World Cup X Member - Question

[RS2000CUSTOM]

I have fitted a WCXM to my car and need some advise.

My engine now sits higher and near to bulkhead (does not catch though !).

My concern is a MKII at Santa Pod (Neil M's) also has a WCXM and his engine sits in a more "normal" position.

Are there different types of X member ?

p.s. my steering rack fits in its normal position and is not lower as I know of WCXM's that lowers the rack.

p.p.s. The WCXM I purchased still had a Ford Sticker on it as it was purchased years ago and was never used - I then purchased it off someone last year.

[robrs2]

you can lower the engine by cutting the engine mount and rewelding it. the engine is set high so that if the car should land hard the rack mounts don't go through the sump.
I dont know if anyone sells mounts to lower the engine.

[RS2000CUSTOM]

The height is not a problem to me its just I noticed the difference with Neil's.

Just wondered why mine was higher !

[Sideways]

Did you get the mounts that go with that wcxm, ie same make? as I have found over the years that they all tend to vary quite a bit.
the only way around it is as robrs2 says above and re-weld them.

the ideal position for a car with a std height rack mount is 5/8" (16mm) from the bottom of the sump to the top of the steering rack.

you may also find that the gear lever is further back slightly and you may have to file out/re-drill the holes in g/box cross member to get them to line up.

[mk2phil]

Where did Neil M get his WCXM from? I've seen Rally design ones that sit the engine in the standard position (or very close), whereas others such as R.A.C.E moves the engine quite a bit upwards and to the left. Best to ask where Neil M got his from to be sure. I've heard some real headache stories about getting everythig else to fit when you use certain x-members - exhausts hit on driver floor, rocker cover hits bulkhead, bellhousing hits tunnel, gbox mounts dont line up, gearstick doesn't line up etc. It would be nice to find a WCXM that keeps the engine in exactly the same position as a standard RS x-member - but provides the heavy duty mountings without moving the engine around.

[popuptoaster]

if your not going rallying i dunno why anyone bothers with em, i never seen anyone bend a standard one without crashing anyway. and you can buy new stiffer rubbers for the stasndard engine mounts and rs 2000 ones now too. ,

can you tell i had grief with a car with one on?

[RS2000CUSTOM]

Mounts came with the x member.

Gearbox and lever all line up fine.

Will speak to Neil to find out where he got his x member from.

My solution to give slighter more clearance is to put a 1/4 inch spacer plate between the x member and the chassis rails where the 2 bolt together.

I am happy with the overall fit but my engine is definetly higher and nearer to the bulkhead.

[robrs2]

My solution to give slighter more clearance is to put a 1/4 inch spacer plate between the x member and the chassis rails where the 2 bolt together.

Take care as the wcxm should have the holes for the TCA's drilled lower and further out. This give more negative camber on the wheels. If you have lowered the X member then there will be even more negative camber. You may need to drill the holes for the TCA's higher up to correct the camber.

Rob

Sideways did BigDave get his Hydraulic clutch from you? and could you e-mail me the size for the quick realise box, top hats. Thanks

[RS2000CUSTOM]

cheeRS Rob

But the Camber should be ok as I have fitted in situ adjustable TCA's.

(dont you just love modifications ?)

[dingy]

Mine sit's fine i think, slightly lower and is further back, but thats a good thing

[robrs2]

What about the steering column? the angle to that will have changed too.
I was going to drop the x member as you have done because the engine was touching the bulkhead flange behind the head.Thought it was going to cause to many probs so i Just put the old 1 back in for now to get the car on the road.

[RICKB]

Mine sit's fine i think, slightly lower and is further back, but thats a good thing

Same Here

[RS2000CUSTOM]

I have used a Grp 4 knuckle no probs.

My steering column fits fine.

[dingy]

So is mine now i made the hole in the floor bigger LOL

[Roger Miller]

http://www.turbosport.co.uk/showflat...t=1&PHPSESSID=

The WCXMember is the foundation, for a good suspension setup.
It is stronger than STD unit [well a good one is, instead of a converted one] however it is wasted on the STD mounting system, in the chassis rails.

[Sideways]

Sideways did BigDave get his Hydraulic clutch from you? and could you e-mail me the size for the quick realise box, top hats. Thanks

He sure did....

let me have your e-mail address and I'll send you the drawing for the top hats

Cheers
Steve

[Clint]

I honestly think chassis mounting is the way to go, there are a lot of reasons the WCXM is not so good on a race car, especially one with a lowever rack.

[RS2000CUSTOM]

Having spoken to a couple of people with WCXM's fited I have decided to remove mounts and modify them to lower engine down a little.

Whilst everything fits I need to have some room for "error" - lol

X member itself fits fine so nothing being done there.

[dingy]

I have had no issues with the RACE WCXM and done a 1.19 sec lap round dono, so its really does affect race cars.

[Sideways]

Having spoken to a couple of people with WCXM's fited I have decided to remove mounts and modify them to lower engine down a little.

Whilst everything fits I need to have some room for "error" - lol

X member itself fits fine so nothing being done there.

here's how I got mine to sit exactly where I wanted it....

remove engine mounts and gearbox mount(support on a trolley jack) , fit exhaust manifold and carbs+filters and place a 16mm (5/8") spacer between rack and sump, or 25mm (1") if to have a lowered rack mount and position the engine exactly where you want it with it resting on the wooden spacer, making sure it clears the steering column and bulkhead etc and that the gearbox is in line and supported....


as you can see it was a bit out....


cut the plate off the engine mounts that bolts to the engine and when dressed up with the aid of a grinder bolt it to the block....


then fit the rest of the mount to the wxcm and once you have the engine and gearbox exactly where you want it, tack weld it into position....


then remove it, then weld it up properly on the bench and refit....


then do the same for the other side...



my gear lever was then further back in the hole (approx 1") but this is a good thing in terms of handling/weight distribution and the gearbox mount had to be modded slightly to enable it to bolt up without putting stress on the mount

HTH

cheers
Steve

[RS2000CUSTOM]

Top reply - Sideways

This may be the way to go for me as well

Again thanx

[RS2000CUSTOM]

Sideways - I am about to do the mod of the mounts as described in your pics.

BUT

Why did you release the gearbox mount ?

I was thinking of leaving the mount on the gearbox and do the rest of the mod as you describe !!

Thoughts please

[RS2000CUSTOM]

Sideways - I have completed the engine mount mod as you described.

Engine fits lower with a load of clearence from the bulkhead.

Easy to do - hardest job was cutting off mount plate !

I left the gearbox mounting attached to the transmission tunnel so had no messing around with that either.

The reason I think I had problems in the first place was due in the main to the "oil filter" n/s side engine mount being incorrectly manufactured as the o/s mount only needed moving a few mil.

Hope this thread helps other people with a similar problem !

[Mr_Hoarder]

Excellent advice, I'm going to move this post to the archive !!

[Jeroen]

If he did not release the gearboxmount he could never move the engine backwards ?

[mk1matt]

If he did not release the gearboxmount he could never move the engine backwards ?

The engine was lowered which means it would of pivoted on the gearbox mount.