Mk2marty's Radisich Telstar Foamer Thread

[mk2marty]

Yeah, I know, ewwww.

 

 

Another 'this wasn't supposed to be a project' situation.

A while ago I bought a cheap Telstar, because after having the odd blast in my brother's one they seemed fun. And they aren't worth much, so meh.

The idea was that I could fang about in it, and maybe do the odd hillclimb, 'cos Radisich-tuned spenshuns means it's a racecar (in my head). However the one I bought only has two of it's original Bilstein struts, and the springs were replaced with generic Cobra lowering springs, which were shite. Also, it's 20 year old bushes probably aren't conducive to sporty handling.

And it uses oil, 'cos the valve stem seals are poked and the rocker cover gaskets leak.

It was fun for a while though. And the paint polished up alright.

 

 

After doing a little research, it seems Ford did two runs of Radisich Telstars, to commemorate Paul's two WTCC titles (even though those were in a Mondeo, Telstars being the closest we had locally at the time). He did drive one occasionally in the local Production racing series though. By most accounts there were about 150 made in the 1994 run, and only 100 in the 1996 series, with the second lot having a numbered placard on the firewall (wow, special, right?). They tweaked the suspension settings, which apparently involved Paul thrashing one around Pukekohe for a day or two, and ended up with Bilstein inserts and stiffer springs. They all had 16" ROH Astrons, and some earlier cars had baffles deleted from the rear muffler, 'cos more noise means horsepower. Ford also decided (with these being a limited run) to trial fit them with Powerbeat batteries, most of which failed under warranty and had to be replaced. On the inside, they recieved a Momo steering wheel (with PR's signature in the middle) and leather gearknob/shift gaiter. Series I vehicles were specced as a GLEi, whereas Series II cars were based on the Eurosport, so they had front seats with fatter side bolsters (for all the g-forces through the sweeper at Pukekohe, or the local Foodtown). And in case you aren't sick of pointless facts about Telstars yet, here's another: all Series I cars had a steel spare wheel, whereas Series IIs had a matching 16" Astron. Yeah.

 

Anyway, it was all going well, until one day the lifters started clattering. Really loud clattering. Uh oh, me thinks, it's lost oil pressure. . It sounded like all 12 lifters had collapsed, on the rear bank, just to make life difficult.

So there was no option really but to pull the heads off to take a look. At this point I remembered why I chose to work on diesels, rather than having to deal with cramped modern engine bays all day... 

But after a little recreational swearing, this happened:

 

 

Then this happened

 

And then this happened

 

At least it all looks fairly clean inside, suggesting it's been reasonably well serviced and had coolant in it for most of it's life. Can still see the hone marks in the bores, even after 260000-odd km.

At this point it looks like the little oil supply/restrictor/valve seems to be at fault, will whip them out and see if the rear one is blocked. Couldn't poke anything down them, but it would sort of make sense that they are a one-way valve, so oil doesn't bleed back out of the galleries when the engine is stopped.

 

Also, want to do something to the exhaust at some point, it's too quiet. Goals:

[V8Pete]

I love these.

What was the story with Powerbeat batteries? Was that something to do with that weird R&D company in Hamilton? Are they still around?

[flyingbrick]

I always found it weird that they wouldnt wash the exterior of their building. Was nice when built then just went dirty green

[DoBro Jesus]

Those ebay headers actually seem to be alright that you can get for these, will be getting a set for mine if i ever have spare coin, would love to turbo eventually as low boost setups on these seem to get pretty tasty results, guess thats the one upside to the telstars all having KLDE motors and not ZE's is having lower compression.

 

This sounds choice IMO

 

[Valiant]

I have fond memories of replacing Power Beat batteries, fitting new wheels, tyres, steering wheels, and tightening the the gear lever grub screws.

There were a few Radisich Mazda Cronos's getting about Henderson in the late 90s.

[R3spct]

I want one!

[Transom]

Awesome sounding v6 s

And they sound even better running ITBs

The yanks on probetalk boost the hell out of these

Currently wrecking a cronos same shape if you need any odd bits cheap as

[mk2marty]

Yup, as far as i know they were the Peter Witehira designed never-go-flat batteries, which seemed to always go flat. 

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=117699

 

Turbo sounds dangerous haha. Headers are a good idea though, maybe these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mazda-MX6-Ford-Probe-2-5L-DOHC-V6-Exhaust-Headers-Downpipe-Steel-Manifolds-/331886834817?fits=Make%3AMazda%7CModel%3AMX-6&hash=item4d45ff3481:g:f08AAMXQ71xRXxiF&vxp=mtr

Or maybe just delete a muffler or two...

 

And yeah, the gear knob grub screws work themselves loose occasionally. Apparently these were getting stolen in the '90s for the Momo wheel and knob, although whether that's true or not I don't know.

[DoBro Jesus]

Turbo sounds dangerous haha. Headers are a good idea though, maybe these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mazda-MX6-Ford-Probe-2-5L-DOHC-V6-Exhaust-Headers-Downpipe-Steel-Manifolds-/331886834817?fits=Make%3AMazda%7CModel%3AMX-6&hash=item4d45ff3481:g:f08AAMXQ71xRXxiF&vxp=mtr

Or maybe just delete a muffler or two...

Yeah that's the ones I was looking at, haha yeah impossible to get traction in the rain as it is so would imagine theyd be a pig to drive with a churbro bolted on!

[Valiant]

Apparently these were getting stolen in the '90s for the Momo wheel and knob, although whether that's true or not I don't know.

 

 

%100 true. We had a set of workshop steel wheels and plastic steering wheel to put on them so the transporter driver could pick them up. 

I remember giving one car back to it's owner on Friday afternoon and it being back minus wheels Momo bits and body kit on Monday morning. Poor bugger.

It's nice to see one again, yours looks tidy. Could you get a Green Radisich Telstar? or was that just Eurosport ones?

 

A Eurosport with reground cams and a set of headers used to come into the workshop. It went very well!

[Positive Ape]

sweet thread. I'm a sucker for limited edition, slightly warmed-over versions of everyday cars and this certainly fits the bill. Keep up the good work!

[mk2marty]

Cheers!

 

And not too sure on colours, some say that the majority of the first series came out in that purple/blue pearl, although red and white were available, and apparently Paul was given a burgundy-coloured one to use. I think by the second series they loosened the colour palette a little, mine just seems to be the standard dark blue that all Telstars were available in. Have seen a few green ones around as well.

Cams and headers are sounding quite tempting tbh, maybe once the wallet has recovered from the myriad of gaskets/seals/head recon/etc needed...

[glen]

You need to stage a battle between this and a chris amon corona at some stage

[lowlancer]

I reckon the hatchback versions of these (not Radisich, just TX5?) were a great looking car

Can remember seeing these for sale brand new on the lot in the mid 90s, thought they were pretty rad. Great concept.

[twisted]

Rego Looks familiar on that. Does it have a Wellington History? Used to work with a guy that bought one as an ex-demo IIRC. Might be his.

[mk2marty]

It's history (as far as I can tell) is all Far North, which would explain all the stone chips on the front, anyway.. 

First registered in Kaitaia according to the rego papers that came in the mail, and the service book has stamps from various places around Whangarei. It's got Pacific Motor Group plate surrounds too.

Although there's nothing to say it didn't spend some time in Wellington, there's about 10 years and 100000km between when the service history ends and how it is currently..

 

And it's funny you mention Amon Coronas. There was a time when I could have had a race with this one, but i'm pretty sure it no longer exists...

[mk2marty]

Ran into Paul and Frank Radisich at the Speedshow today

Paul signed the glovebox lid, which was cool. 

 

 

Had a bit of a yarn with them about Telstars, they reckon there were around 2000 cars made in three separate runs (which would explain the number of cars still turning up on TradeMe). Paul was backwards and forwards between here and his touring car commitments in the UK, choosing colours, trim, suspension options etc.

They also have three Telstars, one of which is still only on dealership kms... 

 

And in other news, i'm still waiting for parts to arrive. So while the engine bay is comparatively empty, I can do some future-proofing and general maintenance stuff. 

Like the clutch master cylinder (which is leaking), CV boots (which have split), rear springs (to cure the Mexi-stance), brake fluid, polish, vacuum etc.

[TheAudioDude]

Need to get your one back on the road

 

[Honda Ass Dragger]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/specialist-cars/competition-cars/auction-1125880823.htm

 

Not sure if has been posted

[mk2marty]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/specialist-cars/competition-cars/auction-1125880823.htm

 

Not sure if has been posted

 

Swoon. That side pipe would sound awesome i reckon

There's this too, which is actually pretty tidy: http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/ford/auction-1124731653.htm

 

Also, there has been some progress of late. 

Did the CV boots, rear springs, assorted fluids and clutch master cylinder. Hopefully that's all the future-proofing the car requires

 

Had to evict a Basil from the top of the engine block. ('Would you like a biscuit with your rat?' etc)

 

And removed the oil restrictors. This was the rear one, with a large chunk of rubber wedged in it. 

We assume (or hope) that it's a bit of anti-drain back valve from an oil filter, because that's basically the only bit of rubber between the oil pump and restrictors. The worrying question, though, is whether there is any more of it floating around in the oilways...

Cranked it over on the starter motor a few times and flushed several sump-fulls of oil through the galleries, there were no more bits of rubber, but does that prove it's all gone?

The two options are:

-Flush it some more, put it all back together and hope

-Pull the bottom end down, perhaps for no reason...