Ex works Vauxhall Astra BTCC track car

Ex works Vauxhall Astra BTCC track car

Author
Discussion

GroundEffect

13,835 posts

156 months

Saturday 25th November 2017
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VX BlackRat said:
Cheers mate, Helix can reverse engineer me a flywheel, just waiting on a price.

Meanwhile SGS have just opened up the Xtrac, initial look at the internals seem to be in good nick.

Any more pictures or schematics of the transmission? Do you know the maintenance schedule on the gears and bearings?

VX BlackRat

Original Poster:

79 posts

103 months

Sunday 26th November 2017
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Hooked up with the Xtrac lads at the last BTCC meet at Silverstone, they were really helpful. I've got the Xtrac 406 manual with all the exploded views & TSB's - but not sure they will be happy if I post them here.

Table below shows component life in Km's, apparently the components were too good and they didn't sell anywhere near the volume needed from a business POV supporting TOCA. Good news for me though.




miniwill58

121 posts

80 months

Thursday 1st February 2018
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Any updates on this? biggrin

The German

4 posts

74 months

Thursday 1st February 2018
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Hi Blackrat,
i am owner of Astra chassis #6.
Always rebuilding the Sodemo Engine.
Nice to hear about your project.
Maybe i need Support from you😳.

VX BlackRat

Original Poster:

79 posts

103 months

Thursday 1st February 2018
quotequote all
Awesome! - you must have deep pockets keeping the Sodemo running!!!
How much do you use it? Where are you getting replacement parts?

VX BlackRat

Original Poster:

79 posts

103 months

Thursday 1st February 2018
quotequote all
Chuffing cold in the garage ATM so not too much physical activity but I’ve been specifying and getting custom engine parts made. There’s a quite a few tuning company’s in the states that are suppling parts. Luckly I’ve got access to the original engineering drawings for the OEM stuff so it’s been quite easy to customize these for my 2.4 NA race engine. Main spec….

Molnar forged con rods
Wiseco lightweight forged pistons – 12:1CR so should be OK for super unleaded
Bottom end will be balanced
Supertech o/s valves and uprated valve springs
Cylinder head port and polish - I’m going to give this ago myself.
Haven’t decided on the final camshaft profile yet, there are quite a few to choose from e.g. comp cams but could also get a custom grind. The inlet cam also needs to interface with the cam position sensor & drive the power steering pump so it’s not too straight forward.
Custom flywheel has been fabricated by TTV Racing and I’m really impressed by their work, hopefully I’ve measured the timing lobes to TDC correctly!….








Gearbox is having a new 6th gear made to suit the lower rev range. Should be ready later this month.
Clutch is at AP getting a refurb
ECU is going to OBR to get new internal battery and ‘safe’ base map.

All being well I’m targeting June for initial shakedown

The German

4 posts

74 months

Thursday 1st February 2018
quotequote all
I am working with Risse-Motorsport in Germany.
Great technicals.
Zylinder-Head is totale new.
All i need is new crankshaft to finish rebuilding.
Gearbox also new.
Car was only used by trackdays.

The German

4 posts

74 months

Thursday 1st February 2018
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Megaflow

9,388 posts

225 months

Sunday 11th February 2018
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VX BlackRat said:
Chuffing cold in the garage ATM so not too much physical activity but I’ve been specifying and getting custom engine parts made. There’s a quite a few tuning company’s in the states that are suppling parts. Luckly I’ve got access to the original engineering drawings for the OEM stuff so it’s been quite easy to customize these for my 2.4 NA race engine. Main spec….

Molnar forged con rods
Wiseco lightweight forged pistons – 12:1CR so should be OK for super unleaded
Bottom end will be balanced
Supertech o/s valves and uprated valve springs
Cylinder head port and polish - I’m going to give this ago myself.
Haven’t decided on the final camshaft profile yet, there are quite a few to choose from e.g. comp cams but could also get a custom grind. The inlet cam also needs to interface with the cam position sensor & drive the power steering pump so it’s not too straight forward.
Custom flywheel has been fabricated by TTV Racing and I’m really impressed by their work, hopefully I’ve measured the timing lobes to TDC correctly!….








Gearbox is having a new 6th gear made to suit the lower rev range. Should be ready later this month.
Clutch is at AP getting a refurb
ECU is going to OBR to get new internal battery and ‘safe’ base map.

All being well I’m targeting June for initial shakedown
I'd like to think with some careful mapping and fresh fuel, you'd be alright with 95RON at 12:1 these days.

Regarding the head, I wouldn't go to mad with the DIY porting. Modern heads will only be a few mm's thick before you break into the water jacket. I'd be looking at just removing casting imperfections, smoothing radius's off, matching to the manifolds, etc

JB!

5,254 posts

180 months

Tuesday 13th February 2018
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This is very cool.

Smart call on pulling the race engine and building a fast road that's easier to look after.

Spoon Burner

8,849 posts

187 months

Sunday 18th February 2018
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Easily my favorite thread on PH now!

VX BlackRat

Original Poster:

79 posts

103 months

Monday 19th February 2018
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AP have just condemned the clutch, apparently beyond economic repair. It’s a sintered twin plate 140mm unit rather than a carbon / carbon (£5k ouch!) that some of the engines were running.
Full replacement from AP is just shy of £1k. 6-8 weeks lead time, these things may be quick on track but getting parts is anything but....

confucuis

1,303 posts

124 months

Sunday 25th February 2018
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Love reading threads about race cars like this, proper enthusiast stuff!

Best of luck OP and keep the updates coming!!

VX BlackRat

Original Poster:

79 posts

103 months

Saturday 26th May 2018
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.......should have measured the engine installation properly!



Still waiting for pistons - any day now....come on Wiesco!!

andy97

4,703 posts

222 months

Tuesday 26th June 2018
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SonicShadow

2,452 posts

154 months

Tuesday 26th June 2018
quotequote all
andy97 said:
Is it a legit BTCC car? Seems to have regular 5 lug wheels rather than centre locks.

Whole thing just looks a bit off.

andy97

4,703 posts

222 months

Tuesday 26th June 2018
quotequote all
SonicShadow said:
Is it a legit BTCC car? Seems to have regular 5 lug wheels rather than centre locks.

Whole thing just looks a bit off.
Fair point

AJB88

12,386 posts

171 months

Tuesday 26th June 2018
quotequote all
They have only put BTCC in the title to attract attention.

snowen250

1,090 posts

183 months

Wednesday 27th June 2018
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andy97 said:
I believe that to be this car here:

http://www.touringcarregister.com/register/200/

and here it is before in happier days:

http://www.touringcarregister.com/register/254/

Simon

agent006

12,035 posts

264 months

Wednesday 27th June 2018
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SonicShadow said:
Is it a legit BTCC car? Seems to have regular 5 lug wheels rather than centre locks.

Whole thing just looks a bit off.
Some of the current btcc cars don't run centrelocks, with no pitstops there's not much advantage especially if budget is limited.