Race Car Back To Retro Daily by CobraV8

4 minute(s) of a 42 minute read

Unfortunately not much. I have moved house and been busy. However motor is now at new house. Trying to find bmc green paint for motor and need to make my air box and dash.

I have been driving the car 120 mile round trip to work a couple of times a week including an awesome mountain range drive. It will be more exciting with more power!

4-4-2011

I got some of the VHT Green, masked the bits up and painted a few coats, and it is looking good. Just need to make my Airbox! Then I can get it in the car. So many other projects on at the moment tho before winter.

6-8-2011

Thanks. I am using the car quite a bit on a 100 mile each way trip going to work once or twice a week so have not progressed with getting the race motor in yet. It is fun driving it over the mountain range.

11-22-2011

Sorry, have not been here for a while. The arches are Group 6s (I think) from Huddersfield Mini Spares.

I have the 1410 in the car now, complete with straight cut gears and a limited slip diff. It is fast!

However... have a problem, under low power the car is popping out of top gear. My gearbox guy thinks that the 1st motion shaft needs replacing, which is frustrating as he replaced this when it was rebuilt!  

Anyone have any ideas of anything that may be an issue that doesnt involve removing the engine again?

6-2-2012

Finally some progress today.

Engine is back in, stays in gear now! We replaced the first motion shaft and top gear hub.  

Finally gave it a quick blat - and holy moly it is quick, the diff grabs and darts about a bit, you have to hang on tight.

So, new stuff now on the car:

1410 MED, full race spec.
3 into 1 headers
45 side draught with a huge manifold and filter, comes past the standard bottom dash rail.  
Electronic ignition
Oil cooler
Straight cut close ratio 3 synchro box
Straight cut drops
Ap clutch and light flywheel
Limited slip diff
Newer 7.5 Cooper s discs with race pads
Superfin drums on rear
Rose jointed adjustable bottom arms and tie rods
Aluminum radiator
Big air box for weber

To do:
Make new dash (have all the bits)
Put bonnet strap on
Fit new mirror
Fit new number plate light (mk 1)
Fit new rosettes
Get wheel alignment

So... will keep it moving now!

And......

Need to fit front and rear sway bars, get some slicks ready, and look into a roll cage.

7-18-2012

Only a little unfortunately. Dash is wired but need to make the alloy face portion now.  

Might try and get the wheel alignment tomorrow, and can finish the dash in the weekend.

9-30-2012

Well - quite a bit of process lately.

Dashboard is made and operational, but a bit of tidying up to do (can also see the shiny indicator stalk ends puchased from the forum and shiny window winders from Minispares):

Put a proper chrome number plate light on:

Took the stupid short shift (for a remote housing off), is much more positive now when engaging gears, and it also sounded like a buzzer with it on. The original gearstick needed painting and the thread recut for the gearknob:

Here is a photo of the high torque starter, required a little body trimming to make it fit, but it all works now, and starts the car really well:

Fitted the Bonnet strap:

Applied some sticker - Rosettes (the transfer ones fell off a while ago):

The car had its wheel alignment done (was way out), now has 2.5 degrees negative, 5 degrees caster and straight ahead toe on the front, slight toe on the back and about 1 degree negative, it is very sure footed in the corners now.

So.. all go, and good fun. Had a big drive today, and enjoying it.