Escort Sigma 1600 Race Car

[Roadsport]

Re: Escort Sigma 1600 Race Car

You can always check the free movement of the axle with dampers and springs removed, put the car on jackstands, support the rear from the center pumpkin in different heights and rock one end of the axle up-and-down, you should feel if there is any significant bind. If there is, something will develop fatique cracks and fail.
My own 3-link+phb full uniball setup articulates through all suspension travel without any resistance, maybe you could consider using this system - just add one bracket to the rear axle on top of the pumpkin and do a little modification to the propshaft tunnel "under rear seat" to make the body-side attachment point to the single upper link.
Latest Mustang GT which kicks BMW M3-s ass around racetrack has similar 3-link setup

What kind of car do you have?

I believe the three ink system is quite popular in rally cross cars.
This is something I have considdered doing and has been done to few track cars around here.
At this point I'll have to pass since I have a deadline and don't want to overtake any vast modifications.
To rock the axle up and down is a good Idea though. Thanks

[rustang]

Re: Escort Sigma 1600 Race Car

What kind of car do you have?

What else than Mk1

[Roadsport]

Re: Escort Sigma 1600 Race Car

WOW!! That looks agressive! Simply awesome! Whats the engine in it?

[rustang]

Re: Escort Sigma 1600 Race Car

I do not want to hijack your thread but OK
My car has never competed but is more like opentrack-type hobby car, now it has also full FIA cage etc. Engine is boring compared to yours - 2.0 Zetec silvertop, stock internals, motorbike ITB, Megasquirt, homemade 4-1 headers.

[Roadsport]

Re: Escort Sigma 1600 Race Car

Did some welding and grinding yesterday. The new adjustable 4 link bars are now done. Only painting or plating left to do.
Not the prettyest but functional and strong.

[Roadsport]

Re: Escort Sigma 1600 Race Car

Now zinc plated and ready to go in.

[david_white]

Re: Escort Sigma 1600 Race Car

Very nice

[Roadsport]

Re: Escort Sigma 1600 Race Car

Thanks Dave !
They're in now and surprisingly with no issues yet. knock wood. Still not sure how to open ot tighten the front locking nut....
Got me a another propeller yet again which needs to be cut to lenght.
As for the windscreen I found a bargain and decided to put the the heated screen on hold for now.

Found some new oil leaks in the engine to sort out and the darned gearbox still leaks. It has been leaking since day one. Bit of an dissapointment for a factory built, bolt on box.
I'll take a look at the engine oil leak tomorrow but the box will have to wait till the end of the season.

[Roger Miller]

Re: Escort Sigma 1600 Race Car

darned gearbox still leaks. It has been leaking since day one. Bit of an dissapointment for a factory built, bolt on box.
I'll take a look at the engine oil leak tomorrow but the box will have to wait till the end of the season.

Wheres it leaking from ?

[Roadsport]

Re: Escort Sigma 1600 Race Car

I'm not alltogether sure where it leaks from. It seems to leak only when moving, and the airflow spreads the oil all around the undercarriage. So popably the rear seal alttough only just changed it or the breather system. It has been acting up all the time eventough I added another brather to the tail part of the box. Could be some sort of bend in the breather hoses or something. It lost 0,3 litres during the whole event so not a disaster but I could deffo do without a leak.

The other leaks are taken care of now. The o - ring in the sump scavenge take off was leaking and once again the airflow made it look much worse than it was. As a matter of fact it was not leaking while engine was running.
THen the bugger developed a severe petrol leak. One of the (3) petrol pumps was leaking. The mikuni I use to fill the swirl pot was leaking. nothing seemed to be wrong with it cleaning and maticulous rebuild took care of it.

So for now it looks like I'm pretty much sorted for the next event. The new propellerhaft is beeing cut to lenght. The windscreen is kind of sorted. It'll be delivered to me to the paddocks by the latest. So if I cant pass the scruteneering with the cracked windscreen I can change it at the paddock.

What do you guys think of rotating the wheels around? From front to back or left to right etc. I would love to get a fresh outer shoulder to the front tyres but I have doubts would this be the wisest decission grip wise. I believe the tyres have been adjusted to the whwwl angles where they are now and switching places would not provide as much rubber surface to tarmac.
Of course it would in the end but would that not result in even more worn tyres. I'm pretty convinced I'll leave them as they are.

[Graham]

Re: Escort Sigma 1600 Race Car

re tyres i like most of the racers i know swap them around to even out wear and thus get longest life out them

[Roadsport]

Re: Escort Sigma 1600 Race Car

Thats what Yokahama suggests too. I just have my doubts. If the tyres are worn to a certain agle and I swap the to anothe corner to another angle would it not compromise the grip?
I run A048 tyres. I know many or most of the competitors in my clas do this but I never have. Thinking of doing it now though. Would like to get the the fresh inside of the rear tyres to act as a fresh outside shoulder in the front....

[Roadsport]

Re: Escort Sigma 1600 Race Car

Heres how they look installed. Also bought a bunch of spare bolts if any should snap. Their 1/2" 10.9 grade bolts though but still I have been warned.

[Graham]

Re: Escort Sigma 1600 Race Car

Thats what Yokahama suggests too. I just have my doubts. If the tyres are worn to a certain agle and I swap the to anothe corner to another angle would it not compromise the grip?

no

[Roger Miller]

Re: Escort Sigma 1600 Race Car

I'm not alltogether sure where it leaks from. It seems to leak only when moving, and the airflow spreads the oil all around the undercarriage. So popably the rear seal alttough only just changed it or the breather system. It has been acting up all the time eventough I added another brather to the tail part of the box. Could be some sort of bend in the breather hoses or something. It lost 0,3 litres during the whole event so not a disaster but I could deffo do without a leak.

The other leaks are taken care of now. The o - ring in the sump scavenge take off was leaking and once again the airflow made it look much worse than it was. As a matter of fact it was not leaking while engine was running.
THen the bugger developed a severe petrol leak. One of the (3) petrol pumps was leaking. The mikuni I use to fill the swirl pot was leaking. nothing seemed to be wrong with it cleaning and maticulous rebuild took care of it.

So for now it looks like I'm pretty much sorted for the next event. The new propellerhaft is beeing cut to lenght. The windscreen is kind of sorted. It'll be delivered to me to the paddocks by the latest. So if I cant pass the scruteneering with the cracked windscreen I can change it at the paddock.

What do you guys think of rotating the wheels around? From front to back or left to right etc. I would love to get a fresh outer shoulder to the front tyres but I have doubts would this be the wisest decission grip wise. I believe the tyres have been adjusted to the whwwl angles where they are now and switching places would not provide as much rubber surface to tarmac.
Of course it would in the end but would that not result in even more worn tyres. I'm pretty convinced I'll leave them as they are.

The most likely spot is the breather.
I did this.







I tried other stuff, but this worked 100%