DuttonOwners

Dutton Kit Cars and their owners

I went to the KitNet track day at Castle Combe today in my Legerra. It was cracking weather and I had a good day. There were positives and some negatives. So starting with then the positives: My new tyres performed well and took 5 seconds off my lap times (down to 1m 35sec), I finally got the Legerra over the ton at 100.3mph on the straight, I met a load of nice chaps and did a lot of chatting plus, to round off the day, I drove it home at the end of the day. Two of the chaps were Duttons - but don't ask me their first names because I don't remember.

I spent all day yesterday preparing the car for today. I didn't manage to finish fitting my new seats so I had to revert back to the old ones. The new ones hold me better so I wouldn't have to brace myself in corners as I do now. With all of the extra grip from the tyres (Toyo Proxes R888R's) then the steering forces were quite a bit higher and it was quite a workout.

They say that racing improves the breed but it only served to find weaknesses today. I lost 2 of the bolts off my alternator, so had to grovel around under the hot and oily car. Luckily the organiser had a good selection of bolts in his support vehicle. (In the background of the picture you can see the Dutton brothers putting the remains of their car back on their trailer after hitting the tyre wall at Quarry)

I also had to remove the windscreen wipers because the wind was blowing them across the screen.

I had part of the brake light switch break off.

I also had a heater hose come off when I parked up, so I had to get the jack out again to remove the front wheel to get at it.

My day finished a little early when the car developed a 'misfire' which doesn't appear to be an electrical problem. So it now sounds like a Subaru. The 'misfire' didn't just happen, or I would have noticed the change, it just developed. I rather fancy that it got a little worse on the drive home.

It could have been worse: early on in the day I managed to get 3rd instead of 5th on the straight and saw the rev-counter returning from over 7000 rpm. That could have been a bit of a mess but it survived. I also found that I had to watch the revs because it didn't feel like it needed to change up until over 6500 (yes, that happened a few times).

So, overall it was a good day. I enjoyed the driving, the mechanic-ing and the racing. And I enjoy having the aches, up to a point. I am a bit concerned that my 'misfire' might be something more serious but that'll give me something to do over the winter.

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Comment by James Doulton on August 20, 2016 at 23:20

Well, that incompetent service engineer seems to have mislaid my micrometer so I have had to use my 3 verniers, which all give slightly different results. Anyway, it looks like V35122 for the exhaust and V90178 for the inlet. Mine is actually a Sierra EFI cylinder head so I don't understand those 7mm diameter stems you have listed. My Haynes manual for the Sierra list all pintos as having ~8mm stems.

I think that the 8.21mm valve is an oversize because 0.2 and 0.4 oversizes are listed in my manuals (Sierra, Capri and RS2000)

Comment by Adrian Southgate on August 20, 2016 at 22:14

Check your mail, I need valve stem diameters...

Got options on parts I didn't forsee...

part number description VSD VHD cost compatible with
V94007 AE EXHAUST VALVE 7.015MM 38.1MM £11.59 Sierra
V34499 AE EXHAUST VALVE 8.02MM 36.2MM £12.40 CORTINA 5
V35122 AE EXHAUST VALVE 8.0MM 36.19MM £10.09 RS2000 CORTINA 5 CAPRI 3
V34501 AE EXHAUST VALVE 8.21MM 36.2MM £31.17 CORTINA 5
V94006 AE INLET VALVE 7.04MM 42.7MM £9.49 Sierra
V90178 AE INLET VALVE 8.05MM 42.1MM £12.07 RS2000 CORTINA 5 CAPRI 3
VALVES BY STEM SIZE AND APPLICATION

Comment by James Doulton on August 20, 2016 at 21:12
I've now dismantled the valves and it does look as if the inlet on No 3 is slightly bent. Rather worryingly, 3 of the rocker adjusters were loose including the one on No 4 inlet which had wound itself right down as low as it would go. I thought it sounded a bit tappetty when I went out on the last session! Oh the joy of having an incompetent doing your servicing!
Comment by Adrian Southgate on August 19, 2016 at 23:31

I am pretty sure our lot do a cheap range of dylithium crystals though...

Comment by Adrian Southgate on August 19, 2016 at 23:31

Hmmm, i'll look into that as my legerra one has too..

Won't be a mainline part so will have to check small suppliers monday.

I just quoted the parts and prices as I was surprised...

Comment by James Doulton on August 19, 2016 at 23:19

Ade, are you sure you haven't got some Tritainium Octagonal Section Springs (or TOSS in short). [There must be a joke there].

My head bolts are the reusable type and I have a new spray bar. That std cam set is cheap but I already have a couple of spares.

I wouldn't mind a dipstick - both of my Pintos have lost their bit with the markings on.

Comment by Adrian Southgate on August 19, 2016 at 23:08

RS2000 camshaft (std) £61 (no fitting kit) Cambelt is less than £8.

Making enquiries about Victor Reinz and Payen gasket sets monday as the ones we normally use are FAI.

Comment by Adrian Southgate on August 19, 2016 at 23:00

I'm surprised at how many parts are still available new for these engines from our supplier..

Comment by Adrian Southgate on August 19, 2016 at 22:55

Double valve springs are not available sadly...

Comment by Adrian Southgate on August 19, 2016 at 22:54

I'll have a rummage to see whats in the NOS box but I can order the following items new from my supplier. Camshaft kit (std cam, 8 rockers 1 spray bar) £66.24 ! Head Bolts (Payen), Valves, guides, cam shaft bush, oil feed pipe (spraybar?) rocker arms, pistons, rings (std and various + sizes)  All these are still in stock at FPS and can be delivered monday.

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