Build Officially Started!

[Tatey]

So a quick update. The car is now ready for the track. I have all of the powder coated suspension back together. The fuel line was replaced.

I previously got my carbs refurbished and after getting them back the car wouldn't start, this was over 2 years ago. Since replacing the fuel line I tried to get the car started with no luck. It was definitely pumping fuel, but it turned out I had no spark. Cue taking off the scuttle and pulling out the dash and dismantling my loom to find a loose connection to my EDIS 4 module from a crimp connection. This was soon fixed and the car fired straight up on the button.

I have since been edge trimming things and tidying other stuff up, some of my aluminium panels had gone slightly furry in the time it has been in the garage so this has been cleaned up.

I am now trying to source a transporter trailer that will fit the Haynes on and fit in my single garage. It looks like the Brian James C4 Blue and the Minno Max are the only trailers on the market wide enough to makes the Haynes but narrow enough to fit through my 2134mm wide garage door opening.

[jps]

Great to hear, shows there is hope for us all! I just looked back to see some pics for inspiration and see the curse of Photobucket has wiped everything out, would be great to see some pics of it as it stands!

[Tatey]

I still have all of the photos so I will upload them to a photo service and post the link.

I have a couple of things to do to the car this week including fixing my immobiliser LED which broken when I was removing the dash. I also need to bond on some cable tie mounts so I can secure the rear of the rear tub cover. I'm then going to get it out for a wash so I'll take some pictures of it in its current state.

[Tatey]

May was definitely a long time ago! But with a temporary 10% paycut made permanent due to COVID put a stop to my trailer buying plans.

That paycut has thankfully now been reversed. The past few months have also shown how rare a C4 Blue or Minno Max trailers are or how well they hold onto their value. So I have today just ordered a brand new C4 Blue so that I can finally get the car out on track!

My trailer is due to turn up at the end of October so I am trying to get a rolling road session booked for early November with Bogg Bros to get my carbs/ignition map setup for the track.

The plan is to do Blyton Park at the end of November if everything goes well.

I have since fixed my immobiliser light and redone the electrical connections for my fog light switch. I have acquired some oil to refill my diff and I'm checking fluid levels for my gearbox this weekend as it was 6 years ago when I filled it up and I want to double check it!

[twinturbo]

I kept looking at transporters on ebay. some real rough stuff made stupid money back in late 2018... and they were all a long way off.

Then one poped up, it looked old but solid and was only 20 miles away.

It said offers, so I offerd £400 and we settled at £480.. I did not know what to expect.

When I got there the guy had a brand new low loading indespension transporter, that was for his MK1 RS2000 rally car. He also had a Focus RS in his sizeable home garage....

so his old trailer, he had designed and built himself. the main bed sections had been folded by a local engineering firm ~20 years previously. The whole thing looked PRO and in some ways better than contemporary Brian james or Similar units.

It's been used a handful of times to recover purchases or move cars that are not MOT'd..

It's rock solid and would easily take most cars although it's probably only capable of 1500KG max..

When the Haynes is finished I may sign up as a memer at Kames for some track sessions.

[Tatey]

So things are progressing nicely.

I have now filled the diff with oil, flushed the cooling system and I'm about to refill it with coolant.

I have secured the rear tub top panel to the car using some bond on cable tie bases and cable ties for the rear most edge. The front most edge and the fuel filler cap area are bolted into position so it's really just to stop it flapping.

http://www.silverstonefactors.com/sh...ase-tc105-bulk

The cable tie bases are a very useful things and are used extensively on race cars. Matched with some Loctite F246 structural adhesive you can mount them most places.

I have secured the access hatch into the rear boot to stop it dropping inwards.

I have also bought a winch for my trailer and a strap type tow loop which I have mounted to the top front wishbone mount. It will allow me to winch the car onto the trailer and the trailer into the garage (nose first) without needing assistance. I do need to see how much diagonal pull there is when the trailer arrives, with a straight pull the strap clears the nose cone, if there is a significant angle on the tow rope then it will start to contact the nose cone so that may require a rethink.



My trailer collection date is set at 31st October and I have a rolling road session booked at Bogg Brothers for 7th November. I am hoping to attend Blyton park on 28th November but I think I will wait to book that once I've had my session at the rolling road in case there are any problems.

Left on the list is to apply the sealant to my sausage filter backing plate, glue on edge trim, check all bolts and fasteners are tight. Check the gearbox oil. Setup the ride height and set the tracking.

[twinturbo]

remember to get photos of the trailer arrival,