Vauxhall Rally Mini C16XE.

[Adam Gardner]

Hi thought it was time i should post some progress of my new rally car i have started building. My previous rally car had a 1380 a series which was great but fancied a change and trying to do something a little different with the suspension. I looked into various engines and decided that the early corsa gsi c16xe was the ideal choice for what i wanted to use it for. Im hoping to get cracking with it over the summer and maybe have the car built by christmas time!? It will have a clubman front as i want as much room for cooling and a decent manifold also. The rear beam is from a mk2 golf which has been shorted to match the front track.Phonepics063Phonepics063

[Adam Gardner]

Having trouble getting the photos across from photobucket, any help would be appreciated

[bhphunter]

In photobucket just click in the img code box under your pic and it will flash up in a yellow box that its copied. Then just paste it in here.

[Adam Gardner]

Thanks for that ill have a go now.

[Adam Gardner]

Hopefully heres a few pics
http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll207/yellowrallymini/Phonepics022.jpg
http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll207/yellowrallymini/Phonepics021.jpg
http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll207/yellowrallymini/Phonepics058.jpg
http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll207/yellowrallymini/Phonepics064.jpg
http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll207/yellowrallymini/Phonepics063.jpg
http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll207/yellowrallymini/Phonepics060.jpg

[Carl S]

Just go to your profile on photobucket, look under each image and there will be three sets of code, go to the one titled IMG, and copy out the code from the box bewside it in yelow (click and drag your cursor all the way along the box and past it to select everything, including the characters that arn't visible on the screen), then just paste that code in here.

Edit - oh someone beat me to it, nvm.

[Marcus Nordblom]

Nice craftmanship! Is that long box section a fuel tank?

Please post some more pics of the rear beam conversion

//marcus

[Adam Gardner]

The long box at the front of the boot floor is just to help the exhaust to be able to up and over the axle, that and the rear bulkhead requires a bit of re-thinking/ refitting yet. As soon as i can ill post some photos of the back beam etc. Still lots of fabricating to do yet!

[rob bailey]

hello pal ur build looks amazing really good workmanship!

work of art :)

where abouts in leicestershire u from then pal ?

rob

[XEValver]

wow thats very impressive 8)

someones got some skills :twisted: :D :D :!:

[garyshoose]

Ooooooooo. .. Tis gonna be a very nice one 8)

[boots]

Very impressive, this is another build to keep a watchfull eye on!

Keep up the good work 8)

Steve

[Baldspeed Racing]

wow thats one sexy boot, looking quality so far keep up the excellent work mate.

[Oz]

ARe you looking to do MSA rallies ? You'll need the car inspected to get an RAC log book. I'd advise doing some research before you get too far down the road as when I looked into the possibilities of converting my vtec to a rally car I discovered that the rules & regs are in the process of being changed and all new cars have to comply to the new regs and the existing cars need to be re-tested.

The regs that stopped me were the extended front breached the silhouette and the engine was larger than 25% (used to be 50%) of the existing engine. 1275+25%=1593.75 - the 1600 vtec is 1595cc and the 1600 vauxhall is 1598cc IIRC.

Provided the car complies to the other new regs you could use a 1400 8v or 16v Vauxhall lump instead.

Best contact the technical dept of the MSA for more details

[Owen]

and the engine was larger than 25% (used to be 50%) of the existing engine. 1275+25%=1593.75 - the 1600 vtec is 1595cc and the 1600 vauxhall is 1598cc IIRC.


I suppose you could blag that the existing engine was a 1380 or similar which would allow for bigger capacity to be utilised. 1380 + 25% = 1725...plenty enough cc's. Even 1293 would cover it...


The build is looking great, If mine turns out half as good as yours i'll be happy :D

[XEValver]

i think 1380cc would be seen as an increase on the original factory engine size of 1275 (which is what they'd use)

[Owen]

and the engine was larger than 25% (used to be 50%) of the existing engine.


He never said original. If it is original, you might be able to say it's a factory fitted gold seal engine, aren't these next bore size up?

(sorry for the hijack)

[Swiftmini]

Can i see pics of the underside please (axle mountings and shizzle). This is very interesting 8)

Kev

[Oz]

and the engine was larger than 25% (used to be 50%) of the existing engine.


He never said original. If it is original, you might be able to say it's a factory fitted gold seal engine, aren't these next bore size up?

(sorry for the hijack)

:oops: My bad, it is 25% of the "factory fitted" engine so 1275 is your max

[big f]

oz wrote:and the existing cars need to be re-tested
If a 6r4 has a 2.5 or 3.0 engine are they still ok? what was the original engine size in there metros?

[jasonb89]

i think 6r4's are fine as metro made them so the standard 6r4 enigne (3litre :? ???) is fine as it would be classed as factory......i think :oops:

EDIT: sorry to highjack your thread :oops: awsome craftsmanship on the cage, keep it up

[Adam Gardner]

Thanks for the comments on the car so far i will try and get a bit of an update on progess soon. As far as i am aware the K37 regs regarding the MSA dont come into play until 2009, the technical guy i spoke to at the Msa said that if the car is presented before the rule cahnges he didnt see a reason why it could not compete. The engine size thing is such a grey area in motorsport, a 0.60 thou rebore on a block is permitted without affecting class, so being 5-6cc out is a joke. That capacity could be lost in a head skim! My thoughts are to continue the car how i want it and if cant rally it, i would use it for an alternative motorsport???

[big f]

Good stuff and keep up the good work looks great :lol:

[Oz]

That capacity could be lost in a head skim!

You cant loose capacity in a head skim (or block decking), its worked out by multiplying bore diameter with the stoke length of the crank :) All a head skim or block deck would do is increase compression ratio.

[pob]

I dont think you'll have a problem entering rallies, it just means that you'll be in at the end of the rally in the "unlimited modified class".
In Irish tarmac this means you'd be up against old Group B rally cars and MKII Escorts running the latest Duratec engines with sequential boxes etc.

If you're only out to enjoy yourself; have your own personal battle with the clock and dont mind finishing last in class by several minutes then it wont be a problem.

[Andy_S]

I dont think you'll have a problem entering rallies, it just means that you'll be in at the end of the rally in the "unlimited modified class".
In Irish tarmac this means you'd be up agiants old Group B rally cars and MKII Escorts running the latest Duratec engines with sequential boxes etc.

If you're only out to enjoy yourself; have your own personal battle with the clock and dont mind finishing last in class by several minutes then it wont be a problem.

That's just like the Sprint / Hillclimbing where we end up in 'Libra' class with Radicals & other crackers cars. Allan McD still manages to beat some of them in his wee beastie too :D.

When I took the Mini to be scrunteneered for his Comp Car Log Book, I was told that it could probably be logged for use in rallies if I wanted, but there didn't seem much point as I am crap and would probably destroy it at the first corner.

[Ozium16v]

WOW :shock:
That is some sexy cage!! Is it all hand built or is there the beginnings of a purchased item somewhere in there??
And how did you go about the boot floor?? Just cut it all out and put a piece back in?? It looks so good without the rear bulkhead, I had trouble trying to vision it for mine, but now I know and I like :D
If I can get mine half as pretty ill be a happy man :D

[Adam Gardner]

Originally the cage was a miglia weld in kit from roll center, although it only comes as lengths of tube that all need to be profiled. We have altered the cage quite alot from its original plans. The boot floor and rear tubs have been all cut out and remade, the rear arches are 2" higher than the standard arch lip. I have done this so it can have good travel on the back end for big landings. My old rally car split the rear arch to body seem due to not enough clearance. I do intend on refitting a rear bulk head but have not got to it yet, to make it into a hatchback style open cabin requires expensive fuel cells etc.

[Adam Gardner]

The recent progress has been really slow but i am now going to try and push on with the task in hand. Got a bit disheartened with the car lately seems so far away from any form of completion. Not going to moan though judt going to keep on plugging.!!!!

[Adam Gardner]

Not been on here for a long time or made any progress on the car really. Now considering selling it so here goes....

1999 shell, well modified with full weld in rollcenter cage,with new clubman front end panels doors boot and bonnet.

Allspeed front subframe (small block) driveshafts for f20 box, large outer cvs about £1200 pounds worth.
Brand new front hubs with new bearings, new hi-los on front rebuilt top arms.

Rear custom built gaz coilovers, 100lbs rear springs. Rear suspension is a shortened mk2 golf rear beam axle. With 5 1/2 inches of travel.

Engine; 1.6 16v C16xe with 57,000 miles and F20 gearbox.

The shell requires very little finishing before paint and is in vgc.

Open to any sensible offers, would make ideal rally/race/sprint car