The Invisible Car Part II

[Relentless Rob]

Fiat Coupe' 15's? Far too big.

Popcorn ready?



Found some inappropriate music for the video guide.

I've also trail fitted the harness today.

[url]|http://thumbsnap.com/zm2CiijW[/url]

Kev' (van of death) has sold his (condemed) trailer before things get trickier for people who want to tow on a public road next year. So sadly I can't transport the M.O.T-less Fiat to the Pod.

Still PPC in the Park at Malory next May is my new target.

I'll have done something engine wise and hopefully got my man from Lotus (Dad) to have a look at the suspension by then as well.

Because the Punto GT rear hubs are a little bit bigger I no longer need the 10mm spacers and longer studs so if anyone would like them let me know.

P.S If anyone wants to do their own PPC Forum Video Guide and want the disclaimer part from the begining of all mine, I can send it to you.

[Renrut]

Surely you can just MOT the fiat and drive it there?

[Relentless Rob]

Don't know. I'm concentrating on soursing an engine and parts for Malory and £999 2012 now.

[Steve33]

What you doing with it now ?
Nos bike carbs cam ?
I am gonna try find a mk1 fiesta chevette for next year . Nice simple rust bucket maybe leave small englne in it but tune suspension ect .

[Relentless Rob]

Finish what I've started in time for Malory of cut my losses and get another Alfa.

I might sell the Rover to pay for the Alfa and keep "Guff" for the 2012 £999 Challenge.

[Renrut]

Keep Guff!

Run it as a daily driver and maybe put a 1.2 or 1.4 16V FIRE in on bike carbs or ITBs.

Sell the rover. Use money to source above engine.

If anything Nick proved this year that you don't need a turbo or crazy tuning to win, you just need a good stock engine in a (different) good stock car. A 1.4 16V Cinq would ace the handling course.

[Relentless Rob]

Looking at the bench mark set by Nick this year and following YouTube session the 1.4 16V Cinquecento is good for a solid low 16 second quarter mile so I'd only need to be two seconds quicker on the handling course.

The 1108 turbo's are only a second or so quicker than standard.

I have seen a 2.5 Alfa 156 that's been rear ended for sale near me for £150. If the engine's any good and I have to cut the front of Guff to straighten it anyway 210bhp and 650Kgs could be interesting eh?

[MFrV1]

Any idea how extensive the damage is to Guff?

A cinq roadster has just sprung to mind...

[Renrut]

I'd be very surprised if you got it under 650kg with an alfa V6 in the front. I know the 1.1 Fire is a heavy bugger (about 110kg) but an Alfa V6 is going to be at least 150kg.

1.4 16V you know it makes sense. Low boost turbo if it still isn't quick enough.

Or just copy that 2L turbo zetec cinq that was there

[Relentless Rob]

Any idea how extensive the damage is to Guff?

A cinq roadster has just sprung to mind...

No idea as yet. I can see the bottom of the A pilar is a bit bent and there's what I thought was a slipped jack dent in the floor on the edge of the drivers footwell.

The Alfa 156 was a total waste of time. "Rear end damaged" from the initial impact then must have hit a kerb or barrier of some kind as the sump was all but ripped off and the gearbox casing cracked. The front bumper looked okay though. Maybe the car went backwards into it.
Still £150 for a car that'll weigh in at £120 so I can take the leather bum holders out for the 155 that's in my cross hairs.

[Relentless Rob]

Today I've started making a towing trolly (half trailer half dolly) for trackdays and such....

[url]|http://thumbsnap.com/xIVx9xnx[/url]

Basically this is the design. I'll be using the cars steering to articulate and have a small box for tool, spare wheels and Jaffa Cakes.

Will this be okay do you think?

[Steve33]

Didnt they ban towing dollys except for recovery ?
Although dont most large campers have a smart cinq matiz trailing behind ?
I considered buying one a while ago till I heard its a grey area..
Good idea though.

[Relentless Rob]

Recovery dollys have a central pivot to allow articulation and are only reccomended for short journeys, the camper van "A" frames depend on the steering of the vehicle being towed. This idea utilises the cars steering as it doesn't have the pivot and gives me space for stuff as well that would normally either be transported in the car or the boot of the tow vehicle.

So I started with an old trailer tent frame....

[url]|http://thumbsnap.com/hLqEJ0kz[/url]

[url]|http://thumbsnap.com/fzmzrixO[/url]

....cut the end off....

[url]|http://thumbsnap.com/MwXoF1uu[/url]

...weled it back on two feet shorter...

[url]|http://thumbsnap.com/j2238lUp[/url]

...made a 6x1 Foot box frame and welded it on...

[url]|http://thumbsnap.com/HhKXjcut[/url]

...wider than the car so I can mount reflecters and or lights there as well.

[url]|http://thumbsnap.com/TpOdo7fB[/url]

Quite a few things to do but I'm back at work tomorrow and I won't get chance to finish it until next week.

[Relentless Rob]

Hmmmmm; could work.

[Renrut]

IIRC towing via an A-frame requires that the towed vehicles brakes are actuated and work with the towing vehicles, unless its recovery. Thats the legal requirement. Braking isn't required if the total towed mass is less than that of the towing vehicles unbraked towing limit. This is never more than 750kg.

I don't know of anyone being pulled for it (and my OH has never encountered anyone accused of towing something they shouldn't have in court) but expect the predictable insurance company standpoint should an accident occur. I can't see the recovery excuse washing if its a liveried 'racing' car.

Why not just make a trailer to tow the fiat, then put stuff into it to transport it? Perhaps weld a little frame into the back of it so you can easily slide a big box in?