Peugeot 106 repair

[JuniorRod88]

Practice Night/Testing

In my previous post i told you that there was a practice day on the 29th of march at @2pm. Well that was moved forward to the 28th @6pm. The day before i got the tires onto the proper wheels and got sorted to go.

While the car was on the trailer i had a wee look in beneath...




Stopped for fuel and then arrived at the track at 6:15pm, it was damp to be fair. after the hotrods were out a few laps it soon dried up. I set all the passenger tire pressure to 30psi and the drivers side to 28psi. That done i when out a run with a 1400 stockrod, a 1600 lightening rod and a couple of other 1200 juniors.

One of the juniors was a novice driver, just starting out in a corsa. The other was the Junior Irish Champion of Ballymena in a phase 2 106. I was quicker than the corsa but still a 4 or 5 lengths a lap slower than the 106. the car had the pull up the straight, but in corners she didn't just sit right. She tried to tail a few time but nothing that wasn't controllable. It wasn't great to be honest, she wouldn't go where you wanted her to on the exit of the corner.

Came in after 9 or 10 laps and checked how the tires where heating. The passenger front had risen to 35psi. Then i realized she was toeing in at the front. Got the lend of a tracking bar and go her to toe out slightly. Took her out again and it was better but still not gripping the way i wanted it to. Came in from that run, refueled and dropped the tires another couple of psi.

Asked dad to take her out a run to see what he thought. The race suit didn't fit him but he has a boiler suit in the van that did. Five minutes later he was on track. He only did about 5 or 6 laps but he though it was it was great, "a tight wee car that pulled well and felt confident when throwing it into the corners, and on the way out she did want i wanted her to". When he told me this i was unsure if we were driving the same car. I waited 20 minutes and took her out again.

There was a dramatic change in how the car felt. It must has been the slight drop in the tire pressure but it definitely felt more planted than before. i was able to brake later, take a tighter line and give her more poke on the way out of the corner. It was just nicer to drive generally. I came in and checked the tire pressures and watched a few boys do a practice. The run was cut short by an accident involving the two other juniors.

On the last run of the night i Went out with a 1.4 nova stock rod, a 1.6 lightening rod vauxhall belmont, a 1.2 corsa junior and a 1.4 corsa stockrod. I was having a great run, braking later and later and getting as close to the wall as possible up the straight and turning in at the right time. I managed to pass the 1.4 nova stock rod, along with the 1.6 belmont lightening rod, but when the 1.4 corsa caught me i decided to go wide on the corner and let him get the inside line. The belmont behind him also got through on the inside. I didn't mind it was only a practice run not a race.



Good nights fun, can't complain. Getting harder front springs shortly, extending a new bottom arm to give more negative camber and caster, fixing a 1.4 distributor and replacing it's vacuum advance unit and fitting it to the car and buying a couple of new tires. Front passenger tire is basically done will put a new one on the back passenger and mover the one from there to the front.


Next meeting is on the 4th of April at ballymena raceway and the next one after that is on the 18th of april, should be good fun. I have a video of dad taking the car a few laps but ill wait before i show it.

Sam

 

[JuniorRod88]

Meeting Report 04/04/14

After the practice evening i was feeling confident that we would be in good standing for the racing year ahead.




However, Friday nights meeting was not as expected. My dad was out that night so we both managed to persuade my mother to take me down to the racing provided i didn't write the car off. That evening i loaded the car up along with two extra new scop tires we purchased, which arrived that morning and were fitted to a couple of freshly painted steel rims. We set off at 5:30pm and after a fuel stop we arrived at the track at 6:30pm. I managed to squeeze in a practice run before the first heat. I set my passenger side tire pressures to 30psi and the driver side to 28psi. The run went well but just not a great as the practice evening a week earlier. So before the first heat i dropped the tires another 2psi.

There was an eleven car entry for the night. The majority of which were Corsa's. The rest was a ford fiesta, and two 106's including myself. I was looking forward to the larger grid numbers. We lined up for the first heat and i was starting 6th, with nought but corsa in front of me. The other 106 and the fiesta where starting at the back because they were the quickest on the track at the time.

Under yellow flag we strolled around the bottom corner and we were given the green light half way round. I kept her flat and passed cars up the inside and gained 3rd position. Though i might have been on the grass while passing
Though it wasn't long before a Marshall declared a false start from one of the cars at the back. So i'm afraid it was a restart. I was held up fiercely by two novice corsa drivers, one of which was new to driving all together and the other was having problems finding second. There was a gap between them buy I'm afraid it was to small for the french car to get through.

The race was stopped to recover the struggling corsa who reversed into me on the restart. I didn't mind but it was rather embarrassing for her. When the race finally got under way i managed to pass the majority of the slower corsa's and land in 2nd place. Meanwhile, the quickest cars on the track were making there was up the grid behind me. I saw the two quickest car approaching and let the #10 corsa on the inside on the way into the bottom corner. On the same corner he passed the lad in 1st place. The car in first at the time was new to the sport as you can see from the video below he was turning to much and giving her too much round the bends, causing the poor wee corsa to understeering and nearly over heat. He also made contact with the faster #10 car on the way past. I took the opportunity to pass the novice and make up lost time. A lap or two later the current Irish Champion way in my wing mirror, i let him past mind corner and watched what line he was taking and where he was braking.

A couple of laps later a saw a fiesta in my mirror closely followed by a nova. The fiesta tried to take me down the inside, but i had already turned for the corner. This ended in us both spinning. I kept her flat and spun 360 degrees and after a bumper from the nova i carried on without stopping. The car felt fine so i just carried on. But the race was soon stopped to recover the rear facing fiesta. During our dancing display the novice corsa ploughed through the scene and pasted my while i was picking up speed after the spin.

When we got underway again i let the fiesta past on the outside, though i really didn't have much say in the matter. That down i caught the novice corsa and decided enough was enough. showed myself in his passenger mirror and went up outside before falling back, nudging him wide and taking him down the inside. That dealt with i used the remaining three laps to try and catch the fiesta, i was starting to make up ground but to no reward. I finished the race in 5th place.

I came in and checked the tire pressures and topped her up with fuel. The two back quarter panels were pushed in but, hey hoe, it's a stock car. I pulled the arch out to stop it rubbing on the arches. The passenger door was dented more. I kicked out the dents and didn't really look too much into it. The drivers door flew open during the spin, and it bent the hinged side round, i had nothing to straighten it with so i left it be, the i kicked the dent on the door out and went up to watch the racing.

The other two races went fair better after i dropped the tire pressures, i got a 6th in heat two and another 5th in the final. Wasn't a bad night to be fair. My mother got to see my racing for the first time, though she didn't take much interest. Big thanks to her for recording the races for my dad to watch later.

I think the clutch is slipping. There was a time when we were under yellow flag waiting for the green to drop and i was cruising in second at low revs and i planted her and she took a second or two to pull. i haven't tried but i don't even think shell spin the wheels anymore. I looking into it further after school tomorrow. Maybe it's just me.

ALSO, a new car arrived at the garage last week, it's not french, but you might like it. I've only driven it once but so far i think it's a bag or s#!t. Five points to whoever can guess what she it??!!

The next meeting is on the 18th of this moth and i intend to be racing. Hope you enjoyed the update.

Sam

 

[Spot the welders dog]

That was funny: Little excessive though reversing half way around the track to avoid the girl ramming you again
The fiesta (i think it was) looked like the strut was trying to escape the wheel arch!
Oh, My number one tip for winning - Look out the front window more 'cos having a cosy chat with your mates on the warm up lap won't bring home the silverware

Well done to Mum.

 

[JuniorRod88]

That was funny: Little excessive though reversing half way around the track to avoid the girl ramming you again
The fiesta (i think it was) looked like the strut was trying to escape the wheel arch!
Oh, My number one tip for winning - Look out the front window more 'cos having a cosy chat with your mates on the warm up lap won't bring home the silverware

Well done to Mum.[/quote

I kinda need to look out the side window to see the start Marshall, we roll under yellow flag and watch him until he decides to drop the green and let us race.

I was reversing back into my starting position. It was a race restart so I went back to the yellow roof grade starting position. The younger slower novice drivers start at the front and the older experience drivers start at the back. Usually within the space of a race the fastest drivers will make up the half a lap to win the race. While the slower drivers are left behind. I'm somewhere in between and start half way between the two.

Though if I though she was going to reverse into me again I was have reversed back a fair bit more!

Sam

 

[Spot the welders dog]

Pay me no heed - I am just enjoying the story.
Especially if I suggest you need a comms system: Have an accomplice watching the flag from the stands and shout through a megaphone "NOW Sam GO", or if that's too obvious to all, what about a walkie talkie?
Gotta say now there's a Nova on track though my alliance has changed - using my MK1 everyday *C'mon you Nova!!!"

 

[JuniorRod88]

Haha well I can assure you, that if I had the option if racing a nova over this French car I can assure you I would be racing the vauxhall!! Love the old novas!!! I may have already posted about my dad rallying nova in his younger days...

If you like vauxhall? You may like the new car guess?

 

[DrNik]

I started to read this thread and remembered the young lad on the banger racing programme after TopGear on BBC 2, he didnt have much confidence and wasnt really interested how the car is put together or how it all works, probably a pushy parent,

but how wrong was I, your a great kid/lad/young man (delete as applicable) most of the yoof today don't have a passion or actually have any skills unless its facebook or selfies, but I'm very impressed with your driving,welding and construction skills,

Not having any kids of my own I could only have hoped that should I have done I'd have a couple of you ( that's praise from me)


Keep up the good work, keep the car alive and get out there and win them races

Oh and could it be a corsa

 

[TAITSIE]

Hi Sam
Its great to see someone like yourself getting involved in motorsport and really taking an interest in how things work .

DrNik I have two grown up sons and both of them used to help me when they were younger , the eldest now works with me and builds rally cars as a hobby ( he is a better welder than me !! ) the younger helped me build his Defender . I am proud of both of them

 

[JuniorRod88]

Thank you both for the great comments. I happened to watch the very same programme about a young boy who was racing a ministox car. Hats off to that wee fella, only 12 and racing away to his hearts content. The difference between him and myself is that he spends the majority of his time polishing and cleaning the car while his dad does the initial ground work. I'm sure in the coming years he'll take over maintenance/repair work on the car.

I'm sure you noticed the audio effects in that programme, when he was flat out up the straight it sounded more like a V8 chevettee than it did a 998cc Mini Cooper!

You are correct sir!! We have indeed purchase a Vauxhall Corsa!! She's a 1196cc 8 valve Vauxhall Corsa B. Bought her a week ago and brought her home. Stripped the interior out leaving nothing but the drivers seat and the dash board.

We're in two minds with what to do with her. One this for sure is that we're getting rid of the 1200 engine. I took her a spin up the road earlier in the week, my goodness me it is dead as hector!! It only managed 80mph flat out. Couldn't pull you out of bed on a Saturday morning! While stripping the interior I realised how good of a shell it had. So I'm thinking it may be a better idea to go BIGGER with it. So a full multiple point cage may be on the cards. Along with a bigger plant. We'll see how things go.

I'll get photos up soon.

 

[TAITSIE]

Thank you both for the great comments. I happened to watch the very same programme about a young boy who was racing a ministox car. Hats off to that wee fella, only 12 and racing away to his hearts content. The difference between him and myself is that he spends the majority of his time polishing and cleaning the car while his dad does the initial ground work. I'm sure in the coming years he'll take over maintenance/repair work on the car.

I'm sure you noticed the audio effects in that programme, when he was flat out up the straight it sounded more like a V8 chevettee than it did a 998cc Mini Cooper!

You are correct sir!! We have indeed purchase a Vauxhall Corsa!! She's a 1196cc 8 valve Vauxhall Corsa B. Bought her a week ago and brought her home. Stripped the interior out leaving nothing but the drivers seat and the dash board.

We're in two minds with what to do with her. One this for sure is that we're getting rid of the 1200 engine. I took her a spin up the road earlier in the week, my goodness me it is dead as hector!! It only managed 80mph flat out. Couldn't pull you out of bed on a Saturday morning! While stripping the interior I realised how good of a shell it had. So I'm thinking it may be a better idea to go BIGGER with it. So a full multiple point cage may be on the cards. Along with a bigger plant. We'll see how things go.

I'll get photos up soon.

Hope you enjoy building your new car , just remember that even although you are stripping the car back to basics by the time you fit a full cage and other safety gear the car can weigh as much as a standard car that means engine and transmission mods to the max allowed by your racing regs

 

[TAITSIE]

Just noticed in your video that your race suit was not fastened at the neck , slack marshalling

 

[JuniorRod88]

18-04-14 Meeting Report/Clutch/Lower Engine Mount/New Car Revealed
Well i'm a tad late on it, but here's the meeting report. Dandered down to the racing on Friday night last. For the third meeting of this year. I went to the racing knowing fine well that the clutch may not last the night. When driving the car off the trailer i had to give her more throttle because she struggled to get up over the edge of the ramps. Went out on a practice without even the power to spin the wheels. I wasn't expecting much from the nights racing.

Through the first heat and i managed 6th after a very near miss. On the way out of turn 4 a two car collision occurred leaving two cars stationary half way up the straight on the outside line.i came out of the corner on the outside with and car to the inside of me. Seeing the too cars i steered to the right and managed to avoid to two cars by mere inches. Luckily the car to my right has moved too or i would had made contact with him. Though id prefer damage to the side of the car rather than having to put another front end into her again! when we lined up for the restart i got a nice wee photo on track. though i was later moved up a few positions before the restart...


On the restart i managed to pass a corsa or two before the checkered flag. I was catching a third and was two car lengths away on the last lap, though he later retired after that race due to a bottom end bearing knocking away. After that i came in and fueled up and played with tire pressures. Dropped right to 23 and the back left to 25 then the front to 27. Just playing around at this point.

Went out in the second heat, and the clutch was noticeably worse. When the green flag dropped i was flat out and the car just wouldn't go anywhere. Rather frustrating. Manged a 5th in that one without any drama. Came in and refueled and dropped the tires a few more psi.

Final was going well until the #2 fiesta tried to take me up the inside and i had already turned for the corner. i ended up spinning. The back end of the car dint feel just right after that so i pulled over. Just light panel damage, i felt a rubbing and it just turned out to be the 1/4 panel on the tire. Better safe than sorry.

When putting the car on the trailer, she really struggled reversing up the ramps. So much so she stopped half way and all i could smell was clutch. Got scunnered and held her flat and got her on the trailer with some gentle persuasion. The clutch was nearly done. Brought her home and didn't bother taking her off the trailer until the next day.

Now then then For the last few weeks i have been storing the car in the double garage in the front of the yard because the bigger shed was occupied with a certain Vauxhall...
Long story short it's a future rally car hopefully. She's a white 1996cc 8v 1998 Vauxhall corsa. Drove it a couple of miles when i got it. Safe to say it's dead as hector, handles rather badly and the steering ratio is so slow. No doubt ill be changing it for a power steering rack for a quicker ratio. With four people in the car i managed to get it to 85mph and i'm rather disappointed in that. Pictures will follow soon...

Anyway stole the clutch off the saxo engine and got it fitted. I took my time at it and as a result it took 5 and a half hours over the space of two days. Stopped half way to go watch the grand re-opening of Aghadowey Oval!!!


The track is in some shape now. Just a pity i cant race there. Came home around 6pm and got the box bolted back onto the engine, and back into the car...



Everything back together i noticed a serious amount of movement of the engine and box when i revved the car, the lower gearbox mount was moving back and forward by about 10mm each way and the top gearbox mount wasnt much better. Took the bottom one out and wegde some rubber matting into the slotts then filled around them with heavy duty rubber sealant/glue, only had white though...


Left that over night to cure and beefed up the bracket for the mount while i was at it...




Once fitted to the car it reduced the engine movement dramatically! though there is still quite a bit of movement in the top gearbox mount. Nothing i can do about that at the minute though.

Took her a spin and adjusted the clutch cable. Far more pull from the wee car now! No more slipping clutch and plenty of poke! Ready to race on the 2nd of May!

02-05-14 Meeting Report/Damage Repair
I only got the news two days before that i was due to race on the 2nd of May. So i was in a rush to get the car loaded and get going on Friday evening. My dad had other plans so i managed to convince my mother to tow me down.

I was expecting the car to pull better with the new clutch fitted. Which is did definitely! Maybe i wasn't pushing hard enough, or the front tire could possible be clean done. I didn't finish in the highest position to be quite honest. Went out on a practice and the car was performing quite well. I was keeping up with the remainder of the competitors and was catching the fast men.

The first heat didn't go just to my liking. I finished in 7th position after passing a few corsa's and micra's but the faster red roof me passed me within a few laps. The second heat didn't go much better. I finished 8th and a micra tried to spin me but i steered out of it and the micra went onto the grass on his recovery taking a corsa with him.

In the final i was spun by the same micra and i ripped his front bumper off before sliding into the wall, backwards. I drove onto the centre of the track and retired for the evening. The car still drives fine though but again the back end didn't feel just right. So that done, i put the car on the trailer and was ready to head home. Went to start the tow vechicle(Chrysler Voyager) and the battery was dead. So i got the lend of some jump leads and got the car off the trailer again, but not before having some fun with the handbrake on the football pitch! Anyway, got home in the end.

Damage is well. Bumper is scarp the boot lid and quarter panels are bend but re-usable. The slam panel at the back was bent along with the boot floor. The exhaust had come apart at the silencer and needed to be bolted on again. A day or two later i chained the car to an rsj on the shed and then pulled out the back end with the tractor. In doing so i broke the spot welds holding the boot floor to the back slam panel. I welded it back on again and the bent out the quarter panels. I dug my spare rear bumper out of the corner and got it painted in preparation. Then bolted the exhaust back on after cutting an inch or two off the back of the box so it would stop hitting the trailer when i reverse on...




The car at the minute is sitting ready to race with the new bumper fitted, ill throw some photos up shortly. I do have to investigate the oil pressure though, the oil light decided to come on during the second heat, on the way out of the corners. So a wee investigation will be launched. I have a tesing kit so i might have a look ater on today if i have time. Aghadowey oval is on later tonight a 7:30pm so i'll probably be there.

[VIDEO]

All for the time being. I was supposed to be racing later night. But will official GSCE exams coming up and my dad having other plans for the night, i didn't was to ask my mother to take me down, so i decided to stay in a do a bit of this studying carry on. Do something useful with my time. Anyway I'll be back soon.

Sam

 

[JuniorRod88]

Oil Pressure Test/Distributor Change/New Tire on
After writing the last update i went out ti the shed and did an oil pressure check on the engine to see why the oil light was coming on. Fitted the gauge and left her idling for 15 minutes to warm up. Switched the fan on and then read the gauge. At idle which is my best guess of 1000rpm she was reading 40psi or 3bar as on the gauge below...



At best guess 4000rpm she was reading 4 bar. So oil pressure is close to perfect i think! i can't see anything wrong with those figures.

I then after i topped her up with oil, I decided i would change the distributor out for a 1.4xn model. And I'm glad i did, because there was an extreme amount of play in the rotor arm on the old shaft. My dad modified the distributor casing so that it could house an injection distributors shaft. This was because the old shaft had broken i we needed to fit a new shorter shaft. But it was never the same as before. I always meant to replace it. Also because the vacuum advance was broken as well and i was never able to run any advance.

The new distributor was fitted with ease, however the rotor arm was fitted 90 degree further clockwise than the old one, so i had to move the ht leads round to the next terminal so that they fired at the right time. I bolted the distributor on and didn't even need to adjust it. It was spot on the mark! slightly flooky there!



That done i took her a run and the car felt great. It revs cleaner and quicker than before. It's clear the vacuum advance is a benefit to the very engine. I only wish i had it working sooner. Decided to move the passenger rear wheel to the front and put a new tire on the back. The front tire was clean done and was no use to me anymore and i didn't want to put a new tire on the front, so i used a partly buffed tire from the rear. Partly worn tires provide better grip than a brand new tire.



Then i parked her in the shed and went to the racing at Aghadowey to see what the score was down there. All for the time being. I doubt i will be racing for the next month or so, so i'll be rather quite unless i decide to do anything drastic.

Oh and the back end of the car looks like this now...




Sam

 

[TAITSIE]

Do you have any extra baffle plates in the sump ?

 

[JuniorRod88]

Do you have any extra baffle plates in the sump ?

I haven't at the time being, but I'm investigating into baffling the sump, though it does seem like common sense considering I'm constantly turning right.

 

[TAITSIE]

When does your oil light come on and is it good oil you are using ?
I would have expected the oil pressure to be higher when above idle

 

[JuniorRod88]

Watch the YouTube clip above and you'll see when it comes on. It came on during the exit of the corner. Which makes sense. The oil pressure does increase to around 85psi or 6bar at maximum when I rev the car to the max. At the minute I'm using 10w-40 semi synthetic. That oil was put in her after the head gasket was done around 8 months ago. I should change the oil soon, now that I think about it.

 

[TAITSIE]

Probably oil surge but you should really change the oil

 

[JuniorRod88]

Probably oil surge but you should really change the oil

I'll maybe baffle the sump around the pick up and change the oil afterwards. Should stop any more oil light occurrences.

 

[Cris B]

Is the sump baffled?