The rally team has had the same sponsor in South Australia for a few years now, and we have had the Mazda out there presenting it well and receiving good feedback.
We got some TV coverage at the first round of the 2013 ARC. Albeit supposedly representing the Golden Years of Rallying.
On presenting our case for the 2013 season to our sponsor, instead of being offered cash, we were offered a car.
The Sponsor is also interested in setting up his office run arounds in a similar scheme to that of the rally car. It would see the car out at shopping centres etc giving that little bit of extra exposure, and really we could not say no. Could we....... :D
We asked CAMS/ARCom for approval of an engine swap to allow a 2ZZ-GE into a ZRE-152 Corolla in place of it's asthmatic relative. A recent meeting has seen approval for its use, so it is now all systems go.
With that in mind I present our donor car......
I had a phone call on Sunday 9th June from an engine builder.
The Corolla will now encase a Neil Trama built engine.
This has solved a number of issues. Sourcing a ZZ engine and then the parts and maching to bring it to fruition.
So laid into the car over the weekend for a little bit.
Noted how much weight can be taken out of the thing even without trying.
May need to make up a couple of alloy brackets to support the wipers etc.
A custom radiator and overflow tank will sort out the cooling and replace the 3 litre tank and too many hoses in the engine bay.
Need to look at getting power steering fitted. Currently has electronic and the controllers are huge.
Found the source of the weird smell in the cabin. Seems there may be a refrigerant leak from the aircon.
New motor and a few other bits picked up in a whistle stop trip to Canberra over the weekend.
Biggest pick up was the new Neil Trama ZZ engine.
OK.
Guesstimates are at around 330kg for the chassis. Alas, no access to a set of scales before it left.
And with that, some pictures.
Truck turned up to cage installers premises and has delivered it home for me.
Quaife responded to my email, so gearbox invoice being raised.
Dash has been test fitted and aligned. Will now flock it.
Have started on welding up small holes and plating around area's the cage comes through.
Paint stripping, kevlar underbody and sundry item making has also commenced.
Now to figure out the electric power steering conundrum.
How to make a toyota corolla electric power steering system operate without an ECU.
Motec M400 with loom sourced.
Hopefully no scamming this time.
Gearbox is in the building.
