Twin Spark Cup & Enduro 156 Project

[Alfatango]

I have done track days before but I always wanted to do some track racing. My mates have been talking about the lemons racing 24h for ages but trying to get everyone together seemed too hard after many attempts. After a bunch of conversations with Sebastian from Maureci Motors in between services, I was convinced that there isnt much point of doing this to a registered car. The last couple of AROCA online club meetings went through the Twin Spark Cup which I had no idea existed.

https://www.twinsparkcup.com.au/

After speaking with John during the AROCA Meeting, this seemed like something that I could do and this way I can take my passion for cars to another level. The regulations are pretty straight forward and you need a Motorsport Australia/CAMS Racing license or the other non cams one which I forgot. However I like to do other CAMS events so I will hopefully be getting one in a couple of months when my current one expires.

I bought a 156 twin spark the other week for $1000 that was unregistered with 330,000km. But it drives very well and could potentially be on a new engine. It made a couple hundred km trip home with no issues. It hadnt been washed for a while as it had mould, spider webs and was probably used for transporting a dog as I couldnt get the dog smell out. So what better excuse for stripping the interior?

I was shocked at how well the paint came up after a cut, polish, wax and finish. Spent about 10 hours cleaning it and  about another 10 hours fixing odd bits and stripping it.

So far have ordered:
Slotted discs $300
Ferodo DS2500 pads $800
Braided brake lines $250
Federal semi slicks in 225 45 17 $800
New crystal vision bulbs as factory ones sucked $50
Timing belt kit
Clic R pliers as can't figure out how put them back together
All off ebay

Other than that it already has an eibach suspension kit so won't have to do the suspension for a while.

Next step will be bucket seat, harness and roll cage and that's it. Roll cage is around $3k. Bucket seat is around $500 to $1000 and harness is around $500.

So pretty happy with potentially having a race car for around 8k all up and its cool as you can do it in stages. I found that you can hire a car trailer for around $150 for the day so it saves driving to the track on semi slicks.

Other events I am looking forward to is AROCA Winton 12 hour relay, Philip Island 6 hour relay and potentially some 24 hour racing through Motor Events as they do it since lemons 24h is finished.

[Alfatango]

After cut, polish, wax and finish.

[Alfatango]

Never ran on semi slicks so excited

[Alfatango]

Finally got the dog smell out

[bazzbazz]

Finally got the dog smell out

Don't worry, it'll come back first time it rains . . . . 

 

[Alfatango]

The interior isnt going back in so no more dog smell .

[Alfatango]

Hi this is a question for the Twin Spark Cup racers; how much of the dashboard needs to be in the car? It says it needs the standard fascia so does it need the entire dashboard running down to the handbrake?

Also are 16x7 on federal rsr semi slicks the control wheel and tyre?

[Alfatango]

Nulon 5w 40 Racing oil
K&N oil filter
Penrite 75w 90 gear oil
It already has a K&N air filter

[Colin Edwards]

"The fascia must remain standard except for modifications essential for the fitment of a full roll Cage. Original
instruments must remain in the standard location. Standard instrument stalks must be fitted and working.". 
My reading of the above seems it will allow removal of the "centre console" including trim down to and including the handbrake.  Call John Burkhart for clarification.  Most TSC cars I've seen retain the centre console / gear stick surround / handbrake trim.  Probably replaced after carpets removed?

"7 Wheels and Steering
7.1 Wheel Diameter
All cars must use 16” diameter wheels.
7.2 Wheel Width
Maximum rim width 7”
7.3 Wheel Type
Wheel type is free. Competitors MUST ENSURE that wheels are suitable for racing purposes and should be
inspected regularly for cracks, rim damage etc.
7.4 Modifications Prohibited
Steering must not be altered from standard specification as regards method and position/mounting points of
components. The bending of steering arms is not permitted under any circumstances. The steering ratio must remain
as standard for the model. On models fitted with power steering as standard it must always be in full working order.
However, the standard Power Steering oil cooler may be removed and/or replaced by an aftermarket oil cooler.
8 Tyres
8.1 Specification – Nominated Control Tyre
Federal 595 RSR are the nominated control tyre to be used by all competitors until 31 December 2020
R Spec tyres are not permitted.".

TS engines do not handle sustained high engine revs.  A wise investment would be a custom soft rev limiter set to around 6100rpm. 

Welcome aboard!!

[Alfatango]

Thanks Colin. Didnt know about the revs. How does a rev limter work for the Twin Spark? Is an ecu or obd thing?

[bazzbazz]

Federal semi slicks in 225 45 17 $800

All cars must use 16” diameter wheels.

Oops, hope you kept the receipts. 

[Alfatango]

Yeah I thought about it Bazz, before I bought the slicks but I like the 17s that came on the car as they kind of look like the 156 touring car wheels.  I was hoping to do a couple of sprints and the Winton 12h in the next couple of months but lock down seems to cancelling events. So I may as well get used to the federal as the other options were nankangs, Hankook and bridgestones which were a bit more.

The more popular 16s on the 156 are 16x6.5 so I will hunt around for some 16x7s that I like.

[warsch]

While Colin says that TS don't handle high revs, I will politely disagree.

I have a TS track day car which I rev out to the limiter, and so far it's been to about 55 race meets over the last 4 odd years and it's at about 220kkm now.

I also have the balance belt removed to squeeze out every hp. My friend has developer a cheap intake trumpet mod that gives about 5 hp at the wheels, hit me up if it's something of interest.

Also, I believe 225 to be too wide for standard 7" wheels, especially for motorsports use. Not safety wise but performance wise.

[Alfatango]

While Colin says that TS don't handle high revs, I will politely disagree.

I have a TS track day car which I rev out to the limiter, and so far it's been to about 55 race meets over the last 4 odd years and it's at about 220kkm now.

I also have the balance belt removed to squeeze out every hp. My friend has developer a cheap intake trumpet mod that gives about 5 hp at the wheels, hit me up if it's something of interest.

Also, I believe 225 to be too wide for standard 7" wheels, especially for motorsports use. Not safety wise but performance wise.

Thanks Warsch. So you use the factory limiter?

What tyre size would you recommend for 16x7s? A quick ebay search shows the federal rsr semi slicks available in 205 45 16 and 205 50 16.

For anyone else considering a twin spark cup car, these factory GT wheels are apparently 16x7 and it seems like the same wheel on some of the Twin Spark Cup pics. Ideally I would love to find some bbs style wheels.

[Alfatango]

The ebay seller refunded my ds2500 purchase.

https://shop.alfisti.net/Tuning-Styling/Alfa-156/Brakes:::1_15_45.html

Best place I have found so far that has all the brake options. Note you can order EBC brakes from EBC.

Ferodo have the ds2500 and ds3000 which is a race pad. The ds3000 rear pads only fit from 2002 onwards. Mine is 2000 so would ds3000 on the front and ds2500 on the rear work? Would the 2002 rear brake change just be a change of calipers or is there more to it?

Regarding the brake fluid, I just purchased the Penrite Racing Brake Fluid 600 Dot 4. Are there any other good options? I am a Nulon convert after using their additives but Penrite is great as well.