Formula Ford 1600 startup
Discussion
MrCippo said:
...to me it looks like a big project...
Why a big project? There's nothing that Alan has listed that is particularly out of the ordinary for a s/h racing car and - if you think this is a 'big project' and do get out there and get racing - you're likely to have 'big projects' coming out of your ears.im afraid what alan has listed wont be even close to getting this car racing. According to the owner, he cant remeber when it was last raced and in the last 10 years it has done 3 licence drives. We dont know if it actually went round a track succesfully. It might be the owners description, or me being over cautious....
It could work or it might be expensive to sort, who knows, i would only take risk if the price would allow that.
It could work or it might be expensive to sort, who knows, i would only take risk if the price would allow that.
it is a f-ford man, if the chassis is straight then you have sod all to worry about, it looks complete so all it might need is a refresh and setup, nothing major even a kent engine rebuild isnt rocket science. these things are old fashioned nut and bolt engineering, basic tool kit and you can rebuild 1 in your shed. then get it setup by the likes of graham or ross mcewan and you are away. otherwise raid the piggy bank and do arrive and drive
i hadnt dont any work on f-ford until last couple of years when i have helped Ivor "the engine" mairs out and they are so simple
i hadnt dont any work on f-ford until last couple of years when i have helped Ivor "the engine" mairs out and they are so simple
As with most things, you get what you pay for.
If you're after a fully proven, currently successful; maintained to the highest standards; nice new proper (high quality) rod-ends all round; just re-freshed engine; gearbox and transaxle car; you will get to pay the dollar.
If you can't afford one, you may not have the budget to get someone else to bring an older car up to standard, so you'll have to be prepared and able (both in terms of time and ability) to get it done yourself - and be prepared for the fact that it might break more often than you'd like and not be terribly competitive.
Furthermore - within limits - actually buying the car is the cheap bit and it is an immutable law of nature that motorsport (at least motorsport that includes some success and starting and finishing most of the races) is expensive and no amount of wishing or hoping will change that.
Sorry...
If you're after a fully proven, currently successful; maintained to the highest standards; nice new proper (high quality) rod-ends all round; just re-freshed engine; gearbox and transaxle car; you will get to pay the dollar.
If you can't afford one, you may not have the budget to get someone else to bring an older car up to standard, so you'll have to be prepared and able (both in terms of time and ability) to get it done yourself - and be prepared for the fact that it might break more often than you'd like and not be terribly competitive.
Furthermore - within limits - actually buying the car is the cheap bit and it is an immutable law of nature that motorsport (at least motorsport that includes some success and starting and finishing most of the races) is expensive and no amount of wishing or hoping will change that.
Sorry...
marshal_alan said:
it is a f-ford man, if the chassis is straight then you have sod all to worry about, it looks complete so all it might need is a refresh and setup, nothing major even a kent engine rebuild isnt rocket science. these things are old fashioned nut and bolt engineering, basic tool kit and you can rebuild 1 in your shed. then get it setup by the likes of graham or ross mcewan and you are away. otherwise raid the piggy bank and do arrive and drive
i hadnt dont any work on f-ford until last couple of years when i have helped Ivor "the engine" mairs out and they are so simple
This. I whipped the engine and box out of mine today in two hours, by myself. i hadnt dont any work on f-ford until last couple of years when i have helped Ivor "the engine" mairs out and they are so simple
The thing about racing cars, especially single seaters, is there needs to be a lot of maintenance between races. I would never race any second hand car I'd just bought without doing a thorough spanner check, especially not after this happened to me - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4acwTj4shA&lis...
The jobs you list are easy. Ratios - well, assuming none of the one's in the car are right for KH (and I bet at least 1st is) are £50-60 each and a doddle to change. Unless you buy a car from a Scots racer, I imagine most cars you look at won't have KH ratios. The car's got a new battery, new tyres, appears to have been started regularly. The bodywork seems OK for a 20 year old racing car. Change the wheel bearings, have a good look at the rose joints and chassis, and you're on the track.
Buy one, then get out and race it! Simple.
2 hours to take the lump and box out, how many tea breaks did you have, used to be able to change a transit engine and box in under a hour mate
forgot about wheel bearings surely if there is no play then grease them up, cant mind the last car I did a bearing on. one of my road cars was at over 100k on original bearings
forgot about wheel bearings surely if there is no play then grease them up, cant mind the last car I did a bearing on. one of my road cars was at over 100k on original bearings
marshal_alan said:
2 hours to take the lump and box out, how many tea breaks did you have, used to be able to change a transit engine and box in under a hour mate
forgot about wheel bearings surely if there is no play then grease them up, cant mind the last car I did a bearing on. one of my road cars was at over 100k on original bearings
Lots of tea forgot about wheel bearings surely if there is no play then grease them up, cant mind the last car I did a bearing on. one of my road cars was at over 100k on original bearings
thats good stuff guys, i am taking all this onboard, the budget is shaping up to get a car so i am on the hunt and hopefully commit to something after WHT.
Lets talk about helmets, I'm thinking about the this one :
http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/motorsport/helmets/r...
Any opinions ?
Lets talk about helmets, I'm thinking about the this one :
http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/motorsport/helmets/r...
Any opinions ?
Can't help on the helmet you posted, but can recommend the helmet I bought recently. A V2 Elite for £199. http://www.v2sport.com/ SNELL 2010 as well.
It fits well and seemed to get good reviews from the various postings I could find online. I also liked the fact I could get a black helmet (they do white as well) as all my helmets have been white in the past and I wanted something different! You can use the saving to buy yourself a proper helmet bag (well that's what I did anyway).
It fits well and seemed to get good reviews from the various postings I could find online. I also liked the fact I could get a black helmet (they do white as well) as all my helmets have been white in the past and I wanted something different! You can use the saving to buy yourself a proper helmet bag (well that's what I did anyway).
Engines are me of the biggest costs! You can spend a lot of money on one that is perceived as quick.
Don't discount an older car over a newer one, that car still be made quick. I lead the 1600 festival at Brands a few years ago now in a chassis that should have been outdated and it was running well until I was fired off! So with the right peddler a good chassis from even a slightly dated year can be made quick. Dampers are pretty crucial as said above and so factor a good set in.
Gearboxes are pretty straight forward and the costs are quite reasonable, once it's set up for knock hill you shouldn't need to change it.
Speak to Lindsay Allen at Van Diemen, Lindsay still has quite an involvement in 1600 and will talk you through which cars from which years to go for!
Don't discount an older car over a newer one, that car still be made quick. I lead the 1600 festival at Brands a few years ago now in a chassis that should have been outdated and it was running well until I was fired off! So with the right peddler a good chassis from even a slightly dated year can be made quick. Dampers are pretty crucial as said above and so factor a good set in.
Gearboxes are pretty straight forward and the costs are quite reasonable, once it's set up for knock hill you shouldn't need to change it.
Speak to Lindsay Allen at Van Diemen, Lindsay still has quite an involvement in 1600 and will talk you through which cars from which years to go for!
van diemens are still the weapon of choice, okay there is 3 ray's all about 08 beinf run along with mikey's vector and ivor's 84 mondial, kenny thirwall drove a VD91 to the title and ross mcewan did well in another 91. they seem easy to work on, basic straightforward engineering
congrats on passing your ards, dont forget if you arent racing marshalling signatures count towards your upgrades
congrats on passing your ards, dont forget if you arent racing marshalling signatures count towards your upgrades
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