[JOHNDQ]

Thought i better put a thread up all tho some may have seen it on other forums. Brought it in July with the plan to use it just as a weekend car as i already had the Evo and RS2000 as trackday cars but im planning on going into low level motorsport maybe next year (most likely MSV Trackday trophy) So due to the power out put of the Evo i cant use that and ive given up on the Escort for that plan because i just cant find any uprated parts such as adjustable arms etc etc i didnt feel it could be competitive (not that i really feel id be a top runner anyway) So anyway i desired that i would use the MG :roll:
So here she is as first brought




First mod done was to put on a set of AVO lowering springs as i hadnt had my lasted brain wave at that point




One thing i noticed about it was the rear end was a bit lose at high speed corners so fitted a set of B&G's rear camber plates which sorted that out




So everything was going great until November when i thought i would do a trackday and as the MG was in a fit state and not in bits id just take that, had a great day with it couldnt believe how well it handled was far better than the RS2000 was even tho that has set-up AVO coilovers etc was just a shame the engine didnt have the performance of the good old Ford.
Full service was done with motorsport fluids and a pair of Avon ZZ5's

Mtec discs with EBC Yellow stuff pads went on





Everything went great on trackday all tho the Yellow Stuffs were only good for 3-4 fast laps until they needed a cool off but the Mtec disc's were spot on
1.5 flying laps before the pads overheated but they were fine again after having a cool off of so backed off down the main straight
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmK0CikBgT0

Picked up a set of wheels and track tyres cheap over xmas to keep me going for now

Next job was to rob the calipers off the Escort and gets new disc's, bells and brackets made to suit them (thanks to Reyland motorsport for that, now running 330x28mm discs)



That brings me to this weekend where i got the aux gauges wired and fitted....



braided cable protection for inside

heat/fluid prove for engine bay

sensor wires added into the MG ISO muti-plug

wiring the gauges

gauge wiring put into a female ISO plug so easy to remove if needed

Rspec sandwich plate fitted for oil pressure/temp sensors and fitted with water proof muti-plugs incase needs to be removed for any reason


All gauges finally fitted and tested thank god

And thats all for now folks hoping to do another trackday this Saturday if weather holes out :lol:
Well trackday went great just trying to get videos edited for uploads. With the track tyre's and new brakes was 3 seconds a lap quicker so couldnt be happier was nice to be over taking the other "normal" cars though the day :bull_head: what made the day was went a guy came upto me to ask about spec of car as he couldnt believe how well it was going round the track.... And he was a instructor there not bad of a standard ZR with 120k on the clock Only one problem which was oil temp's going to 120 degrees which limited play cooler needed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUpHGsBr3G0

 

[JOHNDQ]

Ok so oil cooler parts in so just messing about with where to fit it :roll: A/C has had to go to make room for it but no problems there really

Mocal plate with 80 degrees thermostat
As you can see condenser takes up the cross member

Two places to fit now, on the offside is best route for pipes but if i fit it to the nearside will get air though on idle from the cooling fan




Been on a weight loss program today :smile2:

Went for a trip to local beakers today and picked a non a/c heater box and blanking plug for the evaporator pipes, the heating set up is in 3 bits fan housing on left, pollen filter housing in middle and the main heater box with matrix etc on right so if anyone wants to remove there a/c you only need the center pipe which you dont need to remove the dash to change dash etc all refitted now

Cooler all in now ive mounted it so center of cooler is inline with center of the cooling fan so it can have air passing though in traffic/pits

Next was to mod the oil filter housing to take the oil temp/pressure sensors as ive had to remove the sandwich plate to fit the cooler take off

Ive also raised the bonnet thanks to a few Jag XJ8 exhaust manifold spacers

Quick update finally got all the oil cooler pipes made up, happy with it all and even made them up myself Defo made the right choice to mount it buy the coolant fan helps cool the oil while the car isnt moving highest oil temp today after a hard run and holding rpm up to 3000 on the drive was 90ish so its looking good

 

[Talkingcars]

Interesting, keep us posted.

 

[JOHNDQ]

Will do next trackday May 19th looks like im the only non Clio at the mo

 

[ian zs180]

A lot of hard graft going into your zed mate its a credit to you and hope it keeps going well and it keeps surprising a few people at these track days long live mg

 

[JOHNDQ]

Thanks mate im sure it will all drive train stats are spot on so far but i do plan on getting another engine to build up but without the VVC etc bit like the 190 engines

 

[Tomcat Racer]

Nice project, are you going to put a cage in it.

 

[JOHNDQ]

Nice project, are you going to put a cage in it.

Thanks, Yes just doing bit at a time to spend the cost a bit as got few other bits going on but getting there plan is to get the cage, seat and coilovers etc sorted over winter.
Made a start on painted wheels today try make it stand out a bit more

 

[JOHNDQ]

Got wheels fitted today at last, left them a week for paint to harden so should be good now. Really happy with how they came out bearing in mind have been done in my garden with only hand flatting and they were all curbed and pitted to f**k

 

[Christina]

Nice work. Looking really good.:yup:

 

[JOHNDQ]

Thanks was a lot of messing about but makes it stand out a bit

 

[Snowy Senior]

Hi

120 C is not too much if motor oil is a good synthetic one. Racing in mind build best synthetics can protect expensive engine close to 200 C, but in K series there will be some problems far before that. Continuous 150+ C after some hours racing will start to melt crank rear seal causing oil leak to the clutch housing.

There is a hot ( 250 to 300 C ) exhaust pipe just few millimeters from aluminium oil sump. Aluminium is cathing some heat into it making engine oil hotter than engine running can do. Some extra insulation or heat barrier stuf/paint are really usefull in here.

Oil cooler in racing car is never too big.

 

[JOHNDQ]

Well thought id give it a polish this weekend as had a day with nothing to do i also had some orange paint left so thought i would do the door trims to i also redone the silver as was really faded. Once paint as hardened i will bush over the "ZR" in orange to

 

[JOHNDQ]

New exhaust fitted today Scorpion cat back without the centre box

 

[Car13]

Cracking job nothing like black and bright orange.

If you any bits bushes coilovers and cams give me a shout

 

[DeMoNPauL]

Great thread John

Keep us updated with any Progress.

 

[JOHNDQ]

Cracking job nothing like black and bright orange.

If you any bits bushes coilovers and cams give me a shout

Thanks mate i defo will looking to do coilovers etc over winter! Out of interest what would recommend for track only Avo or Gaz

 

[JOHNDQ]

Great thread John

Keep us updated with any Progress.

Thanks will do be back on track June 2nd noticed there's another 160 and a ZT signed up so be good to see some more MG's at last

 

[JOHNDQ]

Well another trackday down 3rd full day on track with the ZR now and still no problems to report Oil cooler worked perfect max temp today was 102 degrees and i was flat out though all the gears. Will get the videos sorted tomoz night

 

[Tomcat Racer]

Looking good.