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The 1600 has proven reliable over the past few weeks and continues to impress....

70mph is at 4000rpm in 5th, the engine is strong and eager to push through all gears. It would appear that I have dropped on to a gearing compromise that suits the car and my driving style very well.

sniper

 

Good to know. What is the 1.6 like on fuel though obviously with the rest of the modifications it will be hard to relate to a standard car, but compared to when it was a 1.3?

Fuel is similar to the 1300 but I am only doing short journeys at the minute....I think that in general, fuelling will be a touch better. There are far fewer gear changes, 4th pulls cleanly from 25mph and you can coast at 30mph in 5th gear.

This is mostly due to the exhaust manifold and system, they made a huge impact.... even on the 1300....The gearing has been a very lucky shot in the dark (I did take advice from Riccy) and has worked out really well....(thanks Riccy!!!)  Powerband matching road speed in all gears....

I'm importing a fabricated inlet plenum with a single Honda 65mm throttle body and that along with a DTA S80 standalone ecu will be fitted in coming months. Guessing at 120bhp now and these will hopefully make the 150bhp goal..... 

 

​​I haven't forgotten about the MX engine, I am trying to negotiate with the finance fhurer to allow a seperate build in a fresh chassis.....​​​​​

sniper

Ooh shiny!

Got some front arches sorted thanks to Keith Philips, not only did he make them but he also fitted them, thoroughly decent chap....

  

I managed to melt the paint with the heat gun, I'll get Jimny Dr to work his magic when it's next at his shop.....

Spacers on this afternoon and it should look and feel a little better, hated going back to standard track width when I went to 16's.

sniper

Got the spacers on and the wheels look right in the arches now and articulation at lock seems ok, no catching. Ready for the first run out......

Out with the Jimny jaunts group on May 23rd, a scenic run around North Wales. Not that I have trust issues.... but "scenic" from Brett could mean anything, so I have picked up some soft shackles, waffle boards and checked my straps.......

     
 
The engine is fine and gives plenty of power, cruising at 70 mph is comfortable enough, at 4000 rpm. The car accelerates eagerly from there, I drifted to 85mph on a downhill without noticing.

The exhaust is a bit droney when held at constant motorway speeds, nothing that Desmond Dekker and the Israelites cant sort....

sniper