Alfa 33 1400 16V Rallycar

[rsfruitbat]

Pics will follow. Kev might need your assistance with that!

Bought a kit from someone Kev suggested and they have been very helpful, company called Easysteer. Did you use them for the campers Kev?

Adjuster knob is installed and working. Not sure what setting will be used. It will probably depend on the venue. Fast and flowing will probably switch it off. Events with lots of chicanes etc then it will be a big help.

First beneficiary will be the wife who prompted this upgrade. She is driving at Weston Park on Mar 19th. Suppose i better fix the brings for that then

rsfruitbat

[KevJTD]

no probs re the pix mate

we did use a kit from them then copied it using corsa or citroen electric bits from a scrappy.
think the speed controller can be bought separately.
the beauty of the system is the instant change at a mere twist of the controller, so if you're on a stage and see some hairpins coming up a simple twist will make it much easier particularly on dry tarmac with slicks, amazing how hard they can be to turn at slowish speeds

but as you say, most likely to be as near to off as possible.

be handy for road stages though on multi venues

[rsfruitbat]

Done a couple of events recently without much joy on either.
Last weekend i had a fuel pipe come off. really lucky with that one. need to add check jubilee clips to pre event job list.

yesterday we had a drivesft snap under breaking and i'm gonna start a seperate thread for this topic

Next event is planned to be at Down Ampney near Cirencester on May 27th

PS - i love power steering on the rally car

rsfruitbat

[KevJTD]

had it been rubbing on the chassis rail mate?

[Marlow Sud]

Good point Kev. I will be changing both drive shafts on mine!

Brgds
Simon

[KevJTD]

Yes, just where it's broken it looks to have a chamfered edge where it's been rubbing on something....

[rsfruitbat]

Hi Kev

unfortunately no it wasnt rubbing on the chassis rail. any chamfering is down to the flailing when it let go at about 50mph.

Good point though i will check the other shaft just in case.

rsfruitbat

[Spacenut]

Whoa! There must have been some torque going through there. Makes you wonder if you can get carbon fibre driveshafts (or maybe tubular shafts of larger diameter) for the 'Sud. The standard shafts weigh quite a bit!

Having the braking disc at the end of a long shaft connected to the wheel is always a worry, I suppose it is the one area where outboard brakes have an advantage...

[KevJTD]

yes, the shaft is very much the weak link on inboard brakes. Far more torque force through braking than ever in acceleration. especially with improved brakes and sticky tyres

[rsfruitbat]

thats when this shaft snapped, under braking.

Ill take some pictures of the broken ends but it looks just like when a bolt shears off. Theres that twisting effect.

I was wondering whetehr it was worth getting the shafts crack tested?

rsfruitbat

[Spacenut]

I was wondering about that as well. It might show up some latent defect. There again, just about any nick or scratch can act as a stress raiser.

I assume these parts are forgings of some sort?

[rsfruitbat]

My good lady wife is competing at Donnington this weekend if anyone is interested in coming along.

If all goes well with the car then the following weekend i will be competing on an event over the Brecon Beacons starting out of Builth Wells.

Just replaced the front suspension on the 33. New front struts and rear shockers from Gaz. Brilliant service and a good price. If they perform aswell as the last pair did then they will be worth every penny.
Will let you know how we get on.
Many thanks to John at Justsuds for helping with donor parts

rsfruitbat

[Kegsti66]

All the best for the coming events.
Hope all goes well.

[rsfruitbat]

Thanks Kegi

will keep people updated

rsfruitbat

[rsfruitbat]

My good lady got on well at Donnington bringing the 33 home in 58th position.
Even better the car ran without any issues so ready for this weekends rally over the military ranges just outside Sennybridge Wales.
Rally starts from Builth Wells where there are also 3 stages and we are running car 54

rsfruitbat

[KevJTD]

Nice work mate and Mrs Ade, did She like the new steering?

[rsfruitbat]

She loves it mate.
Means she can try competitive driving again.
She had it set on 6 for Donnington.

See ya soon. Rsfruitbat

[rsfruitbat]

Bad weekend i,m afraid. Managed just a mile of the first stage before we had to pull up with gearbox problems.
Came home today and dropped the engine and gearbox out.
Looks like a tooth has come off either the crown wheel of pinion. It's gone round and got caught up in other teeth. This has pushed the n\s output shaft out of the box by 6mms breaking all its mountings. Diff has then wandered round in the box finishing off the crown wheel and pinion. It's also cracked the casing above where the pinion gear comes through.

Rsfruitbat

[KevJTD]

Bugger, that's bad news mate. I've still got some Sud 'boxes if you need a casing or anything. Nothing ready to go but useable for a rebuild if needed.

[rsfruitbat]

Thanks Kev. i'll bare that in mind. Diff is going off to Quaiffe today to see if its ok. If it aint it'll be a call to AHM and gripper to see what they can do.
Spare gearbox will have to go in for now while i write a pleading letter to Santa.

One way or another we'll have to get it going because the car is at rallyday on September 23rd.
As they say "Keep Calm And Carry On"

rsfruitbat

[Kegsti66]

Sorry to hear that bad news Adi.
Hope you can get it sorted one way or another. Good luck.

[rsfruitbat]

Just for everyones info AHM have sold out of Quaife diffs and wont be getting another batch made in the near future.

My diff is at Quaife so just waiting for the phone call.

Gripper diff in a box to go off for adjustment / rebuild which is about half the price of a new one!

rsfruitbat

[Veesix75]

A couple of quaiffe diffs appeared on eBay a few months ago , I think about £900. No idea if they sold.

[rsfruitbat]

Thanks for that veesix

Just contacted who is listing one at the moment and they arent in stock, they would go to quaife for it.
Just phoned quaife and they are missing the end plate so they would have to be made in batches of 10.

Back to square one

Good news is when they get to look at my diff (end of next week ) they have all the parts to rebuild if needed apart from the end plate.
I was hoping to have it back by then and gearbox in over the weekend.

rsfruitbat

[PETROLHEAD]

Sorry for the delay fella's, but Ade asked me to add this to the thread for him

[Kegsti66]

Ouch !!

[rsfruitbat]

Thanks Shrew

[rsfruitbat]

Quaife has said they can rebuild my diff so thats the good news. Not going to be that cheap though but better than loosing it all together.
Had my Gripper diff rebuilt as well and found their service much better, sent it, rebuilt and sent back, all in less than a week.

Hopefullly get the Quaife back Monday so just need to do some begging with my local gearbox man to fit and set it up.

With a following wind get the box back for the weekend, fit and test it ready for Rallyday the following Saturday???

rsfruitbat

[KevJTD]

hope the planets align mate, a lot of reliance on outside forces there and we know how that can end up! fingers crossed for you

[rsfruitbat]

Thanks Kev.

Fingers ain't the only thing I have crossed!!!

I have a backup plan with the gripper diff and at worst i do have a standard box i could put in.
I am just trying to get the optimal result and only do it once.

Thanks for support

Rsfruitbat