RT rebuild thread

[DH2]

Hi all.

I've been lurking around here for quite a while now (here is my introduction from a couple of years ago).

I sold my Westfield in the summer of 2009, and had a year off from fiddling with cars. The bug struck back, and am currently struggling to make time for a recommissioning job on an MG Midget, which has been in the family for 25 years. During my time off, I bought myself a Mk3 MX-5, and have stayed very much involved with the se7ens list which is quite active here in Cambridge. So I took my MX-5 on a tour7 tour to Scotland earlier this year, which led me to thinking about getting into another se7en, and decided to keep my eyes peeled for a Stylus after that.

A couple of weeks ago, Phil (Cerberus) 's car came back up for sale by the guy who bought it back in July. I decided to go and take a closer look, as it formed the rough basis of what I want to create (a road/touring-biased RT), and they don't come up very often. Though I was originally going to pick up a cheaper X-flow classic and try to convert it to an RT, whilst this was a bit more money than I had envisaged, some of the pain of that conversion is already there.

So, I ended up buying the car, and collected it last week. My plan is to complete the Midget project first, so the Stylus will be stored at a friends garage at the end of my street. Once that is done, I will swap them around, and will commence a rebuild on the Stylus. Plans for it a fairly loose at the moment, but I am aiming to swap the engine and gearbox for something a little more modern (possibly K-series, Duratec, Sigma on a Type-9?), convert the rear end to fully-independant (!), and re -store, -fit and -wire the rest of the car to a nice standard.

I'll keep this thread up to date with progress, but will also have a "blog" here, which currently contains a bunch of photos I took of the car when I got it home last week.

There won't be much progress on the Stylus for a while, so don't hold your breath just yet!

Dave

[DH2]

No actual progress on the car itself, but I have been doing some thinking, researching, and planning.
I've decided I am going to put a 1600 Sigma engine into the car, with a Type 9 gearbox, and a Sierra limited-slip diff. I'm on the lookout for an engine now, just keeping my eyes peeled for a decent looking one at a decent price (crate engine is a bit rich) - fortunately there are plenty of 1.6 Focus out there to donate an engine, but they still seem to ask good money. Have got a gearbox, driveshafts, and diff lined up from friends spares collections.
I picked up some blingy DTH throttle bodies off eBay last week:


I've established contact with Phil about the Stylus, who has been very helpful in terms of clearing a few things up. I need to have a quick look at the top end on the Vauxhall lump in it, so I can sell it on with a relatively clear conscience! Oh and I've got a buyer lined up for the gearbox, once it comes out, so that's a start, just need to find a buyer for the engine...

Meantime, I'm progressing the rebuild work on my Midget project - front suspension is dismantled now:


DH2

[stylussprinter]

Is it dedion then ? I assumed it was live axle . The Sierra diff will only fit an independant or dedion.

[DH2]

Is it dedion then ? I assumed it was live axle . The Sierra diff will only fit an independant or dedion.

It is a live axle... until I get my angle grinder out!

DH2

[Werner Van Loock]

why a 1.6 sigma? The engine needs some descent tuning to get some descent power, the 1.7 puma on the contrary. It's the same sigma engine but has more power to start with but also better internals that can take it a bit higher without expensive parts.

[DH2]

why a 1.6 sigma? The engine needs some descent tuning to get some descent power, the 1.7 puma on the contrary. It's the same sigma engine but has more power to start with but also better internals that can take it a bit higher without expensive parts.

The 1.7 has a bit more power as standard, unless you go for the variable valve timed unit, but that is then difficult to take further. It also has Nicasil lined bores, which are potentially life-limited. The phase 2 1.6 can be revved to 8krpm on virtually stock bottom end, you just need rod bolts and valve springs, adding cams, TBs and an ECU should see up to 180bhp. There is alot of experience of tuning the 1.6, as it was widely used in the Super 1600 class in world rally.

DH2

[DH2]

Just because I'm itchy to get started on the Stylus (but getting further bogged down in the Midget)...

Since my last post, I've picked up the Type 9 gearbox and Sierra lobro driveshafts. They need a bit of a clean up, particularly the driveshafts will need to be refurbished, but the fundamentals are there and the gearbox looks ok inside:


A couple of weeks ago I picked up a (second-hand) Koso all-in-one dash display for it. This provides tacho, odometer, water and oil temperatures, fuel level, and warning tell-tales. The only additional thing required will be oil pressure, for which I prefer to use a mechanical gauge anyway. Looked pretty when I powered it up to test it:


Just after I got the Koso, I also spotted another half-price item on eBay, a lightweight billet steel flywheel. Again this has had little use before being swapped for an even lighter item on a race engine. It means I can't use the OEM clutch size, which is a slight downside, but better throttle response through less rotational inertia in the drivetrain will be good:


Finally, I've got a set of brand new unused spare pistons and rods, again off the 'bay, for just a tenner!

I had hoped to be starting on the Stylus by now, but I'm having to do more to the Midget than I originally thought. I'm aiming to have it all done by the spring, then I can start work on pulling the Stylus apart!

DH2

[stylussprinter]

A case of too many toys then

[Antnicuk]

i use a koso, i like it and it works well

[chill]

Let me know if you decide to go irs , I may be making some bits up soon.

[Antnicuk]

I am definitely interested in a IRS conversion so i would like to know more.....

[chill]

wont be untill the autumn , will start thread nearer the time , if your on board let me know.

[chill]

DH - you say you would like a 5 pot , with the price of fiat coupes at rock bottom I have been looking at the 20vt engine as a possability, non peaky 270bhp with ease mmmm , I have had one of these for a few years and it is a great engine and it isnt that tall either. Some tuners get 500bhp out of them

[DH2]

DH - you say you would like a 5 pot , with the price of fiat coupes at rock bottom I have been looking at the 20vt engine as a possability, non peaky 270bhp with ease mmmm , I have had one of these for a few years and it is a great engine and it isnt that tall either. Some tuners get 500bhp out of them

Hmmm, it's a good call, though I wouldn't want that sort of power, but the non-turbo version could probably be persuaded to 200bhp fairly easily I imagine.
But then there's complexities of mating it up to a RWD gearbox, and re-orientating the engine to be longitudonal. Worth doing some internet research though I guess. Not that I really want to change my plans again now!

As for IRS, it is currently my intention to strip the car down (hopefully get the body off!) and have a look. I'm expecting to find something pretty similar to a Fury live axle chassis, so it might make some sense to mostly copy the Fury IRS... but either way, essentially it needs some extra steel around the rear of the cockpit area (if it's just got the sheet steel seats pans as commonly found on live axle Sylva), and a diff cage from which to hang some wishbones. Sounds simple, and is, but isn't exactly trivial to get it right.

DH2

[Antnicuk]

As for IRS, it is currently my intention to strip the car down (hopefully get the body off!) and have a look. I'm expecting to find something pretty similar to a Fury live axle chassis, so it might make some sense to mostly copy the Fury IRS... but either way, essentially it needs some extra steel around the rear of the cockpit area (if it's just got the sheet steel seats pans as commonly found on live axle Sylva), and a diff cage from which to hang some wishbones. Sounds simple, and is, but isn't exactly trivial to get it right.

DH2

thats the sort of thing i was thinking. could do with some sky hooks under the boot to hang things from