Mgf donor car: building an MG Allegro VVC!

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Rob Bell
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Re: Mgf donor car: building an MG Allegro VVC!

Post by Rob Bell » Tue Mar 28, 2017 9:00 am

The cradle will probably help a lot - and besides which, this is a track car not a rally stage star, so vertical movements should be reasonably limited?

Mind you - anything with motorsport pretension is best over-engineered, so belts and braces? :)

edk83
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Re: Mgf donor car: building an MG Allegro VVC!

Post by edk83 » Tue Mar 28, 2017 1:52 pm

There is a horizontal brace to go in behind the tank, making use of the mounts for the rebound straps that my arb now deals with.

Yes I don't intend it leaving the ground at any point ever!

So now I have the rest of the silicone water pipes ordered, fuel lines all figured out I think I'll use a Rover 45 hard line out of the filter and keep the oem quick connector on the high pressure side. Low pressure side can just be normal fuel pipe with an overbraid, I've got ptfe braided lines going through the car and gromits in the bulkheads.

1250lb springs arrived and I've just finished modding the holders to clear them, Also ordered some 6" for the front but 800lb. Might be rather stiff but means I can go lower.

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We also have gears!

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Re: Mgf donor car: building an MG Allegro VVC!

Post by flyingbanana » Tue Mar 28, 2017 2:12 pm

I'm running 6" on my protechs all round with standard mgtf spring rates on the race car, so 800 might be a bit stiff, I ran 550 on the metro when I did a coilover conversion.

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Rob Bell
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Re: Mgf donor car: building an MG Allegro VVC!

Post by Rob Bell » Tue Mar 28, 2017 6:05 pm

I think you're both right: I imagine a little understeery-action can be anticipated... but you have to start somewhere and fine-tune!

On that note, how much to the springs cost? I have protecs and the X-power springs (thanks Ed :)) - which I am hopeful will be about right for the 'Shed. But I could go custom with 6" springs if need be. If they're expensive, I hope it will be right first time!!! :lol:

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Re: Mgf donor car: building an MG Allegro VVC!

Post by flyingbanana » Tue Mar 28, 2017 7:16 pm

JJC were the cheapest I found 6" springs - via ebay.

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Re: Mgf donor car: building an MG Allegro VVC!

Post by edk83 » Wed Mar 29, 2017 8:58 am

The 6" 800lb springs have I bought for the princely sum for £20 including postage, they are new old stock eibach from an Ebay seller, worth a try for that money I think.

To be honest 600lb does feel about right but I'd imagined the Protechs bottoming out with only having a limited amount of travel, having 14" wheels on a TF frame doesn't allow much lowness.

I've now fitted the 1250lb springs to the rear and I'm quite happy with the result, the metro arb certainly works!

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Rob Bell
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Re: Mgf donor car: building an MG Allegro VVC!

Post by Rob Bell » Wed Mar 29, 2017 5:00 pm

edk83 wrote:The 6" 800lb springs have I bought for the princely sum for £20 including postage, they are new old stock eibach from an Ebay seller, worth a try for that money I think.

To be honest 600lb does feel about right but I'd imagined the Protechs bottoming out with only having a limited amount of travel, having 14" wheels on a TF frame doesn't allow much lowness.

I've now fitted the 1250lb springs to the rear and I'm quite happy with the result, the metro arb certainly works!
That's quite a "heavy" rear spring - but I guess that is the suspension geometry/ leverage being applied to a convention spring mounted in place of the old hydragas unit?
flyingbanana wrote:JJC were the cheapest I found 6" springs - via ebay.
That's handy to know - thanks! :thumbsu:

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Re: Mgf donor car: building an MG Allegro VVC!

Post by edk83 » Wed Mar 29, 2017 10:31 pm

JJC is where I bought my 1250s from, cheaper than direct from Falkner.

Yes I'd say the leverage on the rear arm is about 6:1, so the 1250 are like having 215 if they were in a vertical arrangment. I'm sure there is a lot more to it and it could be better with even heavier springs but I'm getting low on clearance with the holders made from the original units.

Leaving the rear alone for now :)

I'm on the look out for some 6" 650 - 700lb springs for the front as thinking the 800 will be too stiff

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Re: Mgf donor car: building an MG Allegro VVC!

Post by edk83 » Fri Mar 31, 2017 2:09 pm

Rear springs now fitted and it's much improved, next job fit the fronts and see if there is any travel left in the Protechs with it lowered.

Made a nice plate and bracket for the fluid pots and to cover the original holes where the brake / clutch master was fitted.

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Cold air feed and filter is a good fit, I've added a straight alloy joiner for a potential nitrous port in the future.

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Water pipes made up, just got to mount the header tank.

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Re: Mgf donor car: building an MG Allegro VVC!

Post by edk83 » Wed Apr 05, 2017 11:19 pm

Extended the gear lever by 3" and its much better :)

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Still trying to figure out the front suspension, it's rather too high with 8" springs on. Was going to order some 7" but probably still fancy it lower. Got some 6" so now have some adjustment, with it bottomed out totally I still have a two finger gap to the arch. Not bad but I'd like to get it running about an inch above this tops - might see if I can get the protechs shock body shortened.

Next job get the front arb to fit, with the car lower it clears the top of the wishbone but gets pushed into the car.

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I was thinking about modding the bar with some oxy for more of a bend, maybe longer droplinks. Or maybe I'll strighten the bend and mount it to the bottom of the wishbone with a very short link. Choices!

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Re: Mgf donor car: building an MG Allegro VVC!

Post by Rob Bell » Fri Apr 07, 2017 7:22 pm

How is that drop link attaching to the lower wishbone Ed?

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Re: Mgf donor car: building an MG Allegro VVC!

Post by edk83 » Sat Apr 08, 2017 12:17 pm

That's just a standard rover 100 drop link in the picture, wishbone has a hole that it bolts through and it's shaped to take the bush. I've decided that the bar is a much better fit under the wishbone though so will have to invent another link solution.

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Re: Mgf donor car: building an MG Allegro VVC!

Post by Rob Bell » Mon Apr 10, 2017 9:07 am

Reverse an MGF/TF ARB wishbone bracket?

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Rob Bell
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Re: Mgf donor car: building an MG Allegro VVC!

Post by Rob Bell » Mon Apr 10, 2017 9:08 am

But the Metro solution looks as thought it might work: give it a try and see how it goes? Then modify a new solution if not satisfactory? :)

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Re: Mgf donor car: building an MG Allegro VVC!

Post by edk83 » Mon Apr 10, 2017 10:23 am

Yes perfectly acceptable to run the bar underneath, just need to find the best droplink solution.

Progress currently halted due to the arrival of my daughter on Sunday morning !

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Re: Mgf donor car: building an MG Allegro VVC!

Post by Rob Bell » Mon Apr 10, 2017 12:24 pm

Congratulations!!! :D :thumbsu:

Hope mum and baby are both well? :D

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Re: Mgf donor car: building an MG Allegro VVC!

Post by edk83 » Mon Apr 10, 2017 5:11 pm

IMG_20170409_091540.jpg
Baby Maddison 9/4/17
She'll have a spanner in her hand before long :)

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Re: Mgf donor car: building an MG Allegro VVC!

Post by talkingcars » Mon Apr 10, 2017 10:55 pm

Congrats all round.
Home to black Alfa 159 3.2 V6 Q4, blue MGZR160, green MGF VVC and grey MGF 1.8i, and red MG Maestro T16.

MGF chatting on the Register and at http://www.the-t-bar.com

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Re: Mgf donor car: building an MG Allegro VVC!

Post by Bazzajay » Mon Apr 10, 2017 11:45 pm

She's delightful. Congratulations to you both.
Barrie

2000 MGF Wedgwood SE 1800i
2002 Peugeot Partner Quiksilver

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Rob Bell
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Re: Mgf donor car: building an MG Allegro VVC!

Post by Rob Bell » Tue Apr 11, 2017 2:01 pm

Beautiful little baba! :D

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