Hi guys, I’ve been ‘lurking’ on this forum for quite some time now and just thought I’d share some pictures/updates about the rebuild I’m currently doing on my Quantum kitcar.
For those who don’t know the Quantum 2+2 is based on an mk2 XR2 fiesta. I purchased the car in September 2013 when I was 16 with the standard 1600cvh. It needed a few bits and pieces doing but on the whole it was solid. I turned 17 in December 2013 and passed my driving test in March 2014. It was my first car and I loved every second of driving it. Until it got dark, and I discovered the headlights were shit and about as affective as 2 tea-lights. After some poking around with a multi meter the voltage at each light was 5.3v. This turned out to be dodgy wiring connections and I quickly rectified it.
I knew the engine was worn after conducting a compression test with some ‘interesting’ results. It only let me down once and this was when the distributor failed. I drove it for 9 months until one morning I was driving to work and it started to idle at 400rpm, I blipped the throttle a bit and it started to idle better, if very rough. When I looked in the rear view mirror there was an enormous cloud of dense white smoke and the unmistakable smell of burning oil. By the time I got to work It had cleared up and seemed to running ok.
I’d already been planning an engine change, considering ZVH, zetec, duratec etc before my Dad suggested Fords 1.0 ecoboost. Originally I was completely against it, how could a 1.0 3 cylinder possibly be any good?! Then I test drove the new focus with 1.0 engine in and I was amazed. It pulled well from any revs and actually didn’t sound too bad! I then bought an engine on Ebay with 700 miles on the clock and all wiring & ecu. I stripped the old engine out in January of this year and started gathering other bits and pieces.
I’ve got a 125 bhp engine with the focus 6 speed gearbox, the same gearbox used in the current fiesta st. The reason for choosing this gearbox was I simply wanted 6 gears and Quaife make an LSD for it.
Sorry for the essay, I just thought I’d give you a bit of a background.
after a clean, the day before going to Stoneleigh.
I've got both a hardtop and soft top for it, roof was nearly always down!
'V' cut out to clear (tiny!) turbo and enable me to move engine and 'box further forwards
top left rail had to be remade to clear pipework
first time I offered it up, the spaceframe requires some modification but it fits!
I'm currently making the exhaust and rear engine mount.
more updates to follow...