to be different?
Track Car Project
- Thread starter Gaverick
- Start date
to be different?
Always loved the Puma, regardless of the image, was so tempted to get a Ford Racing Puma rather than my Fiesta ST but just couldn't justify it, and parts are getting rather scarce too 
As a long term goal fancy chucking in a Zetec turbo and a gearbox with LSD? Could certainly see it surprising a fair few things on track, and zetecs are dirt cheap second hand as a basis for an engine build
As a long term goal fancy chucking in a Zetec turbo and a gearbox with LSD? Could certainly see it surprising a fair few things on track, and zetecs are dirt cheap second hand as a basis for an engine build
Yes there are lots of options available, once we get it on track we will probably have a better idea of the direction we want to go. I'm gradually building up my knowledge of mechanics, I don't quite feel confident enough for a whole engine swap yet, doing the manifold was tricky enough.
I need to learn to weld too, been thinking of going on a welding course.
I need to learn to weld too, been thinking of going on a welding course.
Err, are you going to be fitting a cage some when in the very near future? :/
Won't be the near future as we won't have the funds for it, looking at late next year probably, but we needed harnesses in for now so we can try and get it through it's MOT as it will be used on a weekend to have a B road blast.
Nice work so far 
I'm always tempted by the idea of a project but I haven't got a clue what I would get or what I would want to turn it into. Track toy would be pointless as I have done a grand total of zero track days so far
Oh... and try not to park it on its roof until you get that cage in
I'm always tempted by the idea of a project but I haven't got a clue what I would get or what I would want to turn it into. Track toy would be pointless as I have done a grand total of zero track days so far
Oh... and try not to park it on its roof until you get that cage in
MY advice would be to drive it standard as much as you can on a circuit to get a feel for it and then you know what it needs.
Most important is going to be tyres (R888) and suspension setup making it stiffer and adjustable so you can set it up.
The only worrying thing here is you are piling a fair bit of cash into a joint item. If one of you stacks it, what's gonna happen? You could re-shell it.
If you make all the changes to the car and then drive it you wont appreciate and get the best out of the upgrades.
Most important is going to be tyres (R888) and suspension setup making it stiffer and adjustable so you can set it up.
The only worrying thing here is you are piling a fair bit of cash into a joint item. If one of you stacks it, what's gonna happen? You could re-shell it.
If you make all the changes to the car and then drive it you wont appreciate and get the best out of the upgrades.
Associate
- Joined
- 19 Oct 2010
- Posts
- 12
- Location
- Inverness
Just get some decent rubber on there and get it onto the track, any other upgrades needed will be apparent once you have tested it.
Your best money will be spent on instruction.
Your best money will be spent on instruction.
It's not a problem unless you're a big girl.
When I need to drive our track car at this time of year (such as this week whilst I'm waiting to get The Galant MOT'd) I just make sure I wear a hat and gloves, wind the windows down and keep a demisting pad thingy handy at all times.
Plus with a Puma there's the option of fitting a heated front screen.
Associate
- Joined
- 17 Oct 2010
- Posts
- 86
HI Guys,
Fair play for having a go, the best way to learn mechanics is to jump in at the deep end, have a load of bits on the drive then finally work out how it goes together. Once you have took a car completely to pieces you realise its not that complicated.
As for mig welding, don't just have a go on the car straight away, you can write off a shell by doing that. A night coarse is a good idea, its again not that hard it just takes practise to get the hang of it.
An engine swap wouldn't be that hard, don't be put off by it. A 2.0l zetec should go straight in and is more tunable than the 1.7l.
Polybushes would be a good upgrade, they will make as much of an improvement as shocks and springs.
I would heavily advise a few safety measures, fuel and battery cut off switches.
To be fair it looks like your doing well as it is and a puma is a good choice for a track car. My girlfriend used to have one, before she sold it I wanted to do the same thing to that. Best of luck guys.
Fair play for having a go, the best way to learn mechanics is to jump in at the deep end, have a load of bits on the drive then finally work out how it goes together. Once you have took a car completely to pieces you realise its not that complicated.
As for mig welding, don't just have a go on the car straight away, you can write off a shell by doing that. A night coarse is a good idea, its again not that hard it just takes practise to get the hang of it.
An engine swap wouldn't be that hard, don't be put off by it. A 2.0l zetec should go straight in and is more tunable than the 1.7l.
Polybushes would be a good upgrade, they will make as much of an improvement as shocks and springs.
I would heavily advise a few safety measures, fuel and battery cut off switches.
To be fair it looks like your doing well as it is and a puma is a good choice for a track car. My girlfriend used to have one, before she sold it I wanted to do the same thing to that. Best of luck guys.