B+ blog !

[Steve Kerswell]

Still just poodling around testing the head etc. Today I fixed my overdrive, found the wires were just snapping and turning to dust, so thats that wiped off the slop chit. Plus on the hottest day of the year I fitted my new side screens and stretched my hood while it was nice and supple, pretty pleased with it, I haven't got the wires or even the holders welded to the roll bar so thinking of a spar, like they tension sails with, simply slotted across and tensioned to hold the shape. I also bought a cheap breathable water proof cover off the e bay for a tenner, didn't expect much, and thats exactly what I got, but, it works, so I have to use it. Plus I had to fix the Sierra ( that will be on my headstone)

[Steve Kerswell]

Think I have just fried my coil :-( no sparky at plugy, any of them. 12 volt both sides of coil ?? It was an old one that I always promised to replace. Hope the leccy ignition is OK. Another day tomorrow, no work so all day to tinker. Stupid car.

[Steve Kerswell]

Sat here drinking my tea, thinking, you may have another route to take BV. Weld up diff etc. Would you end up with strange ratio going to the rear diff though ?? Help, my brain is hurting :-)

[Steve Kerswell]

My son has, so it's mine, a complete RX8 in his yard, bent but runs, Sierra project maybe :-)))

[Steve Kerswell]

No diff, it's been removed, allowing 1-1 drive to rear diff,

[Big Vern]

"There is an adaptor plate available to fit the 6 speed Mazda box to the X Flow/Pinto/Zetec engines.  Not sure what clutch you use.  Seems to be a popular transplant these days with the Ford crowd , as the ratios are better than the Type 9 boxes"

mazda 6 speed is not a good box to use - see any of the rx-8 forums. Better to use the 5 speed mazda box, its stronger and has by far the best ratios of any stock rwd box i've come across.

First motion shaft will accept 1.8 zetec friction disc but you'll need a custom flywheel and a bellhousing adapter. Bellhousing patterns are different as is the spigot bearing set up.

DuratecHe + mk3 MX5 5 speed box would be the way to go as its all off the shelf parts.

[Steve Kerswell]

That's correct. But, and it's quite a big but, this guy has access to full machining and a very clever tig welder :-) I doubt if there are many who could manage the complexity of getting it right. I really didn't think it was achievable, and I'm a positive thinker, I hope to have a good look around this on Sunday when it's quieter in his workshop. 

[Big Vern]

Nothing new,

We used to do this when running FWD engines on the test bed years ago. Welding up the diff then driving the dyno with one shaft. A real pain to set up though because of the diff ratio.

I remember seeing a 4wd mini moke type vehicle with the mini engine mounted longitudinally and each shaft connected to a diff, one for the front wheels and one for the rear. The diff in the mini engine was locked giving 50/50 torque split.

 

[Steve Kerswell]

What a night, wall to wall heat and 8 very quick cars. After the meet across the moors (all at 40 mph Ade) we carried on to the A38 and had a blast back to Wrangaton to see this mystery gearbox car. B+ held its head up and went really well, hung on to the zetec westies, but could not get near the beemer kit :-( The mystery gearbox? well it was a secret but now its on his site and facebook,so, he has taken a complete Duratec engine and box turned it 90 degree and taken a shaft of one of the gears to a sierra diff. Lots of machining of cases etc. dumping the FWD diff and modifying this and that. Very engineering orientated. Engine is moved off centre and diff is also moved across, so he has unequal drive shafts, Loses most of the gearbox tunnel, but encroaches into the passenger space. The main thing is it works, he drove it up and down the estate to show how it goes. I am going back to have a proper look with my camera over the weekend. This will be a competition car at first, gear change is cable, clutch is now hydraulic. He plans to start again with the newer Ford engine, smaller lighter faster. He is also trying it on a passat engine with one of those auto gearbox things. His other Zetec car went to Stoneleigh and he averaged over 45mpg. Good economy and plenty of power.

[Steve Kerswell]

While I'm killing time, anybody got any thoughts on hi torque starters? are they worth the extra bucks, I never seem to have trouble with a standard one :-)

[Steve Kerswell]

Just been informed tonight I am going to see the future, Zetec powered kit using a very strange gearbox set up driving the rear wheels. I had my doubts if this would ever work, tonight I will see.