Hi, Building a BTCC Estate Race Car

Post 806988 by Mark Reynolds on 2016-11-08 19:00:43

Hi everyone, building a BTCC Estate Car replica to race here in the UK next season, help needed, appreciated and welcomed. On a very tight budget, so very much a budget build which will receive nicer parts as the wallet allows. Please forgive any dumb questions, this is my first Volvo and only driven it 500 yards so far. My donor car is a 1998 V70 T5 SE Auto. I am replacing all front panels, wings, bonnet, slam, bumper, headlights to make it visually as close to 850 as possible. I have purchased a manual box with Quaife LSD already, but need everything else to convert the car still. I have also purchased R spec front Calipers and Discs Just started selling the interior and other parts not needed, so very early in project. My goals are for between 350bhp - 375bhp, but it must be reliable.

Post 806989 by claymore on 2016-11-08 19:02:06

Welcome along bud, there are plenty of people on here who can give you advice :)

Post 806990 by Mark Reynolds on 2016-11-08 19:22:04

Cheers Colin, thanks for everything so far.

Post 806992 by Shinsplintz 101 on 2016-11-08 20:44:07

Good luck. Looking forward to the updates. Cheers, Morgan

Post 806993 by MoleT-5R on 2016-11-08 20:48:29

Welcome along and I'll be watching your thread with interest, I'am puzzled by your mention of "R spec brakes", are these just 850 T-5R/ 850 R brakes or the rather nice S60R/V70R 4 pot items ??

Post 806994 by martin_r_smith on 2016-11-08 20:57:00

Looking forward to seeing your progress on this, although 350-375bhp + tight budget + reliable to me doesn't add up.

Post 806995 by Tim Williams on 2016-11-08 22:18:28

Good luck with your project, before going on track I would change to a manual or you will over heat the auto box. If you're going to be driving hard or with decent tires on track an LSD not an automatic torque biasing diff (Quaife) will work far better.

Post 806996 by c70geoff on 2016-11-08 22:36:07

Hey fella good to see you on here

Post 806998 by Mark Reynolds on 2016-11-08 22:54:09

[QUOTE=MoleT-5R;806993]Welcome along and I'll be watching your thread with interest, I'am puzzled by your mention of "R spec brakes", are these just 850 T-5R/ 850 R brakes or the rather nice S60R/V70R 4 pot items ??[/QUOTE] V70R 4 Pot :) @Martin Yer, seems I am going to be pushing it , but we will just have to do the best we can with the finances I have, I am prepared to forge the rods and bolts, refresh the rings, valve stems, PCV, cam belt and water pump etc, and turbo replacement as required, and obligatory remap naturally....this is where you guys will be massive help, I have zero experience of these cars so advice taken and appreciated. Using a T5 as I can't afford to build a 20k 2.0 NA engine !! @Tim The box I have bought is a manual and indeed converting to manual, and the box is fitted with a Quaife LSD :) @Captain Chaos - Likewise :D

Post 806999 by Ettienne on 2016-11-09 00:02:18

[QUOTE=Mark Reynolds;806998]V70R 4 Pot :) @Martin Yer, seems I am going to be pushing it , but we will just have to do the best we can with the finances I have, I am prepared to forge the rods and bolts, refresh the rings, valve stems, PCV, cam belt and water pump etc, and turbo replacement as required, and obligatory remap naturally....this is where you guys will be massive help, I have zero experience of these cars so advice taken and appreciated. Using a T5 as I can't afford to build a 20k 2.0 NA engine !! @Tim The box I have bought is a manual and indeed converting to manual, and the box is fitted with a Quaife LSD :) @Captain Chaos - Likewise :D[/QUOTE] V70r 4 pots don't fit and aren't the best anyhow, be better off with an after market set up, ap or similar.

Post 807000 by MIKESC70T5 on 2016-11-09 00:40:08

Would it not of been cheaper to start off with a manual 850 :confused:

Post 807002 by Mark Reynolds on 2016-11-09 02:43:19

[QUOTE=Ettienne;806999]V70r 4 pots don't fit and aren't the best anyhow, be better off with an after market set up, ap or similar.[/QUOTE] Currently I don't have the bang to spend on AP's or similar, so went with the next best thing advised, was between some R's or XC90 setup......and competition pads. It would have been easier to start with a manual 850, but find one at sensible money ?? I paid £300 for a complete V70 T5, and would have had to buy the Quaife LSD anyway ?

Post 807003 by Tim Williams on 2016-11-09 07:34:25

Suspension, tires and brakes to start with make for a fun track toy. I have customers that cope on track with 302mm discs with good pads (not DS2500) and fluid. A diet would obviously be a big help, to run without the AC compressor you can use a none AC belt ect.

Post 807004 by Ettienne on 2016-11-09 07:40:03

[QUOTE=Mark Reynolds;807002]Currently I don't have the bang to spend on AP's or similar, so went with the next best thing advised, was between some R's or XC90 setup......and competition pads. It would have been easier to start with a manual 850, but find one at sensible money ?? I paid £300 for a complete V70 T5, and would have had to buy the Quaife LSD anyway ?[/QUOTE] Again xc90 brakes won't fit on your anything p2 brake wise won't fit on the front and you'll need special brackets to fit the rears on. There aren't really any brakes available for the 850 / v70 p1 other than ap's

Post 807005 by LeeT5 on 2016-11-09 08:02:15

[QUOTE=Ettienne;807004]Again xc90 brakes won't fit on your anything p2 brake wise won't fit on the front and you'll need special brackets to fit the rears on. There aren't really any brakes available for the 850 / v70 p1 other than ap's[/QUOTE] Sounds like this 'budget build' is no longer a budget build! :frown:

Post 807006 by don kalmar union on 2016-11-09 08:09:47

I raced an S70 T5 many years ago now in a Toyo series and latterly an S60 T5 in Britcar. i know a bit but not everything.... hopefully might be able talk about stuff and at least help you to make the wisest decisions.... please call me on 01494 785508 Don.[ATTACH=CONFIG]31193[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]31194[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]31195[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]31196[/ATTACH]

Post 807013 by Ettienne on 2016-11-09 15:57:21

[QUOTE=LeeT5;807005]Sounds like this 'budget build' is no longer a budget build! :frown:[/QUOTE] Especially buying parts that don't fit, hopefully op can sell them on but p2r brakes aren't cheap

Post 807015 by Mark Reynolds on 2016-11-09 16:35:00

[QUOTE=don kalmar union;807006]I raced an S70 T5 many years ago now in a Toyo series and latterly an S60 T5 in Britcar. i know a bit but not everything.... hopefully might be able talk about stuff and at least help you to make the wisest decisions.... please call me on 01494 785508 Don.[ATTACH=CONFIG]31193[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]31194[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]31195[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]31196[/ATTACH][/QUOTE] Thanks Don , will def call you :)

Post 807016 by Mark Reynolds on 2016-11-09 16:36:20

[QUOTE=Ettienne;807013]Especially buying parts that don't fit, hopefully op can sell them on but p2r brakes aren't cheap[/QUOTE] Find a way to race it, one way or the other :D I am here for advice foremost, so comments and direction obviously welcomed. TIA

Post 807017 by JT on 2016-11-09 17:00:27

Good luck with the build Mark, you will learn loads on here, these guys are awesome! :B_thumb:

Post 807056 by p fandango on 2016-11-10 15:54:53

i've just binned a single wiper conversion that would of suited your project well

Post 807779 by Mark Reynolds on 2016-12-05 14:14:43

That sadly is how the world rolls :D Sods law :D Thanks anyway ....

Post 807828 by Wobbly Dave on 2016-12-06 10:18:37

You will end up spending the value saved on buying the auto on getting a manual transmission. So you are better off getting a car with it in. My recommendation is if you have no money then don't waste time on cosmetics (i.e. making it look like a Rydell replica) and focus on creating something that actually works. At the end of the day if you crave reliability (because you have no money to fix it when it breaks) then IMHO 350 is a pipe dream. It will not matter if you are creating a lightweight track car if you have 250 or 300 or 350 bhp. I ran a 19T conversion (largest bolt on turbo you can get for Volvo for your model year - for 7 years) almost without fault. I tweaked it up to 320 bhp in the end - but even with that you are looking at 2K minimum to get everything together. Overall power on the track days it doesn't count for a bean, because you are not racing anyone. If your heart's desire lies with a replica then just get the stickers, service the machine and leave it as it is - or just put a basic stage 1 map on it, but no more. I am not trying to rain on your parade, but I think you may need to make your project goals more appropriate to the budget.

Post 807831 by claymore on 2016-12-06 11:09:58

[QUOTE=Wobbly Dave;807828]You will end up spending the value saved on buying the auto on getting a manual transmission. So you are better off getting a car with it in. My recommendation is if you have no money then don't waste time on cosmetics (i.e. making it look like a Rydell replica) and focus on creating something that actually works. At the end of the day if you crave reliability (because you have no money to fix it when it breaks) then IMHO 350 is a pipe dream. It will not matter if you are creating a lightweight track car if you have 250 or 300 or 350 bhp. I ran a 19T conversion (largest bolt on turbo you can get for Volvo for your model year - for 7 years) almost without fault. I tweaked it up to 320 bhp in the end - but even with that you are looking at 2K minimum to get everything together. Overall power on the track days it doesn't count for a bean, because you are not racing anyone. If your heart's desire lies with a replica then just get the stickers, service the machine and leave it as it is - or just put a basic stage 1 map on it, but no more. I am not trying to rain on your parade, but I think you may need to make your project goals more appropriate to the budget.[/QUOTE] Dave, Mark is building a race car, not a track car. It's to replace his BMW race car for a year while it gets upgraded, plus, he already has my gearbox with a quaife :)

Post 807834 by Wobbly Dave on 2016-12-06 11:42:15

Fine - I still think the replica thing is a unnecessary additional expense.

Post 807840 by claymore on 2016-12-06 18:08:09

[QUOTE=Wobbly Dave;807834]Fine - I still think the replica thing is a unnecessary additional expense.[/QUOTE] As a race car it will need some sort of livery, and the btcc vinyl kit is only £220.

Post 807894 by mikey on 2016-12-09 16:01:49

Welcome to the site

Post 807896 by Mark Reynolds on 2016-12-09 17:12:16

I have a sponsor which does my livery for free, so no extra expense at all :D Since I originally posted this thread I sold the Silver V70 Auto and purchased a white V70 Manual , ex police car in fact, so no sunroof, even better :) Thanks for the comments anyway, cage should go in first few weeks of January with any luck.