GTV6 Rally Car

Fylnn · June 09, 2011, 01:13:52 PM

I am finally happy to show off my project of the last 6 years. Not to take anything away from Greg's excellent post, but I have also been working on a GTV6 to run under PRC rules for gravel rallies. It turned into a much larger project than expected. it originally had a sunroof which had to come out, it was rusty anyway. But the biggest surprise was the rusted hole in the firewall. this meant the engine, wiring, dash all that had to come out and be repaired. so almost total rebuild.

The engine is the original 2.5, it has a total rebuild just before I bought it. The Bosch L-jetronic was working in the beginning, but eventually gave up the ghost. so the big decision was made to switch to a Haltech. This meant I had to switch throttle position sensors and also ditch the Bosch air flow meter with flap and use throttle position and manifold vacuum to tune it. I got an alloy adaptor machined at work on the DNC machine from a 3D CAD model. The Haltech also controls spark via the original distributor. It ended up at 132HP at the rear wheels. The gearbox is standard GTV6, maybe one say an LSD and better ratios.

Brakes are standard rears, fronts are Mazda alloy 4 pot from a later RX7. Discs are slightly larger from a BMW, redrilled to suit. It has a pedal box as you can see. Suspension is by 28mm torsion bars front and slightly stiffer and taller rears. No sway bar for the rear, sort of like Escort BDA theory, with the rear softish to pivot around the front and get power to the ground. The lights have been rewired, the fuel lines have been relocated into the cabin for protection.

At present I am trying to get the CAMS logbook finished before months end and then start to sort out the bugs, tune the suspension and learn to drive it as fast as it deserves.

aggie57 · June 09, 2011, 02:31:27 PM

Can I ask if that's an original front bumper? Reason being it looks incredibly straight, they are very hard to come by in that condition and if that's the case maybe you could swap it for one less pristine so as to "save" this one from the inevitable effects of competition?

Victor Lee · June 09, 2011, 04:57:34 PM

Not to take away your post of your rally car, but I concur with Alister!

That's the straightest looking Alfetta front bumper I've seen in recent times. Even the bumper bar on the GTV6 at the Alfa Museum in Arese wasn't that straight!

Fylnn · June 09, 2011, 08:13:28 PM

I picked the bumper up from Milano Spares a few years back, Marc had had it refurbished. I still have the original that was pretty ordinary. I should look into getting it refurbished as well, just need to work out where.

Fylnn · June 09, 2011, 10:46:57 PM

Paul,

I have had them for 2-3 years. I called in one day when I was in Melbourne and he just happened to have them. so whatever you did must have worked. I still have the originals, which are pretty rough and twisted. I might refurbish them one day or find a better starting point.

Yes I can't wait to get it out there, might have to pause a bit and let the finances catch up. Other problem I have is a bit of a shortage of rallies in SEQ at the moment.

aggie57 · June 10, 2011, 05:17:50 AM

I think you may have inadvertently given Marc some business! Good luck with the project - looks like you're doing a great job with the car.

shane wescott · June 10, 2011, 10:22:31 AM

You guys do realise that the Mighty GTV6 was the last 2WD car to win the Australian Rally Championship in 1987.

Some great rally pedigree there :-)

Enjoy.

aggie57 · June 10, 2011, 01:43:07 PM

Quote from: shane wescott on June 10, 2011, 10:22:31 AM
You guys do realise that the Mighty GTV6 was the last 2WD car to win the Australian Rally Championship in 1987.

Some great rally pedigree there :-)

Enjoy.

Yep - the car now lovingly owned by Angelo Verga.

shane wescott · June 12, 2011, 08:51:56 PM

That car should get free parking in Lygon Street for the rest of it's life :-)

Mark Baigent · June 15, 2011, 10:48:14 PM

Congratulations Flynn ... fantastic result - we all know how much has gone into it - may you have many years of incident free driving and a permanent smile upon your face while doing it !

Fylnn · August 18, 2011, 03:53:26 PM

Well finally it is registered. The sumpguard, harnesses, fire extinguishers and Terra trip and things like that are all built and fitted. Feels the goods and finally got to drive the thing home after at least 8 years off the road. a vast amount of minor work to follow. High on the TO DO list is to work out the driving position. I am 6' 2" and it is all Italian ape at present.

Thinking about floor mounting the accelerator and moving the brake down about 2". With the unboosted brakes and the pedal box the travel is about 1/2" maximum. Although I may yet go a size smaller in the master cylinder to improve the feel. Also need to play with the brake bias, think I am stopping on the rear. Major unfun job now is seem to have major oil leak in rear of sump somewhere. I did change the gasket and rear main when I had the engine out, but obviously I did not do something right to seal it. not enough silicon in the right place.

So other obvious question, has anyone ever changed a sump gasket without taking the engine out? Maybe just lifting it a little? Of course if it is rear main then it is all out. I will look at the weekend. CAMS log book next week and lining up for a shakedown event late September just north of Brisbane.