Brand New GRP A Rally car

[Declan E30]

Today we sent shell off for acid dipping,
To say I was nervous about dropping shell in acid would be a under statement,
I have talked to the people who are doing it and to people who have had this treatment done all have rest assured me all will be fine.
In fact the same people have done Houlbt's ( UK Racecar build ) shell.

Long wheel base M3

Shell was going sideways round the workshop on these.




I have been promised photos of work in progress, will post once received.

[BMG]

Can I ask who is doing the acid dip and if there is a dip e-coat to go with it ? Interested to hear of an alternative to SPL and get some feedback on the results.
Thanks

[xworks]

I'd say you'll be counting the days till she's home. When I got
the call to say mine was done I had to fight the urge to swim
the channel just to get a look at it.
Can't wait to see her in primer.

[Declan E30]

The company doing the dipping is http://www.prostrip.co.uk/ Nottingham.
No e-coat here, SPL do it but there waiting list is very long and the crazy price they charge.
Once car is out of the dippers it goes into a oven over night,
The primer is sprayed on, cavities will be injected with primer with probes,
Not too bothered about now about rust reforming as this car will be indoors most of it's life, Don't get me wrong this car wont have a easy life.
Building it to rally so I 'm sure she will see the body shop from time to time.

Shell will be ready in about a week, counting the sleeps till then,

[BMG]

The company doing the dipping is http://www.prostrip.co.uk/ Nottingham.
No e-coat here, SPL do it but there waiting list is very long and the crazy price they charge.
Once car is out of the dippers it goes into a oven over night,
The primer is sprayed on, cavities will be injected with primer with probes,
Not too bothered about now about rust reforming as this car will be indoors most of it's life, Don't get me wrong this car wont have a easy life.
Building it to rally so I 'm sure she will see the body shop from time to time.
Shell will be ready in about a week, counting the sleeps till then,

Thanks. The protection part of Pro-Strip's process was what I was mainly interested in, as the website seems a bit vague on it.
I see they have a quote on the website from someone called Graham Tatham at BMW Motorsport endorsing their process. Guessing that is not the BMW Motorsport ?

[Declan E30]

Just got the call from prostrip Shell is ready for collection,
A few picture, not great ( I phone )
I will take some detailed ones when I get it home.









Declan.

[BMG]

Looks good. Are you happy with the acid dip and coating process, any problems or things you think they could improve on , or similar ?

[bbsrs]

How is the build coming along Declan?

[Declan E30]

Hi bbsrs,

Yes we have had a few,
Will try to get info up next week, been shopping.

Declan...

[Eric012]

I really like the roll cage welds, they are really well done! Is there any kits like these that can be sold somewhere?

Keep up the good work!

[Declan E30]

Eric012,

As stated in earlier post cage comes from Custom Cages http://www.customcages.co.uk Factory spec cage,
Very much the same as early DTM cars.

Declan.

[Declan E30]

Sorry for taking so long about update,

Taking a change in direction with this project for a while.
New shell is a long time plan, no rush as I have a running car. Which I'm still developing.
Shell is all locked up in a mates seldom used spray booth so it will be fine there,
Am I happy with dipping yes, primer no, so shell will be going for a e-coat some time soon like Xwork's car.

New front hub parts arrived last week and going straight on to rally car.
The standard of machining is top notch, not as much as a machine mark I'm really happy with these,
I would have these all sorted a long time a go if wasn't for a few let downs by 3rd party suppliers, you know the type,
Promise you this and that but it never happens, Hate that, Don't like telling tails so that will be the end of it.

New rear beam and arms are on there way from machining, going to fit these once they arrive,

Can't wait to get rid of 188 diff and shafts. they don't like tarmac rallying.

I know the 210 diff is heavy buy I would prefer finish a event carrying the extra weight than breaking down again,
Result of last event below whilst 9th overall, out put flange from diff.

These parts are all tried and tested over the years as there was more than Prodrive building these cars all them years ago,
My engineer will be selling all these GRP A and Touring car parts shortly,
Can't wait to get back out and test test these for myself.

Declan.

[Declan E30]

Some more pictures updates.
New rear arms are a development of early DTM Prodive parts.



Original Prodrive part below.

I will post a few more once I get to workshop on Friday.

Declan.

[scaraveos]

Nice project there. And even nicer suspension parts

[Declan E30]

Getting there, More work on old car,
The engineer I use has been very busy on other projects so progress has been slow,

New rear arms are now fitted as with the big 210 diff, keeping with the 3.1 which should be bulletproof.

Heavy but very strong.

New flanges fitted to hubs to allow bigger drive shafts,

These have been machined from blank to suit the standard E30 M3 bearings,
Older GRP A cars had the arms re-tubed to suit the bigger bearings and flanges from the M5,

Rose jointed

Front brakes now on the back,

Front parts going together as well, hoping for a test session next week all going to plan.
New bells and discs will be fitted, old disc came off a prodrive car,


Work on the new car will restart very soon, shell is now booked for a proper e-coat, I'm glad I didn't paint it as we have been shown a rally car which was dipped only and as some posters have said it has rusted very badly from the inside out, rendering it scrap.

I will try to get some better pictures up next week,

Declan..