Rally Project

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
4,267
Location
Lunatic asylum
*Huge thread revival from 12.5 something years ago :eek:*

For the latest post and start of current project, and photos of this one, and the next (yes I built another) clicky here and it's halfway down page 7.

Or carry on reading below for where it all started but unfortunately as all my original photos have gone :( (don't suppose they are archived anywhere mods? Probably not...) so it's not really concise I'm afraid...

Also cars have really moved on in the last twelve years and Corsa B's are WAY old and boring now (I know I know, you all thought they were even back then) so chances are the thread will not interest you in the slightest.

Anyhow... Original below





Hi there,

Having not competed for a few seasons now I've now decided to build another road rally car. I have an Escort but it's too precious to thrash down the lanes anymore hence she's having a rest.

I used to rally MK2 Astra's but they are hard to find now especially a 2 door. Tried a MK3 but not really the same.

So, I decided on a Corsa, a 1.4 8 valve SRI to be precise. Why? Well it's reasonably quick as standard and they are easy to tune, easy to work with, are reasonably cheap and handle well when you know how. They also have a Lotus designed head that can give huge gains when done properly so I'd be looking around the 110hp mark when done, not too shabby for something that will weight no more than 900kg.

Why a 1.4? I've always ran in the under 1500cc class as i know there engines well, and also because I don't need a massive finacial package to actually win something. Additionally there is endurance rallying where all cars must be under 1400cc. It's an event that will use farm tracks/yards, stately homes, old airfields, some forstry etc... All in one event.

Ok onto the car, first things first, get it home!
JBeck037-corsa1.jpg

Right colour, but as you can see it has a sunroof. not for long..


First thing i do is rip most of the interior out and throw it away.
JBeck037-corsa2.jpg



Also remove as much as i can from the dash and remove all under carpet sound proofing, still a few bits to remove here.
JBeck037-corsa3.jpg



Bought this OMP steering wheel for my Astra but never got around to fitting it
JBeck037-corsa4.jpg



Next job - Carbon Fibre door panels which should arrive Tomorrow. Also got Battery cable and connectors turning up, you'll see what they're for soon. A Custom sparco rollcage is about two weeks away.

I'm hoping to show you what it takes to get a bog standard car into a rally car, will update as much as i can but i do have work commitments. I'm also hoping to offer you guys some choices i could make along the way if you want.

Thanks for looking.
 
Last edited:
Soldato
OP
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
4,267
Location
Lunatic asylum
Hi
My budget is maybe 3k, haven't decided yet tbh :)
If i competed around here on my local ground then the car would be competitive now for road rallying. But that's only because i know all the lanes for 50 miles radius of here, would be like having pacenotes, too easy. It is suprisingly quick down the lanes, she's really light so it can be thrown around like a rag doll. I did try it out on the way home and injured the rear bumper slightly, bouncing off the hedges sometimes actually helps to get round quicker ;)
 
Soldato
OP
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
4,267
Location
Lunatic asylum
Liverpool-Lad said:
If you are goijg that far, rip out everything, headlining, sound deadening, lose the dash and just have a set of clocks, also lighten the loom
All soundproofing is gone, headlining is out but MUST be retained for road rallying regulations. Need to weld a couple of plates in the big hole first :). Dash must also be retained for the same reason.

Will try and update as much as i can, next one should be sunday after ive hopefully put the carbon fibre door and rear cards in.
 
Associate
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
1,519
Location
Liverpool - UK.
I think a Nova GTE manifold fits with some bodging, much better design than the standard 4-1 Corsa one, I think someone also managed to stick a 2.0 inlet on one also, failing that, some twin 40s and a nice cam and the headwork you were mentioning could be pretty good.
 
Soldato
OP
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
4,267
Location
Lunatic asylum
Hi
Unfortunately 40's are out, regulations again :(. she is multipoint injection though, allowing me to stick a chip in to suit the cam i choose. Cam wise, will go for a Kent NVO63K with solid lifters. Already sourced a 4into1 man, system and de cat pipe. Will also lighten the flywheel when i stick the Quaife sc/cr box on her. She WILL rev her nuts off, you can count on that :)
 
Associate
Joined
20 Aug 2005
Posts
121
Location
London
JBeck said:
Hi
Unfortunately 40's are out, regulations again :(. she is multipoint injection though, allowing me to stick a chip in to suit the cam i choose. Cam wise, will go for a Kent NVO63K with solid lifters. Already sourced a 4into1 man, system and de cat pipe. Will also lighten the flywheel when i stick the Quaife sc/cr box on her. She WILL rev her nuts off, you can count on that :)

Sounds like it. Good luck with it, don't forget to post piccies of work in progress though :)
 
Man of Honour
Joined
17 Oct 2002
Posts
29,074
Location
Ottakring, Vienna.
I have to admit I've never checked the regs for Enduros - I didn't know you could lose the carpet & rear seats (as you know, you can't for normal night events)
Keep us posted. :)
 
Soldato
OP
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
4,267
Location
Lunatic asylum
I can't really lose the carpets fully, a few bits here and there will just about get me through. The rear seats also need to be in but as it's a hatch they are permitted to be folded down. Due to this i can discard the bottom and just basically fold down the back bit, minus it's guts it wont add hardly any weight at all :)
 
Man of Honour
Joined
17 Oct 2002
Posts
29,074
Location
Ottakring, Vienna.
Firestar_3x said:
Looks good, but its got a sunroof!
You can still event a car with a sunroof, though obviously it isn't the ideal scenario. Of course, once you have a 6 point cage installed it is of little consequence. You can still rivet over it or replace with a solid roof skin if you want to though.
 
Back
Top Bottom