1400 16V rallycar

Crazy, crazy, crazy

how hard can it be to say rpoduction cars made in more than 5000? units pa with under 1400cc and no forced induction.
more than one cam / bank - 0.5sec / mile penalty
more than 0.5 choke / cylinder - 0.5 sec / mile penalty
throttle bodies / multi point injection - 0.5sec / mile penalty

You can argue about the numbers and what they should be, but at least you then have a choice and no the consequences of that decision. The longer it goes on and the more people involved the harder it will be to change.

Do you really think that a " road-going" Impreza / Evo would be slower than wound up MkII? Dont think so.

rsfruitbat

When they banned forced induction, some people put N/A 2.5 flat fours in their Subaru's. Similar power, much more noise but totally legal.

I've also done events on a navigation permit when someone entered (legally) a Mitzi Evo VII and we walked all over him in a standard 1.3 106 Rallye until we lost our brakes (I've also won a 12-car by 6 minutes in a standard 1.8 Vectra and beat some serious MkII's etc). Having a quick car with a rubbish navigator will just get you lost quicker.

Most events can be won by a good crew in a sub-1600 modern car, but I can't see the logic of banning totally standard cars that were built with twin-cams, twin-40's or 6 pots. People aren't going to start using Gp4 RS1600's, Escort Twin-cams or RS1800's on road rallies anyway.

A sorted 2.1 Pinto on bike carbs or a decent red-top in an Escort is still a formidable car in the lanes in the right hands.

If I was sitting on the MSA board, I'd propose a 1600cc limit on 'modern cars' (say post 1980) - pre 80's let anything that was standard run with full induction filtering (standard airbox etc) standard exhaust, standard brakes and standard gearbox/LSD.

Ban moulded slicks, road pattern tyres only - only allow cage/seats and belts, underbody guards, brake material and shocks and springs. Hold on, that's almost Enduro regs

We can only dream !

Do you know what our problem is ?

We dont go round and round in circles (unless we are spinning of course)
We are being logical
We are being sensible
We are actually thinking about the future of the sport and getting more people involved at a time when events are being cancelled left, right and centre .

rsfruitbat

Progress continues. Slow and steady.

MOT passed and 6 months tax slapped on the screen today .

Still plenty of jobs to do but at least I can use it on the road now and see what it goes like .

Rsfruitbat

PS the missus has just took it out for a play . Typical. Hasnt been anyware near it in 18 months except when I have been desperate for a hand.

Oh well keeps her sweet I suppose .

Bet youre glad to have it back on the road?

and are you pleased with your efforts?
hows it go?


just reading back thro those last few posts your rally regs seem even worse than circuit regs !!

Originally Posted by RSFruitbat

Progress continues. Slow and steady.

MOT passed and 6 months tax slapped on the screen today .

Still plenty of jobs to do but at least I can use it on the road now and see what it goes like .

Rsfruitbat

PS the missus has just took it out for a play . Typical. Hasnt been anyware near it in 18 months except when I have been desperate for a hand.

Oh well keeps her sweet I suppose .

Booked in with Dave at Mech yet?
Hows it run ?
Keep us posted (so to speak)
My Misses has never even sat in the Sud so you are several rungs up the ladder I would say
KR James

my mrs looks at mine with disgust vowed never to go in it

Car has already been down to Daves a couple of months ago now.
Managed I think its 132BHP at the flywheel, 98BHP at the wheels. Torque curve is like the BHP though rises quite rapidly to peak at 5750 - 7000 99lb/ft? then dies away. No where near as much as yours but it is only 1400.

Dave thinks torque and power might be better if i fit milder cams.

rsfruitbat

As Mr Meldrew would say " I dont believe it!!!!"
There I was letting the car warm up gently while I put the bin up, put out the recycling, moved the missus car out the way so I can take the car for a run. Everything going smoothly. Climbed in the car and started reversing it out of the garage and it stalled. Only problem is the damn thing wont now restart .

Fuel pressure is fine, 50psi.
plugs are wet so its getting the go juice in.
got a spark but the guy said it was orange and not white?

When you crank it is fairly dead unless you put accelerator down then you can hear it spitting back through carbs .

So getting a new crank sensor to try.
If that dont work it'll be the coil pack next.
In the mean time I am going to try and get hold of the MBE software and make a comms link to the brain so hopefully it can tell me whats wrong.

At worst I suppose it is back on the dolly and a trip to Cheltenham again.

This car is definately female. It does what it wants, when it wants .

Any advice appreciated

rsfruitbat

Sorry to hear that - hope it can be sorted quickly.....

good luck finding the problem mate, electric problems are never easy especially non standard cars

If the fuel pump primes but no firing then I'd go with the crank sensor, try hitting it with a small hammer and see if it creates any life in it (honest, mine failed on a V6 and after a few whacks is came back to life, which proved it was faulty..).

Replaced crank sensor and no joy

Coil pack I suppose is next. More money

I have managed to get the MBE ECU software and taken a look at the map but there is nothing obvious. Throttle pot numbers change when you touch the accelerator, RPM no changes when turning over, battery volts look fine. To be honest I havent got a b*****y clue what I am looking at or for .

I sense a trip back to the rolling road coming on.

Although down the shops for a box of matches is tempting at the moment .

Rsfruitbat

keep going mate, at least you are building up a set of spares

hi Fruitbat,
mm matches... i know what you mean ...

if you have lost spark or gained a weak one it couldnt just be a bad earth could it ?

my sud never used to fire up until i cleaned off the main earth points.!

On return from holiday yesterday ( and once everyone else had gone to bed ) I did a bit of investigating. It would appear that my front pulley may have shifted . This carries the missing tooth for the crank sensor so will throw the timing out. Concern is that I had this dowelled on ? Next problem is going to be getting the b****y nut undone with the engine still in the car. Off comes the front end again .

Rsfruitbat

Oh Dear-- well at least you are hopefully on the right track to getting it sorted - Good Luck!