S2 owners...Front tension strut conversion, like S1 set-up.
28-01-2005, 11:13 PM
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S2 owners...Front tension strut conversion, like S1 set-up.
OK, here's another idea to whet your appetite:
I am looking at producing a bolt on kit for the S2 Turbo to fit front tension struts. This would enable the uprated tension strut kit that I already market to fit S2 Turbo's. This allows fully adjustable front castor and proper location of the TCA, leaving the ani-roll bar to do it's job properly, on it's own!
The kit would consist of a sturdy powder coated steel front crossmember that would bolt up between the existing corner plates and carry brackets for the front ends of the tension struts. There would also be brackets to carry the existing anti-roll bar in its existing clamps. (it would be moved forward of its existing location) The anti-roll bar would connect to the tension struts with alloy clamps as per S1 turbo & RS1600i which would be part of the kit. There would be no modifications necesary to the chassis or to the gearbox cradle.
How does this sound? Anyone interested? Is there a market for such a kit? If so I will get it sorted and in production!
Comments please!
Martin
I am looking at producing a bolt on kit for the S2 Turbo to fit front tension struts. This would enable the uprated tension strut kit that I already market to fit S2 Turbo's. This allows fully adjustable front castor and proper location of the TCA, leaving the ani-roll bar to do it's job properly, on it's own!
The kit would consist of a sturdy powder coated steel front crossmember that would bolt up between the existing corner plates and carry brackets for the front ends of the tension struts. There would also be brackets to carry the existing anti-roll bar in its existing clamps. (it would be moved forward of its existing location) The anti-roll bar would connect to the tension struts with alloy clamps as per S1 turbo & RS1600i which would be part of the kit. There would be no modifications necesary to the chassis or to the gearbox cradle.
How does this sound? Anyone interested? Is there a market for such a kit? If so I will get it sorted and in production!
Comments please!
Martin
29-01-2005, 11:14 AM
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Dont know yet, it's only at the very early design stage so it depends upon many things. If I simply make some brackets on a crossmember to take the tensions struts then it will be £195 for the tension struts plus whatever the crossmember costs to make. The complication is the antiroll bar and its mountings. Having done some evaluation this morning on my "development vehicle" I looks like it wont be possible to use the standard antiroll bar at all, the choice will be to either run without one (as per NutsRus RS1600i) so no additional cost or add brackets and use an RS1600i or S1 turbo ARB with alloy clamps, obviously more expensive. Anyone know if these are available brand new from Ford? I doubt it!
Martin.......back under the car for more thinking!
Martin.......back under the car for more thinking!
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30-01-2005, 07:57 PM
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OK, thanks for showing the interest guys. Havn't made any more progress this weekend, have started on the prototye bias pedal box though.
Been re-building my Scooby rally car gearbox and fitting that, top priority as 1st event this year coming up on 19th Feb, North West Stages rally so got to get that sorted before anything else!
Cheers,
Martin
Been re-building my Scooby rally car gearbox and fitting that, top priority as 1st event this year coming up on 19th Feb, North West Stages rally so got to get that sorted before anything else!
Cheers,
Martin
31-01-2005, 08:33 AM
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Yes, I know the alloy clamps arn't (and they can easily be made) but what about the ant-roll bar itself, can those be obtained from Fords or anywhere else?
Martin
Martin
31-01-2005, 02:13 PM
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Well you say "Stupidly thin @ 18mm" but why do you think this? What do you think it will achieve using a 24mm one instead? From my experience with these cars, they drive very well indeed with NO anti-roll bar at all. This is how Ford ran them in GpA rallying back in 1985/6 and I ran mine the same way too, never fitted one it was so good without.
The problem with anti-roll bars is that they inherrently induce understeer, exactly what you want to get rid of! If you have an S1, try disconnecting the alloy block, just on one side and see how it drives, you might be surprised, I bet it has better turn in and less understeer too.
I admit that an a very fast & smooth flowing racetrack you might want a very stiff front ARB but if it's tight and twisty, my bet is that it will be quicker without.
Is the S1 sharper to steer & less understeery, better "turn in" than an S2, if so than that could be caused by the thinner S1 ARB!
Just a thought!
Martin
The problem with anti-roll bars is that they inherrently induce understeer, exactly what you want to get rid of! If you have an S1, try disconnecting the alloy block, just on one side and see how it drives, you might be surprised, I bet it has better turn in and less understeer too.
I admit that an a very fast & smooth flowing racetrack you might want a very stiff front ARB but if it's tight and twisty, my bet is that it will be quicker without.
Is the S1 sharper to steer & less understeery, better "turn in" than an S2, if so than that could be caused by the thinner S1 ARB!
Just a thought!
Martin
31-01-2005, 04:42 PM
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could you modifiy a 1600i one to fit a S2. only reason i ask is that i have both the S1 and the 1600i lying around. i was gonna use the 1600i but it doesnt fit from what ive been told.
01-02-2005, 10:37 PM
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Wanted! To help my development work I urgently need a pair of S1 Turbo front cornerplates, front bit that joins them together and maybe the anti-roll bar assembly with it's mounting brackets and rubbers etc. Will buy or loan! Will pay postage etc
Maybe should be on a different thread but it's very relevant to this thread and the future of my conversion ideas.
Thanks,
Martin
Maybe should be on a different thread but it's very relevant to this thread and the future of my conversion ideas.
Thanks,
Martin
02-02-2005, 03:16 PM
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Still working on this one, I really need to borrow a pair of S1 corner plates to make some progress, have put an ad in the Wanted section.
Meanwhile, thanks for the positive interest, I will let you all know when I've done some development work and got something available.
Cheers,
Martin
Meanwhile, thanks for the positive interest, I will let you all know when I've done some development work and got something available.
Cheers,
Martin
14-02-2005, 09:24 AM
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Development is slow going! I'm waiting on delivery of the S1 corner plates.
So far I have noticed that there is a considerable difference between S1 and RS1600i arb's, the S1 fits to the rear of the front x/member whereas the RS1600i one clamps to the x/member in front of the Tension strut pickup points.
Does anyone know if either of these are available from anyone?
Cheers,
Martin
So far I have noticed that there is a considerable difference between S1 and RS1600i arb's, the S1 fits to the rear of the front x/member whereas the RS1600i one clamps to the x/member in front of the Tension strut pickup points.
Does anyone know if either of these are available from anyone?
Cheers,
Martin
20-02-2005, 09:03 AM
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20-02-2005, 09:52 AM
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Definately, I'm hoping that I can get this into production during the next month if possible, the stumbling block will be finding a suitable ant-roll bar for those that insist that it's essential. I am having trouble convincing you lot that you can quite happily run without one, the car won't suddenly flip on it's roof without an ARB!
As I've said before on this and other threads, Ford didn't run one on their GpA rally cars back in the 80's, neither does NutsRus on his well proven and brilliantly handling RS1600i.
Martin
As I've said before on this and other threads, Ford didn't run one on their GpA rally cars back in the 80's, neither does NutsRus on his well proven and brilliantly handling RS1600i.
Martin
20-02-2005, 10:39 AM
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ARB or not am not bothered just wanna get 1 so i can send it off with my other bits
so it will the same set up as a SI withouht the anti rollbar then have you got any pic's ? of nutsrs
so it will the same set up as a SI withouht the anti rollbar then have you got any pic's ? of nutsrs
20-02-2005, 10:49 AM
#32
Mine uses the standard RS1600i ali front crossmember Blunt as its lighter 
I have the Mk3 gearbox mounting not the cradle so its easy for me.
It has stronger modified front tie bars, MEF adjustable TCA's and spherical bearing top mounts. And yep I dont run any ARB's front or rear. Car handles like its on rails and you can ask anyone who has driven it for confirmation.
I have the Mk3 gearbox mounting not the cradle so its easy for me.It has stronger modified front tie bars, MEF adjustable TCA's and spherical bearing top mounts. And yep I dont run any ARB's front or rear. Car handles like its on rails and you can ask anyone who has driven it for confirmation.
20-02-2005, 10:52 AM
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Certainly I can get them done much quicker for those that arn't desperate to run an arb, they will be the first ones produced. After that it will depend upon the availability of a suitable bar, secondhand S1 arb's being the most likely contender or maybe the RS1600i one.
Martin
Martin
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