Development

A new engine for 2015 season, increasing bhp to about 200bhp (an increase of 30+ bhp).

Engine sourced by Iain Daniels from a selection of cool bits and pieces,

Step 1 - new block stripped bown; de-greased, cleaned and ready for some nice new (Ford Corporate Blue) engine enamel.

A coat of exhaust manifold paint (before lagging with exhaust wrap).

Step 2 - For 2016 Season - upgrading carbs with a lovely set of triple 42 DCNF Weber carbs with modified inlet manifold. For the officianados out there - the same carbs as fitted to the Ferarri Dino (well nearly, they had 40 DCNFs actually). A Weber "techy" says the 42s were made for competition use - makes sense to me!

Inlet manifold is an uprated "Flowtech" item.

All cleaned and serviced by Steve Usher Engineering.

With new carbs fitted and tuned - power has increased from just under 200bhp to 240bhp with a nice steady curve and additional low-end torgue. A sweet spot between 4,000-6,500 just right for race conditions.

Block is a Flowtech block with a few nice developments such as being Wire "O" Ringed. Running a Kent V67 Cam; Ric Wood Followers and Hepalite Powermax pistons - oversized by 60 thou.

Stage 3- replace the old (albeit new aluminium, foam-filled) fuel tank which was located in the usual place under the floor of the boot. This has allowed the removal of some supporting chassis metal work and a few pounds of glassfibre. Got a bit carried away and removed all the inner glassfibre "skin" from the interior and the floor from the boot area. Replaced with some precision cut aluminium sheeting - glued and rivetted. Total weight reduction must be close to 30lbs; plus the weight of fuel another 70lbs from behind the wheels.

New 45ltr aluminium fuel tank placed in rear "passenger" side - thereby acheiving optimum left/right as well as front/back weight distribution.

Stage 4 - Raise the mounting points for the Rear Trailing Arms thereby reducing ride high by about 1inch but also levelling the car and directing thrust forward (rather than upwards).

This will help handle the extra power and convert into forward motion - this, combined with the extra bhp, reduced and redistributed weight is a great enhancement for the new season.

Thanks to Iain Daniels and John Louch for their skills with the tricky stuff!

Sheet metal work a new skill for me!