Historic Formula Ford 2000 Association

Yes I did. The plan is to have a drivers meeting at an up coming event to discuss further (likely to be at Silverstone GP mid June (that sounds a long way away, but is Simply CFF’s 2nd HSCC Weekend).

In the mean time If a driver has newer FF2000 chassis please email spec and images to comps@classicff2000.co.uk so I can discuss with Ken.

Will do...as soon as I have something that looks more recognisable as a car rather than an oversize model kit

Moved onto the engine which was described as having been rebuilt prior to storage, so I figured needed a good check over. The good news is that, overall, it was in decent condition if rather grubby externally and complete.

The cam cover had a Quicksilver sticker and inspection shows the head is one of theirs. Bottom end is unidentified but again looks to be tidy. The rods have been balanced/ground to US spec which is a pain as this makes them unacceptable for UK use.

Carb has, similarly, been built to US spec so has the power valve removed and twin dump tubes. Plus various ports/holes blocked off.

Flywheel has been lightened significantly and a Tilton clutch fitted. New std clutch bought and replacement flywheel in progress.

Now a question: The wiring was very poor and incomplete throughout the car, so does anyone have a schematic I can work from, please?

There is no sign of anything electronic on the ignition, distributor is std Bosch non-vac. so I'm assuming it should be straightforward but would like to be certain.

I collected the chassis last week after having various repairs carried out and fresh powder coating. It now looks like it should again! This week's job is to sort new floor, etc. then get on with repanelling so I can move onto the rebuild proper.

Due to work I've not had as much time as I'd have liked on the rebuild, but progress has been made!

Chassis is now fully panelled and has much of the front end refitted (pedals, suspension, etc).

Momentous event a week or so ago was getting the engine running for the first time in 7+ years! I had to rebuild the starter solenoid with new contacts first as it was very sluggish. Once sorted out I turned over the engine with no plugs to get oil right through and work up some pressure; then plugs in and fire up.

A few coughs but it ran nicely, 70psi pressure, no misfiring or peculiar noises

New Year update...

1) Gearbox stripped down, cleaned & checked. New seal & circlips fitted to input shaft, replacement selector finger acquired (from Dermot);
2) New sandwich plates made for rear rockers, rear suspension rebuilt with new bearings, bolts & rod-ends;
3) Refurbished clutch slave fitted, new braided hoses made up and system tested. Problem was a slight fluid weep on the slave, even with new quad-ring seals, so a call to Universal for a new assembly. Although I'd fitted a new release bearing as part of the refurb, the retaining compound proved so effective it was impossible to remove from the old piston! New assembly fitted & adapter/oil tank refitted to the gearbox, rear suspension refitted again!
4) Engine & rear end reunited & fitted to the chassis. Found that one of the chassis legs was 3/8" short - most likely a result of various 'make-do' repairs carried out whilst the car was in the US - so the engine had to come back out for the leg to be refabricated to the correct dimensions;
5) New radiator mountings laser-cut, rads fitted along with new hoses;
6) Everything now fits together properly Next step is building a new wiring harness...

Good news on the progress, have you asked hscc for an invite to race, cannot see why not imo.

That's still the plan, but as it's gone from a fettle'n'polish to a full rebuild, I'm waiting 'til it's running again first!

Momentous day! I built up the new wiring harness last week and today reached the stage of oil in, water in, battery connected and...contact, it runs

At the moment the harness is just taped in place, prior to heatshrinking, so I could access anything that wasn't behaving. The only other bits left on electrics are the red light and the slave and the Anderson for slave connection. Loads of other jobs to do though - driveshafts, brake lines, fuel tank, etc.

However I'm pleased to get it to this stage!!

3 months later, and...

...getting quite close to having a complete car now! Picked up stunning new fuel tank & catch tanks from Alloy Racing Fabrications (the ATL tank I had leaked like the proverbial even though it was unused, just old), suspension & drivetrain all done, wiring harness tested, snagged & heatshrinked.

I need to sort/fabricate a new nosebox as the original has been modified at some time.

Bodywork is 'work in progress', a delve around in the parts that came with the car brought to light the original front wings which are still straight and useable; rear wing will need to be sorted as the ones that came with the car are all in poor condition.