M_C

Sorely tempted by beams. Gutted I missed an Altezza shortened at both ends on TM for 1,300... I am sure they will be crashed regularly and more will turn up. But pinto is good for keeping it classic and retaining entry to Classic Trials. Hope your back is ok xyghto! They are not known for being light... I was keen on Small Block Ford V8 for a while after being told a pinto is 190kgs and SBF is 209 kg with alloy heads. 400hp for same weight and cost as 200hp pinto. Hmmmmm. But that would be the start of a pretty long road as decent balance would have v8 in the cabin with me. Also hoping a worked SR20 will turn up for decent price. Some big spec ones on TM at the moment.

Engine transplant #1 is a modest step closer with the belated arrival of another heavyweight V6 essex into my garage. Digit up the port test suggests the heads may have been cleaned up a little? Got to find time for strip, check and rebuild in between dreaming of engine transplant #2... Hmmmmmm 3sge or hot pinto...

I have similar Mk1 2dr escort I am about to sell if you are interested. PM sent. Cheers

So I got out for a sneaky little track session at Hampton last night. Was supposed to be co driving Sparky the keen 4dr escort with mildly angry pinto but her owner got tied up at work (literally…?) and insisted that I clear the cobwebs out of her by shifting at 6,500 and testing re-kited brakes. This is an offer I could not refuse… Forecast looked OK, but day became more threatening as it went on. High cost of leaving work early and risk of bending a mates car on a damp track had me wavering. Shaneo had firm words and so suitably hardened up I headed out running late and under pressure to make it on time. Cresting the Bombay’s I was greeted with heavy showers scattered around and wet track. OOoooooooooh this will be interesting on worn semi’s…. But track quickly dried out and great fun was had Spanking Sparky around the track! Mildly angry pinto of mystery specification definitely has more urge than the old V6 Essex and the semi’s can be lent on way more than my street tyres, but only after they are up to temp… Got down to 1.26.9 so 4sec faster than my car. Finished drenched in sweat and exhausted, Sooo Much Fun! Worked pinto is now high on list of possible engine swaps as race engine. Advantages of classic ford in classic ford. Disadvantages of limited to about 170hp before costs are too much. But my eye was turned the way of the 3sge beams in Mark’s Mk1 Escort. As fast as I was passing the ailing Shaneo’s 1600 cross flow, Mark was wailing past me doing 1.21’s… (I did get him back passing him up the Bombays with my new company tow wagon, but while enjoyable that’s not really the point.) So still considering candidates for new engine. Most fun is with similar speed cars and dicing it up and learning to drive properly so need to find a suitable class. Any suggestions?

Bugger your engine gave up and let all the magic smoke out at Hampton. Very hard to get that smoke back in after that... Good to see the old ford looked after you and still drove you home. Good excuse to get that real cross flow finished and in! Hampton was great event last night! So lucky with dry track all evening. I got Sparky down to 1.26.9 and finished up drenched in sweat and exhausted. Soo much fun.

Yeah, not ideal. Was even hard to pass entry onto mates. Third time lucky it worked the slackers.

I think 300lb is about right for tarmac, besides that's what they came with. No idea on the spring rates for v6 escorts as its not really an ideal race engine for it... Medium term plan is swap to a 2l something for more power and lighter. Need to create some more $$$ for conversion yet.

So I am not going to make the last event of the tarmac series. Insert unhappy face icon here. Assorted contributing factors, mainly have not touched the car so its still sitting patiently with broken motor in the back of the warehouse occasionally getting stroked and gazed at as I go past. Also accidentally bought another car, sorry honey, I did sell the donor bodies first! Then to top it off the key salesman was poached from work so now there is a mercy dash to China on Sat. I did consider saddling up mates car after arriving at the airport at 7am Sun the day of the last tarmac series, but pretty sure the handbag would take a very dim very of such gallivanting. Especially after missing daughter birthday. On a happier train of thought I finally managed to persuade Mel that the adjustable front struts were much better looked after in my garage. It took much wangling and many trade offers and some cash before she could finally be convinced to part with them. Pretty keen to see how they go! 300lb spring, new inserts. Just need keeper springs and C spanners. Oh, and make time to put new engine and struts in... Happy Birthday to me

Much more fun watching you pirouette a screaming rotor on the skid pad… Looked and carressed my car in the spare warehouse at work today. That's about as far as I have got working on it.

Thanks for the offer. As much as I like you as a mate, after a week of only having Chinese women to look at I will be suffering withdrawal symptons and have serious needs that sleeping on your couch will not fill... Knock is likley Bad. I have another engine to drop in but have not been able to look at car yet. Have an offer to run another escort on the day, but will not make it. Anyone need an entry?

Mega Unhappy Face Just had to book speedie trip to China and fly back in 6.50am the day of Hiwi rd. Pretty sure points cost to do Hiwi would be quite high...

Anyone know for sure what the differences are between KA engine and 1600 crossflow is? More modern engine may flow better and already have injection gear and head? Shaneo picked up KA engine to check, but went and bought a tiger to hang onto its tail so the KA won't be looked at for a while.

Not keen to look at my big end yet. How many cars died on Sun? Got some pics of the sump and broken baffle?

From your tyre to guard clearance of less than one finger this may be a good idea, unless you can wind your suspension up a little... Having other cars around really adds some spice. Loks like Hiwi road has plenty of spice already!

Isnt that the point of racing? Lots more to concentrate on, having to take different lines and adapt to improve your driving. I enjoyed having more cars around. Definitely need better mirrors to keep an eye on them. Video of Hiwi rd looks legendary! I should be able to run in mates 4dr caged Mk2 escort with warm pinto. Hmmmm, better not kill that one too...

Seems I need to slap an XE into the escort as I only managed 1.32.86...

Last even of Fiat Tarmac series. Hiwi Rd sprint. //oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/38517-tarmac-series-for-some-good-action/

7 weeks is for rebuild if lazy Essex is saveable. Yes, 7 weeks a bit ptmistic for repower without throwing lots of money at it. Not really feeling like throwing lots of money around after paying provisional tax. Lots of dreaming being done for repower possibilities... 2.5 V6 Mazda looks great Yoeddynz's style! Need to check what racing classes that would fit. Interest raised for motor in your garage Mikuni, do tell... (please)

Funny watching him overtake you every time you went awol only for you to drag him off again... Who was it? Sounds like another dead engine at the end. Maybe also caused by big moment in fast turn? Douh.

Really looking forward to the Circuit Sprints at Hampton from the Fiat Tarmac series. A nice little Father’s Day gift for me! Second proper motorsport event and first with racing other cars and starting off the grid meant a building trouser excitement level... Forecast was stunning and day dawned crisp and clear. Engine was a little off song on the Hill Climb, but seemed to smooth out?? But on the practise run at Hampton it has not got better. Darn. Well if I break it I will just fix it I figured. I think my subliminal desire for screaming twin cam 4pot was busy twisting my procrastination rubber arm and leaning on my lead foot as on the last lap I managed to break it. Had (another) moment on the sweeper on the last lap when engine was hot, oil thin and foot hard down seems to have upset the crank and big end bearing as straightening the car out after it and the engine had a very different note. Oh Dear… Limp mode the remainder of the lap. Would have gone into the pits but was on the wrong side of the track after letting people past. Video to first timed run: http://youtu.be/G23Xlv1MULc So now I have 7 weeks to the next of the Tarmac Series to sort something. Plan is to strip engine and see how bad it is. Then price repair and raid toy budget. Or maybe time to bring forward plans for the repower? Was very impressed with Mark’s black Mk1 running standard late gen beams on a link as it lifted the front wheel powering out of corners… 120rwkw looks like fun, and faster than the batmobile of Archetype. Maybe SR20DE as the other contender. Anyone got nice engine that would suit that they are not using…?

Prophetic words for both of us. 2x engine gone Boom. Bugga.

Ah, just seen it on Proparts link.

What is a 4 panel mirror? Where do you get them? Cheers Excitement building for Sun! Forecast promising, (but still a while away)

Is there such a thing as a racing mirror? I am thinking wide angle interior rear view mirror to keep an eye on traffic when racing. Where would one procure such an item? Cheers

I shall see you on the track good sir to resolve your upstart slander and glove throwing... The difference is actually 0.14sec too by the way.