Printable Version | Subscribe | Add to Favourites
New Topic New Poll New Reply
Author: Subject: project: ST170 mid engine
kerob_labs

posted on 7/7/15 at 02:24 PM Reply With Quote
project: ST170 mid engine

Hello everyone!

I recently (well, it's been 4 months already) started building a kit-car. The chassis is based on an exo-skeleton kit but the fiberglass body will be of a two-seat coupe. I want it to be a daily use car for all weather and hopefully will come with some interesting things like servo-brake, charcoal canister, glass-cockpit but the most will be the ST170 engine that I sent to rebuild (where I spent a fortune ).

At the moment I havent got the chassis. The original chassis was designed for standard Zetec silver-top but ST170 has long exhaust manifold so the chassis was sent out to have the engine space tweaked. I expect to get the chassis back at end of this week.

Meanwhile I was doing wiring loom and electronics, buying parts here and there, getting loads of points on eBay and shouting around like "where is my chassis!!!??? ". I do have some photos from the poor donor (well, part of it) and some work progress that I want to post here in the next day or so. As soon as the chassis comes to my garage, I will try to keep posted my progress as much as I can, and of course, this is my first kind of project and I have never ever done anything with fiberglass, so I will need some help and advises during the build.

Thank you so much for reading and I hope to learn and exchange experiences with all you during my project.

Cheers,

Marcio.

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
coozer

posted on 7/7/15 at 02:44 PM Reply With Quote
Mid engine eh? Looking forward to seeing some pics.





1972 V8 Jago

1980 Z750

View User's Profile Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member
big_wasa

posted on 7/7/15 at 03:30 PM Reply With Quote
Hi, good good good.

I am planing a midi and have an st170 but the engine plan is more of a hybrid with a turbo.

Are you keeping the dual mass flywheel ?

Look forward to the pics.

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
kerob_labs

posted on 7/7/15 at 07:07 PM Reply With Quote
These are some photos I took while waiting for my chassis.

front nose just arrived
front nose just arrived

I got a front nose from a car breaker
ready to take the engine
ready to take the engine

Preparing to take the engine
engine is out
engine is out

engine is off
here in very bad shape
here in very bad shape

engine and gearbox were all rusted so I sent to rebuild
after rebuilt
after rebuilt

this is a photo after rebuilt - I haven't seem it in person!!
looks good!
looks good!

but it does look good!
gear stick
gear stick

meanwhile sorting out the gear stick
internal loom
internal loom

under-the-dash loom
loom almost sorted
loom almost sorted

plus the engine bay loom
steering (obviously!)
steering (obviously!)

and steering with quick-release
glass-cockpit 1
glass-cockpit 1

this is a mock-up of the instruments. it's an old photo, things progressed a lot!

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
kerob_labs

posted on 7/7/15 at 07:17 PM Reply With Quote
I'm going to use the engine with everything standard. I took from the donor gearbox, radiator, everything that was not terribly rusted. I'm going to use the 6-speed gearbox - it will hurt a bit starting from the driveshafts...it's specific for the gearbox. That means I will use original flywheel, clutch, etc., original ECU, I'm even thinking of putting charcoal canister!

Together with the chassis, I sent the exhaust manifold so guys can tweak the engine mounts. It is one of those shiny stainless steal sold on eBay. I also got some exhaust parts from (obviously) Exhaust Parts UK. Oh I got new cat as well.

I've got loads of parts and a lot of work done and waiting for my chassis - I hope I will get it delivered this saturday.

Cheers,

Marcio.

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
big_wasa

posted on 7/7/15 at 07:48 PM Reply With Quote
Yep I am a fan of oem ecu's and my turbo will be driven by a Focus RS Ecu.

Here is an st170 that I've done before.

And that poor St donor of yours looks sorry for itself

http://youtu.be/Mvo3lazzSVo

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
kerob_labs

posted on 7/7/15 at 08:29 PM Reply With Quote
hang on, I think I saw one of your videos...I remember seeing a ST170 running on the bench exactly in the same way but without exhaust...we could see the flames coming out from the engine! is that yours as well?
View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
big_wasa

posted on 7/7/15 at 09:06 PM Reply With Quote
Could well be.
View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
tims31

posted on 11/7/15 at 10:26 AM Reply With Quote
Good stuff, How have you made the instrument panel, is that all programmed yourself for the layout using the OBDII data?





Build: http://www.martinsfurybuild.co.uk/

View User's Profile Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member
scudderfish

posted on 11/7/15 at 10:31 AM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by tims31
Good stuff, How have you made the instrument panel, is that all programmed yourself for the layout using the OBDII data?


I was just about to ask exactly the same question

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
tims31

posted on 11/7/15 at 11:48 AM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by scudderfish
quote:
Originally posted by tims31
Good stuff, How have you made the instrument panel, is that all programmed yourself for the layout using the OBDII data?


I was just about to ask exactly the same question


Great minds 😁





Build: http://www.martinsfurybuild.co.uk/

View User's Profile Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member
kerob_labs

posted on 11/7/15 at 09:44 PM Reply With Quote
Yeah, I'm planning to use OBD2 via ELM327 for RPM, speed, odometer and water temp. The board is right behind the lcd! I found in another forum how to read the odometer via OBD2 and apparently is valid only for Ford. Once I have the wiring done I will check if it works. As a plan B I've got a circuit with couple of hall sensors and op amps to replace OBD2.

I wrote myself the software to make the layout. I'm a little worried about the size of the LCD (10 inch) might be a bit too big to see by the steering wheel.

By the way, my chassis and engine finally arrived!! I'm copying photos from my phone!!!

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
kerob_labs

posted on 11/7/15 at 10:30 PM Reply With Quote
I uploaded some photos, I will post more tomorrow.

Description
Description

making the pedal block and save £250
Description
Description

Finally I got my engine!
Description
Description

and this is the chassis

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
big_wasa

posted on 30/8/15 at 08:43 PM Reply With Quote
Come on then lets have some progress
View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
kerob_labs

posted on 7/9/15 at 10:02 PM Reply With Quote
I totally forgot to post photos here!! Actually after I started the build I had very little time to come online...

While waiting for parts and the beginning of the month (to get the salary!), I was sorting out the loom. Before I got the chassis I planned to make the loom in one way, after I got the chassis I decided to do in a different way. Result: lots of headache. I can't say the loom is sorted now, still a few pending things.

I plugged ODB2 and everything seems to be all right. I didn't start the engine yet because radiator is not fitted. I'm waiting for some tubes to bolt onto the chassis. I hope I can get cooling pipes this month. (getting short in ££ because of disc brakes!!). So far I ran the engine in the starter to pump oil a couple of times, things looked good.

Nice and shiny Keskin wheels
Description
Description


Seats bolted
Description
Description


Recent photos, I took them today
Description
Description


One of fuse box, ECU and fuel pump controller are behind the driver's seat. Fuel tank behind the passenger. I will use conduit to hide all wires. By the way, I still had to modify the chassis...there was no space for the exhaust manifold. I will also replace the bulkhead, I'm waiting for sheets to arrive.
Description
Description


No, I'm not going to use this air filter!! It's in there just to keep the intake manifold clean. I'm also going to put a bar to hold the fuel line, loom and the EVAP canister purge. Yes, I have charcoal canister!
Description
Description


Because I had the modify the rear part of the chassis, I rose the bar where the steering column is bolted. My knee was catching the steering column so I was afraid to get an IVA fail because of that. It's more comfortable though!
It's missing one wheel because I sent the upright to HiSpec. Trying to save money I got RD upright (Cortina geometry) but only accepts Wilwood callipers (expensive) and solid disc (not too good). HiSpec said they have vented discs with 27mm height and Cortina PCD and calliper with 129mm fitting (their calliper is 130mm, 129 is Wilwood) so I sent them the upright to make sure things will fit. Unfortunately discs are going to cost a lot...
Description
Description


I will try to keep posted. It's a lot of work though, but I'm having a lot of fun!

Cheers,

Marcio.

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
dai1983

posted on 8/9/15 at 12:00 PM Reply With Quote
What chassis is it?

Interested to know if the instruments work as I'm thinking I could produce something similar myself.

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
kerob_labs

posted on 8/9/15 at 08:37 PM Reply With Quote
This chassis is a modified Sonic-7 from RTR, they are no longer in the market. My idea is to build a small coupe from it.
The instruments will use ODB, the only thing I'm not 100% sure is the odometer. In the worse case I will use a separate box to get speed and odometer

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
dai1983

posted on 8/9/15 at 09:55 PM Reply With Quote
Yeah I noticed they were no longer around but thought other companies would pick up their cars. Guess that's the way of the kit car market currently but some of the MEV cars seemed reasonably priced and easy to assemble.
View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
kerob_labs

posted on 8/9/15 at 10:33 PM Reply With Quote
apparently another company took over some of their kits, but I have no details...or have a look at Exo Sports Cars or ring them to see if they have any Zetec based kit. Oh, just remembered: Riot kit car!! They might be a good alternative!
View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
dai1983

posted on 13/9/15 at 11:07 PM Reply With Quote
KkYeah I saw that a new company had taken over. Their website is really pants. TBH I've fancied a J15/vectors for a while but I have more time than money plus access to a decently equipped workshop. Considering a Midlana currently.
View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
kerob_labs

posted on 15/2/16 at 09:27 AM Reply With Quote
still in progress!

It's been a while I don't post any photos...
At the moment that's how the build looks like:

out 001
out 001


I had a hell of work with the loom. Some bits need to be sorted: tank, cooling pipe catching the far-side front wheel...then it's going to be the bodywork!

Cheers,

Marcio.

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member

New Topic New Poll New Reply


go to top






Website design and SEO by Studio Montage

All content © 2001-16 LocostBuilders. Reproduction prohibited
Opinions expressed in public posts are those of the author and do not necessarily represent
the views of other users or any member of the LocostBuilders team.
Running XMB 1.8 Partagium [© 2002 XMB Group] on Apache under CentOS Linux
Founded, built and operated by ChrisW.