Update on Jamie’s Saph (293)

dwhite | Staff Cars | 14/06/2010 10:09am

The priority this month was to cover up the big hole I’d made with a custom gearbox tunnel. The plan was to have a curved tunnel rolled from a sheet of aluminium, but when I stumbled across a sheet of tin I had lying around those good intentions went out the window.

Armed with a ripped-up cardboard box and a Stanley blade I made a template for the new tunnel. Then it was a case of drawing round it, and cutting out the shape on the steel. Some minor tweakage using expert tools called a Black and Decker Workmate and brute force saw the tin bend into shape. A handful of rivets were all that was needed to hold everything in place and a coat of satin black Hammerite finished things off.

As an added bonus, I was able to retain the standard Sierra heater box. It’s a tight fit on top of the new tunnel, and I’m sure some adjustments will be needed when it comes to fitting the dash back in, but at least I’ll be able to have some heat and demisters for the windscreen.

Now I can turn my attention to finishing the interior. A carpet is on order from Paul at North Yorks RS Spares, as are a pair of bucket seats from Rally Design. Before that little lot goes I’ve got the wiring to sort and dash to fit.

This month I also decided it was time to fit the diff. As the engine will be kicking out serious torque (hopefully) the standard Cossie diff wasn’t going to be man enough for the job. Plus as this is a track-based car, I need something that will withstand the huge amounts of abuse that’s going to be thrown at it. The answer – Titan Motorsport’s new Traction Master plated diff.

The four-planet gear design is much stronger than the standard viscous unit’s two-planet gears, which means it will lap up the abuse I intend to give it. Being a plated diff also means it has a locking action which I prefer over the viscous operation. Give it some power and both wheels lock together, offering an aggressive yet controllable set-up.
Bernie at CTS was enlisted with the task of converting from the standard unit to the TTM, and he approved the new product. All I had to do was bolt the freshly built diff onto the car.

To finish the underside a just need to fit a propshaft, and because the ’box isn’t original it’s going to have to be a custom jobbie. Looks like the tape measure’s coming out of retirement again…

Thanks
Competition Transmission Services
01582 840008

Titan
01480 474402

Check out the July issue for the full write up on the Saph, and updates on the rest of the team’s project cars.

Posted on Monday, June 14th, 2010 at 10:09 am under Staff Cars. You can subscribe to comments. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.