jonomisfit
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,759
Club RR Member Number: 49
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Nov 25, 2023 19:12:06 GMT
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I didnt get much chance to work on the car today, I got about 2ft of hair trimmed from my head this morning (genuinelly), and this afternoon was a leaving doo. I did a few jobs not worth taking pics of, and the wrapped the other down pipe. P1080061 by jono_misfit, on Flickr P1080062 by jono_misfit, on Flickr But i didnt fit it as I need to sort this out. P1080063 by jono_misfit, on Flickr some of the seals are getting a bit tired so I need to try and find a new main seal for it, along with the extension housing seals. P1080065 by jono_misfit, on Flickr P1080068 by jono_misfit, on Flickr A quick look shows cologne 2.9 v6 engines and the earlier 2.8's seem to use the same cooler, and it turns out Burton power sell the main seal for them, but not the other seals. I may as well give it a go.
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jonomisfit
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,759
Club RR Member Number: 49
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Nov 25, 2023 11:00:05 GMT
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Last Edit: Nov 25, 2023 11:04:09 GMT by jonomisfit
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jonomisfit
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,759
Club RR Member Number: 49
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Nov 23, 2023 21:08:54 GMT
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Having made a start, put together an idea of what I want to do, i need to start working out a detailed plan of how to get there. I fiddled in excel and made a start planning out a few things. There's a lot more too it than shown. But its still not complete. General sequence of events are: Decide what i'm doing with the contents of my garage to make space - see here. forum.retro-rides.org/thread/225944/quandary-sell - Still unresolved Buy a tow vehicle Buy a trailer Buy a rally car Enter some events So my next mission, is work out what vehicle to go for as a tow/service vehicle. I think something with a circa 2000kg tow capability (weight of car & trailer, and spares) At the moment i'm contemplating Large 4x4's (discovery's, etc) 4x4 pickups (L200, nissan navara etc.) Large saloon (A6 allroad, BMW 330d touring, etc.) and as an oddball a Skoda Yeti 2.0d 4x4 which gets very good reviews for pulling 2000kg caravans Anyone have any thoughts / experiences / recomendations on a tow vehicle?
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jonomisfit
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,759
Club RR Member Number: 49
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Nov 21, 2023 21:16:36 GMT
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Probably so, but thats what i've got my heart set on so i'm going for it. I will keep this thread going, and honest, so it will document how good and badly it goes for me! My aim is to try both. I wont be able to tell what I enjoy the most if I don't try them both. Not sure If i'll get over to Keilder, but the weekend after (3rd December) is Grizedale stages ( Grizedale Stages), which is about 20 mins from my house. Right Go Rally pack, check Booked BARS, check Next step, join a local motor club. A quick google. Oh, there's quite a few Wait a minute google.... half of these arent motor clubs.To the MSA website. www.motorsportuk.org/clubs-organisers/find-clubs/Which has a handy search feature for radius around a postcode.... which my experience shows doesnt work very well..... Closest ones to me Furness District (who's website circles round to the grizedale stages website and has no info on the club itself) Kirkby Lonsdale West Cumbria Wigton Eden Valey Turns out, quite a few. A bit of checks of websites, maps, and a few emails show Furness is now a committe for the Grizedale stages only, and the west cumbrian ones are a travel to get to. Kirkby Lonsdale MC it is www.klmc.co.uk/Handily they meet monthly at the Gilpin Bridge Inn, which is about 20 minutes away from me. They also run road rallies, support run stage events (Malcom Wilson Rally), and event at Barbon hillclimb. They are also part of the Association of North east and cumbrian car clubs, and the Association of North West car clubs. I paid my dues, £15, and went to the recent session (15th Nov) to meet some people. Very friendly and helpful, and a few live pretty near to me. I also got put in contact with a couple of local codrivers, which will undoubtedly be useful. I was also chatting to some people I know through work, and do car build related things in their spare time, about deciding to go rallying and I've a couple of volunteers for service crew. Will see how that goes when i'm actually gearing up for events. Hmmm. I probably need to make a plan and start working out some budgets. Total cost to date £444.
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Last Edit: Nov 21, 2023 21:20:09 GMT by jonomisfit
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jonomisfit
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,759
Club RR Member Number: 49
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Nov 20, 2023 21:18:22 GMT
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Turns out there arent that many places in the UK that do the BARS test. I live in south Cumbria, none of them are amazingly conveinient for me. However, Knockhill is handily just the other side of the hills from my dads place in Scotland. Plus the road from auchetarder to knockhill over glendevon is a good fun drive and I used to have to do it twice a week for 3 years when younger. Knochill it is. www.knockhill.com/experiences/competition-licenceOuch, that is not cheap. £325. Exam, in car coaching and test (total time 4.5hrs) Hmm, just check some of the others Phil price - £195 exam, in car test (10 mins), total time 2hrs), or extended BARS - £390 exam, tuition / practice in the car, and driving test I checked the others as well, all pretty much as much a much for the expense, plus I'd likely need to stay over. Knockhill it is. Booked. £325 I called and arranged the date. I could have done it today (20/11/23) but am away with work this week, so next available date it is. 26th Jan 2024. This is starting to feel a bit real now. Whats next? Motor club. Total cost to date £429.
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Last Edit: Nov 20, 2023 21:18:37 GMT by jonomisfit
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jonomisfit
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,759
Club RR Member Number: 49
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Nov 20, 2023 20:55:56 GMT
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After a mere 30 years of procrastinating (which even for me is a record) I have decided I want to go rallying. Its difficult to pinpoint exactly why I like rallying but I have from about as far back as I can remember. I think it stems from a number of areas: my dad used to compete in rallys up until I was about 6 so there was bits and pieces around the house (including a very very vague memory of watching 6R4's on TV, and my dads mate turning up with an ex-works Mk2 golf rally car and getting to sit in it and flip switches, there were lots of switches) I hit my important teen years as the Escort Cosworth/Impreza were at the peak (hence my untold delight at being able to get an escort and the thread i've got on that) As I started to get interested in rallying it was prime 90's WRC teritory with the impreza WRC, focus wrc, lancer evo 6, etc. I like the concept of each pass down a stage is relatively blind and its a in real world context (trees or stone walls). [/li] My intent is this thread is going to be an ongoing capture of my journey from knowing nothing, to getting through the process of getting licensed, buying a car, and getting into competition, along with how that progresses over time (or doesnt if I decide I don't like it). I'm going to cover lots of boring things, liek budgets and expense, time spent doign things etc. It might not be that interesting, but i'll have a record about what I've been up to look back on. So, whats my ambition? What i'd like to do is jump straight in buy a decent turbo AWD car, sign up for a full championship, and get out there and drive like a legend. Jump in feet first, just how I like it. However I think this is a recipie for me taking a lot of money and flushing it down the toilet. Mainly as I'll crash, ruin an expensive car, have spanked money on entry fee's, get dissolusioned, and give up. So what am I going to do? Mainly. Be sensible. I'm going to start small and cheap (probably 1000/1400/1600 class), look to try a few different events in 2024 (ideally 1 single venue, 1 tarmac, 1 gravel) and if I then enjoy it look to do a much larger range of things in 2025 includig a full championship somewhere. There's a long way to go between today and there though. What first? Handily the MSA got there before me and thought other N00Bs like me may need some info. www.motorsportuk.org/get-started/types-of-motor-sport/rallying/"Go rallying starter pack" it is. £104 (although most of the cost is reimbursed back against your first years license apparently). Which promptly arrived. Come with a nice key ring, a guide book, and acecss to some MSA videos giving guidance on what to do next. It also has a copy of the "blue book" which I promptly read. Next step i've got to sit a British Association of Rally School (BARS) test in order to be able to apply for my license.
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Last Edit: May 26, 2024 20:44:25 GMT by jonomisfit
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jonomisfit
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,759
Club RR Member Number: 49
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Nov 19, 2023 20:24:44 GMT
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I've had a load of family things on recently, but got out the workshop today. Lots of little bitza jobs to do. Fix the handbrake pull bar. Cut a piece of 60mm steel rod and extended the eyelet. P1080037 by jono_misfit, on Flickr After this I welded on the eyelet.... twice..... as I didnt think about it and welded it 90 degrees out the first time... P1080038 by jono_misfit, on Flickr not perfect, but will do as this will onyl get used at MoT time.. P1080039 by jono_misfit, on Flickr painted P1080040 by jono_misfit, on Flickr re-fitted P1080048 by jono_misfit, on Flickr P1080049 by jono_misfit, on Flickr P1080050 by jono_misfit, on Flickr Handbrake works well, adjuster is now in the right point of its range, and you can get the handbrake cable on and off the calipers easily. Did some finishing work on the exhaust. A skid plate under the x-over as it'll likely have something clatter off it at some point P1080041 by jono_misfit, on Flickr P1080042 by jono_misfit, on Flickr P1080043 by jono_misfit, on Flickr then finished off the mid hangers trimmed some plates and made some swagey holes as I've been missing my fix... P1080044 by jono_misfit, on Flickr P1080045 by jono_misfit, on Flickr P1080046 by jono_misfit, on Flickr P1080047 by jono_misfit, on Flickr whilst I had the exhaust etc out I need to sort the front exhaust mount, which I attached to the gearbox cross member welded it up and gave it some primer P1080051 by jono_misfit, on Flickr and some black on it P1080052 by jono_misfit, on Flickr mount re-assembled P1080053 by jono_misfit, on Flickr fitted this back under the gearbox and final fitted it. gave the exhaust a clean up and once over with some high temperature paint, to try and hold the rust back as long as possible. P1080054 by jono_misfit, on Flickr# P1080055 by jono_misfit, on Flickr flipped over and painted the other side P1080056 by jono_misfit, on Flickr back box painted P1080057 by jono_misfit, on Flickr many many more little jobs to do.
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jonomisfit
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,759
Club RR Member Number: 49
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Great input folks, very much appreciated.
I've just joined the closest motor club, kirk Lonsdale and will head along to their monthly meet night to speak to some folks.
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Last Edit: Nov 1, 2023 18:37:13 GMT by jonomisfit: Change, what change, nope I never changed money to monthly
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jonomisfit
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,759
Club RR Member Number: 49
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Oct 30, 2023 17:12:03 GMT
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In terms of space in the garage this is the issues i'm faced with for either raising the morris up out the way Raising it up would require quite a frame to ensure its up high enough and safely. or a 2/4 post car ramp Whilst the garage is huge, its shape doesnt lend itself to a ramp in there. I'm following up a lead on a farmers shed nearby, will see how that pans out. My dad was saying that I can store it at his place (about 250 miles away), but that i'll need to clear out some old vehicles first. Notably my space frame Avenger that I started ~20 years ago and havent finished. I feel sending it up to Scotland will be a death knell for it though as it then becomes very innaccessible.
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jonomisfit
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,759
Club RR Member Number: 49
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Oct 30, 2023 11:21:14 GMT
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My guess is a different handbrake cable was being used and changing this length made it work.
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jonomisfit
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,759
Club RR Member Number: 49
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It does. They're wound right as far back as I can get them, to the point I can no longer get the cable into the cable guide on the swing arm, and the cable is still 100mm short.
Its definitely due to that length being cut from the pull bar. I'll have to extend it.
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jonomisfit
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,759
Club RR Member Number: 49
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Oct 29, 2023 22:12:01 GMT
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For the first time in a long time I actually did something on the escort today. The heat throught the roof on a hot day is pretty high, and i'm also concerned that in cold weather vapour condense on the roof skin. So i've insulated it. This is what looks like bubble wrap with foil sheets either side. I was a bit concerned about how fire resistant it might be, as I don't want a minor fire instantly becoming an inferno above my head. I did a couple of fairly unsientific experiments. First was to hold a small direct flame under the centre of the sheet for a couple of minutes to see what happened. Quite interesting. The plastic between the two foil layers melted quickly, but becaue it was trapped between the foil layers and had no air it couldnt actually burn. I upped the anti by then putting the blow torch on it for a bit to see how it deals with that. Same result. I found that if there is an open edge then you can get it to catch, but only very slightly. foil tape over the edge of the sheet stops this happening. Fitted P1080027 by jono_misfit, on Flickr P1080028 by jono_misfit, on Flickr P1080029 by jono_misfit, on Flickr Then made up the starter motor feed link P1080030 by jono_misfit, on Flickr goes to here P1080034 by jono_misfit, on Flickr I was running out stud length to bolt in all the earths, so made an earth block and bolted the earths to that P1080031 by jono_misfit, on Flickr P1080033 by jono_misfit, on Flickr I then stripped out the sump guard and exhaust so I can clean up the exhaust and do the last couple of minor bits to it. I've been having issues with the mechanical handbrake for the escort. No matter what I do I cant get the cable slack enough to fit. It feels like the cable is about 80 - 100mm too short, or the pull bar from the handbrake is about 50mm too short. I took the handbrake back out seeing as I can get to it. I found this: P1080035 by jono_misfit, on Flickr P1080036 by jono_misfit, on Flickr A look on the internet show this is what it should look like escos_handbrake by jono_misfit, on Flickr I have no idea why, but someone has cut circa 50mm length from the pull bar. I'll need to have a look in my boxes and see if I can find any others, i'f not i'll need to modify it back to standard.
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jonomisfit
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,759
Club RR Member Number: 49
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Oct 29, 2023 13:06:31 GMT
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I pulled out of circuit racing to go rallying last year. I started by taking part in local 12 cars with an EP3 Civic. Then went on to do a couple of Targa rallies in a Civic EF I purchased. I even manage a rally stage I can test at for free however I soon realised that full stage rallying was beyond my reach financially, well not beyond my reach but would make me very poor. Generally if you want a proper rally and not just some cones laid out on an airfield you are talking £500-£1000 per entry. Tyres you might use 6 in a day thats £750, plus travel, trailer, somewhere to stay and fuel it gets well out of hand. So I have given up and going circuit racing again. But below is a review of the Festival Targa I did last year which was lots of fun and cost about £300 all in for the day. www.slipandgripautomotive.co.uk/bont-rally-stage/our-first-go-bath-festival-targa-2023/22071/Great write up and sounds like something good to have a go at. I may well start my forray with some 12 car and Targa events and see how that goes. I'm under no illussion as to the expense of competing in full stage rally, and i've done my best to make a cost model for a years competion, doing only a limited amount of events. I'll take on board your comments on tyres though and will give that a tweak in it. I did some musing in the workshop earlier about if I can strip the morris down to its shell and store it on a frame rasied up circa 2m height. A quick CAD model says yes, but a right pain to make and do. I also looked at if I moved the machine area could I get two cars in end to end. Yes. Just. however then I have no workshop space for lathes etc. It is stacking up to one or both is going to have to go.
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jonomisfit
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,759
Club RR Member Number: 49
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Oct 28, 2023 21:52:42 GMT
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Thanks for all the inputs folks. Much further mulling is required.
If I can find somewhere to store one of them, then thats what i'll be doing. I've been looking for a few weeks and not found anywhere affordable yet. I have some mates asking other farming mates if they have any unused dry barns one could go in.
I have a couple of months before i'll be looking to buy anything, so have some time to procrastinate further...... unless the ideal car suddenly comes up.... then my timeline may be cut further. Which, seeing as it coming to theend of a lot of seasons is I guess when most cars will start coming up for sale.....
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jonomisfit
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,759
Club RR Member Number: 49
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Would it perhaps be worth trying rallying before you commit to buy? It seems like (here in Canada at least) that people are regularly looking for co-drivers and navigators who are willing to share expenses without having to actually buy the car. Certainly the chance to try before you buy. I've got a master plan I'm working through on route to buying a car, which includes some things to really test my interest. BARS test and driver assessment Full day one to one driver training at a rally school Start Supporting events through local motor club I could try some co-driving as well, but my hearts in driving. Plus I get travel sick as a passenger at the best of times....
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jonomisfit
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,759
Club RR Member Number: 49
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[quote author=" homersimpson" source="/post/2801111/thread" Would the escort not make a good rally car? [/quote] It would be possible to get a rally passport for the escort, but it would definitely need the cage removed and replaced with a current spec cage. Whilst a pain to do its not the end of the world. The biggest issue is the shear expense of parts now. The cost escort cosworth parts have gone insane, notably as so have the car prices. The rally parts have also gone up a lot in price, so if I damaged it the repair bill is likely to curtail any further rallying.
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jonomisfit
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,759
Club RR Member Number: 49
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Ooh, just a thought. Could a late 90s (Saxo? 106?) hatch scratch your rally itch but live outside? That's probably the style of car I'm looking to get. Unfortunately there isn't much outside space left, and mrs_misfit has made it clear she doesn't want another car filling it up anyway.
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jonomisfit
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,759
Club RR Member Number: 49
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Oct 27, 2023 21:45:22 GMT
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Evening, I've been quiet on my threads recently as been in a major funk with life in general and car projects in particular. I like rallying, I have always wanted to compete, however i have repeatedly procrastinated my way out actually doing anythign about competing. Notably on the car front where I keep doing projects that arent actually heading towards competing, or building things and selling before I actually compete. Having had a fairly honest word with myself over the last few months, I am going to do it. I want to be competing in rallies of some descritpion in 2024. I have set my goal. My issue is, that whilst I am in the fortunate position to be able to afford an entry level rally car, all of my space is taken up by my current projects (Escort and the Morris). Thus my quandary. Do I sell something, and if I do which one. Do I sell this P1050239 by jono_misfit, on Flickr Which i love, still have a vision for in my head, have sunk a huge amount of effort into so far, and needs loads more effort to finish, but havent touched in over 3 years. Or sell this. P1070836 by jono_misfit, on Flickr Which i my dream car, that I have wanted since I was 15, and that if I sell I will never beable to afford again. As I said its not about selling to fund a rally car, its about making space to have one. I'm not overly keen on paying out money each month to rent storage to store either of them. If you were in my place, what would you choose, what would you sell?
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Last Edit: Oct 27, 2023 21:46:21 GMT by jonomisfit
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jonomisfit
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,759
Club RR Member Number: 49
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Sept 2, 2023 19:27:35 GMT
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Only thing i'm finding is I need to manually scroll windows back to the top when I change page on a thread etc. I.e. read page 1 top to bottom, click page 2, page two loads at the bottom of the page. Have to scoll bar it back to the top to continue reading. Firefox on windows 10 desktop. Oh, and the fixed banner at the top obscures the header line for any page I open.
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Last Edit: Sept 2, 2023 19:30:10 GMT by jonomisfit
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jonomisfit
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,759
Club RR Member Number: 49
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Aug 20, 2023 11:19:57 GMT
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