Building a fast 16v Allegro (now going fully forged turbo)

[edk83]

So the rear end mechanics are pretty much done, i might go to a stiffer spring later and it will get new brakes and lines.



Been busy seam sealing and getting ready for painting the inside and engine bay next weekend.



I wanted to have my gauges in the center console but the viewing angle on the digital gauges isn't very good so they will have to go in pods.

[mattiwagon]

Looks like a good position for clocks dude

[edk83]

Yeah the little shelf I made came out ok, should look well with my digital dash, no analogue gauges in sight

[cdwood2010]

Wow, just catching up on your build.

Pretty spiffing work mate.



c.

[usedabused]

Oh my this is looking very promising indead.....

[edk83]

Thanks all

Just come in after sanding like a nutter for the last 5 hours, arm about to fall off.

I'm not sure when it will see a road but it's coming along at the moment. My wife is about 6 to 8 weeks off delivering our 3rd child so I'm on a mission to get as much done as I can before then.

Hoping to get the frame and engine in, suspension on so it can sit on wheels on trolleys. I'll probably not touch it much for a couple of months but stuff like wiring and plumbing I can do bit by bit. Only next big job will be prep and paint the outside, planning on doing it after it's running probably autumn time.

[vulgalour]

I've enjoyed spending some time reading through this one from the start, I'd lost track of where it went after Kieran sold it. This new evolution is seriously impressive and I'm very interested to see how the suspension works out for you. Rear suspension on Allegro and Princess is practically identical, at the front it's slightly different with horizontally mounted units instead of the Allegro's more conventional vertical towers. Seeing one project with that suspension conversion done and working well would be a boon to all Hydragas owners. I mention the Princess as I'm looking for a viable replacement for the Hydragas units since failure of mine over the years has grounded me more times than I'm comfortable with and spares supply is not getting any better.

It's quite satisfying how many parts have fitted with seemingly minimal modification and surprising just how similar the proportions are to other BLARG cars, I hadn't thought that much of the Allegro's heritage had carried on so far down the line.

[edk83]

I didn't realise that the Princess had horizontal front suspension, that is rather odd. I can see the reason for it at the rear, providing more boot space but not so much at the front.

Dawn Kennedy seems to be doing quite a good job of regassing units although not cheap much easer and still cheaper than what I'm attempting. I'm also quite pleasantly surprised at how closely parts have fitted, not so much minimal on some of the required fabrication though!

Pretty much everything fits now, still be to tested properly though, how many small unforeseen changes that still may be needed I have no idea! Only thing I can think of at the moment is the front anti roll bar still needs some adjustment and maybe some custom droplinks.

[glenanderson]

Feb 28, 2017 11:03:04 GMT edk83 said:

My mate Simon had a 1750 Allegro back in 1986 when we first started driving. It was quite a "Q" car with most people expecting the performance of a 1.1 A-series. Long after the Allegro dissolved and went to be turned into tin cans, he had a succession of Maestro Turbos. He was convinced the running gear would be an easy swap into an Allegro...

[edk83]

Someone did mention the O series turbo before, not sure how 'easy' it would be! I prefer the K series as they are much more widely available, and probably a better power to weight over the older turbo lumps.

How is that lorry coming on bay the way?

[vulgalour]

Trouble with most engines you want to put in is the gearbox being on the side instead of underneath, you think you've got loads of space for an engine right up until you realise it. Allegros don't seem quite as bad for it as the Princess given how many people have now put interesting lumps in them. Still, got to be easier than squeezing a K series into a mini, which I've seen done and still have no idea how they managed to get it all in there.

[edk83]

Fitting the K series to the Allegro wasn't far off fitting one in a Mini, I've just got a lot more room around it to work with and rad is in the normal place. You have to cut the inner wings out to clear the gearbox in both cars as both originally had the gearbox in the sump.

You can fit the same tf subframe in a mini but you have less clearance and the track is pushed out by 4". Allegro track is within 5mm of the tf/ rover 100 so sort of knew it has to fit without changing the arches.

Only difference with the Mini is you can buy a ready built subframe and adapter plates to fit a Mini. Never been done in an Allegro far as I'm aware

[edk83]

After about 10 hours of sanding like a nutter my arm is ready to fall off and the masking mission continues

[glenanderson]

Feb 28, 2017 11:57:44 GMT edk83 said:

Someone did mention the O series turbo before, not sure how 'easy' it would be! I prefer the K series as they are much more widely available, and probably a better power to weight over the older turbo lumps.

How is that lorry coming on bay the way?

Yeah, I rate the K series better than the O by a long way. The K's well publicised faults could all have been eradicated with less penny-pinching by Rover. I think they're a fine motor. 

The lorry? Hmmm. Don't ask. Too many other jobs at the moment and too little motivation with the weather. 

[edk83]

Yeah, you'd need a rather large garage to work on it at this time of year. Looks like a monster project though!

[vulgalour]

I own a K and an O series powered car and I have to agree, the K is overall the better lump. However, the O is better suited to long distance loping than the K which can be a bit buzzy and annoying.

[edk83]

So today the inside was painted Over the next few weeks most stuff can be finally bolted in

[darrenh]

shock face / and or jaw drop emoticon

this is all

[vulgalour]

Pageant Blue FTW! That cage doesn't even look that obvious, even though it should.

[glenanderson]

Excellent. 😃👍