Classic Alfa Forums

"Unusual" Alfa Romeo !!
Still looking good Adie.

Well after much soul searching andmany years I am going over to the darkside!!!
As some of you will know although the rally car is a 33 all the running gear is Sud.
After a worrying off on Epynt last year caused by a broken splined section on an outer CV I am going to go outboard brakes. Breaking a driveshaft is one thing but losing all the brakes i can assure you is no fun at all.

Rsfruitbat

I can understand that in a rally car. TBH I can understand that in any form of competition I don't think in your case the increase in unsprung weight will make a whole lot of difference to the performance, and as you say, you do have that extra peace of mind. Easier to cool too, so hopefully less fade?

Going over to the dark side could have been much worse - I thought you were going to announce you were moving to a non-Alfa

I guess you've a bit of time to make the conversion before your next scheduled event???

Lauren

Although it does involve replacing all of the front suspension I'm hoping once it's done I'll be in a better position for the future. Sud stuff is getting harder to find. For a while I'm hoping 33 will be easier. To keep the same size brakes outboard I've only found one sty!e of alloy that I can use but luckily John at justsuds had 6 so I snapped them up.
Going to try and do something with the top mount and reinforce where the strut sits as well
GAZ have said they will do some struts so only got to sort out mounting the discs and calipers.
If I say it quick it sounds simple!

Rsfruitbat

I went with inboard brakes so many years to keep the unsprung weight as low as possible.
But as the engine was getting stronger, the car faster and the brakinge distances longer, I decided for the conversion to outboard brakes on my sprint as well..
I hope, i can test it this year someday, somewhere.. Ali

What size are the wheels on your sprint, 14inch ?

That looks like a nice conversion. What size discs did you go for?

Rsfruitbat

Disc size is 304 x 25,4 mm. Rim size ist 8x15. Choice of good race tyres and traction is much better with 15"

Very impressive.
Did you go with 16v hubs or the earlier type?
What are all the numbers on the disc bell?

Rsfruitbat

rsfruitbat wrote: ↑

Tue May 19, 2020 8:51 pm

Did you go with 16v hubs or the earlier type?
What are all the numbers on the disc bell?

Hubs and drive shafts are from Alfa 33 S1 (905).
Numbers on the bells are measurements for the floating mount of rotor and bell with special bobbins

Any
Particular reason you went for the early type as I'm told spares are getting hard to find for them?

Do you mind me asking how much lower and torque your brakes will be having to deal with?

Rsfruitbat

No particular reason. There were several drive shafts and hubs in my shelf. It was no prpblem to get new wheel bearings.
What do you mean with how much lower?
Torque of the brakes? Depends on disc size and brake pads you use. I went for Tarox rotors, as they never disappointed me before. And the AP Racing calipers should do the job as well. Not cheap, but good value

My mistake.
I meant to say engine power and torque

Rsfruitbat

186 HP/6500, 214 Nm/5000

Impressive.
Is that at the flywheel or wheels?

Rsfruitbat

rsfruitbat wrote: ↑

Thu May 21, 2020 6:55 pm

Is that at the flywheel or wheels?

At the flywheel, 2000/8V with carbs

1 lap, free practice, Hockenheim..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNyrdLsNlXU

Ali

That looked awesome.
Only one problem I noticed.

Steering wheel is on the wrong side!

Rsfruitbat

She finally lives again
Got an mot yesterday and planning to do a rally next weekend to test it all out.
Only done a few miles so far but everything seems ok.
Rsfruitbat

Glad you got it all sorted ade , good luck at the rally , which rally are you doing?

It's the "Get It Sideways" stages at Down Ampney by Cirencester. It's an old airfield. Surface tends to be a mixture of sheet ice & teflon. If it rains though it can get slippy!!!

Rsfruitbat

Have a good day.

Hi all
All went well on Saturday. Weather was kind and touch wood no one has any symptoms of anything.
Started at 65 out of 75. Finished 35th overall and 4th in class. Really pleased with that on a day that favoured lots of horsepower. We also had quite few people who would normally do much bigger events coming out for a play.
Car ran really well and the outboard brake conversion seems a success. Need to get a bit more confidence in them but looking like it was worth the effort.
Entries already in for the next event at the same venue in a fortnight.

Rsfruitbat

Hi Ade
Well done on what sounds like a great event and a decent result .
Lou

Hi all
Did another rally a fortnight ago and got another one in two weeks.
Last one went well with 3rd in class and 30th overall.
During the event I noticed that at parking speeds I was getting some groaning from the steering.
When we got home I investigated further and found the rack was moving 2-3mms when the steering wheel was rocked.
Once I got the rack off i found a series of stress fractures around the mounting points. Particularly had on the drivers side.
Has anyone else had similar problems or is it a common problem I wasn't aware off.
What I have noticed is on the rack there is another mounting pointing on the far side of the steering column mount. So I've welded the cracks up and put a plate over all the mounting points. I've also drilled the bulkhead and am going to install some spacers between the skins for the additional mounting. That way I will end up with 6 mounting points all of which have been reinforced

Rsfruitbat

Blimey, bet your glad you spotted that before something broke at speed.

Great result on the rally Ade, top 3 in class is a cracking effort ....no pun intended!
The bulkhead cracking though, I've seen it on other road cars, some of the early Vauxhall derived Saabs' had a nasty habit of doing it. Never seen it on the Sud/Sprint/33 though but having said that I haven't seen as many as people may think, and certainly not ones subjected to competition stresses.
I wonder if the upgrade to the EPS has put more strain on components?
But now you've got it all braced you'll be fine.
Another point to add to the regular checks though I guess.

agreed regarding the additional stresses EPS puts on the system and with my quick rack it was to be expected I suppose. In all fairness I wouldn't be without either now.
I suppose they just didn't make things to last back then. She has only been a competition car for about 30yrs.

rsfruitbat

Hi all
Got an entry in for cadwell on Nov 21.
Rsfruitbat

WooHoo!!
Let's hope it's drier this year mate!

I was booked in for a trackday there tomorrow but had to cancel due to work, my mate is still going hoping all the fallen trees will be cleared, bound to be some after yesterdays winds!

Looking forward to catching up again mate

Be great to see you to.
Let's hope all the bad weather now means there's a better chance of good weather on the day??
Don't think I will hold my breath though....
Got a few things to sort out but no show stoppers yet.

Rsfruitbat