Bike carb'd rally car project

[tom reid]

I sold my Nova to Dan, he used to run the 100 pound Nova that Draper now owns, as I wanted to get back into rallying and don't really want any more Nova's.
The small block engine that was on R1's went pop soon after Dan bought the car, he wanted to fit an xe on bike carbs, so we bought Trev's old project car, it had the engine and box in and really just needed finishing.
The engine was removed,stripped and cleaned, it wasn't looking good, a lack of oil changes over the years had taken it's toll and most of the internal components were covered in a thick sticky sludgy goo, but surprisingly it all cleaned up lovely, so the lump was rebuilt and ready to fit.

We removed the smallblock stuff and carried out the alternator mod to the chassis leg mod, I got a bit carried away here.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3648/3498544268_cb36aee73e_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/16764489@N05/3498544268/)http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3352/3498541526_d5c98fb988_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/16764489@N05/3498541526/)
I thought that as i was cutting a bit out the leg I may as well get rid of the whole inside half of the chassis, as this would give us more room for maintenance in the future, the shell had already been stitched welded everywhere so a little bit more mods would be fine.
I replaced the chassis with 4mm plate, shaped and picking up the top, sides and bottom of the chassis on the wheel side of the inner wing and then tagged the two together in a few places, also picked up the engine mount,
this gives us a load more room around the cam belt.
A quick prep and paint and it looks like this.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3634/3498550360_f5d74d2df9_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/16764489@N05/3498550360/)http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3552/3498553196_f5e443021f_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/16764489@N05/3498553196/)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3544/3498556848_d63f6bf224_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/16764489@N05/3498556848/)
View from the floor up.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3572/3498559648_1307abc5e6_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/16764489@N05/3498559648/)
Got the engine/box and shafts fitted on Friday night and spent Sat and today, wiring in the new dizzy, module and coil, fitting the R1's and modding the alternator bracket, put the slimline fan and rad in and refitted the slam panel.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3410/3497749699_2071e71143_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/16764489@N05/3497749699/)http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3328/3497753425_772661a50b_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/16764489@N05/3497753425/)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3540/3498567014_d598720215_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/16764489@N05/3498567014/)
We had the car out this afternoon/evening, its running a bit rich,, but it pulls really well and is loud, too loud really, but Dan won't let me touch the exhaust now.lol
Got a little bit of Video to load later.

[Prey]

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i144/prey001/tsport/th_NewProject.jpg (http://s71.photobucket.com/albums/i144/prey001/tsport/?action=view&current=NewProject.flv)

[Prey]

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i144/prey001/tsport/th_novaincar.jpg (http://s71.photobucket.com/albums/i144/prey001/tsport/?action=view&current=novaincar.flv)

[Prey]

its not a bad motor - dont like the ghay impreza vent tho.....

lol.....

[Andy]

Nice work,what sort of power gains do bike carbs give over standard?

[Iain]

its not a bad motor - dont like the ghay impreza vent tho.....

lol.....

It would be better if it was fitted properly! lol Quality car though.

[Jonezy]

Well done mate, Sounds well! Heres a pic of my car you wanted to see. Cheers for the advice by the way :thumb: Mine aint nothing special but its not bad for a 17 year olds first rally car :)

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee122/Jonezy_114/DSC00295.jpg

[Adam]

LOL @ the carbs poking out the bonnet lol
How well will they suck air in, seeing as air will be flying past/over them when the cars moving, if you get me....?

Good project though, xe looks well in there.

Sounds sweet in the vids.

[scott.parker]

PMSL @ Carbs through bonnet, ace! might look better with a scoop over though, and stop the lovely British weather going in them lol

Good project.

Scott

[greg1.4]

looks and sounds cool!

is it you or your mate that will be rallying it?

[chimp007_uk]

Tom...

4weeks and counting :) Loving the OEM bonnet vent lol

Will give you a call when I get a minute

[tom reid]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzHENsbORZM

First run up the road, sounds awesome!, if a bit all over the road, need to fix the torque steerlol

[tom reid]

Nice work,what sort of power gains do bike carbs give over standard?

I should give about 10-15hp, but I'm not into figures, if the car pulls well and has good driveability and puts a smile on your face and gives you the shaky leg syndrome, it's somewhere near rightlol
They will come into their own when we start modifying the engine. port job and cam change, poss better exhaust manifold.

[tom reid]

Well done mate, Sounds well! Heres a pic of my car you wanted to see. Cheers for the advice by the way :thumb: Mine aint nothing special but its not bad for a 17 year olds first rally car :)

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee122/Jonezy_114/DSC00295.jpg
Thanks for the kind words.
Don't put yourself down matey, the car looks the dogs danglies, i wish my first rally car looked as good as yours:thumb:
Give us a run down on the spec please.

[tom reid]

LOL @ the carbs poking out the bonnet lol
How well will they suck air in, seeing as air will be flying past/over them when the cars moving, if you get me....?

Good project though, xe looks well in there.

Sounds sweet in the vids.

Hi Adam, see the latest vid, Impreza vent fitted, that should help with air flow...., and stop small children getting sucked in. I lol at the sight of it as well when we first dropped the bonnet.It needs a bit more work to tidy the vent up , we'll do this later on.

[tom reid]

its not a bad motor - dont like the ghay impreza vent tho.....

lol.....

Thanks Al, I've spoken to the vent....and he don't like you eitherlol

[chimp007_uk]

Just watched the youtube vid... Sounds emmense, I see what you mean about torque steer lol

Is that the smae manifold that I have? Might fit another crappy white bonnet if butchering is involved lol Was looking at didfferent bonnet vents last night.

[chimp007_uk]

Is this the hose (http://www.rallydesign.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=147_1950_1956&products_id=14148)?? The samco one is £72... but does stat eits flourolined etc. Going to order some pads from RD this week so will order the hose if its ok. Anything you need?

[tom reid]

Is this the hose (http://www.rallydesign.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=147_1950_1956&products_id=14148)?? The samco one is £72... but does stat eits flourolined etc. Going to order some pads from RD this week so will order the hose if its ok. Anything you need?

Chris
When your'e on the phone to RD ask them if it's fuel resistant, if it's not, don't buy it.
Is the Samco price for a metre?, if it is I'll pay you for what we don't use on your car.
Your manifold has the runners set at a different angle to the one on Dan's car, I thought they would still clear the bonnet, but I forgot about the trumpets:tard:

[chimp007_uk]

Chris
When your'e on the phone to RD ask them if it's fuel resistant, if it's not, don't buy it.
Is the Samco price for a metre?, if it is I'll pay you for what we don't use on your car.
Your manifold has the runners set at a different angle to the one on Dan's car, I thought they would still clear the bonnet, but I forgot about the trumpets:tard:

Will give them a call at lunch time tomorrow, It might have to be Thursday though as I'm out of the office Tue and Wed. 45mm ID correct? The Samco price is per metre.

I'll stick a bonnet on that I', going to fit a vent to anyway then if it needs cutting its no biggy.

Nice to see the car running! Any suprises?

[tom reid]

No, not really mate, although according to others, the jets for a std engine seem to be 180, I'm past that and it wants a little bit more, a couple of oil leaks on the sump gasket though.:wall:.
It will also want some work on the front suspension, seems to be too soft now, and it's already got 300lb springs on, might look at fitting some Billy coilovers, oh an lsd and a rev limmiter.

Dan, you need more moneylol

[tom reid]

There's been a change of plan on this project, same project, different car.
Dan's Nova is staying a road car, so I thought I'd put my Nova in this thread instead.
Bought it a couple of Months ago as a rolling shell, the intention is to get it up to a reasonable spec and then do a few rallies, it'll be stripped next year for a full rebuild.
The plan is to enter the 1400 class with a hi spec 8v engine, straight cut gears and plate type diff with a 4.5 or 4.8 crown wheel and pinion.
Looking at running 13 and 14in wheels on Dunlop rally slicks.
Suspension will be Leda or Bilstien.

For the moment I have a 1400xe in, on a std cr box and 4.1 diff, this is to teach myself how to map the Mega Jolt ignition.

Ive been dying to get into the MJ for ages so got on with it.
Turned down a std Corsa crank pulley and welded the trigger wheel on, modded the std crank sensor bracket to take a Ford sensor, made up a loom and fitted it to the car along with the MJ ecu, the Ford coilpack and edis unit.
Ran it for the first time this evening and it ran ok, seems a bit weak on the mixture so I'll open up the jets.The timing figures are conservative just now, 10 deg on idle, until I get used to working with the MJ.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2483/3698645841_ce2a25737d_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/16764489@N05/3698645841/)
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http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2589/3698611319_82812edd74_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/16764489@N05/3698611319/)
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http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3502/3699430068_2d503ccbe3_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/16764489@N05/3699430068/)

[The Simps]

Cool stuff! I'm going to be using MJ too. What leads did you use because are the connections for the EDIS pack different to a vaux coilpack?

[Jonezy]

Looking well so far Tom. You ever coming over this way for a rally? Got Trawsfyndedd (sp) & the Cambrian

[Southie]

Sounds promising then Tom. :D Has it seemed a bit easyier setting up the mj than thought?

Oh by the way the lambda never came. :(

[nova ian]

Looking good Tom, I see you cant keep away from these novas, I bet the corsa is feeling really neglected now!

Good Stuff

[Welshy]

do they all sound like their misfireing with bike carbs?? other than that, sounds amazeing mate:)

[chimp007_uk]

Nice to see it coming along... How tricky is it?

I haven't had a chance to play with the nova since getting back from Scotland. Been feeling really $hitty, have all the symptoms of swine flu lol so booked myself into the vets on friday.

Was meant to be going to Retro Show at the weekend but we shall see. I'll give you a call for a catch up asap!!

[tom reid]

Simps, I'm using 90's Escort leads, the ones with the two clips either side of the coilpack end, although the ones in the pictures are Focus leads.I had to buy two sets of leads as the short one was too short to be of any use, at least i have some spareslol
Also had to trim down the ends at the plug side of the leads to get them to go into the head.
Lead choice is downto whatever coilpack you use,there are two different types that I know of.

[tom reid]

Looking well so far Tom. You ever coming over this way for a rally? Got Trawsfyndedd (sp) & the Cambrian

Sorry, won't be doing forest events, I have heard that there are Nova sized craters in the forest roadslol

How do you do the multiquote thingy?????

[tom reid]

Sounds promising then Tom. :D Has it seemed a bit easyier setting up the mj than thought?

Oh by the way the lambda never came. :(

Sorry about the lambda's mate, my daughter assures me they were posted, I have a dig and see if I have some more, if you still need them?
The MJ wasn't too difficult to install, just took my time to understand the layout and installation onto the laptop, although I did have a little help from Prey and another mate.
The hardest part was getting the trigger wheel mounted centrally onto the crank pulley, that took a couple of hours, and it's still a bit off centre.:tard:

[tom reid]

Looking good Tom, I see you cant keep away from these novas, I bet the corsa is feeling really neglected now!

Good Stuff

Corsa?, what Corsa??? Oh the other rally car, thats more like a garden ornament nowlol

[tom reid]

do they all sound like their misfireing with bike carbs?? other than that, sounds amazeing mate:)

Do you mean on the over run?, then yes, the R1's do.