Classic Alfa Forums

Car 71 next Sunday.

First car starts at 09:20

Will it snow

Rsfruitbat

As I said I'd be going mate it's bound to!

Think I will leave the knobblies on the rally car for a few more days yet!!!

Rsfruitbat

weather looks like it will clear up by Saturday mate, Sunday should be fine...

seeded entry list here, looking forward to coming over

https://www.rallies.info/res.php?e=262

Be nice to see you again Kev.
I'm not making any comments about the weather after Rockingham.
Just hoping i can do the business on Sunday and improve on my seeding, car 71

Rsfruitbat

Hoping that my Jonah jinx isn't striking again mate....weather looks like it might linger a bit longer, fingers crossed it won't be cancelled. I'll be there this time...

Hi Kev

Looks like we wont be meeting this weekend. Rally cancelled due to weather.
We will have to try again later in the year?

rsfruitbat

That's a shame - but sensible given the weather!

Good in one way that they cancelled early enough to stop people travelling but galling that its' not on

One day mate, one day

It has been suggested that I post up our planned calendar for the year. So without tempting fate:
March18th WestonPark nr Telford, wife driving.
April 7th. Down ampney nr Cirencester, me driving
April 28th MIRA nr Nuneaton, me driving
May 7th Down ampney, nr Cirencester, me driving
June 3rd mini Epynt nr Brecon, me driving

Rsfruitbat

Hi All

in the hope that posting on here doesn't bring on another blizzard I am competing on the Harry Flatters Rally on July 29th which is near Sennybridge in mid Wales. Spectator info is on the website if anyones interested and we are running car 94 out of 95. Asked to be seeded last as we haven't used pace notes before. Guess what we think is behind us???? Integrale we think!.

If we survive next weekend then plan is for Wife to drive at Donnington on Aug 19th

rsfruitbat

Good luck mate, show the Lancia a clean pair of heels if not, just rob me some bits

Hi All

We survived. Weather was pretty wet in the morning, dried up and then went wet again.
Idea was to go and have a bit of fun, try and learn the place and set the world on fire with my electrifying pace. Well, 2 out of 3 aint bad. You have got to be a lot braver than me to go over that place quick. All credit to those who have been over there. I just don't have that level of commitment.

We will be back!

Car generally ran fine. Bit of an issue with the power steering which didn't work most of the day which I have now traced to a bad earth so all sorted.

Wife will be out at Donnington this weekend running car 74

rsfruitbat

Are you exceeding the boiling point of your fluid? With hot brakes?

Brgds
Simon

Hi Simon.
If you mean brake fluid then I use Castrol SRF. Not cheap but lasts longer than anything else.
If you mean power steering then what I have fitted is from a Renault clio. It's electric and has no fluid.
I
Next planned event is Rallyday at Castle Combs in a couple of weeks. 33 is on the British Women's Racing Drivers Club stand along with the wife.
Neil Howard Stages at Oulto n Park at the start of November is the next planned competitive event if we can get an entry.

Rsfruitbat

We got an entry. Oulton Park Nov 3rd.

If that goes ok then we also have had entry accepted for Rockingham at start of December. Unfortunately this is possibly the last event at Rockingham and venue has been sold and is to be used for car storage. Hopefully no snow this year!

Rsfruitbat

Hi all
Running car 91 on Saturday at oulton park if anyone is in the area.

Rsfruitbat

As a famous Scandinavian once said "Itsa broke!"
Completed stage 1on 3 cylinders having caught the car in front.
On inspection found a melted electrode on no.3 plug with some ceramic missing.
Got no compression on that cylinder either.
End of play.

To be continued.

Rsfruitbat

Ouch adie

bugger

Engine isnowout and 1,3 cylinder head off.
Weird.
One exhAust valve has got its "ears " missing. Hopefully pic to follow.
It's been suggested that problem has been caused by preignition?
Car has been running fine all other valves in that head look fine.
Both pistons look fine. Got a good spark out of all leads. Plug was melted on the electrode.
Fuelwas same as normal Tesco 99.
Could an injector be failing? But if it is why only one valve affected.

Answers on a postcard or on here if it's easier.
We need to figure it out to ensure i dontbugger it up properly next time

Clock is ticking to get to Rockingham

Rsfruitbat

Here's the pic Ade sent me.

Does look like a detonation/weak mixture issue but then I'm no expert. Do you have any spare injectors mate to swap as a belt and braces job? I have some too should you need...

Ouch !!
Hope you can find the source of the problem Adie.

Where did the bits go....?

Thanks for posing pic Kev.

Took the head to the guy who does my machining yesterday and he said he thought it looked more like pre-ignition than detonation. Apparently they look different??? His oppo who is the Don from Aldon will be in today and we will see what his thoughts are.

if I am stuck for anything I will give you all a shout.

if there were any bits then we assume they went out the exhaust because both the bore and piston look fine.

The investigation continues....

Be thankful that the bits went down the pipe mate, I once had the Astra drop onto 3 cylinders around North Somercotes on a Rally and being stubburn not wanting to drop too much time I continued to the stage end hoping it'd be a duff plug or something simple.
Turned out to be a head off the inlet valve snapped off then the piston shoved it into the head face

I think we have been lucky you are right Kev.
Still trying to figure what's fai!ed first. Has the spark plug broke and jammed the valve open a bit of is it a problem with fuelling overheating valve and plug.
Weird how it's just one valve and the plug that's gone.

Rsfruitbat

Morning this maybe of some help to you adie ?

Thanks johnboy that'll be useful.

Trying to track down a set of Vernier cam pulleys if anyone has any for sale?

Mystery deepens. Injectors have all checked out as ok

Rsfruitbat