Build Officially Started!

[Rosco]

Getting there now!

[Tatey]

So it has been a very long time since I last posted. Progress on my car has been virtually non existent. However it is a new year and I have a renewed desire to get the car finished!

An update from the last time I posted was that I pulled the head off, got it skimmed, changed the head gasket, replaced the valve stem seals, put a new timing kit on it and lapped the valves in. I also sent my carbs away for rebuild, as they had a suspected air leak. I also redesigned my inlet manifold so that my bike carbs use the standard rubbers which now bolt to the manifold. The standard rubbers also have vacuum take off points on them so it is a much better solution.

I have had my wishbones powder coated and I have revised them as I wasn't happy with the original bushes I took out.

I am now reassembling the suspension onto the car and the plan is to buy a cheap car transporter trailer and take the car for a rolling road session and get it on at least one track day this year just to use the car! Once I am happy with that then I will finish off the bits I need for IVA and get my test done over the winter.

One thing I have also noticed when fitting the new suspension is that my fuel hose looks to have perished again, I haven't checked to see if the main run down the tunnel has or if it is just the section to my fuel filter. If it is everything then I will be ripping all of the fuel line out, converting all of the connections to JIC -6 and running Brown and Miller Racing Solutions consulted PTFE hose with their progold fittings. It will meaning changing my fuel filter and fuel pump but I feel it will be worth it in the long run!

[twinturbo]

I have many new years resolutions to keep up with...

One is doing stuff for "ME" , so that includes hopefully getting a look at the car again..

I sold my sierra after 25 years and that freed up a stack of cash so rather than just pay off more of the mortgage I have spent a little on myself...

I think it's a Decade since I started!


My plan also is to try and get the car to a state that I can stick it on my trailer which I bought 18 months ago.. and get at least some use out of it. I have some private trading estate land that we can shake it down..

Ideally I want my eldest to have a go and use it to learn more driving skills before he turns 17 in 2021...


My fuel lines are all copper front to back, or they will be.


I did by a Speeduino Clone in November, so when I look at doing Injection I should be in a reasonable position..

TT

[tkpm]

There I was thinking I must the only one that's not touched there car in a long time.
I past the 10 year mark back in September last year.
Like Tatey and twinturbo, I'm going to make the effort and get my car finished.

It's been about 12 months since I've taken the cover off it, the list of jobs is quite small.
Clean the fuel tank and lines.
Re fit a panel to the side prop tunnel.
Send away my shocks away for a rebuild as they now have bad rust areas on them.
Replace an oil seal on the gear box.
Then its just a few bit rubber trim around sharp edges.

Hopefully by June I will have enough money saved up to get IVA done.

[voucht]

Good to see you back Simon! I honestly thought we'd lost you forever

You'll see that unfortunately, this forum is not what it used to be, no more car being built, new members having the worst trouble to register, so it is not very active. But like TT and TKPM, I have a look at it almost everyday to see if there is something new.

Regarding your fuel lines, if you go for dash-6 stainless steel braided PTFE hose, buy the one with carbon charged PTFE which has a black colour (not the usual clear colour like the brake hoses). It is not rubber (Nitrile or NBR), it is PTFE (Teflon), but black.

It is very important for fuel lines, as carbon charged PTFE hose is anti-static. When you run a fuel injection, fuel is passing at a high speed in the PTFE tube, and because of that, the PTFE get charged with static electricity. A bit like rubbing a plastic ruler on a synthetic cloth sweater. You know what happen when you do that, you get sparkles. And sparkles + fuel anywhere else than in a combustion chamber is not good. That is reason why they make carbon charged PTFE hose, so the static electricity is permanently conducted out of the fuel hose through the carbon particles and the stainless steel braid, so no spark can occur. It is a very important thing to think about, really.

Hope that will help

Good luck for finishing your build... and please, post some pictures!

[martin62]

I too am getting at my car as well Auto Electrician coming on Tuesday to finish off my attempt at wiring, just a few bits of wiring on the steering column and relays and I can start the car. I started the build in October 09 a lot of distractions on the way

[jps]

I too am adamant that I will finish this year! Like others I have had various changes since I bought a rolling, but only part finished, chassis in summer 2012... I spent yesterday getting the side panels properly cut for the front suspension, and my car now sits on 4 coilovers for the first time ever.

[will_08]

I'm in the 10 year club too.....must be longer, had Ron Champions escort based book for a few years before I started this

Will start my build thread soon, good luck with yours

[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!