Grahamb's Mk1 Fiesta XR2 Duratec HE Hillclimber

[doughman]

Re: Grahamb's Mk1 Fiesta XR2 Duratec HE Hillclimber

Ok thanks for the info. The video looks spot on.

[team_zi]

Re: Grahamb's Mk1 Fiesta XR2 Duratec HE Hillclimber

Time to get this show on the road for 2013.

Bought a Kiley Clinton steering rack, with a 2.2 turns lock to lock ratio. That arrived yesterday. And should put paid to all the push pull on the steering wheel when I go round some of the twistier stuff. £229 incl delivery from Kiley Clinton direct.

And I've an urge for more BHP at the moment, and assisted by dobuy and a few others, I'm sourcing the parts I need to get around 260BHP.

www.part-box.com are supplying me with a set of K1 forged H beam rods, delivery today. Fantastic discount from Paul Dolan again. Thanks for the support guys.

I still need to get some 12.5:1 pistons, and R500 cams + pulleys & springs, and these will be ordered in March. I'm running the high flow 2008 head already on the Duratec and I'm told that it needs nothing doing to it to achieve 260BHP other than matching the ports.

Last night I removed the wiring loom from the engine bay, and various hoses etc, the front air-dam, and other bits, so the engine and box can be removed over the next few days. The clutch developed a very serious judder in September, and I'm concerned that its the paddle clutch thats the cause. I cant live with it, so it needs curing. It could be a broken tri-lobe joint on one of the drive shafts, but I'll soon see as I dismantle everything. If its the clutch, I may go back to a conventional one, as just manouvering the car in the paddock lead to wheelspin it was such a severe take up. So much so I just hated moving the car.

The gearbox is leaking quite badly but last night I found the cause. When I disturbed the gear position sensor last September it pissed out oil everywhere and though i screwed it back in, the silicon rubber around it hasn't resealed, so this will be another job for Quaife when the box goes down for its inspection.

The new engine will also have a raised RPM limit of 8200, which will give me a top speed of 125 (instead of 116) which should pay dividends at Aintree (assuming I can reach top speed in the old girl)

[Graham]

Re: Grahamb's Mk1 Fiesta XR2 Duratec HE Hillclimber

exciting sounding plans graham, but i would strongly recommend you re think the clutch, with an 8200 redline you are firmly in exploding clutch territory, cerrametalics are much more user friendly than sintered, a sprung cerrametalic is the way to go if you dont want something really off/on snatchey

[dobuy]

Re: Grahamb's Mk1 Fiesta XR2 Duratec HE Hillclimber

exciting sounding plans graham, but i would strongly recommend you re think the clutch, with an 8200 redline you are firmly in exploding clutch territory, cerrametalics are much more user friendly than sintered, a sprung cerrametalic is the way to go if you dont want something really off/on snatchey

Interesting what you say about exploding clutches, never heard of that happening on a Duratec, saying that can't be any different to any other engine
Is it the friction plate that comes apart?
Both my cars revved to 8200 or so on a regular basis, so far without problems, hope it stays that way!

[Graham]

Re: Grahamb's Mk1 Fiesta XR2 Duratec HE Hillclimber

its clutches in general that explode, ive seen ford (though not duratec) bmw and vauxhall, its not usually the centre plate that explodes its the big donut casting part of the pressure plate, they usually let go when you dip the clutch having just redlined the engine, cluctch in the diaphragm clamps every thing together, when you delclutch theres nothing to resist the centrifugal force,

[team_zi]

Re: Grahamb's Mk1 Fiesta XR2 Duratec HE Hillclimber

I don't use the clutch anymore on upshifts Graham.
Point taken, I'll do my homework on what I need to buy.

Its the pootling round the paddock that's the killer.

[dobuy]

Re: Grahamb's Mk1 Fiesta XR2 Duratec HE Hillclimber

thanks Graham, learn something new everyday, note to self, do not clutch it close to redline.......
Might make up-shifts a bit interesting tho'

[team_zi]

Re: Grahamb's Mk1 Fiesta XR2 Duratec HE Hillclimber

Some progress at last.
The sequential gearbox is off the engine, and I've fitted the replacement 'circular' clutch, and will be selling the paddle clutch plate if anyone wants it. The flywheel and cover have slight polished marks on them where you can see the paddle clutch was biting. This would explain the judder. I'm not getting the surfaces skimmed, as time is too tight at the moment.

Refitting the box tonight, and getting the engine and box back in to the car. I have to get the car back on the trailer for the weekend.

[team_zi]

Re: Grahamb's Mk1 Fiesta XR2 Duratec HE Hillclimber

Engine and box are back together and in the car. Tonight I'll refit the engine mounts, clutch pipe, etc, and get it back on its wheels hopefully.

[team_zi]

Re: Grahamb's Mk1 Fiesta XR2 Duratec HE Hillclimber

Picking up the pace a bit now, the engine and box are in the car, zorst is on, should be back on her wheels again tonight.
New high ratio steering rack is also fitted. I have two complete turns lock to lock now (3.1 std) so with the steering wheel central, I have one complete turn either direction to get full lock.

[xXII Escort IIXx]

Re: Grahamb's Mk1 Fiesta XR2 Duratec HE Hillclimber

Been watching this for some time now and have enjoyed the read.

What negative effects will you have now with a much lower steering rack ratio?

Cheers Scott

[team_zi]

Re: Grahamb's Mk1 Fiesta XR2 Duratec HE Hillclimber

I'm hoping my guns are big enough to turn the wheel. The steering is probably going to be a lot heavier, but only noticeable when moving the car in the paddock. Out on the track it should still be (I hope) like a Fiesta to drive.

[team_zi]

Re: Grahamb's Mk1 Fiesta XR2 Duratec HE Hillclimber

Nearly there. Just a list as long as my arm left to do, and I'm stuck out in Germany again until Saturday.





The engine rebuild is on hold as impending house move is about to bankrupt me.

[team_zi]

Re: Grahamb's Mk1 Fiesta XR2 Duratec HE Hillclimber

At Lydden yesterday at the Apex Festival. A 3h20m tow from Leicester, but it was so worth it. I ran two 15minute track sessions, during the Demo Cars, and its was an absolute cracker of a track. I love the short straights and tight corners, my Fiesta is so setup to do that. My quickest lap as a 50.4 with a peak of 96mph which I'm happy with given the little seat time on my first visit. I was visibly much faster than most of the other cars, and really enjoyed realling them in and waiting for the marshals to wave their blue flags.

The car was faultless. Never even needed to take a spanner to her. Water temp was around 80c and oil pressure around indicated 100psi at full revs. The new clutch was so worth the aggro of taking the car apart. I'll never fit a paddle clutch again, dreadful. The gearbox was really working well and I was trying clutchless downshifts for the first time, which again was taking some getting used to.

The GoPro decided it was going to have a flat battery (again) despite charging it the day before, so no onboard video, though some is now surfacing on Facebook (look in www.facebook.com\zetecinsidemotorsport)

Made some great new friends. Three Escorts were there, a blue Mk1 and blue Mk2, and an orange Mk1 (BDA 666L) and I'm going to Bristol tomorrow so we're meeting up to discuss some work on his car he wants me to do for him. The blue Mk2 Escort slowed down on my 2nd session to let me catch up, and then was unable to keep up with me (his words)

A great event, some stunning cars there. I love shows combined with track action. Its the future

My photos can be found here.

https://plus.google.com/photos/115020080284159281242/albums/5879807894068458513?banner=pwa

Great to meet Rob and chat about his LS1 Capri he's building too he recognised my car and came and introduced himself.
Lots of comments about the car and my driving, it was ripping round and the noise from the induction roar sounded incredible.

Just need to get my ARDS and get out and do some proper racing now. Bored of hillclimbs and sprints.

[eric]

Re: Grahamb's Mk1 Fiesta XR2 Duratec HE Hillclimber

Yes it was great day I was in the blue MK1 Escort