Who has a Sylva Star?

[Neil]

Hi Lee,
I'm planning to change the 1300 xflow I have in my Star for a 2.0ltr Blacktop Zetec and would be very interested to know what changes you had to make to the engine to fit it? I am planning to use a Megasquirt with an Ashley Spencer Plenum so I can use the throtte body and injectors. I would be particularly interested in whether you needed to change the sump. Also how did you find the installation? I note you had to cut a hole in the bonnet, but overall it looks like it fits pretty well.
Regards, Neil

[rich201283]

Hi Neil
I am using a 2ltr zetec silvertop with type 9 gearbox, I had to cut the bottom 2 cross members. and re weld slightly lower but there seems plenty of ground clearance still. I also relocated the master brake cylinder so that it was lower down and replace it with a fiesta master cylinder, Also i used a punto external resiviour on the master cylinder.
I made the engine and gearbox mounts up which where quite easy, I could take some pics if you want?
I had to cut the bonnet as the cam cover touches the bonnet.

Oil filter is off an alfa romeo as it is smaller so it doesnt foul the steering rack.

I am going to use a micra alternator, Polo Rad, ZX9R Carbs, Megajolt for the ignition.

Still got quite a bit to do but should be on the road for next summer.

[rich201283]

Forgot to mention i had to cut the mondeo sump and get it welded up.
Also had to modify the pickup an install baffles.

[Neil]

Hi Lee,
Many thanks for the information. Some pictures would be great if you get the chance. I'm especially interested in how you dealt with the brake relocation and oil filter, though I'm in no rush as I won't be attempting the installation until next year. Like you I've purchased a Polo radiator. I've also obtained a Westfield Zetec wiring loom as the current wiring is very basic!

With regards to the exhaust I'm either hoping to use my current X flow exhaust manifold, which I believe is a Lolocost one supplied originally by Robin Hood, and mate this to a new backplate to suit the Zetec exhaust ports. Big Stu on the Locostbuilders website has done this, although he did need to manipulate the pipes to fit. The other alternative I'm considering is to keep the current manifold and marry this up to my current exhaust.

My only other concern is the braking in that the new engine with have atleast 50% more power than the current 1300 xflow, and I'm wondering whether I'll need to upgrade these and if so how, given the current ones are probably Vauxhall?

Regards, Neil

[MaRkStar]

Chaps

FYI

Attached are the details of a Zetec'd Star a friend of mine once owned which might have some useful info. I may be able to find the original pics too if they may spark a solution.

It was originally a chassis up rebuild by a mechanical engineer who had an eye to detail and took years restoring it, there was no rattle to be heard, even the bonnet had four securing pins! It was worth £3500+ and sold to a guy in Holland who also has since sold it on to someone else so I no longer know its whereabouts.

Mark

[Neil]

Hi Mark,
Thanks for the attached. I have seen pictures of the car before and really like the way it looks, so much so that I've managed to source a Mk1 MR2 spoiler (£5 off ebay), though I will need to move the fuel filler cap to fit it. I appear to have been lucky with the colour as it looks to be a good colour match, so I might get away without having to paint it. I'm now looking for some front splitters which I also think look great on the car.
Neil

[MaRkStar]

Neil

Its really funny you should mention the spoiler because when I met MarkW its owner at the time that was the only aspect of the car I wasn't so sure of, I thought it needed to be wider and the mounts to follow the contours of the rear tub, I did like the subtle LED brake light though. Anyway I must be mistaken and I can hardly comment on the taste of lines and contours with a bonnet like mine! You don't happen to have come across his Star recently have you? Incidentally the front spoilers were removed after a small argument with a kerb, a sore subject as it was the day before he was due to go to a photo shoot for the 25th Sylva anniversary . . . gutted to say the least. If you don't mind me asking which Star do you have?

I've included a few more pics below because I happened to have taken a few comparing the spoilers.

[Neil]

Hi Mark,
My Star is Q411 CPE which I actually bought off fellow member Paul Harcombe, albeit via ebay. Since purchasing the car I've changed exhaust manifold, retrimmed the dash and swapped the seats for some Westfield ones. Plans for next year are to upgrade the engine, fit a hood and get a bar welded on to the roll bar so that I can fit 4 point harnesses. I'll post a picture of the car once the weather has improved.
Regards, Neil

[flattrack500]

Hi
I have been a lurker on the forum for few months and thought i'd better add some details
Owned a Star since 1988, did a few hillclimbs and sprints in the late eighties.
The engine is a 132 1600 Fiat with twin 40's, Firenza axle and brakes


The car was resprayed in 1991 before I drove it to Zakynthos and Naxos spent a couple of seasons 1991-92 working in Greece


It's been in the garage for the last few years unused (ten to be precise), I hope to get it up and running in 2011 and do a few hillclimbs and have a bit of fun
the last pic is current after clearing most of the crap and boxes of it.

Paul Irvine

[MaRkStar]

Chaps howz the winter projects progressing? Lee is yours back on the road now?

Over the weekend I've been working on my brothers Star and realised its been five years since I ripped out the old wiring loom - I think we're heading for the longest rebuild ever! Anyway finally got the new dash wired up and fitted in, we went for the traditional look rather than the modern all in one, although I think we went overboard on the lights/indicators. Had to do a bit of head scratching though, you know the classic rebuild where you're left with two screws well I had two more wires coming from the dash than there was coming from the main loom, doch! anyway, turned out to be oil temp and oil pressure feeds, not too sure how I missed them out but hay, so after an hour unwrapping and re-wrapping the two were added, all in and done, I had wondered why there were two coils of cable left in the box . . . So below are some pics showing the end result, the first are during fabrication, the other of it in place. Just got the peripherals to connect to loom, lights, fan, horn, alternator, starter, all gauge senders etc. and then build the lower dash which houses the clock and voltmeter and the switches - not much then. A couple of good days and it'll be there, although I think I said that five years ago. At least I have made all the mistakes for when it's time to rewire mine