Mk3 Track/Race Car Build - Picture Heavy NOW!

Use this forum to post threads of ongoing Capri projects and restorations.
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Will01
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Car(s): Ford Capri 1.6GL 1981 (Track Project) & 2.0 GL 1979(Gone to Capri Heaven)
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Re: Mk3 Track/Race Car Build

Post by Will01 »

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Plans have changed to just make a good fun Track Car :)
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Will01
Posts: 534
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Car(s): Ford Capri 1.6GL 1981 (Track Project) & 2.0 GL 1979(Gone to Capri Heaven)
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Old Jags & Riley's for fun
Location: Dumfries & Galloway

Re: Mk3 Track/Race Car Build

Post by Will01 »

I am sure you guys can appreciate there are alot more pictures. I just have chosen the main steps, there are over 500 pictures of every little thing i have done over the years.
I have only ever managed a few days a month, but in recent months i have had help from family to help with grinidng and painting which was a massive help. I can start to see the light at the end of the tunnel with this build now so all is well.

As you can see front compression struts off Escort Fitted with my own homemade mounts. I did alot of reinforcement in this area to support aswell.
I have modified a crossmemeber to hold the in situ adjustable TCA's aswell.
The front radiator supports have been removed to make way for a large radiator and to aid cleaning of that local area.

The shell has had alot of panels replaced and made. Also made up quite alot of reinforcement panels for the cage and cross braces etc aswell. But more is to come.

The interior is satin black to cut down on glare and is fitted with a full 6 point safety devices cage. I still need to get seats so i can finally fit the weld in rails and then i can start welding on the anchor points for the harnesses.

The engine bay is just a teaser for the rest of the car in signal yellow :)
Plans have changed to just make a good fun Track Car :)
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Craigorypeck
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Re: Mk3 Track/Race Car Build

Post by Craigorypeck »

Damn fine work.
What are the main advantages of running compression struts?
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Will01
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Car(s): Ford Capri 1.6GL 1981 (Track Project) & 2.0 GL 1979(Gone to Capri Heaven)
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Mini Cooper S (Wife's)
Old Jags & Riley's for fun
Location: Dumfries & Galloway

Re: Mk3 Track/Race Car Build

Post by Will01 »

In conjunction with the in situ adjustable tcA's and the in-situ adjustable compression struts, i have a fully adjustable front suspension setup for Camber, Castor & Track :)
Also under braking etc it also keeps the strut where it should so keeps the alignment spot on under hard abuse.

I still need to get the threaded sleeves for the strut conversion up front. Then i will tie into adjustable top mounts to give me even more control of camber and castor.

Everything is adjustable as can be.
Plans have changed to just make a good fun Track Car :)
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Will01
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Car(s): Ford Capri 1.6GL 1981 (Track Project) & 2.0 GL 1979(Gone to Capri Heaven)
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Alfa 2.4JTD Sportwagon
Mini Cooper S (Wife's)
Old Jags & Riley's for fun
Location: Dumfries & Galloway

Re: Mk3 Track/Race Car Build

Post by Will01 »

Some insight into Stages of Brake packages i am building and have at disposal.
Standard Capri non-vented discs with M16 Calipers, we all know this setup is pretty crap.
Bilstein suspension legs with Vented discs and spaced M16 calipers taken off a broken Brooklands, this worked really well on my last 2.0 GL.
Caprisport 280 GTR Front 285mm discs and Mondeo calipers with Sierra rear calipers and non vented rear discs.
Brembo 300mm front discs option for when the V8 is fitted, using Alfa 156 GTA 305mm Brembo calipers, i will upgrade the rear when required.

I am ditching the servo entirely and using a bias box setup. I will run separate master cylinders obviously for front and rear split and will combine with a Wilwood proporrtioning valve. I will also run a master cylinder for the handbrake circuit.
Because i am not using a servo i have modified the brake pedal to have adjustable ratio if required. This will depend on driver and also caliper setup. 3 different settings available and will be easily switchable.

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Plans have changed to just make a good fun Track Car :)
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Will01
Posts: 534
Joined: Tue Oct 23, 2012 12:23 pm
Car(s): Ford Capri 1.6GL 1981 (Track Project) & 2.0 GL 1979(Gone to Capri Heaven)
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Alfa 2.4JTD Sportwagon
Mini Cooper S (Wife's)
Old Jags & Riley's for fun
Location: Dumfries & Galloway

Re: Mk3 Track/Race Car Build

Post by Will01 »

Few more brake pictures

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Longer studs fitted after this photo

And if i need them later, here are the Alfa calipers
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Plans have changed to just make a good fun Track Car :)
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Craigorypeck
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Re: Mk3 Track/Race Car Build

Post by Craigorypeck »

You have quite the selection there.
So if not using servo and going with bias box and two separate master cylinders. Why the need for the proportion valve?
And if running a hydraulic handbrake what stops the pressure heading to the front brakes too?
I have similar rear brakes from a mustang, they look identical with the spring loaded lever mechanism that's operated by handbrake cable . But finding and modifying cables and such might be a pain.
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Will01
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Alfa 2.4JTD Sportwagon
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Old Jags & Riley's for fun
Location: Dumfries & Galloway

Re: Mk3 Track/Race Car Build

Post by Will01 »

The pressure will not run to the front brakes as the rear brakes are on their own circuit with their own master cylinder. Hydraulic handbrake is only really for launching and maybe for having a laugh when required..
The proportioning valve is for when running different front setups, means i can vary rear pressure when required e.g. swapping from 280 setup to 300 setup. plus it also means i can be a little lazy with rear setup and have more finite control of rear system pressure.
The cables are a little pain to setup, however since the rear setup is caprisport, they offer a cable kit for the rear.
I may end up upgrading the rear setup in future to use a vented discs, but i don't think it is a necessity at the moment
Plans have changed to just make a good fun Track Car :)
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Craigorypeck
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Car(s): Mk III Capri- 2.0 YB cossie lump with eaton blower on bike carbs. Problem... its 4000 miles away.
MK1 resto- 2.3 Turbo or Charger, both probably
Chevy Cobalt
Location: Canada

Re: Mk3 Track/Race Car Build

Post by Craigorypeck »

Duh.. yeah of course they are on a different circuit. ...
Sounds like you have all angles covered!
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Will01
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Old Jags & Riley's for fun
Location: Dumfries & Galloway

Re: Mk3 Track/Race Car Build

Post by Will01 »

We will see. I just keeping the car as adjustable as possible so we can fine tune it once it is built. At the moment i only have rough calcs to go by, nothing is certain until the car is a whole entity. I may even find certain things a hassle and remove them if needed.
Plans have changed to just make a good fun Track Car :)
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Will01
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Mini Cooper S (Wife's)
Old Jags & Riley's for fun
Location: Dumfries & Galloway

Re: Mk3 Track/Race Car Build

Post by Will01 »

So this part is more about suspension.
I have already briefly touched on the Front sus setup, however there is alot more to it and also alot more which still needs to be sorted.

The Front suspension will be running In-Situ Adjustable Compression Struts & In-situ adjustable TCA's. I decided that i want to only use Rose-jointed mounts rather than PU bushed parts. Basically it means all rubber or PU bushes have been removed from front all together. Except maybe the ARB's, but that is still yet to be decided upon.
The front struts i am converting into height adjuustble and also damping adjustable coilovers. I will use a GAZ insert up front.
As for the ARB i will still use, but have a twin 20mm ARB setup, maybe change in the future, but i have bars lying around so i thought i would just use them. These will be joined to each other with brace clamps and i will also have a method of adjusting stiffness by varying pickup point. An adjustble droplink will then be joined to the strut underneath the height adjustable platform.

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At a later date these will be replaced with GAZ Gold full coilover units with external reservoirs, but i will tie that in with the 300mm disc upgrade. This is because the struts i am converting are already machined ready to accept Caprisport GTR280 kit.

The rear suspension i want to keep more secret, but it will use SIngle Leafs which will be PU bushed with very hard bushing. I think they are 92Shore A hardness race bushes.
These will be tied in with GAZ Gold coilover units with soft helper springs. THese are rate adjustable, but i decided to go with rubber bushed end rather than rose jointed ends.
The rear arb will be ditched and i will run my own are which will be adjustble for stiffness by having moving pickup, but i will also be able to change the thickness of the arb and make big stiffness changes if required.
Eventually i will run a fully adjustble watts linkage, but i am behind designing this and this will take a while on its own.
The rear axle will be braced with an Escort 8mm Tarmac brace and then tied in with a Tickford style rear diff cover. that should help stiffen the rear axle. But i want to also try to lose as much weight as possible as this does inhibit performance of the suspension greatly. The watts linkage will help greatly anyway as it will reduce movement and also help to suppor the axle weight. This may help reduce unsprung mass slightly.

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Plans have changed to just make a good fun Track Car :)
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Craigorypeck
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Chevy Cobalt
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Re: Mk3 Track/Race Car Build - Picture Heavy NOW!

Post by Craigorypeck »

I take it your using a drop linked rear arb? This will have removed any twist resistance your axle had from Factory. Im using an under axle arb from camaro with drop links then using some home made caltrac style torque arms to deal with axle rotation during acceleration.

I have a watts link installed and it will not support any weight... it will only stop axle movement from side to side no other parameter will be effected by a watts.. well apart from roll center. The lower the center pivoting propeller the lower your center of gravity.

I love those helper sprung rear shocks!
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Will01
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Re: Mk3 Track/Race Car Build - Picture Heavy NOW!

Post by Will01 »

Drop linked arb yup

Under axle arb is exactly what i am going for, interesting you say it is off a Camaro, may have a look at one of those.
Can you post a picture of your setup please?

I agree it won't support axle weight and i must have been off writing or thinking something else haha whilst writing. What i meant is that the watts linkage bars do not add much weight, they do add some, however the pivot points are areas of rotation and can be largely ignored. Although i will be running what some people call a reversed Watts. Easy explanation is the roll centre will not be fixed on the axle, but on the body.

The GAZ rear shocks look great and come from advice given by Mark @ GAZ. He used to race a Mk3 Capri and recommended the setup.
Basically i want to keep leafs. Maybe one day when the front hangers rust out i will make the change to 4 bar.
Plans have changed to just make a good fun Track Car :)
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Re: Mk3 Track/Race Car Build - Picture Heavy NOW!

Post by MattMe »

Looks as though it's all starting to come together now :cheers:

Those front discs look huge next to the standards. :shock:
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Will01
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Old Jags & Riley's for fun
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Re: Mk3 Track/Race Car Build - Picture Heavy NOW!

Post by Will01 »

Just wait for the 300mm discs against the 280 kit haha!

Yes i think we ahve finally just about got to the starting to bolt it all together stage. Well that is if i wouldn't keep fettling things haha.

in one way i want to get it on its wheels, but then again i don't want to rush it, as i want it to be right. Another couple years off completion i reckon.
Plans have changed to just make a good fun Track Car :)
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Re: Mk3 Track/Race Car Build - Picture Heavy NOW!

Post by QuadCamCapri »

Lots of good work done there and great to see lots of pics.

Looking forward to seeing it all in Signal Yellow 8-)
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My in-car race video Cadwell Park 1995 Capri V6 vs 2x V8's
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUSBcLhI ... gvD3_PeHIA
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Craigorypeck
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MK1 resto- 2.3 Turbo or Charger, both probably
Chevy Cobalt
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Re: Mk3 Track/Race Car Build - Picture Heavy NOW!

Post by Craigorypeck »

Here's my watts but it's in standard guise and not a chassis mounted crank.

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I've got some gussets to weld in and a few other areas to tend to but it can be completely unbolted from the axle to gain access to diff and the frame unbolted from chassis.

The rear arb I was trying to source at the junk yard and had a few rusty stock items from various cars and trucks that use 8.8 rear axles but I ended up using a camaro job that a fellow capri nut called Vernon over on Capripower used.
His build is very good and he had already carried out the ideas that were floating about in my head so credit to him for finding the arb.
I've got no pics yet... I ordered it over a month ago and its still not here. Google hellwig 5824.
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Will01
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Location: Dumfries & Galloway

Re: Mk3 Track/Race Car Build - Picture Heavy NOW!

Post by Will01 »

Some good work there with the watts linkage. I did consider something similar to start with, but it also make it slightly more difficult with adjustable roll centre.
The removable mounting bars for watts are exactly what i had in mind for my design watts link. I like the idea of being able to remove when needed. Keeps it more flexible in long run.
The arb setup looks interesting aswell.
Trying to get really stuck in this summer before my wifes Maternity leave finishes and then everything will slow down again! Doh!
Going down south in a few weeks and getting fitted out with bucket seats for my wife and I, then the seat rails will get welded in place and i can start plumbing the brake lines for the driver position etc
Plans have changed to just make a good fun Track Car :)
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Will01
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Car(s): Ford Capri 1.6GL 1981 (Track Project) & 2.0 GL 1979(Gone to Capri Heaven)
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Alfa 2.4JTD Sportwagon
Mini Cooper S (Wife's)
Old Jags & Riley's for fun
Location: Dumfries & Galloway

Re: Mk3 Track/Race Car Build - Picture Heavy NOW!

Post by Will01 »

Weekend didn't get much done, however i did finally get to put my tube notcher to work. This really is a fine piece of design. Soo simple and works great.
For everyone's info it is an Eastwood tube nothcer and hole saw kit. I also used cutting paste on cutters. Clamped in a vice and then attached to eletric hand held drill. Probably better on pillar but i don't have one yet!
Got bit more work to do tonight, but just about ready to weld together the rear chassis strengthening brace ready for bolting in.
Plans have changed to just make a good fun Track Car :)
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Will01
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Car(s): Ford Capri 1.6GL 1981 (Track Project) & 2.0 GL 1979(Gone to Capri Heaven)
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Alfa 2.4JTD Sportwagon
Mini Cooper S (Wife's)
Old Jags & Riley's for fun
Location: Dumfries & Galloway

Re: Mk3 Track/Race Car Build - Picture Heavy NOW!

Post by Will01 »

Not done much, but went for a bit of a shop today in Demon Tweeks and bought a pair of Cobra fixed buckets with sidemounts for the Capri today.
Can't wait till i get them fitted up and then i can finalise the weld in seat rail position :)
Plans have changed to just make a good fun Track Car :)
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