BRM Track Build

[JERN]

Hi Guys

I've been away for a while doing things with other car, but ive done some bits and bobs to the rover and thought id share.

The plan was to try and get to the ring next year with a few friends. Went in 2008 and it was brill but only in road cars with no mods other than remaps.
Though it would be a lot more fun to get cheap road going track car for next year.

My mates just bought his, a P reg 306 GTi 6. Already with a cage and what not for £995. The idea was to keep them cheap, so if they got crashed or broke it wouldn't be much of a worry. My idea was to do the rover up as it had just been sitting for the last year on my drive rusting away. Lets just say ive got carried away with the build and £1k budget is just a little spot on the horizon! :smile2: Coming up to 4 years of ownership of the rover so thought i'd spend a but time and money on her.

Work done so far:

zr160 k series fitted (25k miles on)
PTP Forged pistons and cons fitted
KW v2 coilovers
25 shot NOS
Gear box refurbished
Lightweight flywheel + AP clutch
Drivesharts refurbished
Powerflex bushes all round
New hubs + bearings (front & back)
New radiator
PRT thermostat
zr160 rear H frame + brm arb
282 620Ti front brakes + japan discs + 2500 pads
260 zr160 rear brakes
New brake pipes
Goodridge hoses all round
Interior striped
New set of rims with AD08s all round

Apologies for the pic quality, iphone was the first thing to hand.
http://pic70.picturetrail.com/VOL1900/9404981/20203801/392035634.jpg

http://pic70.picturetrail.com/VOL1900/9404981/20203801/392035636.jpg

http://pic70.picturetrail.com/VOL1900/9404981/20203801/392035629.jpg

http://pic70.picturetrail.com/VOL1900/9404981/20203801/392035652.jpg

http://pic70.picturetrail.com/VOL1900/9404981/20203801/392035653.jpg

Ive done all the work pritty much by myself over the last 4 months. The cars only been driven 4 miles in that time lol

Next on the list in the next few months or when im drunk enough to warrant spending the money:

Full system + manifold
Shortshift + links refurbed
Rear windows tinted
New wing
Full respray
Emerald ECU (The 160 is still running the BRM mems2, with no problems at all i might add)
Half cage
Recaro pole positions
Flocked Dash
Throttle bodies (Not sure yet, see what the moneys like)

Hoping on completion by june next year, which give me plenty of time to get all the bits together.

[Shaggy]

Looking good!

I need coilovers :(

[Adam]

Oooh, should be a bit of fun.

[The Mole]

Regarding the Ring, bear in mind that if you come off and damage the surface of the circuit or the armco or drop any oil or fluids, then they will charge you for an example, 3 lengths of armco are 2000 euros. Beware

[JERN]

Speaking from experience there the mole? Take it you've been off at somepoint!

Don't know what your suggesting im a good driver...only jokin im a terrible driver lol

Na i found it was really hard to get myself into bad situation at the ring, last time i was in my stage 2+ 270hp ibiza. unless your in something german with daft power and RWD you really have to not be concentrating to go off.

Im going to have a bit play around with my 50 shot fogger nozzle in the next few days. The wizards say it should be safe with the forged pistons, but the k series wont take any more than that. I won't be able to get comprehensive control over the system yet as the timing needs be advanced a few degrees, which obviously can't be done with mems2. Can't wait for an emerald!

With a full system, timing and a colder spark i should see a solid 210hp, for 10 mins that is till the bottle runs out!

Anyone else had any experience with nitrous oxide and the K?

[DarthRaiden]

Looks good!!!

Interesting to see it with ZR/25 wing mirrors on there.

Have no idea about NOS and the K-series. Maybe a bit of interweb research is in order.

[boogie]

Just notice a "v" plate in the passenger foot well it can't be the brm's

[JERN]

Yup sure is boogie, i had the bumper off installing a oil cooler and the plate just fell off the bumper lol havent got round the sticking it back on yet.

Anyone one else think the the front ends just look so much better without a plate on?

[Adam]

If you're using the car on the motorway it will be worth sorting a way to block the oil cooler off as it will get far too cold on a long run.

[JERN]

Yer was thinkin about that adam. maybe just a valve in the cooler pipe to stop flow. Even a solenoid operated valve, that would be cool, just with a switch on the dash.

[JERN]

Hi Guys. Just a small update, the builds still going strong!

The cars back on the road now and insured for a few weeks just to get the suspension set-up right.

It been off the road now for 3 years and the only thing it failed the MOT on was emissions, and that might have had something to do with being nothing inside the cat when i removed it! New £35 cat sorted that.

The cars pulling very strong with the 160 unit and with being stripped out, handlings also excellent, the KW v2's worth every penny of the £1250 :dawgie:

The ring trip is all booked up now so its full steam ahead gettin the car ready for june, few pics of the battery relocation. obviously no performance gains to be had but just tides up the engine bay a bit.

http://pic70.picturetrail.com/VOL1900/9404981/20203801/395445841.jpg

http://pic70.picturetrail.com/VOL1900/9404981/20203801/395445869.jpg

The NOS is getting wired up this week also, after extensive research on nitrous and the K i've found the best ballance of performance/reliability is to use a 70/35 shot nos to fuel. Im using a bottle warmer so should see about a 40hp kick :grin: I've been told i could go higher with my forged pistons but the last thing i need is to be stuck at the ring with a big old hole in the side of one of them.

[Adam]

Looking good! You'll have to take some video footage on the 'ring.

[Fast Alan]

Yep cant wait to see or hear the details when you take it round,what do you think youll get top end speed

[JERN]

Will defo be getting footage of the ring, my mates busy working on a speedo overlay that uses gps for the speed. Will be cool to have the actual speed in the video as i think track footage always seems a lot slower than it is.

Top speed of the car at the mo is 130 max, power runs out at about 5500rpm in 5th which is a bit disappointing as im sure BRMs are booked at 134mph right? I will be able to take it to the redline with the nos so should see 140mph, i've been told not to hold the engine at high rpms though as the chance of plinking/pre-detonation increases with engine speed.

It did have me a little worried as there are 4 mile of straights in total, i'm just hoping i'll be able to carry speed through the corners to make up for poor top end.

Whats the TDR brm like in the corners Adam? Do you find you are able to carry more speed though them than other cars?

[Adam]

Whats the TDR brm like in the corners Adam? Do you find you are able to carry more speed though them than other cars?

Top end will be your big problem, simply because they're only 1.8l, as they say there's no replacement for displacement. The BRM gear ratios are quite long as well.

With regards to corners, with the KW v2's are very good and will improve the handling immeasurably. On just the Gaz's with no other suspension mods there was a fair amount of understeer. We spent a lot of time our our track car perfecting the suspension and adjusting/creating camber to the right degree. Believe me adjustable front top mounts and rear camber plates are worth their weight in gold.

[JERN]

Done! cheers adam. Lucky you can buy top adjustable top mounts of the shelf for the kws so i'll be having some of them.

As for the the rear camber plates, did you just fabricate some v plates up to go between the axle and the hub?

Just confirmed a track day up at knockhill on the last sunday of next month so should be able to get some feedback then.

[JERN]

Just incase anyones wondering how much weight is to be saved by stripping the car down, I've just been down to my local tip.

They have quite an accurate weigh bridge and the guy let me put the rover on. Came off at 950kg, im sure their 1080kg standard so 120kg saving int too bad at all!

[welshone]

Just incase anyones wondering how much weight is to be saved by stripping the car down, I've just been down to my local tip.

They have quite an accurate weigh bridge and the guy let me put the rover on. Came off at 950kg, im sure their 1080kg standard so 120kg saving int too bad at all!

130 :whistle:

[DarthRaiden]

Word of advise, the battery when located in the car should to be in a battery box, in case it explodes. (It does happen and sulphuric acid is nasty stuff and will eat the car). Shouldn't be too expensive these days. Had to do it on the rally car for Group A rules, but its now in Group N and the battery has to go back under the bonnet.

Love to see some pics of the car at the track.

[JERN]

130 :whistle:

DOH!! Good at maths me man :judge:

Just collected my bucket seats yesterday, i'll be making up some adaptors for the runners this week sometime. I'll get some pics up when their in.

[JERN]

Done a bit more more work on the car. It performed floorlessly at knockhill last week but the trackday did expose a fuel leak, so had the tank off today. Should get a new one on monday but no rush, the tank was 1/4 full when i removed it, even though the gauge was reading empty lol bonus it went straight in the cupra!

Been removing soundproofing aswell, what a f*****g PIG of a job! Makes me wonder if its worth it, but is done now so what the hell..

http://pic70.picturetrail.com/VOL1900/9404981/20203801/396503927.jpg

Also picked up my new system today aswell, full ss 2" powerflow with sports cat. And before you say anything yes i know, thats the most hideous, god awful exhaust tip i've ever seen aswell!! It nearly put be off getting it but since the system was £650 new and i payed £150 and its only seen 300miles on a car, it was a deal i couldn't refuse!

Im taking it to my local exhaust people on wed and there gonna weld on a 3" slash cut tip to sit right with the 200 bumper. AAS in newcastle are the daddys.

http://pic70.picturetrail.com/VOL1900/9404981/19178822/396503971.jpg

[Alex]

nice looking car bet shes fast! i would have painted the floor red cos you don't have the carpet down

[Fast Alan]

Ha ha I saw this exhaust on e bay it was the subject of some talk on .org,perhaps the silly tip on the end took away its real value and made it a good buy,once the tips sorted youll have done well

[JERN]

Ahhh yes , i got the system off a mate, it's been sitting down the side of his garage for years now. It was originally off his T series ZR and he was wanting £400, i told him where to go at that price so he stuck it on ebay, needless to say it didnt sell as he listed it as a zr turbo exhaust! It's taken me 2 years to wind the price down to £150 lol

I've got the tip cut off now, it wasn't an easy job! £20 for a new one fitted ant too bad!

[samsexpress]

Would 2.5" system not of been more benificial to this? as i have to run a 2.5" system on my civci for optimum power

[JERN]

Yer i was thinking about 2.5" system, but since im still running the engine with the vvc mechs i still need to maintain some back pressure for the system to work properly. If i went 2.5" i would lose low end torque. 2" should be more than adequate for the power im wanting to see, and to be honest its more the noise im after than anything else lol feel daft at track days when diesels have more barp than me!

The backbox is away getting its new tip welded today, should get the system fitted this weekend so i'll get some pics up.

[JERN]

I've been contemplating a janspeed manifold for a few months now, and after extensive research i've decided against it. They make ok power on newer k's as the cat in the manifold is being removed, but as we do not have this cat theres not much improvement. Im sure zr 160's can make another 20bhp with a full system and janspeed manifold, i think the brm would see about 2 if that. Hardly worth it for £200.

When comparing the janspeed mani and standard BRM one theres not much diffrence to be seen, ok quality of weld finishing is a bit better on the janspeed, but thats not to say the rover one is of poor quailty as is well built. Considering 95% of cars come with a cast iron manifolds that flow pritty badly, the rover one is a nice bit of standard kit.

I've given mine a bit of a clean up and a spray. Paint used is matt black VHT flameproof, my new fav spary, its the dog's b*****ks!

Rust remover and a hours worth of sanding and wire bruching gets this.
http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l612/jernjackson1/IMG_0001.jpg

http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l612/jernjackson1/IMG_0010.jpg

http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l612/jernjackson1/IMG_0005.jpg

Finish with the VHT is awesome. Stick it in the over for 30min @ 120°C, 30mins @ 200°C then 30mins @ 315°C and its good for 1093°C! so the tin says anyway.

http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l612/jernjackson1/IMG_0006.jpg

http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l612/jernjackson1/IMG_0009.jpg

Now to fit the rest of the exhaust with my new tip!

[Fast Alan]

Looks very smart and I agree that the Rover system is quite well made,Ive replaced all of mine now except the manifold itself and thought the build and fit was a step above most after market ones,just stuck a Sportex box on the end for some noise :)

[Shaggy]

Disagree with that.

Comparing the 2 the Janspeed is soo much better,

[Adam]

I'm with Shaggy on this one, the JS manifold is measured out to give (within a reasonable tolerance) the same length primaries, one of the fundamental factors to getting a better performance exhaust.
This picture below shows the disparity in length between the primaries on the standard manifold, the far right and far left are much longer than the middle two...

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e158/brm_ski/Rover%20BRM%20Track%20Car/29122007007.jpg

[Shaggy]

Plus the Rover item is welded from the inside is it not?? I'll have to check but sure it is.

Although i havent really driven mine with the new one on i've heard from numerous people that they make soo much difference.

[JERN]

Be intresting to see the difference between the too, RR figers and drivability. I know there'll defo be an improvement it's just whether it's worth the price.

Think the manifold is £200 and you also need janspeeds de-cat or sports cat pipe, thats another £80 for the decat and £290 for the sports cat!

Plus the Rover item is welded from the inside is it not?? I'll have to check but sure it is.

Yer the rover one is welded from the inside, i filed the rough edges down on mine as much as i could, the welds do fill the ports quite a bit.

Although i havent really driven mine with the new one on i've heard from numerous people that they make soo much difference.

Have you got a full Janspeed system shaggy?

[Shaggy]

I have the manifold, then a small flexing pipe I made myself using the original downpipe, then the cat and powerflow 2.25" system.

Cheapest way I could do it while still using the powerflow, although its now a tad loud

[JERN]

Ah cool was wondering how it would join onto my powerflow system if i got one, as i already have a sports cat.

BTH i apologize if i done a half arse review on a product i havent even tested, it wan't ment to come out like that. I've only looked at one for a short time on a mates metro. I just ment compared to pig iron manifolds on other statndard engines the rover one flows quite well.

I have a equal length manifold on the cupra that pulled an extra 29hp 41ft/lb, just with the manifold, that was worth the £300. I think thats why i can't warrant £280 to see <5hp from the rover, not just yet anyway. I guess thats just NA tuning for you, every tiny power increase costs a fotune!

[Shaggy]

From speaking to various people the Janspeed is one of the best things to do to the VVC engine. Hopefully i'll get to try mine soon. Off to my mates this week hopefully for MOT time!!

[JERN]

Well im finaly away on my Nurburgring adventure tomorrow, can't wait! Wish me luck!

Newcastle -> Amsterdam -> Nurburg (4 Nights) -> Amsterdam (1 Night) -> Newcastle

I have all the faith in the world in the car, i've been driving it hard the last few months and it hasn't missed a beat. Just replaced the fuel tank and pump as i found it had a leak when brimmed, also just had to fix a coolant pipe as one had a small leak aswell.

Big thanks to James (Nobrainer) for the supply of the spare wheel, received yestaday with thanks.

Heres how the car stands atm.

http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l612/jernjackson1/IMG_0024.jpg

http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l612/jernjackson1/IMG_0023.jpg

http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l612/jernjackson1/IMG_0026.jpg

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http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l612/jernjackson1/IMG_0031.jpg

http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l612/jernjackson1/IMG_0032.jpg

http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l612/jernjackson1/IMG_0033.jpg

[Seabart]

Good luck Mate!

Have fun, show a few German cars your dust for us!

[Nobrainer]

Enjoy. And give it some welly from me :)

[JERN]

Hi guys

Not been on in a while as i've been a busy bee.

Just an update on the ring trip, well is was awesome! The car never missed a beat the entire trip. Total miles covered was about 1k and from the go it got thrashed!

The weather was fantastic the day we arived in Germany and got steadly worse to the point of pissin it down all day on the sunday. Best time was a 9:20 on the saturday when it was dry in the morning. In all i only got 4 laps in mainly because of the weather and the fact that it's now 24 euro a lap! My wet lap on the sunday was a slow one cos god is that track slippery when wet! i now understand the term "Summer ice"!

Got a few vid but this is the only one i've uploaded at this point -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3BouPv6ojY

This was my first lap on the saturday, think nerves got the better of me and only pulled out a 9:42. Positive the car can do a sub 9, but that'll have to wait for next year.

Been driving the car on the road since i got back and think i now need some hearing aids and a chiropractor! so its going off the road at the end of this month. I'm hoping to do a few more bit to it when its off the road, cage, de-vvc, throttle bodies, ecu and such. I really want to get into trophy racing next year (monies abiding) and would love to do it in the Rover.