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2CV racing with car #48: round the clock again...


chaseracer

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  • chaseracer changed the title to Project 2CV: racer resurrection - further misadventure imminent...
  • 6 months later...
  • 1 month later...

When we last met, Laurence, Simon and I had achieved a solid shell from what had previously been mostly rust/air/bent (select all that apply).  This hard-won structural integrity would not last long without appropriate protection, so that's what we did next.

Early December 2020.  Between lockdowns.  Cold/wind/rain/hail/snow.  Ideal conditions to paint a car, then.  But we had a cunning plan...

First, we all took a week off work.  The same week this time, which was helpful.  An electric sprayer was borrowed (and eventually bought) from @Tamworthbay, who'd used it during the restoration of his Capri.  Quantities of paint, primer and allied chemicals - as well as other necessary consumables - were gathered.  Appropriate PPE was acquired, not just for personal protection from the aforementioned nasties but so we could also amuse passing civilians by looking like doomed third-rate extras from a forgotten edition of Doctor Who circa 1973.

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Large sheets of hanging plastic transformed the garage into a professional-standard* spray booth.  Separate apparatus for heat and fume extraction was hired and set up.  Racks for body panels were made.  We would do the preparation outside on the drive, moving into the heated garage for paint application.  This last would mostly be done by the Team Principal - not because he is old and feels the cold, we were assured, but it's his car and.... er, quality assurance and... well, you get the idea.  Very reasonable, I thought.

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As we've told ourselves throughout this project: "it's a racing car, we're not 'restoring' it".  But we all want to do the best job we can.  So the shell and all the outer panels were prepped wet&dry with increasingly fine paper, any imperfections made good with stopper, and etch primer used where necessary.  Three of the doors are from the original build in 1992.

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We sprayed the inside of the shell - and the underneath, over stonechip - in the blue top coat (a Jaguar colour, and a complete change from the original yellow) then masked up the openings ready for the primer coat on the exterior.  These were applied and allowed to harden while we worked on the removable panels, priming and topcoating in sequence.  

Then -  while the smaller panels were spread around the warmth of the Team Principal's house, much to Mrs B's delight - the outer shell finally turned that lovely shade which was the closest we could find to that carried by Laurence's inspiration, the blue/white DS rally cars of the 1960s.

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More next time on the final accelerated build-up.  Did we make it to the season opener at Cadwell Park?  Yes!  Did the car?  Ah.......

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Two.

We traced the entire electrical system back, and all was good.  Both coils were used, of unknown history, and from the spares stash.  The brand-new one that Mrs B (bless her) rushed to Leicestershire from ECAS worked perfectly.

Make of that what you will.  I know I did.

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On 5/12/2021 at 7:00 PM, chaseracer said:

Tomorrow, at WTF??! o'clock in the VERY A.M., to a track day at Mallory Park for a shakedown (hopefully not literally)

😎

Are spectators / assistants / general hangers-on allowed at such events yet?

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  • 4 weeks later...
  • chaseracer changed the title to Project 2CV: racer resurrection - AND WE'RE RACING!!
1 minute ago, chaseracer said:

George (Laurence's younger son and Musical Offspring's best pal) is driving race 2 in about half an hour.  His licence arrived just in time!

so it will go quicker cos son of braodhurst will be driving :D (lightness wins)

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  • chaseracer changed the title to Project 2CV: racer resurrection - it's exhausting!
  • chaseracer changed the title to Project 2CV: racer resurrection - the Midlands Engines...

The races at Mallory Park on August 1st highlighted a problem with the race engine - it was noticeably down on power and we were several seconds a lap slower than the main field.  Not good.

Stripping the engine down post-race revealed a small piece of steel (from feck knows where...) lodged in the edge of one of the piston crowns, and that the pistons themselves had been in very slight contact with the cylinder heads at high revs.  

Another visit to our friendly machine shop for work on eight heads - two for each engine and two spares - and all was well.  The three race engines were then reassembled.

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Prep for the 24hour race continues!

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