Track car

[GSR]

This has been sat as a slow burning project for my boy, but i want to get him out on track this year.

it’s been stripped and sat on the dolly for about 6 months, I finally finished the cage and welding over Christmas and spent the last week getting ready for and painting it.

rubbed down and in position in a very temporary ”spray booth” in the garage.

Primer went on one night in the week

inside and engine bay Friday night

and by Sunday night the rest of it was done

It needs a final cut and polish but should be ok. If I’m being fussy the bonnet needs redoing, but will wait until a bit later before worrying about that.

Seeing it painted has restarted his interest in it, so hopefully over the next couple of months it will be fully rebuilt and ready.

 

[Nick DV]

Be interesting to see this one completed, keep the updated coming

 

[bricol]

I remember competeting at a sprint at Knockhill quite a long time agoqwith my Westfield. Another Westfield sprinter was laughing at a guy in a Metro . . . along the lines of "why would you bother . . ." as his son in a lightweighted Westie would beat him . . .

Looking at the results at the end of the day, there were several seconds why you would bother between Metro and the lightweighted Westie . . . . amused me immensely

(Metro beat me too . .. but in my defence, I was still in trials spec with heavy sump guard etc . . . )

 

[Nick DV]

I remember competeting at a sprint at Knockhill quite a long time agoqwith my Westfield. Another Westfield sprinter was laughing at a guy in a Metro . . . along the lines of "why would you bother . . ." as his son in a lightweighted Westie would beat him . . .

Looking at the results at the end of the day, there were several seconds why you would bother between Metro and the lightweighted Westie . . . . amused me immensely

(Metro beat me too . .. but in my defence, I was still in trials spec with heavy sump guard etc . . . )

Used to love watching the Metros race at Brands, and they surprised a lot of people with their performance.

 

[Blobber]

Looked like a good solid shell to start with

 

[GSR]

I raced a Metro for many years - part of the fun was definitely beating people in far more expensive machinery and seeing their faces! Obviously we waited until id sold that and all of the stuff before deciding to build another one!

This shell was reasonably good conditions, a little bit on one rear arch but not too bad and a little bit in the spare wheel well. This is the second one we bought, the first one was really solid, it would have been perfect for a race car, but a day cleaning and polishing it and it sold for a fair amount of profit so it had to go.

 

[Rrobson]

You want a k turbo for that, I’ve got one in my 25 and it’s brilliant fun! Looks to be coming on well, keep the updates coming

 

[GSR]

You want a k turbo for that, I’ve got one in my 25 and it’s brilliant fun! Looks to be coming on well, keep the updates coming

I did consider turbo route with my old one, but decided against it.

Ive got an old 1.4 with a ported big valve head and a pair of decent cams which will get him out and some seat time this year. Will probably end up in the metro cup which is much tighter controlled as to what can and can’t be done.

 

[Myles1970]

hope you didn't get any overspray on your trophy

 

[Turbo]

A local lad had an MG Metro turbo, well modified & there wasn't a car around that could stay with it. It helped that his Dad was the local expert on building A series race/rally engines!

 

[owas]

I've got one of the newer 1.5 metros rusting away in the garden

 

[owas]

Similar colour

 

[DaveB]

Good plan to start with the 1.4 in it.

Once you've learnt how fast they can go in the corners and are squeezing every bit of braking performance out then you can add more power, either turbo or 1.8

 

[minimutly]

I have a 2.1litre T16 in mine. It's in bits, not sure if I'll race it again...

 

[stuvy]

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[GSR]

Good plan to start with the 1.4 in it.

Once you've learnt how fast they can go in the corners and are squeezing every bit of braking performance out then you can add more power, either turbo or 1.8

This 1,4 is still good for about 150bhp so enough to get him going. I did end up building a forged 1.6 with throttle bodies when I had a metro last, but Im hoping we dont end up down that route again

 

[minimutly]

I had a nearly standard bottom end 1.4, under a modified head with some piper cams in a Rover 200, doing night rallies. It had zero torque but I had it on the limiter all night, it never complained once.
I still have an early o ringed block, with a set of mahle pistons and rods here if you're interested in them.

 

[DaveB]

This 1,4 is still good for about 150bhp so enough to get him going. I did end up building a forged 1.6 with throttle bodies when I had a metro last, but Im hoping we dont end up down that route again

Start with it standard for a year then add power.

 

[GSR]

Not too many photos to update what’s been going on.

Plus a new engine wiring loom has been finished, approximately only a third of the wires now so it’s much simplified! And the ecu has been mounted inside, ready to start rewiring the car now. Not using any of the original wiring.

 

[GSR]

slower progress than I had hoped for, but juggling work, diy in doors to keep swmbo happy and major driveway works has slowed things a little bit.

The wiring is complete - none of the original wiring has been used. Whilst it looks like a complete mess, I’ve got all colours written down and a reasonable sketch plus I’ve got it all in my head.

The engines ready to be dropped in now

As soon as that’s in and I’ve made the final ecu connections the dash can go in and all the switches fitted properly - here it is for a quick trial fitting