PERKY'S 205 Gti Rally car

[PERKY]

Its been 9 years since i sold my Mk2 Escort rallycar that took 3 years and most of my apprentice wages to build.



I used it for afew nav tests/scatter rallys, but could never afford to use it properly so sold it and started motocross as it was alot cheaper and as much fun.
Afew bikes and cars came and went but i never got back into rallying and as a wife and kids came along it looked as though i'd never do it.
Then my wife said go for it, we can afford it now the business is doing well, so i didnt wait for her to say it twice!(think she's regreting it already )
The plan this time was to get a cheap car and add to it as i go (something i should of done with the mk2 ).
My plans events wise are Local night events, Epynt hillclimbs and any autotests etc. Then hopefully over the winter get it logbooked and do some single venue events next year like Pembrey, Caerwent etc.
So this is the car i found, seemed to fit the bill, was cheap, fairly local, aload of bits already done to it and ive had afew before and they go like fook!






I went down to Bristol to collect it today from the garage it was kept at, they had afew other tasty 205 track cars there too. One that had £20k spent on it!
It was originally built up north by M.B. Motorsport as a trackday car (came with tons of reciepts and a huge service history as a road car).
The fella i bought it off used it around Castle Coombe afew times but has just lost his job, so ebay'd the car and i got it for £600.
The current spec is 1600 gti shell with 1900 gti engine and front brakes, 1600 box, cone filter, P1 suspension kit, strut brace, full bolt in cage, mintex pads,one bucket seat and 4 point harness.
Took it out for a spin when i got it home and FOOK ME its fast! Just a shame the bloke forgot to mention the clutch is slipping abit when you boot it .
The ride is harsh as fook and needs sorting out for the lanes as it jumps about allover the place, its to low really aswell so i'll be raising it an inch or so allround.
First off is to sort the clutch and mount the loose drivers seat then an M.O.T. for it then mess around with the suspension, fit a sump gaurd ive got, find an interior for it (road rally rules).
Loads of other bits to do as i go along.......
So any tips off you rally boys or people want to lend a hand i would appreciate it.

[citrus-sport]

Looking good mate........hope you have as much fun in it as i do in mine

[MCURZON]

Looks a nice clean one.

I'm planning to do a few of the same events as you so I expect we'll run into each other at some point.

My tip would be that in the single venue events you want to do they run a road rally class for road rally spec cars and when I ran a 205 I tried it in that class and the 2 litre 8 valve class but was much more successful in road rally class. This also limits you tyre choices to the cheaper tyres like yokohama 48s which are a much cheaper option that proper moulded dunlops.

Best of luck and hope to see you out and about some time soon.

Matt

[rallyladgaz]

nice little motor keep us updated on your progress

[PERKY]

Looks a nice clean one.

I'm planning to do a few of the same events as you so I expect we'll run into each other at some point.

My tip would be that in the single venue events you want to do they run a road rally class for road rally spec cars and when I ran a 205 I tried it in that class and the 2 litre 8 valve class but was much more successful in road rally class. This also limits you tyre choices to the cheaper tyres like yokohama 48s which are a much cheaper option that proper moulded dunlops.

Best of luck and hope to see you out and about some time soon.

Matt

Cheers there the sort of tips im after , at the moment i just want to have a go, will be happy to finish really. Keeping the cost to a minimum also.
Yeah should see you at an event soon if i can get the car ready and afford it.

[PERKY]

Well had a full day on it today, not such a bargin as i first thought
Found the cause of the bad handling, siezed rear beam.


So am on the look out for a replacement beam now (or are they rebuildable when siezed?)
Also removed the front bumper to take a closer look at some damage to the o/s front panel, been done along time and the rust has set in so will need replacing.


Decided to get the box out and take alook at the clutch, will fit a new one next weekend.


Havent worked on a 205 gti for about 8 years but soon remembered where everything was.
On the shopping list now is: rear beam, rear bumpstops, o/s frontpanel, clutch kit, engine mount, n/s headlight. Thats just for the mot test. Theres loads more besides.
So i think money and time is against me for the May Epynt hillclimb which i hoped to do, so aiming for the June hillclimb now as first event.

[jonnie205]

i got a mint clutch which has done no more than 50 miles if you need one,

I used to rebuild loads of 205 beams, if its eized then the beam will be scrap as the bearing will have disintagrated and the trailng arm shaft will be rusted to the cross, tube, easiest way is to find another beam and fit that

[PERKY]

i got a mint clutch which has done no more than 50 miles if you need one,

I used to rebuild loads of 205 beams, if its eized then the beam will be scrap as the bearing will have disintagrated and the trailng arm shaft will be rusted to the cross, tube, easiest way is to find another beam and fit that

Just bought a new clutch
Yeah beams definately siezed, prob try and get a complete car and use the beam also get interior out of it too.

[PERKY]

Fitted the new clutch in today and popped the box back in too, didnt have time to finnish the job, so afew thing to do on the weekend. Fit the bottom arms back in, refill with fresh gearbox oil, put the rad and frontend back on then give it a test

[PERKY]

Sorted the fooked rear beam problem out, i bought a complete car for spares! The wife was not too amused
I got a good deal for £200

Phase 1, 1600Gti, 1.9 wheels with toyo's fitted, Spax adjustables, 4 branch manifold, 3" system, pipercross filter, new bottom arms, half leather.
Its only had 3 owners and has every mot since it was 3yrs old and every reciept for parts and work by the looks of it too.
Shame someone painted it bright blue with a stonechip gun



If anyone needs any parts shes getting broken for spares

[boombang]

First thing I would do, is to rebuild / refurb the beam coming off the donor car.

By now all are worn to some extent, and as you're planning on using the car in anger it's best to get the suspension working as it should.

Got a mate who lives somewhere down South Wales who is a whizz with beam (and most things 205), should you need someone to do it, just drop me a PM and I'll put you in contact.

[maturin23]

Hi Perky,.

I've PM'd one of the moderators on 205GTIDrivers about you joining as a member.

cheers
Ian

[PERKY]

Been at it today, serviced the work van in the morning and had all afternoon to work on the Pug
Got some bonnet pins fitted.


Then got the doner 205 and the rallycar parked side by side so i could swap afew things over.


First was to strip the interior out of the blue 205 as i'll be needing it for the rallycar due to road rally rules. I wont be fitting it till i've welded my seat rails in though and welded the sunroof up (although i may just rivet a steel sheet over i have decided yet ).
After that the rear beam was the next job, the beam on the rally car has seized on the drivers side. So i removed the beam off the doner car, checked it over, all seem well with it. Gave it a quick clean up.


Then over to the other car, removed the rear beam off that too, unfortunately both copper brake pipes on it were well past it and broke when i undid them, so i'll be renewing them when i get some pipe.


Also got some big front calipers off a 406hdi to go on the front off Alladin on here (cheers Mike ) but need some 1.9gti hubs to fit them to if anyone has some.

If anyone wants a Peco Bigbore 2 exhaust back box give me a pm with an offer, as ive got another 4 branch manifold, system and backbox to go on it now. The Pi front struts and springs will be up for grabs in a week or to once ive fitted the Spax adjustables.

Loads on the to do list at the moment, just hope i can get it all done for Trigs trackday in June

[GregLeeman]

going well, we at Llanelli and district are runing an autotest at pembrey circuit on may 30th. only 20 spaces but good for a spin. check it out on youtube

[the slip]

ah tidyill let u know if i need any bits dude, went down west wales rally spares to buy a cage the other day so thats the next thing to fit on mine, if uve managed to find billies for 100 get them for stock! paid 350 for mine off a yellow road/stage car with forestry springs cheers mucca

[PERKY]

Nursing a hangover and lack of sleep after getting in at 3am and my kids waking me up at 8 i went up the barn to do abit on the pug. Finished off fitting the rear beam (brakelines etc), stripped afew bits off the other 205. Heres a pic of my new exhaust system and 4 branch.

[PERKY]

Spent afew hours on it today, took ages to get the old manifold and down pipe off due to rounded off nuts, but eentually got it off and binned it.
Then tried fitting the 4 branch manifold, just would not fit .
In the end i had to get the top engine mount off and pull the engine forward afew inches so i could slide the manifold down behind the engine. Replaced the knackerd engine mount at the same time.


Got the manifold fitted but ran out of time to do anymore, had to take the kids to the Circus.



Will fit the rest of the system during the week.

[Gravel Mad]

Dont want to be a damp squid but the standard manifold and down pipe will give you more power than the 4 branch,
if its the one with the vain of steel in it. thats what give these cars all the torque.
Have rallied a few of these and you wont rally a better or cheaper car
can I see a set of bilstien fixed platforms on the floor?
if so you can use the inserts and convert to coilovers comp brake do all the bits cheap! and keep it at standard ride height!
Tank guard is a must and you can get a cheap steel one from autoquip, rose joint or tie wire the gear linkages as they always go, pagid blue blue pads on standard brakes and you will have a road rally winning car mate!
keep it up youll soon be out!

[PERKY]

can I see a set of bilstien fixed platforms on the floor?

No unfortunately, its a set of spax adjustables.

[PERKY]

Not had chance to do alot on the car lately, but have managed to fit the rest of the exhaust and the spax adjustables on the front. Also got hold of some tarox front discs that i pinched off a car i got in to sell on.

[alladdin]

if you need some rose joints drop me a line with sizes and i can have a rummage i think most of mine will be too big but who knows what i shoveled up before they went all polish

[PERKY]

if you need some rose joints drop me a line with sizes and i can have a rummage i think most of mine will be too big but who knows what i shoveled up before they went all polish

Wouldnt mind rose jointing the gear linkage, as its as sloppy as an Essex girl, but loads more important bits to sort like the split fuel line thats spraying petrol over the exhaust . You popping down for Trigs trackday?

[alladdin]

well since you and rob WERNT ALLOWED to take me to cf
i do really fancy a day out. its my daughters bd on the 13th but i think i can swing the 12th unless someones booked it in work

[PERKY]

Nice one im up early 6ish leaving mine. (the mrs is coming down later on with the Megane, just incase i break the pug )
The mrs asked Rob if he'd go but never got an answer out of him really. Couldnt afford CF show aswell sorry mate. I'll give you the £ for them calipers then aswell

[alladdin]

shall i bring the diff no one seems to want it in the car

if i get there i will have the discs in the boot tho for sure

[PERKY]

Sling that smelly diff off a bridge somewhere
Give us a shout if you want a lift up, if not talk Rob into coming up with you at a sensible hour.

[PERKY]

Done afew more things this week, too busy to take pics though. Hopefully found the cause of the irratic handling, n/s hub carrier was worn where the bottom arm ball joint goes in. Thats been swapped with a good hub off my other 205, also did the driveshaft seal in the box at the same time as it was literally pissing out oil,
Took it down my mates for tracking and four wheel alighment to be done.
So fingers crossed its ready for trigs trackday.

[PERKY]

Had a cracking day on Trigs trackday. After rushing round til 10pm the night before trying to sort spares, oil, wheels/tyres etc the car was finnally loaded up ready to leave in the morning.
Up at 5:30am quick coffee and waited for my mate to turn up, then off to Combe. Arrived about 7:15am, another coffee and cooked breakfast and it was time for the noise check and drivers briefing.
I was one of the first out on the track and took it steadyish on the first lap as both the track and the car were new to me. I had only driven the car afew miles before the trackday and had very very little confidence in it due to the handling issues. But as said in my last post i'd sorted that and the car was totally different and my confidence grew fast, maybe to fast as on the third lap i spun on one of the chicaines
After a chat with the ex ford driver who was there he pointed out what i did wrong.
The next time i went out i took my mate out with me, and afew laps in i was going well until we saw smoke ahead of us on the start straight, at 100mph braking into Quarry i hit the oil left on the track by the car in front. Lost it, then got it back, then lost it again, managed not to hit anything and trickled around to the pits while they cleaned the track up.



Got in the que to get back on the track, was waiting for about 15mins so put my electric fans on and as it was quite hot inside the car i put my blower on to. This wasnt a good idea as it seemed the extra load on the electrics burnt out the aftermarket ignition switch. This happend as they waved me to go on the track
So back to the pits to see what could be done, luckily Merlin motorsports shop is on site so got a new switch and fitted it.



So back out for a blast and all was going well for the rest of the afternoon, one more spin (abit to cocky ) The wife turned up in the Megane R26 F1 so i took that out for afew laps to see how it went, abit quicker than the 205 but didnt seem it and wasnt half as much fun to drive either.



Towards the end of the day the steering rack starting knocking and then the clutch slipping and brake pedal went so that was that.
So theres afew jobs to get done and improvements to make before i take it out again.

[the slip]

sounds like u had a blast man, blew my diff up on mine again sat night watchin a road rally ha ha so going for a slip maybe

[the slip]

any up dates on the old pug of love or wha?

[PERKY]

any up dates on the old pug of love or wha?

Havent done that much with it lately, did Trigs 2nd trackday last month an it ran well all day. So busy with work and the family that dont really get the time on it i'd like.

[Dan]

dont know how i missed this

does looke like a cracking car, and defo a cheap way of getting into some motorsport

[the slip]

know what u mean i work all the time being a chef involves shite shifts! savin up for a decent specd box for mine now bored of blowin diffs all the time lol

[PERKY]

Not had any issues with the 1.6 gearbox yet (except new shaft seals). Is yours be1 or be3 type?

[david tait]

Car looks mint mate

The brake setup using the bigger callipers is superb, really stops well. Are you still going to get it logbooked ?

[the slip]

been blowing be3 boxes, i got a be1 for sale at the mo tho if anyones intrested lol

[PERKY]

Car looks mint mate
Are you still going to get it logbooked ?

Was planning on logbooking it, even got afew nice bits for it under the Christmas tree off the mrs, but another cars come up forsale that ive wanted since a kid so sad to say the 205's going up for sale in the new year.
Using money from my business to buy this other car so have got to sell the 205 to put the money back.
Theres also my blue phase 1 gti up forsale too as a spares car. The white one will get the interior fitted back in it and an mot and sold as a road rally car.

[the slip]

how much u want for the blue one boss and what comes with it?

[PERKY]

how much u want for the blue one boss and what comes with it?

£250, complete car except: interior, alloys, grill, lockset.
Was running but ive used the fuel lines off it, oh an the block is cracked across the back , and its got a siezed rear beam.

[the slip]

ill leave it there for that price cheers boss