a repeat of the first and we shaved 31 seconds off our time:dance:. I was very pleased with this and it gave me some good confidence for the rest of the day.
On stage four i handbraked it round a tight hairpin bend and hit one of the few curbs in the venue with the back passenger wheel :doh: . I seem to have the urge to use the handbrake on every corner, which isn't fast, but brings a large grin to my face :D. Lukily it did minimal damage to the rim and i pressed on.
After lunch the stages were run in reverse and it was like learning the venue all over again (for me anyway). By stage 6 we were 12 seconds behind some fellow Bournemouth car club memebers who were servicing next too us. They were in a 205 1.9gti. Both of us were in class C and i really wanted to get in front of them. With 2 stages to go i came up with the plan :watchout:.
As i always brake to early for corners, my plan involved counting to 3 and then braking hard, at the end of the 2 long straights. This would then give me the 12 seconds i needed over 2 stages. EASY :thinking:
So i counted to 3 on the first long straight, the car locked up started to go sideways and all i could see was a lampost out the side window pray: Somehow we made it round the corner, but at this point i decided my plan was not such a good idea :lol:
Anyway, it paid off and we finished one place in front by 2 seconds :banana::banana:.
The car behaved very well, but my rear brakes are over braking and getting hot, causing a soft pedal. The bias box is set all to the front brakes, so i'm going to have to adjust the clevis pins on the individual cylinders and play about with it a bit.
I was informed on the day that i have an entry for the Goodwood stages on the 2nd of feb. So need to sort the brakes by then.
Heres a picture of me from the day http://www.grahamrobins.net/photos/Loco+Stages+2008/112+copy.jpg
alladdin
01-01-2008, 23:42
great thread :thumb::thumb: sounds like you need an in line brake limiting valve on the back?
Love this thread, really like to hear about people's exploits when out competing. Think we all need to start taking more pics in service area as so much interesting stuff happens there.
This is one of my new year's resolutions!!
Well done Paul, I saw the results the other day :thumb:
With your brakes, it you have Volvo 4 pots with vents on the front and XR3i calipers with vents on the back - I still run Fly with these rear brakes and have had various different front brakes so there should be enough adjustment on your bias box to get it set up correctly
So a couple of questions for you:
Master Cyl size for front and rear?
Brake Fluid spec for front and rear?
Brake Pad spec for front and rear?
And one final question - are you adjusting the bias the right way? (I've had this problem myself before now :O)
See you at Goodwood :cool:
Thanks for your comments guys :thumb:
Gavin,
I've got standard pads in the back, mintex 1144's in the front. Not sure on the cylinder sizes, i know for the fronts its from rally design, wilwood with an integral resivoir. I'll have a look this weekend and see what the sizes are.
http://www.4sportvideo.co.uk/ click on the white nissan picture on the bottom left for a video clip of Longmoor.
See you at Goodwood :thumb:
and here are the pics from the day.
http://www.photographeronthe.net/rallygallery/part_display3.asp?curPage=32&idcat=7948&par=7947&pid=382
not many of me in a straight line :dance: Car 53
I've been and looked to see what size cylinders i've got and the front is a wilwood 7/8 and the rear is a girling .625.
I manually wound the bias to the oposite end using a socket (as the dash mounted adjuster is shot). I did this to physically see if i have the bias the right way. Once it was wound to the oposite end the rear cylinder had more movement in it than the front.
So i think all the bias is on the front. :confused:
I also dug out some bilsteins front shock absorbers. One has a bent insert and i'd like to convert them to coil overs. I've read the sticky on doing this, but what inserts should i get for tarmac rallying? Long or short? Poundage and length of springs?
I've been and looked to see what size cylinders i've got and the front is a wilwood 7/8 and the rear is a girling .625.
I manually wound the bias to the oposite end using a socket (as the dash mounted adjuster is shot). I did this to physically see if i have the bias the right way. Once it was wound to the oposite end the rear cylinder had more movement in it than the front.
So i think all the bias is on the front. :confused:
I also dug out some bilsteins front shock absorbers. One has a bent insert and i'd like to convert them to coil overs. I've read the sticky on doing this, but what inserts should i get for tarmac rallying? Long or short? Poundage and length of springs?
The cylinders are not good - most pedal boxes I've seen use .625 for the front and .700 for the back so I'd change these first
A 7/8 cylinder would be used for all 4 brakes, not just 2
I'd put competition pads all round as well, but it depends on your budget
I've always used long inserts, 300/70 rating and I currently run 200lb springs on Fly, not sure what length though
Thanks Gavin. I won't have chance to change them before Goodwood, as i'm off on holiday next week. But something to look into afterwards.
Paul
You shouldn't have much trouble round Goodwood as the stages are very short and the average speed is quite high - I've beaten the bogey (just) a couple of times round there in the old car :D
Well we did goodwood on saturday and its fair to say i was very dissapointed driving home.
After 6 rallies i'm finally going to have to carryout some maintenance and upgrades :D .
It all started off when we couldn't get the door numbers off from the last rally. It was so cold that the numbers became brittle and came off in tiny pieces. in the end a motorsport type stand set up next too us, so i bought two new door squares and stuck them over the old ones and hey presto! we could stick on number 37!
I knew i had brake problems but didn't have time to look into it and sort them. After the first stage i came back in with very little confidence in the brakes and a soft pedal. Barney quickly jumped in and bled the brakes up which brought the pedal back up. Out we went again but i couldn't bring myself to drive fast around the long sweeping corners (what a girl!!) not used to all this track stuff.
On one of the stages i actually managed to brake nice and late for one of the long chicanes, which i was pleased with. The next chicane along i was confident that i could master the late braking, but instead ended up locking up all 4 wheels and ploughed through the road cones which made up the chicane :doh: So off we went for a whole lap with 2 cones stuffed under the sump guard/ front bumper :lmao:. When we came back round to the same offending chicane, i slowed right down as not to annoy the marshals again (!). I booted it on the way out the chicane and the front wheel lifted and the cone popped out :lmao::lmao::lmao:
Finally finished 26th overall. Big thanks to Barney for his help with the brakes. :woohoo: Well done to Gav for his results. I think he managed to sneak in front on my mate in his Subaru. He was pleased though as it was only his 4th rally!
My plans now are to buy a .700 master cylinder for the fronts and i plan to phone up the Squires and enquire about their AP front brake kit for 1k!! :bolt:
SnappyRacers
11-02-2008, 13:23
http://www.snappyracers.com/album/SDSGoodwood/slides/IMG_8243.JPG
:D :D
Thats the offending items :D
Well i've had a nice parcel arrive from R.A.C.E yesterday, some new AP 4 pots, a .700 brake cylinder and some door squares :D Just need to find some time to make a start on fitting them up ready for my next event MIRA. Still waiting for the regs to come out for this though.
Paul
Small update, tomorrow my mate is going to sort the brake cylinders out for me and change the front pads and discs.
I'm not going to fit the AP's as i'm going to put it on ebay for sale this week. So if anyone is interested in a rally car ready to go :thumb: Its a good car to get you started into RWD rallying. So watch this space (and the ebay section).
Also going to sell my T4 VW transporter surf/ day van and my vtec mini rally car.
What's going on mate?
How come your selling up?
Matt
I've decided to streamline my fleet to just one rally car. Due to time really and not having enough of it!
So if you know of anyone who is after any of the above :thumb:
That's a shame
What will you have left?
I'm ready to up grade Gav. Going Vauxhall power :dance::dance::dance:.
Been to see a new car today so i just need to sell them both and i'm aiming to have it in time for Mira. Are you entering Mira?? Hows DVY coming on?
Paul
I'm back to the Hillclimbs and Sprints in a couple of weeks and then hopefully Millbrook again
I'm not planning on doing much with DVY this year, just collecting everything I need to put her back together
Well, the escort and van have gone and i've got some new wheels!
http://media.turbosport.co.uk/2008/4/2008041320254189759resize1.jpg
Some of you might know of the car. But its come my way for an early retirement (its not going to get the top 10 results like its previous owner could get):lol: Its got a Vauxhall lump, 5 speed dog box and a fully floating atlas :cool:
I picked it up last sunday and took it to Mira yesterday.
On the entry form for seeding info i thought i would put my results down from previous events rather than asking to be near the back!! The result was number 45 out of 70 odd which i was pleased with.
It was a good venue to try a new car as there is no splits or merges so you will have to go very fast to catch/ play with other cars.
Stage one and off we went, i was worried about the gearbox ( and still am!) as i know they are fragile if you don't treat them firmly and rough. No major dramas going up the box fast, but coming down i tended to struggle from 3rd to 2nd to 1st. As the day went on i was getting better after talking to different people in service. I have to keep the revs above 4k when down shifting, otherwise the gears just grind. Too much of this and the box will go pop :watchout:
We had a lunch break and the sun was shining. Just as we were about to head off for stage 5 the rain came down and we had the slicks on :doh:. No time to change them. We certainly lacked grip and my confidence dropped. We lost what seemed like ages, as i was my over cautious self. The car behind us caught up and i let them by :stu:.
After stage 5 we stuck the super soft wets on ready for more rain but it didn't come. The tyres were great and my confidence rose and i pushed on as best i could.
I had a great day with a big grin on my face all day. I'll never win any awards, but as long as i come away with a smile on my face like yesterday, i'm more than happy. :woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo:
Can't believe you bought XEP. Always thought I would own it at some point. Fanatastic car with loads of history, hope you have loads of fun with it and sell it to me when you're done!!
I wondered who Les had sold XEP to.
I helped bolt the car together when the shell was freshly done. I also did most of the loom including the console.
It was on a different plate then tho, I also worked on the original XEP when it was a road rally car
Its a quick car :thumb:
http://media.turbosport.co.uk/2008/4/2008041321223158265xep.jpg
http://media.turbosport.co.uk/2007/1/2007011612111556092dibconsole.jpg
This pic was taken in Jersey, XEP is next to my car & MCURZON (Matt) is stood next to the blue mk2
http://media.turbosport.co.uk/2008/4/20080413213297198493cars.jpg
http://media.turbosport.co.uk/2008/4/2008041321282809754IMG_1015.jpg
Last post on this thread from me for tonight :O
Video clip of XEP in action HERE (http://pronetrally.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/Jersey2005_0001.wmv)
Good pic, I look at least 12!!
I competed on my clubs slalom on sunday. I had a great day, albeit a bit warm!
I have never done so many wrong tests in all the slaloms put together. It was shocking! I had a lot of fun though.
It looks like the steering rack mounting bushes have worn out as i have developed a knocking. I'm not sure to replace them with uprated jobbies or solid mount the rack. Has anyone got any suggestions please?
Nex event for me is Abingdon on the 7th & 8th of June, but i'm looking for a navigator if anyone is available.
PaulAlex
19-05-2008, 05:47
Nex event for me is Abingdon on the 7th & 8th of June, but i'm looking for a navigator if anyone is available.
Let me know if you're stuck Paul - I can probably try an impersonation of a sack of spuds if you are desperate....
Cheers,
Paul
Apart from the steering rack is the car going well?
Thanks Paul. i might take you up on that offer :thumb:
I love the car, best thing i've ever bought. I marshalled at Longcross yesterday and its just made me want to get out even more :dance::dance:
Has Les bought a new escort? i read on the rally forum that he's doing Down Ampney in his escort :confused:
Paul
He's bought the blue escort that is in some of the pics & clips with XEP. Belonged to my mate Dai
What spec is that then Mike?
Suspension & brakes the same as XEP.
Bowyer red top with Elite 6 speed sequential.
Les always hated the colour of XEP :dunno:
Well small update.
I did Abingdon the other weekend. i was seeded at 79 out of 100. My regular co driver wasn't available so someone step in and it was his first rally so i was pleased to give him a chance.
The first stage we both set off blind. It was the first time at the venue for me so had no idea what to expect. Started off as my over cautious self. All was going well until the Nav got lost on the maps, so i had to follow the stage on the orange arrows whist calling out junction numbers.
By stage 2 we knew where we were going and i had a fellow car club member seeded about 3 cars infront an a 1275 micra and i was determined to catch and overtake her. We nearly caught her on stage one and just finished a few seconds behind. Any way we over took her on stage 2 on the first lap. By the end of the stage we were upto 39 which i was pleased with considering the number of top notch escorts with sequential boxes. I've decided that i need to stop asking to be near the back and actually go up a bit higher as we got held up so much by cars in front. At one point there was three 205's all side by side along the runway, and i was trying to squeeze through them!
Off we went on stage 3 and i was determined to get into the 30's and i was pushing hard (for me!!). Then on the first loop i kept selecting 4th and it wasn't there. it took me quite a while to work out that it wasn't selecting :doh: so we hobbled round thinking the worst.
I decided to retire after some advice incase of floating bits in the box which would cause more damage.
Gutted.
Anyway i've taken the box out which was just hanging off the engine with loose bolts :watchout: and it turns out the plate that bolts over the input shaft had come very loose and 2 of the 4 bolts were missing :bolt:so after buying two more bolts and some locktight 4th gear returned :dance: So i was very lucky, very jammy and very very pleased :woohoo:.
I was told by some spectators that it didn't like it handled too well and its far too soft. So i might have to look into that soon as it was understeering like a bitch as well :confused:
I've got to re fit the sump guard, exhaust and adjust the clutch cylinder this week and then i'm off to Smeatharpe on Sunday. Seeded at 29 so looking forward to it.
So a few questions, what poundage spring do people run on the front for tarmac? How can i stiffen up the back on leaf springs? and How much oil can you put in a dry sump tank???
Cheers
XEP did have stiffer suspension when it was built. It had coilovers at the back.
The car was taken to Escort Guru Mark Solloway who softened up the rear suspension & changed it to leaf springs. He prepares cars for the likes of Hannu Mikkola & his Escorts start at about 80 grand!!
Anyway the stage times were quicker with the new softer set up. But I suppose it's down to driving style.
This is a photo of XEP when it was on coilovers.......
http://media2.turbosport.co.uk/2008/6/2008062222363957262coilyel4.jpg
So a few questions, what poundage spring do people run on the front for tarmac? How can i stiffen up the back on leaf springs? and How much oil can you put in a dry sump tank???
Cheers
Front springs - I've used from 200lbs - 325lbs depending on what sort of events and how stiff your rear springs are - if you've got soft rear springs then 200lbs on the front, hard rear springs then go harder on the front
And generally harder for flat airfield events and softer for hilly events - Epynt, etc
Dry sump tank I fill to just below the top baffle which is normally 2/3rds of the tank
waynemk2
25-06-2008, 15:30
I used to own XEP. No1
waynemk2
25-06-2008, 15:57
He's bought the blue escort that is in some of the pics & clips with XEP. Belonged to my mate Dai
What has Dai got now??
What has Dai got now??
Nothing, he's not rallying any more :( He comes & services for us some times
Well i did Smeatharpe a few weekends ago. Its not a great venue, and the night before i said i would never do it again as its so boring!! :lol: I only do it to support my club.
However, after the first stage i was having a great time. So much so i went and bought a pair of new tyres as it was still understeering. :doh: I was catching the Scooby infront as well. Stage 2 we went out and i was pushing hard. By this point we were 19th overall and 2nd in class :woohoo:
Stage 3 we went out and we had a bit of confusion on the splits and ended up arriving 1 split too early and picked up a maximum which dropped us to second to last. Gutted :stu:
After the air had cleared between me and my co driver i decided just to keep on pushing and compare stage times with the top 20. As a result of trying too hard, i clipped a lot of tyres and twisted the end of the steering column at the splines :clint: . We retired gracefully at stage 8. At least i am showing some improvement with the new car. :banana:
I've changed the column this weekend and found that the steering cross member bolts were loose and i also bent a TCA adjuster :doh:so changed that and i'm ready for Fat Albert next saturday :thumb:
I need to get the front geometry set up before next weekend. I noticed there is a lot of difference between the lengths of the TCA's. Measuring between the same points on each side, there is 30mm difference :clint::clint: . This might be a big contributing factor to my understeering. Can anyone recomend what settings i should be using?
Gavin and Barney have got a good seeding for next weekend and i'm a bit lower than i'd like at 60 :doh:. I'm behind a ford KA, which i managed to catch at Abingdon on stage 2. Just hope i don't get held up in the nadgery bit otherwise i should be ok. It would be nice to have a finish at least.
I need to get the front geometry set up before next weekend. I noticed there is a lot of difference between the lengths of the TCA's. Measuring between the same points on each side, there is 30mm difference :clint::clint: . This might be a big contributing factor to my understeering. Can anyone recomend what settings i should be using?
Gavin and Barney have got a good seeding for next weekend and i'm a bit lower than i'd like at 60 :doh:. I'm behind a ford KA, which i managed to catch at Abingdon on stage 2. Just hope i don't get held up in the nadgery bit otherwise i should be ok. It would be nice to have a finish at least.
Sounds like you're going well with the new car :thumb:
As for the TCA's, just make sure you've got the same length each side to start with, then adjust slightly to get the same camber each side if required
30mm sounds like an awful lot though, are you sure nothing else was bent from hitting the tyres?
See you Saturday
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