Because....Xratty?

Alright, so after two years of daydreaming and whining and playing video games, I'm finally about to get myself a rally car....project. I had my cash in hand and was going to throw my money at a little old Hispanic lady that I work with, because she has a running(ish) 5 speed Xratty, in the rally-approved white, as such:




As you can see on the plate, it was registered as recently as Febuary. I offered her $500 for it, and she thought that was great. But her husband said that it was technically his car, and he paid $1,800 for it. I was gonna give him $1,200. Is that a good price? Or should I just walk away and get a Foxbody Mustang or something?

But then I got internal bleeding from an infection and spent a week in a hospital. Then I found out that I have to get part of one of my kidneys cut off (grew an extra part) and I have two cysts on my other one that may or may not have to get cut off as well. So now I have to pay a very reasonable amount of money to cover my deductible for medical bills for my hospital visit, and I'll try to talk them into waiting until January to bill me since I'd just have to pay for one deductible for my upcoming surgery. So that threw a wrench in my plans for now, but it's winter anyway and I wouldn't want to work on it until it gets warmer. But the car isn't going anywhere because her mechanic nephew doesn't know how to work on it and she doesn't seem to care about it much. And also, it's been sitting for at least a year. It'll be mine as soon as I recover from getting cut open.

I talked to her husband, and he said that there's something draining the battery and that's why it's been sitting. I'm gonna need to sort that out, and then I'll get to the fun stuff, which is why I'm posting. Because I'd like advice on what I should do and what I shouldn't bother with. What do I need to do to make it a very very basic rally car? I'm only planning on running in two events sanctioned by Rally America in Missouri a year, so I don't want to sink a crazy amount of money into it. Maybe $6k. The car is a block away from my workplace, so I can get pics of whatever you guys would want to look at and stuff.


What I'm thinking:

*Roll cage. Duh.
I know one of youse guys has a drawing I can give to somebody so they can weld that bitch in there. There aren't any rally specific garages in my time zone that I know of, so I guess I'll just give a welding place my car and my drawing and a printout of the Rally America roll cage section of the rule book and say "Okay, here's my car and a lot of money. FOLLOW THESE TO THE LETTER AND DON'T FUCK UP, PLEASE. Have a pleasant day."

*Seats

*Racing harness: what kind? 6 point? 4 point? 8 point?

*Underbody protection/skidplates. What do you guys make yours out of?

*Remove the jurbo. I'm new. Rally America knows that having a jurbo and being new means that you'll definitely probably get AIDS.

*Engine mods: How do I unturbo? What do I need to do, if anything, to make the engine less blowy-uppy? Rods, pistons, malt liquor?

*Put a fuel cell in the trunk. What size?

*Move fuel and brake lines into the cabin. Good idea?

*Reinforce suspension. I don't think my budget allows for JVAB Sooooper Bitchin' Suspenders. Or even Moderately Bitchin' Boingers. In fact, I'm sure I'm already over budget. But that's okay, because rally car.

*Make the e-brake more race friendly. How do you do that? Is putting in a hydraulic e-brake easy/inexpensive?

*How do I know what gear ratios and what diff it has? Would I want a welded or open diff?

*Racing suit, shoes, gloves, helmet. How do I know what size to order, and does price correspond with quality and safety? I'd rather have a closed face helmet than open face. The open face doesn't look like it would do a whole lot. Is there a legitimate reason why I should go with the Peltor open face? I'm most likely going to go with it, but if I can go closed face for around the same price, then awesome.

*Extra rimpz. It's a Ford, so I'm guessing just any old PNP wheels off a Ford would do? I'll have to find out what lug pattern it is, but I'm sure almost all of you already know.

*Tires. I'll probably just buy some used tires from one of you since I'll have to get them shipped here anyway.

*Extra body panels. I'm sure as hell going to need some. I've already signed up to the Merkur forum. Any Missouri guys know of any Xrattys in a PNP? I think JVL mentioned a Merkur guy in STL....

I'm trying to be as realistic as possible. So....advice? If, for whatever reason, the Xratty magically disappears, I'm going to do the same with a Volvo 242.


As I've said before, I've never held a wrench in my life and I have three functioning brain cells. So any and all advice and physical help is very greatly appreciated. I'm pretty thick, so....I'll have to have somebody hold my hand through the entire build.

But if an already built RWD rally car pops up for sale near me, then I'll go that route. But being life, that'll only happen either after I dumped all my money into something that's going to sit in my yard or after it's done being built.

---

Something about something....dirt.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/22/2012 07:29PM by Houdini91.

Cage it, seats, belts, and other safety stuffs. The stock 5spd diff is a 3.64, welded should be fine. Keep oil in the T9 and it will be fine at stock power levels.

To un-turbo it you will need some compression, or it will make 60 hp. Look for some used circle track stuffs, those cats are making 220 and up hp with carbs.

You could leave the suspension totally stock for a smooth rally. Really though, JVABS with stock arms and brakes would be pretty good.

Don't waste your money on a fuel cell, not needed or required.

Convert to a more available radiator, I like the Volvo 240 unit. $100 new, came in 75-93 240's, and 740's 760's

I like the Saab 900 wheels, they are 4x108 also.

Sean meant 9000 wheels. 900 79-86 are 4 on 4 1/2", for is 4 on 4 1/4".
87 and later 900 are 4 1/4 but their inside profile is naughty and they're narrow.
Get the 9000 one.

Suspension---you'll never know until you call what can be done, but you gotta have something and junk is junk..and there's a lotta junk.

call.

---

John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

Get the car first. Jvab struts should be first thing to get. Denver isn't too far...

---

Grant Hughes

Quote
NoCoast
Get the car first. Jvab struts should be first thing to get. Denver isn't too far...

That's interesting. I have a number of guys who are "collecting the parts"

Basically getting the "fun parts' on the car and the car running and shook down and daily driven and as reliable as a street car (should be--tee hee), THEN they gonna cage it..

That's where the 2.95 type T5 and Toyota 4.3 works so well. 1st thru 4th ---yeeee haw.. 5th for Em Pee Geee

---

John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

Yep, but the 3.35 with the 4.3 isn't too bad neither. Thats what I have since I could not find a 2.95 box

whats the final drive in my automatic diff? negative 3.2? it was swapped to T9, but my T5 equipped turbocouch felt considerably faster.

---

First Rally: 2010 First RallyX: 2004 (a bunch)
Driver (0), Co-Driver (7)
Organizer (3), Volunteer (3)
Cars Built (2.5), Engines Blown (2) Cages Built (0) # of rotations (3.5)
Last Updated, Apr 9, 2023



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/23/2012 02:15AM by Gravity Fed.

Quote
Gravity Fed
whats the final drive in my automatic diff? negative 3.2? it was swapped to T9, but my T5 equipped turbocouch felt considerably faster.

Autotragic was 3.36 and the box ratio was high first like I dunno, high.

---

John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

Quote
phlat65
Cage it, seats, belts, and other safety stuffs. The stock 5spd diff is a 3.64, welded should be fine. Keep oil in the T9 and it will be fine at stock power levels.

To un-turbo it you will need some compression, or it will make 60 hp. Look for some used circle track stuffs, those cats are making 220 and up hp with carbs.

You could leave the suspension totally stock for a smooth rally. Really though, JVABS with stock arms and brakes would be pretty good.

Don't waste your money on a fuel cell, not needed or required.

Convert to a more available radiator, I like the Volvo 240 unit. $100 new, came in 75-93 240's, and 740's 760's

I like the Saab 900 wheels, they are 4x108 also.

Alright. Luckily, the circle track and sprint car scenes here are pretty good. 220 HP might be a little much for now. I was thinking 160-ish would be okay, if that's realistic. I think it made that much stock?
Okay, stock suspension for now would be fine. And speaking of brakes, I forgot about those. Stock brakes should be okay?
And yeah, I forgot about the cooling system too. Are there any other parts that I could swap out that are more available? Like a Mustang oil filter or Escort parts?

Also, to un-turbo, do I just take off the turbo and accouterments and bolt a plate to where the turbo was, or what? What sort of compression should I be looking for? 11:1? So the gearbox is a T9 in a 5 speed Xratty, right? And just to make sure, a welded diff. is going to make the car behave like it has a live rear axle, making me use the throttle to control the angle of the sideways-ness? Because that's what I want.

Quote
john vanlandingham
Sean meant 9000 wheels. 900 79-86 are 4 on 4 1/2", for is 4 on 4 1/4".
87 and later 900 are 4 1/4 but their inside profile is naughty and they're narrow.
Get the 9000 one.

Suspension---you'll never know until you call what can be done, but you gotta have something and junk is junk..and there's a lotta junk.

call.

Okay, I'll try to find a 9000 and pop the wheels off.

I'll give you a call sometime later today if you're not busy and I'm not busy. I have no idea what I'm talking about, though.

Quote
NoCoast
Get the car first. Jvab struts should be first thing to get. Denver isn't too far...

It'll be in my driveway late January or early Febuary. I hope. 99% chance. And since I probably won't need a fuel cell so that'll free up a little budget, so the JVABs went from a "not right now" to "probably at the end of the year if my DD doesn't blow up." Aren't they like $3k for a set of 4? That seems like a good price to me. I think. I don't know stuff about things. I live in the middle of nowhere so there's no shortage of awesome gravel roads. So before I do anything I'll put on some gravel tires and see how the stock suspension is.

---

Something about something....dirt.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/23/2012 11:51AM by Houdini91.

Quote
Houdini91
." Aren't they like $3k for a set of 4? That seems like a good price to me. I think.

I live in the middle of nowhere so there's no shortage of awesome gravel roads. So before I do anything I'll put on some gravel tires and see how the stock suspension is.

No. they were around $1850 for a front strut /rear shock car.
Xratty now WITH the Sooper Bitchin spherical bearing top mounts are about $2100
NEW.

Where'd you get the idea they were $3000?
There might be some options.


You will need what the Ford world calls "Outer TCA Bush"

---

John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

Quote
john vanlandingham

Quote
Houdini91
." Aren't they like $3k for a set of 4? That seems like a good price to me. I think.

I live in the middle of nowhere so there's no shortage of awesome gravel roads. So before I do anything I'll put on some gravel tires and see how the stock suspension is.

No. they were around $1850 for a front strut /rear shock car.
Xratty now WITH the Sooper Bitchin spherical bearing top mounts are about $2100
NEW.

Where'd you get the idea they were $3000?
There might be some options.


You will need what the Ford world calls "Outer TCA Bush"

$2,100 for a set of four? I'll order a set about month after the roll cage is in. Assuming I don't need to get cut open again. I think I read $3k somewhere on here a long time ago and got mixed up. What's an "outer TCA bush?"

---

Something about something....dirt.

Quote
Houdini91

Quote
john vanlandingham

Quote
Houdini91
." Aren't they like $3k for a set of 4? That seems like a good price to me. I think.

I live in the middle of nowhere so there's no shortage of awesome gravel roads. So before I do anything I'll put on some gravel tires and see how the stock suspension is.

No. they were around $1850 for a front strut /rear shock car.
Xratty now WITH the Sooper Bitchin spherical bearing top mounts are about $2100
NEW.

Where'd you get the idea they were $3000?
There might be some options.


You will need what the Ford world calls "Outer TCA Bush"

$2,100 for a set of four? I'll order a set about month after the roll cage is in. Assuming I don't need to get cut open again. I think I read $3k somewhere on here a long time ago and got mixed up. What's an "outer TCA bush?"

I haz ciggies. Call now

---

John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

Quote
john vanlandingham

Quote
Houdini91

Quote
john vanlandingham

Quote
Houdini91
." Aren't they like $3k for a set of 4? That seems like a good price to me. I think.

I live in the middle of nowhere so there's no shortage of awesome gravel roads. So before I do anything I'll put on some gravel tires and see how the stock suspension is.

No. they were around $1850 for a front strut /rear shock car.
Xratty now WITH the Sooper Bitchin spherical bearing top mounts are about $2100
NEW.

Where'd you get the idea they were $3000?
There might be some options.


You will need what the Ford world calls "Outer TCA Bush"

$2,100 for a set of four? I'll order a set about month after the roll cage is in. Assuming I don't need to get cut open again. I think I read $3k somewhere on here a long time ago and got mixed up. What's an "outer TCA bush?"

I haz ciggies. Call now

Word. I'm sort of drunk, but I think I'll manage.

---

Something about something....dirt.

Quote
Houdini91

Quote
john vanlandingham

Quote
Houdini91

Quote
john vanlandingham

Quote
Houdini91
." Aren't they like $3k for a set of 4? That seems like a good price to me. I think.

I live in the middle of nowhere so there's no shortage of awesome gravel roads. So before I do anything I'll put on some gravel tires and see how the stock suspension is.

No. they were around $1850 for a front strut /rear shock car.
Xratty now WITH the Sooper Bitchin spherical bearing top mounts are about $2100
NEW.

Where'd you get the idea they were $3000?
There might be some options.


You will need what the Ford world calls "Outer TCA Bush"

$2,100 for a set of four? I'll order a set about month after the roll cage is in. Assuming I don't need to get cut open again. I think I read $3k somewhere on here a long time ago and got mixed up. What's an "outer TCA bush?"

I haz ciggies. Call now

Word. I'm sort of drunk, but I think I'll manage.

OK now we're going for walk, call in like 1 hour, or leave the number with the girlz..

---

John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

Quote
john vanlandingham

Quote
Houdini91

Quote
john vanlandingham

Quote
Houdini91

Quote
john vanlandingham

Quote
Houdini91
." Aren't they like $3k for a set of 4? That seems like a good price to me. I think.

I live in the middle of nowhere so there's no shortage of awesome gravel roads. So before I do anything I'll put on some gravel tires and see how the stock suspension is.

No. they were around $1850 for a front strut /rear shock car.
Xratty now WITH the Sooper Bitchin spherical bearing top mounts are about $2100
NEW.

Where'd you get the idea they were $3000?
There might be some options.


You will need what the Ford world calls "Outer TCA Bush"

$2,100 for a set of four? I'll order a set about month after the roll cage is in. Assuming I don't need to get cut open again. I think I read $3k somewhere on here a long time ago and got mixed up. What's an "outer TCA bush?"

I haz ciggies. Call now

Word. I'm sort of drunk, but I think I'll manage.

OK now we're going for walk, call in like 1 hour, or leave the number with the girlz..

Oh okay. Have a good time. It's about 10:15 there, right? I'll call back at about 11:15, your time. If not, then my cell number is six six xero-eight one five-four six eight seven.

---

Something about something....dirt.