Duratec powered vintage Sprint car

[Pikey15]

I needed some instant gratification so decided to dress up the motor.I did not like the plastic cam covers,and started looking for a replacement.I could not find one I liked in the UK,but a friend runs a Duratec in a modern sprint in the States,and he put me onto a shop that helps him out.A few weeks passed and A.R.E set me a cover.I think its a nice part,but I wanted to cover the plug wires.My friend made a finned cover in billet,it was sand blasted,painted and the fins polished...I think it looks cool.

Very nice project mate

Where did you get the cam cover from, do they have a website at all?

[Blackvette59]

Pikey15...the cover was made by Armstrong Race Engineering in Loomis, California....I think they have a site, but Gary Armstrong ,who owns the shop and is a great guy, will direct you to his agents here in the UK. Contact .....Race Parts (UK) Ltd.......on 0141 822000.The guys in Race Parts are cool,and wll help........(they may even have one in stock? Gary said he would make and send them a few).....this was not that expensive, compared with covers available here in the UK,and is a nice part.(the plug valley cover is a custom built item).....Good luck.....let me know how you get on.

[Blackvette59]

Pikey15.......found Gary's site address.........www.drysump.com I was suprised to find my motor on his site.....He has a few bits for ZETEC motors too.

[Pikey15]

Hi mate, thanks very much for that, I'll have a look at his website

[Blackvette59]

I think I may rework the rear shock mount....and put it in double sheer....and may change the front shocks for friction units,to clean up the front end.I found a 'vintage' steering wheel and hub,and a vintage sprint car pitman arm....so that will finish the steering......Its getting there slow.....

[Blackvette59]

Getting on with the brakes......to keep the car in 'period' ,drums are used all around.....Buick aluminium drums,with 2009 Ford Mustang backing plates and shoes out back,and Williams Welding ,in Texas will do the backing plates using Buick shoes.This is a great system in a light car,and really works.

[Blackvette59]

Not had a chance to get out and do any work.....too cold.Some parts turned up for my steering.I found a nice vintage 'sprint car' pitman arm,but this had a 1" x 48 spline fitting.......my steering box has a 1"X 36 spline fitting.Bought an idler arm to fit my box (Land Rover gears inside the box) and all I have to do is get the two together!..........I'll post some photos with the fix.....if it works.

[Blackvette59]

These are the pitman arms......the old 'Ford type' arm with lock bolt is what I want to use,so the splines in this arm will be bored out,and the spline in the 525 arm will be cut off ,turned down and then welded into the Ford arm,at least that is the plan.I have used this method before,but for custom arms.I'll let you know how I get on,if it doesn't work......more additions to the 'wall art'.....

[Blackvette59]

..with most of my steering parts squared away,it was time to make mounts for the steering box.Originally,I was going to mount it on towers,but I've decided to go down an easier path....this is what I knocked up this morning......made some cardboard patterns,transferred this to MDF,and trial fitted the box.When I was happy, traced on 1/8 steel plate...cut out and filed .....and there you have it.I use my drill press to 'cut out' plate and my grinder with 80 grit paper discs to finesse the part......I love holes,they are free,and look cool.Trial weld in place and work out a locking device,and thats it....another tick in the box.......(some other parts made the same way)

[caprimentle]

nice bits of fab work mate , keep it up

[Blackvette59]

.....going to make a gear box mount tomorrow....using the same method......and utilising a urathane bush.....I'll show you when complete.

[exboyracer]

Nice to see some home brew fabrication, pretty neat as well!

[105Ian]

Great fabriction and attention to detail as usual on this build

[Blackvette59]

Jim sent me these chassis shots ages ago,forgot all about them and thought I would share...............oh the 1950's plans I found on the bay....

[exboyracer]

That leaf spring is a work of art!

[Blackvette59]

.....stock as a stone 1929 Model A Ford................

[Blackvette59]

....didn't have a chance to start the gear box mount...(not sure if this the way to go)...so I thought I'd finish the steering box mounts.After the plates were made,they needed some type of lock ,to stop the box moving side to side,and up and down.This is what I came up with.Two tubes,one I split and welded threaded tube to,so that it can be clamped around the steering box.The other tube is just a retainer.Once these are welded into the chassis rails,I only need a column support,and its done......the splined steel hub will need to be pinned to the column,then the wheel with quick release hub can be fitted.....

[Blackvette59]

This is how my steering box will look once mounted in the frame,I should get the pitman arm back this week,and can then measure the drag link....this is the view I have out of the cockpit sans wheel.....

[caprimentle]

you really are a lucky man

[Blackvette59]

Have not been in the garage for an age,but hope to get out this week and get some work done.Just got back from Florida.....got more parts,and took in the Amelia Island Concours,Don Garlits Drag Racing Museum.The Pumkin Run,and Castro Farm run up in Ocala,oh and this little bike show down at Daytona.....here are a few snaps...hope they give you a smile.Also caught 'Billitproof'...don't know what there guy's are on,but great show.

[Blackvette59]

Some more 'billitproof' Fords.......not too sure about the out-board motor air cleaner......................

[Blackvette59]

Finished the gear box mount.Radiator has been mounted with Rose jointed adjuster rods and nut serts.......hose pipes cut and shut and look OK....not a bad day...................

[exboyracer]

Looks great

[Hoogi]

So, so interesting.................a new world of cars for me - superb as always.

[max0815]

I was at a car museum near my home town and saw the grandfather of your car there

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pcRRk0msas

[Blackvette59]

max0815......I think that is the grand daddy of ALL cars...................cool

[knobstar]

Really enjoyed reading your thread just now - it's a fabulous project; keep up the great work :-)

[Blackvette59]

Going through photo's from Amelia Island....I came across this......Paul Newmans first race car.............

[exboyracer]

Cool!

[Blackvette59]

It seems like ages since I took my pitman arm to 'Effin Paul' to machine the splines out of one arm and weld them into the other......well it worked and didn't end up as wall art.This has held me back a little,but,I can now put the steering in at long last.Don't know how the carboard steering arm and broom handel drag link will hold up,but are great for mock up.

[105Ian]

Good to see some more progress , this is such a different project from what most of us build on here , but yet so very interesting

[Blackvette59]

Got my parcel from Raceline with the alternator kit I ordered.....not a cheap option,but with all the problems that such a small chassis gets you ....the right choice.All the billet bits will be filed,sanded,and then blasted....to make them look 'cast'.The alternator is so small that I will not have to cut a hole in the hood side....result.Called up to see Alex at Torques ( www.torques.co.uk) and he has sorted out some fittings and lines,and helped my with a big problem over my remote oil filter....nice guy.Still haven't finished the steering...but it is getting there.

[Blackvette59]

Good news on NO MOT'S for pre 1960's?

[exboyracer]

Will yours be able to pass for pre '60? Will it qualify for enough 'points'?

[Blackvette59]

The car was registered in 1955.......and I only had to notify of a change of engine size.......but I dont like the idea of no MOT.I have a friend who lives in Jersey,and they have no MOT on the island.They have to 'self certify'.that their car are road worthy.....can you imagine your Insurance Co's stand on that after an accident.I'll still be taking mine after november.

[Blackvette59]

Finally got the steering in and all welded up......this job has dragged on and on,but now its done I can't see whal all the fuss was about.Take it from me, I am glad thats done.Drag link and steering arm are the next jobs,and thats another tick in the box.

[Blackvette59]

The dash needs to come out to get at the computor that will be mounted under it.Dzus fasteners used for quick release........

[trig]

Looking good buddy Im nearly at the end of my duratec install not as neat as your but can't wait...

Got a track day booked for the 30th so thats my dead line

[Blackvette59]

Trig,I've followed your build (part one and two) and you blow me away......you really know how to suffer for your art.I just love this car...a lot of cool stuff going on here,keep us posted.....hope you meet the dead line........

[trig]

Lol I'm doing a sneaky mk2 build as the mk1 is gona take a while so bought a cheap shell just to get me back on the road.

Was trying to build it in 6weeks ready for CF show but the engine had no pressure so had to take I back get it sorted. Put it in the car last night and booked a track day at Combe for the end of the month to run it in lol.