Rally Spec Focus Build (56k beware)

[JimmySolo2]

Do you know if this seat is bigger than the Corbue Forza II ?

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Silonius

What is the part number off those wheel studs? I ordered some H&R wheel spacers that came with front wheel studs but I still need a set for the back.

http://www.mc2racing.com/products/xr...uds/index.html

i've dealt with these guys on numerous occasions for my XR project. Great guys.

Call /email to see if you can get just 8.

[BigSandwich]

Originally Posted by John B

Your wife rocks.

Thanks I think she does as well. As for the other questions.

Stud kit is ARP part number 100-7708. They were $11 or so a set at Jegs. I am sure you can get them from any parts supplier.

I am not going to get the motorsport subframe at this point. I don't think rear camber is going to be a big competitive advantage at this point. Maybe once everyone gets that cars prepped to the sharp end of the rules it will be different.

JimmySolo2: No the seat is not wider than a Forza II. I looked at the specs online and it appears that it is at least an inch narrower. If you are ever out toward columbus you are welcome to give mine a test fit. I had a set of forzas in my last car and I barley fit in them I had to really push on myself to the get all the way into the back of the seat and I only fit while wearing my firesuit. I couldn't fit in a pair of jeans. I don't have any of those problems with the racetech.

Alright onto the update. I have been buying a bunch of the other parts like DMS, skid plate, co-driver seat, harnesses, etc, so I will have more pics once those come in. I took a trip to the cage builder last weekend and test fit the seat with the seat braket. There wasn't a whole lot of progress but the builder feels we are still on schedule. I also unpacked part of the brake kit just to make sure I had everything.

Look at the cute like break pads for the rears.


The knuckles come with the bearing pre installed which is nice. One less pressing operation.


And the front calipers come loaded and already attached to the carriers.




Here is a shot of the seat being test fit


And one from the the passenger door. The brackets are nice because the use the stock seat mounts.


All the seams are clear in the back.


Here is the strut top plates being made.


And a detail shot of the seam welding. Since the focus is galvanized metal the welding can be nasty the build decided to wield the whole seam rather than stitch it up front. I am fine with this as it will provide a littler more strenth.


Since this is Christmas weekend I will not be get to see the car until next Wednesday or so. Hopefully there will be more bent bars at that point.

[Focusfre4k]

holy crap someone is finaly following through on this

good work

whats the plan on power and its not going to be AWD is it?
if so im really jealous

[P-51]

Just a suggestion: You should take the front fenders off, and have him seam weld the forward chassis rails. The fenders will come off in about 30 seconds from where you're at right now.

For reference:

[BigSandwich]

Nope not AWD. This is for the spec rally focus there is a link in the first post. Power will be stock for the first race.

P-51. I am going to get the frame rails stitched but since most of that can be done with the motor in the car I am going to wait until after the first couple of races. Shouldn't be a problem as the first race in on sand and the second one is tarmac so that car will not take a huge beating right out of the gate.

[redshift]

You are living my dream! keep it coming!

[jdbeier38]

nice air compressor! just to tell you by the way....your wife spent a good $400+ on it lol....sears doesnt give the air tools with it...its an extra $100 package you can buy to start you off on top of the $375 air compressor you just got lol.....your the luckiest man alive....i envy you lol

[John B]

Hey Sammich, I don't know if I told you this before, but I grew up in Dayton.

I know....la dee freakin' da!

[dcsvt]

Everything is looking great Andrew, look forward to seeing it at Sandblast!! How is Simon coming along with his?

51 days and counting!!!

[BigSandwich]

Yeah don't remind me, the schedule is going to be very tight, but thats the fun of rally. Simon's car is basically done, he has even taken the car to a rallyx. I think all he is waiting on is stickers and some under body plastic.

jdb: Actually my wife spent less than $300 on the air compressor and the air tools. Sears was running a sale on black Friday where the compressor was on sale and the air tools where thrown in for free.

[BUR_ZX3]

I was gonna say... Sears always has great sales around Black Friday and day after Christmas where the tools are uber cheap.


Lookin good man!

[Silonius]

Originally Posted by BigSandwich

Simon's car is basically done, he has even taken the car to a rallyx. I think all he is waiting on is stickers and some under body plastic.

So he went with plastic skidplating? Did he make it himself or is someone finally making skidplating for the Focus?

Ever since you told me that you almost sanded through your oil pan just from rallycrossing, I've wanted some.

I think that was you.

And BUR ZX3, I cannot condone your sig.

[BUR_ZX3]

SO DELICIOUS!!!!

[BigSandwich]

By skidding I meant for the fuel lines,gas tank, and rear suspension. We both purchased our engine skid plates from Davenport Racing. I will post some pictures of it once I get it, it looks like a stout unit. We kinda lucked out because he had a focus in his shop when we called and he just made 3 of them rather than one.

[Silonius]

Very good timing! Please do take pictures.

[Rally India]

Awesome stuff man! Do keep up updated with the progess of the build....with lots of pics too.

[05redZX3]

Nice car!

[jrssvt]

keep the updates coming bro.

[BigSandwich]

Time for a short update. I finally got a hold of the cage builder it appears that we were playing a complicated game of phone tag. His answering machine was acting like it was recording messages but wasn't actually recording, so messages that I was leaving were not getting heard. And he had the wrong home phone for me so I wasn't getting any of his calls, good times.

The cage is coming along nicely. The main hoop, front half roll bars, backstays, sill bars, stitch welding and floor plugs have been finished. We had to check head clearance to decide what shape would be best for the roof support. I took several pictures but they are on the internal memory of the camera and I couldn't find the computer cable to off load them. I will buy one soon probably tomorrow and have a much bigger update.

[dcsvt]

I don't see you on the official entry list, are you still going to make it to Cheraw? Hope so, i want to see the new ride. It looks like it might be a full field with the addition of the RallyMoto!

[Croc_Tease!]

Racetech

[BigSandwich]

I just sent me entry in on Tuesday. So as long I get the car built I will be ready for Sand Blast.

Croc: I know isn't racetech yummy. I am going to be sad when I have to put the seats in the car and have to go back to sitting on sofa in my living room

[BigSandwich]

Hello Everyone,
Well it is time for another update. I finally got the photos loaded off the camera. That was way harder than it should have been. I went to the cage builders again today so there is a lot of pics in this update. I think 20 total. I also got the DMS shocks a couple of days ago and I will post pics of those tomorrow. They are so sweet that I think they deserve thier own post. Well without further ado here are the pictures.


I got this beauty from Harbor Freight for X-mas. And I was able to use it right away. No more having to pay for this service.


My father wasn't using this anymore so I took it off his hands. Does a great job in my garage Will be worth its weight in gold if winter ever really starts here in OH.


Here is the press in action. Making short work of the old wheel studs.


Nice ARP studs all pressed in.


Sorry about the focus on this shot but here you can see how much longer the ARP studs are.


Here is one of the uprights all put together now I just need a car to bolt it too


Figured I would give the old K&N the buisness while the car was away.


Now on to the good pics there are from last week:

I will start at the front and work my way back. Here is the front strut tops all plated.


Front Half Roll Bars in place. He had to fishmouth the dash bar a little to get bar past it. It is also going to relocate the fuse box a little.


Junction with the main hoop. It is starting to look like a rally car.


Main hoop and back stays


Sill bar in place. Don't want those trees intruding on the cockpit.


Here is the seam welding around the back sturts and also where the back stay comes down to add some support.


Now here are the pics from today's Trip:


The front strut tower is now really beefy. I think will have a hard time bending it now.


Here is the tie in to the rest of the cage. He is going to close up the hole with sheet metal so I will not have to worry about a draft coming in from the engine compartment.


Another Dash bar shot. Notice the doors are starting to come together.


Sill Bar all stitched in this will ad stregth to the car. Too bad the Road Racing classes prohibit this stuff.


Another shot of the sill bar.


The main hoop with the harness bar in place.


Here is the back of the car. This is a detail I took from the custom cages design where they X the rear strut towers and reinforce where the rear suspension bolts to the car.


I should have the car back in my posession next weekend. Then the real fun begins I should have around 26 days to get the car fully built and hopefully drive it a couple of times before I put it on the trailer to goto Sand Blast. If you are interested in helping put the car together let me know.

Cheers,
Andrew

[Angelus897]

Looks great so far. Keep up the good work, and thanks for the updates.