Vauxhall XE Engine Conversion

[SMIFTER]

Its a Migmate 150 turbo<br>
<br>
Its pretty decent really for the money with the exception of the wire tensioner which has a plastic pivot and flexes all over the place giving inconsistent feed. It annoys me when corners are cut like this - how much more would it have cost to make it out of steel?<br>
<br>
Anyway the broken pivot has been repaired with Araldite, hopefully it'll be OK but it doesnt cure the design fault.

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[SMIFTER]

The welder is working better than ever - the araldite fix was hopeless and didnt last 10 minutes, I've resorted to using a 12" G Clamp on the tensioner wheel and it works a treat!<br>
<br>
Recent Purchases have been a Caterham weber manifold for £50 on ebay and the correct magnetic pick up sensor for my VDO electronic speedo. The plan now with the induction side of things is to use my Dellortos to run the engine whilst I set up the EDIS ignition, then dump the carbs for the R1 throttle bodies mounted on some weber flanges. Gives me the choice then of EFI or carbs to see which I prefer as well as giving me more time to set up the EFI properly which will probably be the biggest ball ache of all.<br>
<br>
I've spent about 6 hours on the car in the last 3 weeks such is the chaos of my life these days! I've been working on the rear axle and panhard rod. All the old guff has been ground off the axle tubes and the straight tie bar links are tacked on ready for full welding.<br>
<br>
I've been ultra cautious in my checking and double checking to make sure I get the pinion angle set up right and the brackets exactly equidistant before tacking them in place. I would have finished welding if I hadn't run out of gas (still using little disposible cannisters). <br>
<br>
The panhard rod bracket is tacked on ready for final welding also. The panhard rod tower still needs a little more modification to fit properly before it can be welded to the boot floor where it joins the widthways axle tunnel. Once the Panhard rod is in there is no way anything other than a side exit exhaust is going to fit though because of the suspension link bars!<br>
<br>
I'm stripping down the axle ready to fit the 4.1:1 cwp diff with phantom grip unit fitted. I've already had to resort to the chisel on some of the brake backplate bolts as half of them are now rounded off. It looks like I've been suffering from the usual oil leaks from the halfshaft on the nearside which is to be expected from track use. What was the uprated oil seal reference again? I may as well replace them whilst the shafts are out. The brake shoes are also nearly down to the rivets so they'll need replacing - not bad going though as I've never replaced them in the 10 years I've owned the car!!<br>
<br>
I've got Friday morning at home bext week to work on it again. Its beginning to feel like progess but I'm sure I'll have another set back before long. I'm just so grateful that the previous owner has soaked the car in waxoyl as there really hasnt been much rot found on the car apart from the front inner wings. All the imprtant bits are sound.<br>
<br>
G

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[MaddMart]

The seals you want are part no. 141756.<br>
<br>
<!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/cgi-bin/rim ... te/gearbox" target="top">Seals</a><!--EZCODE LINK END-->

<p>Martin<br>
<br>
<!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.dolomitesprint.com/" target="top">www.dolomitesprint.com</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--></p><i></i>

[SprintV8]

Look's like your well on your way,<br>
<br>
You be finished well before me.<br>
<br>
My engine's back and need to carefully put it back together and do a trial fit Ho Hum.

<p>1980 Dolomite SprintV8 (Soon to be shoehorned with a 360bhp of TVR AJP V8 Pumping Alloy !)<br>
2002 Citroen Xsara 2.0 HDi Estate.... Part's delivery Vehicle.<br>
They laugh at me because I am different. I laugh at them because they are all the same!)</p><i></i>

[SMIFTER]

Thanks Mart. <br>
<br>
I don't know about that Phil, at least your car is presentable already! Mine looks like it'll fit in well in Mad Max 2 at the moment.<br>
<br>
I have so much to do and I just don't have anywhere near enough time or budget to do what I want to. I reckon I need another grand to finish it - hopefully I can find enough ebay stock to fund it all. I'm under strict financial control these days since the little one came along which I can't really complain about - I do have a habit of being a spendthrift!<br>
<br>
I reckon I've spent about 2 Grand so far on the conversion and it feels I don't have much to show for it yet.<br>
<br>
I just hope in the summer when I've got a light well balanced car with an engine that revs to 7750 without blowing up it will all be worth the pain!

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[Carsreunited]

An engine that doesn't blow up? Believe me, it will be worth it!<br>
<br>
I know you don't have the budget for it but Mark has had the thicker half-shafts made up. Haven't had a leak since.<br>
<br>
Do you fancy doing a panhard rod for mine? I'd pay you in nappies and jars of SMA.<br>
<br>
Scott

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[SMIFTER]

I've plenty of nappies already thanks!!<br>
<br>
Are you allowed to fit a panhard rod in the regs?<br>
<br>
I'd happily help you with a panhard rod if I had the time - Its quite straightforward - mostly involves tin bashing! <br>
<br>
Perhaps when I've got my car done I could help. Maybe theres an opportunity for a club kit? <br>
<br>
G

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[Paul]

<!--EZCODE AUTOLINK START--><a href="http://www.hauserracing.com/">www.hause ... <!--EZCODE AUTOLINK END--> will import driveshafts from USA made to your spec, it may be worth getting a quote.<br>
<br>
Paul

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[Carsreunited]

They are permitted within the regs. I'll let you get sorted first. It's not a major priority at the moment. I don't even have the rear arb on so its not like I'm averse to a bit of wibbly wobbly handling!<br>
<br>
Having the drive shafts made up would be quite complicated I would think unless you could send them one. They have all sorts of weird tapers on along the length of the shaft.<br>
<br>


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[2litre e]

i'm getting my driveshafts made by someone in birmingham, apparently he's great, someone over on the triumph torque forum used and has now recommended him to me. going up in around 2 weeks to show him what i need. they will be £115 each though, but at least they will be done properly with no welding and easily take the power.

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[SMIFTER]

good progress again this morning!<br>
<br>
With Halfshafts removed the upper axle brackets and the panhard rod brackets are firmly welded onto the axle. The welder has been working a treat - some of the welds even look neat(for me). Using CO2/Argon mix rather than just CO2 seems to make a noticeable difference to weld quality.<br>
<br>
I got it done so quickly I had time to remove the standard Diff and bolt in the 4.1:1 phantom grip equipped diff. Next job is to have a bit of a spending session on some brake shoes and new halfshaft oil seals before reassembling the axle completely, rebuild the axle and then weld up the panhard rod chassis mounting turret.<br>
<br>
Then is just painting it all up, bolting the axle back on and completing the welding on the link boxes and the 5 link part of the project will be done!! Only another 345,324 tasks to complete after that's done!<br>
<br>
G<br>


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[Sprint36]

Pics and measurements of the panhard rod please!<br>
<br>
David

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[SMIFTER]

Trade Secret I'm Afraid<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START ;) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/wink.gif ALT=";)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
<br>
Its just an escort panhard rod kit supplied from Peter Lloyd Rallying so nothing too unique. All it needs is the Turret to be modified to fit a Dolomite Chassis. The trailing arm end plates are an ideal place to mount the axle mounting as it keeps the rod almost horizontal.<br>
<br>
Next Time I'm out there, I'll take some pics.<br>
<br>
G

<p><!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.smifter1971.pwp.blueyonder.c ... >Smifter's Dolomite Sprint Website</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--><br>
<br>
Featherweight 1974 Dolomite Sprint - Soon to be XE'd, NOS'd, Megasquirted and 5 linked Lash up to scare myself (and my wallet) senseless<br>
<br>
2004 Smart Roadster (company car!!) - 698cc of turbo'd adrenaline fuelled rollerskate - destined to classic status thanks to Daimler Chrysler bean counters.<br>
<br>
1997 Audi A4 2.6 to chill out after the above and fill with baby products.....<br>
<br>
2005 Trek 1400 (ok its not a car but still fast) - <br>
a bit like Lance Armstrong but slower and fatter</p><i></i>

[Paul]

Lots of cars have panhard rods as standard, Ladas, hyundai atos and nissan micras, im sure one of them would be close enough to the right length.<br>
<br>
Paul

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[SMIFTER]

Probably, I'm using the escort kit because its adjustable with rose jointed ends, with the rose jointed upper tie bars as well it will allow me to tweak the axle alignment and pinion angle.<br>
<br>
it wasnt very expensive, <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://peterlloydrallying.co.uk/product ... 724439ebdc" target="top">panhard rod</a><!--EZCODE LINK END-->

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