Sport Rep Road Rally Build

[Peredur]

Managed a bit of progress again this weekend. Got my modified linkage parts painted and reassembled.



Turned my attention to the handbrake, due to the tunnel mount being chopped to make room for the seat rail, I had to get a Mk2 Escort unit which will sit on top of the tunnel.

Firstly, I set about altering the pivot and release mech to covert it to a "fly-off" action.





Then I commenced a step-drill attack, not sure how much was actually saved but I don't think I could've gotten much more.



Then I realised that I'd primed it without welding the hydraulic cylinder bracket on so that's another job to do once it's mocked up in the car.

Also, my fabricator has now buttoned up the pedal box rails using threaded inserts in the box sections - very satisfied with the whole install:

[Peredur]

As can be seen in the previous pics, my Tilton pedal box (as nice as it is) is drastically Throttleless so, armed with a stock of carbon, I set about rectifying the situation.

Stainless hinge to provide a solid pivot - which was machined to lighten it, might take a bit more off too:



Cut a nice slab of carbon and bolted it on (bolts will be replaced with button headed allen drive ones):



Came in at 173g which is pleasing.

There's a little bracket to go on the back to operate a pushrod setup that'll operate the modified std pedal as pivot bar to pull the cable.

Much progress to occur in the coming weeks hopefully!

[jimbob-mcgrew]

vrumm vrumm !

[Peredur]

So, my fabricator's managed to get 5 mins to spend on my car

Spare wheel well chopped at 1/2 height to improve clearance:



Fitted some gussets to the A and B pillars:







Really hoping to have this in paint before the end of the month if at all possible.

Taking engine bits down to Country Engineering by Bristol (builds damn good autograss and rally engines) to have mine built too.

[Peredur]

Got a bit more time on the car this weekend, shell is still with the fabricator having the last few bits done. Engine will be getting built in july and I'm trying to sort a 6 speed crunchy clacky Dawg box

So, this weekend's bodging was looking for hidden grams, of which I found a few in the wiper motor (mostly in the carbon baseplate):





And then I reprofiled the car side of the boot hinges which resulted in a good saving (given the initial weight):

[peester]

Great work, never seen anyone go to this detail with weight saving.
Liking the 8v engine spec.
Also your Colin Chapman quotes in sig.

[Peredur]

Great work, never seen anyone go to this detail with weight saving.
Liking the 8v engine spec.
Also your Colin Chapman quotes in sig.

Cheers

Engine won't be to that spec now as I'm going for reliability so will be a fairly lairy 1400 8v with std length steel rods etc. Should still make about 145-150bhp

I've decided I want to get the car down to 700kg and having recently been reading on mini forums its inspired me to look for the hidden grams everywhere. I've got some Titanium, aluminium and nylon bolts on order too which should help towards the end goal.

[peester]

That sort of figure from a 1.4 8v must be full on, race spec .

[Peredur]

It won't be far off a full race engine. The builder usually does them for autograss cars so this one will be a similar spec - steel rods, flat top pistons, +1mm Ivey valves, kent springs, solid lifters, Enem A2 cam, Spit 40 dellortos

[Peredur]

Made some worthwhile progress this weekend

Got my spare beam out, stripped and splashed some hammerite in its general direction. Doesn't look to bad even if I say so myself:



Inbetween coats on the beam, I managed to tart up my rear dampers. I've had them fully serviced by LEDA so just gave them a quick lick of paint:



And I lightened the wiper linkage to see what could be done. Only took off 48g but hey ho, it's a saving. Gave it a quick spray to tidy up too: