A Racing Cab ?

[Duk]

Yeah, the bloody bump steer issue is a pearler. Having said that, this cars is not as low as the previous one and needs its own geometry. So after all the high tech discussions we had and as much as I hate welding those uprights,( a guy in Finland broke one recently) I decided to go low tech and just heat the sheit out of the steering arm and bend it to suit. Crappy job but it works. Has to be on the aligner to do it though.

Kewl!

After that thread, I actually bought some Spyder uprights from the U.S., with the idea that I would go the upside down lower BJ (what with talk that the actual stub axle is lower on the 105 uprights, so giving a bit more lower control arm clearance with the rim, but better geometry for the suspension), but also because they use the separate steering arm. My idea was to make arms that had bump steer correction but were also a lot shorter than standard, to speed up the steering (I planned on adding stops inside the steering rack to make sure I didn't end up with stupid amounts of steering angle).
Trouble was, the Spyder uprights I bought have different caliper mounting points compared to the 75 (apparently some 105's have the same mounting points as the 75's). Given the coin I spent doing my Volvo 4 piston caliper (yes, they are heavy) and slotted 164 rotor with decent pads set up (just over $1k, believe it or not), I couldn't justify going through with it.
It would be awesome to have faster steering in the Alfa, though  .
Knowing what I know now, I'd just use Nissan or Mazda Sumitomo 4 piston calipers and the Spyder uprights, but there would be to much coin down the drain to start again (I hate the idea of separating those bedded in pads from their respective rotors).

[MD]

Gully,

Sorry mate, I left off the cooling reply bit.

My radiator uses standard brass tanks set up with a Honda copper core and running horizontal tubes. I originally fitted a fan to it but later removed it altogether as it is not required. I use distilled water and 50% mix of ethyl glycol as my coolant. The system is very efficient and all that is required to cool it is forward motion.

For optimum combustion, I prefer to run engine temps around 98* and the coolant and pressure keeps this pretty stable. If there is a problem, my ECU shuts it down but there hasn't been any at all so far.

More water volume absorbs more latent heat but carries more weight. Less volume, less weight but may need fan scrubbing for efficient heat exchange. Fans can pull high current which puts a load on the engine via the alternator and so other factors kick in for choice. For me no fan means less complexity, less parts to go wrong, less cost, more efficiency. It's not for everyone. ie . Like no handbrake.

[BradGTV]

thanks for sharing Mike,
has given me some good ideas for my track car .

if anyone wants a oil catch can the same, or similar design to suit your car, send me a PM,
it can be made to how u want, stainless, aluminium, size, shape, baffle, sump return, tig welded ect..
quality is of a very high standard and i dont charge stupid prices 

so MD whats the next build? 
cheers, brad

[Alpine Chapter Inc.]

Hey Hey MD,

l just found you the perfect tow car for your trip down south, (if you ever venture down this way) she's a beauty.
check it out, very stylish, the perfect tow car.

A word of warning about that Gully character MD , he's a top bloke in the pits and all, but out on the track he will blow your door handles clean off. He drives a very clean silver road going Alfetta GTV with a ts conversion, so watch your mirrors closely for a stealth like silver GTV, he is the smiling Assassin out on the track.     Cheers Gully


Cheers Paul

[MD]

BradGTV,

thanks for sharing Mike,
has given me some good ideas for my track car

Guys on this Forum who know their stuff aren't going to be bothered reading this sort of thread as most of it is already well known and understood. The articles are meant exactly for guys like you who are tinkering and experimenting with the notion of getting in on the action of Alfa motor sport. My firm belief is that when my grey nomad generation hands over the helm of Alfa club activities, there needs to be a new generation to take over with as much enthusiasm as their forefathers. If you like, this is my contribution to all those guys who always thought it would be too hard to build a race car or you simply didn't know where to start. Well you no longer have an excuse.

Normally racers keep their developments close to their chests as it is counter productive to let the opposition in on what you got up your sleeve. In the case of racing for sheep stations and for a livelihood, that is a valid approach. For social and club level racing where more racing is won and lost at the bar after the event, knowing what everybody else is doing simply makes for closer competition that improves the breed and so secrecy for me is not what I am about.

[MD]

Paul,

Thanks for the heads up regarding Gully. Sounds just the guy that every Alfa event needs just to check if everybody is awake !! It will take me an eternity to get to know you all well enough so please feel free to offer guidance where you think I need it in this regard.

As for that Dodge gem Paul, once again I think you got me mixed up with the Shitbox topic set. I really think you need to get a grip and this time use both hands mate. Your slipping through the sanity crack.

[MD]

Just to refocus on what this topic is about, here's some more pics of the car itself. Will post ones off the track as they evolve and hopefully some video as well.

[bonkfrog]

MD
Don't reject the old Dodge straight off. Picture yourself behind the wheel: straw panama hat, cigar between the teeth and one arm over the back of the seat, wallowing along at a steady 80kph . . .
BTW the car's looking mean.

Cheers

Bonkfrog

[MD]

so MD whats the next build?

Brad, at my age, probably a solar powered wheel chair..

[MD]

Picture yourself behind the wheel

Bonkfrog,

I'm doin' it but I think I need to turn the binoculars around the other way cause the picture isn't getting any closer. 

[MD]

Here's a photo of the Cab having track strategy talks with big brother..

[Storm_X]

BradGTV,

thanks for sharing Mike,
has given me some good ideas for my track car

Guys on this Forum who know their stuff aren't going to be bothered reading this sort of thread as most of it is already well known and understood. The articles are meant exactly for guys like you who are tinkering and experimenting with the notion of getting in on the action of Alfa motor sport. My firm belief is that when my grey nomad generation hands over the helm of Alfa club activities, there needs to be a new generation to take over with as much enthusiasm as their forefathers. If you like, this is my contribution to all those guys who always thought it would be too hard to build a race car or you simply didn't know where to start. Well you no longer have an excuse.

Normally racers keep their developments close to their chests as it is counter productive to let the opposition in on what you got up your sleeve. In the case of racing for sheep stations and for a livelihood, that is a valid approach. For social and club level racing where more racing is won and lost at the bar after the event, knowing what everybody else is doing simply makes for closer competition that improves the breed and so secrecy for me is not what I am about.

I learnt many new things through your build threads MD. As its good for use you guys who are new to the Alfa scene and dont have many        Alfa Connections eg (Friends that are Alfa mechanics and have work shops etc).

[OzMidnight]

Mine IS actually yellow - feel free to come work on it once yours is done!  Nice work, as always.

[MD]

Hahhhaa. Friends are telling me I am going senile but unfortunately for you, I am not there yet. 

About time your got your finger out Ben. From what I remember there isn't all that much to do to it is there?

[OzMidnight]

It was worth a try...

I'm nearly well enough again to consider opening the bonnet on the thing again...plus when work starts again I can make up any brackets or whatever I need, along the way. Timing gear still needs to be done - I must re-contact Julian Lord about the bag of pieces I've "misplaced" now that I feel well enough to approach strangers again!  

My interior may be an fair improvement on when I got it, except the driver's seat thanks to someone leaving it out in the weather when they were meant to be working on it for me - but it'll never be as neat and tidy as the racing cars I see on here.  Still, if I can do Lakeside in 88 seconds on 1 1/2 cylinders, I can only improve in times at least!

Senility test...when you've finished with yours, want to come and do mine?

Cheers,
Lee.

~edited~  forgot to add/ask my original question - how much was the driveshaft?