Resurrecting a NZ built racing special

[hotrod1]

Still not working on the race car had a few issues with the wee car the carb was flooding and I put this down to the electric fuel pump so changed it out for a new stock crank driven pump still the same issue and while waiting for a needle and seat for the single Solex carb I swapped what was left of my Herald $50 parts car for a set of twin Stromberg carbs and manifolds for the 1150cc engine so after a rebuild on the carbs I fitted them and due to the larger size the bonnet would not close without fouling on them, So I needed a few mods the intake was shortened by removing 30mm from the runners this got the carbs closer to the engine and only a small mod was needed to the bonnet to fit. just a few more small jobs and the car will be ready to hand over to the missus and I can resume work on the race car. No rest for the wicked.

[Oldfart]

It might be worth you acquiring new ethanol resistant diaphragms etc for the Strombergs, I have spoken with the distributor here in the UK, he advises it.

[hotrod1]

[hotrod1]

I have done very little to the race car lately due to work and family commitments and the fact that I have run out of room in my shed but I have managed to get most of the parts that I need for the rebuild and a set of used Weller Formula Ford wheel rims to replace the widened triumph rims that where fitted to the car these had been widened by using steel bands like they did back in the day they are in good condition but I would not trust them at speed.

[Oldfart]

For some useless information, Les Weller was making Formula ford wheels again in the last few years, BC (before Covid), some of those had my hands involved in the manufacture. He is a very interesting gent with mountains of knowledge in the field, sadly the partnership fell apart (not me) and the company involved never really picked up the ball again. Many hundreds of FF wheels were made.
I was making the "hoops" that became rims. Les was pressing the centres.

[hotrod1]

Great to know more have been made seems to be a demand for them. mine are an older set but should be good with some paint and tyres .

[hotrod1]

After about a year of not working on the Special due to lack of room and too many projects I have passed on a project and built a new shed to house the overflow of parts, this has allowed me to make some room to set the race car out with plenty of space around it to work so back into it and hope to have some progress to report soon.

[Roger Dowding]

Looking forward to seeing more

Cheers

Roger,

PS the " Flat to the Boards " gets a lot of use - a constant reference.

[hotrod1]

Hi Rodger yes looking forward to getting back into it, having trouble with my new phone taking photos and downloading them but will post some more when my daughter comes to visit next week (tec support) I think I have all the parts to finish the car now but working full time so time is the issue.

[hotrod1]

some more pics of progress so far.

[hotrod1]

Another few small jobs done this week I have rebuilt the remote gearchange for the Cortina gearbox a new ball joint for the bottom of the gearshift and a new rod and clevis for the shifter on the top of the box. one thing I was not expecting is that it only selects the 4 forward gears I am not sure if this is standard on a race car although reverse gear is not needed on the track it would make sense to be able to select it for getting it off the trailer or helping with an "off" on the track. the reason for not being able to shift into reverse is that the shift leaver on top of the box needs to be lifted to negate the reverse lockout this cannot be done with the remote. I have another gearbox for spares that will change into reverse without lifting as it has had the bottom of the shift leaver inside the box modified so that it can slide though the 3 slots in the internal shifter rails with out lifting it into the shallower slot in the reverse selector rod. so this mod will be done and I will fit a reverse lockout with a leaver on the dash.
When I got the car the head of the engine was touching the firewall I thought this was the buggered engine mounts but on fitting the new mounts this was still happening so I have made up 10mm spacers to fit to the mounts to move the engine forward.