Project Dollywobbler's Foxy little number

[plasticvandan]

You won't but if you do want any info I've owned 4 of these and know them pretty much inside out.Engines can still be got cheap.brakes are a mix,mini front cyls but a certain bore,drums are unique to the fox.

[tommotech]

A fine choice DW. Looking forward to this project.

 

I have a host of Reliant parts and some experience of that engine. Let me know if you need any help.

[dollywobbler]

You won't but if you do want any info I've owned 4 of these and know them pretty much inside out.Engines can still be got cheap.brakes are a mix,mini front cyls but a certain bore,drums are unique to the fox.

 

Don't be so dismissive! Of course I'll want info. When I went to look at it, the first thing I thought is "I'm going to have a lot of questions for Plasticvandan." I just don't know what I need to know yet. Both mirrors have been knocked off, so that might be a good starting point. Brake master cylinder is also locked solid, so some hints about what I need to look for there might be handy. 

[Eddie Honda]

I might be interested in the seized boat-anchor if you choose not to go in and have a look inside it.

 

I do have to chuckle about the engine location on these, with that initial bonnet access of promise giving way to despair, so far back and half-buried under the bulkhead that you might as well be working on a bloody tricycle.

[yes oui si]

Mid-engined two seater win.

 

Engine and box are tiny, and the prop is basically two UJs with a 1" spacer between them so engine swap ideas need to be suitably tiny.

[Joey spud]

 

I went out to this one with dodgy alternator wiring in Tonbridge last year.

 

Chap got it from a Reliant specialist / breaker called Joe who operates out of a farm in the Midlands.

[dollywobbler]

20170823_090657.jpg

 

I went out to this one with dodgy alt wiring in Tonbridge last year.

 

Chap got it from a Reliant specialist / breaker called Joe who operates out of a farm in the Midlands.

 

Aye. This one has passed through Joe's hands at some point. Oddly, the only time I've visited him was to borrow a Fiat 500 for a mag feature. 

 

Eddie - you sure about that engine access? I can see the gearbox ending just under the windscreen, which suggests the engine will be entirely accessible. Unless I've managed to remember that entirely incorrectly from my brief glance this evening.

[Eddie Honda]

Yes, it's well back in the body. Certainly compared to the Kitten.

 

The middle of the engine is below the bottom of the windscreen (if we take middle as SU dashpot and back of engine bay/bulkhead as where the brake master cylindern / washer bottle sits)

 

These pictures down the page on the Blue show where it sits: http://forum.retro-rides.org/thread/172638/1987-reliant-wheel-brakes-restromod

 

Don't get me wrong, it's accessible, but it's does have that offset.

[dollywobbler]

*Mental note. Fit spark plugs before fitting engine.*

[plasticvandan]

Engine has to come out the top on the Fox,it's in the same place on the chassis as the kitten,but the body sits differently over it.chassis is galvo,and almost same as kitten,it uses different front for rods.these had a foam type busy which disintegrates,poly are available.look online for "hidunc fox" a friend of mine called Duncan Bradford who owns 3 Foxes,one he bought new in 1984.he has a webpage full of useful info.Master is a Dual circuit same as on post 82 Rialto/Robin.Mirrors also same,but can command up to £50ea.a popular alternative is the older metal type used on caterham kitcars,same mounting holes but half the price.

[oldcars]

 Warning DW breaks interweb 

Reliant Fox, Invacar & a Dacia. Winning.

Really looking forward to this one.

 

I use Brook Road Garage for my Reliant spares. Chap it spot on.

 

His details are on this link.

 

http://www.reliantownersclub.com/specialist.html

[Eddie Honda]

Master is a Dual circuit same as on post 82 Rialto/Robin.

If it has the same brake compensater as the dual-circuit Kittens, BEWARE the mix of UNF/metric brake fittings.

[Eddie Honda]

it uses different front for tie rods.these had a foam type busyh which disintegrates,poly are available

Type a bit slower lad!

[plasticvandan]

https://sites.google.com/site/hidunctechntips/home

 

good starting point.

Use Mr Mason only if you have to,he will have anything second hand,but you will pay for it.

Once you have an engine sorted,THE first thing you must do is change the petrol hoses,particularly from pump to carb,and make sure the overflow pipe/circuit is present,or it WILL catch fire.

[plasticvandan]

If it has the same brake compensater as the dual-circuit Kittens, BEWARE the mix of UNF/metric brake fittings.

iirc they dont,that type was used on robins and kittens between 1978 and 81 when dual circuit laws came in,after that they changed to the Rialto system.

[dollywobbler]

Thanks folks.

[plasticvandan]

Heres a few photos of mine,Reliant didnt know if the thing would sell,so the first 100 were all painted champagne beige and one sent to 100 dealers to see what the response was.Thats why so many are beige.It was made up until 1990,but in reality all effort and sales had gone by 87.

 

[Supernaut]

I know of a rusty Suzuki Cappuccino that could possibly be bought for its 660cc 3-cylinder turbo engine...

 

It is 15 miles north of Aberdeen, mind. So logistics may be a problem.

[Guest Hooli]

I know of a rusty Suzuki Cappuccino that could possibly be bought for its 660cc 3-cylinder turbo engine...

 

It is 15 miles north of Aberdeen, mind. So logistics may be a problem.

 

If only DW had known a few weeks ago.

[oldcars]

I've just been looking at the cost of replacement engines, £300 gets you something that's been sat out of a car for 6 years, a running engine with gearbox is £500, with no real question how healthy that engine is. Even stuff like new flywheels are over £250! Now you can see why even fucked Rialtos & Robins go for stupid money

So there is still hope for mine 

[Joey spud]

 

My Dad made a Ute out of an early 750cc Robin about twenty years ago.

 

And you can just see the nose of his brown and beige v reg estate in shot too.

[Datsuncog]

You swine, I'm now deep down an internet rabbithole of Reliant, MEBEA, Fiat and Sipani products and by cracky, the stuff I'm finding down here...

 

 

My only memory of seeing a Fox in the wild (as it were) was a handpainted yellow one that used to tow small boats up the slipway at Groomsport harbour for many years. I'm not sure whether it was believed that the glassfibre and galvanised chassis made it impervious to seawater's debilitating effects, but even so it looked increasingly unhappy as the years rolled on... until one day it was gone.

 

Even so... would, definitely.

 

Can't wait to see this one resuscitated - hopefully less of a headache than the Invacar, in terms of mechanical parts availability?

[ruffgeezer]

Is the engine the same as the Rialto? There is a chap near me with several and a lot of spares...

[oldcars]

Is the engine the same as the Rialto? There is a chap near me with several and a lot of spares...

Yes i think so. Handy to know. Shame is a bit away from me.

[dollywobbler]

It should have a high-pressure 850 I believe, though I'm not sure how much I care.

[plasticvandan]

Meant to have the HTE engine,but IMO the hype is unjustified,they are more prone to blowing headgaskets and the heads cant be skimmed.The cooking red top 40hp 850 is a much better lump,tho in reality the 750 was the best of the lot.

what year is the Fox? as there was a change over of gearboxes and a starters in 1984

[Bradders59]

That would be a lot of fun with a Hayabusa engine fitted. 

[barefoot]

I have never in all my days, known anyone to buy such a consistent load of total old crap, no hopers the bloody lot of them.

 

Well done, Sir.

[timolloyd]

This is absolutely ace. It comes to something when a 2CV is the most familiar car to Joe Public on one person's fleet

[plasticvandan]

Regarding the windscreen, when i cracked mine National Mobile Windscreens had a new one for me the next day for £70 fitted,but that was 10 years ago.Its a Fiat 127 screen