Saturday 31 March 2007

The new (old??) addition to the team


1976 FJ40- The grandfather of Landcruisers

Imported from Malaysia, was previously enroled with the army. The plan is to drop a 4.2 VX engine and gearbox into it followed by a full restoration. Pics of project to come.

OK, things have profressed, with some determination we got some work done. Believe it or not, in one afternoon....





Finding a donor HDJ80 might prove to be a headache.
However, we have found out that a 60 series front diff is a straight replacement on the 40........... meaning, front disc brakes, a luxury well needed.






1991 VX 4.2 Turbo Deisel FOUND for donor vehicle.......
The donor VX was fetched from the furthest part of the UK, arrived with minimal problems. Spent a day or so stripping it down and here is what she looks like;







The body is OFF, more pics to follow........









40 series body almost off as of tonight. Pics to follow.


Placing the 40 squarely on 80 chasis
Update- 80 series chasis was shortened and 40 series body is now being ligned up.





And, here, one mighty BIG engine;




Thursday 15 March 2007

East African Safari Classic Rally



After the loss of the Safari Rally from the World Rally Championship in 2002, rally enthusiasts led by Mike Kirkland and Surinder Thatthi decided to recreate the nostalgia of "The Safari" by reverting to the unique characteristics of the East African Safari Rally. The idea was to allow classic cars built before 1974 and to avoid the powerful turbo charged and 4WD drive cars. The stages, or sections would be longer and the service crews and back up would be limited just like in the early days.

Ford Escort of Stig Blomqvist being tested in Kenya on 12th March 2007 behind the Ngong Hills

Team Metal's Jaspal Matharu competed and finished the last two rallies held in 2003 & 2005.

2007 Kenyan Rhino Charge


Timetable

Thursday 31st May:


  • Check-InFriday 1st June:

  • ScrutineeringSaturday 2nd June:

  • Charge eventSunday 3rd June:

  • Posting of Results/Prize-giving.!

2006 Kenyan Rhino Charge

RHINO CHARGE 2006 Raises a Record SHS 57.6 Million, 6 June 2006

Rhino Charge 2006 held on Saturday (June 3) at Swuari in Samburu district, raised a record shs 57,666,655. (USD 800,000). This beats last year's record of shs 53.3 million by over shs 4 million and yet again by far the highest for any Rhino Charge event.
The event was won by Kenyan rally ace Ian Duncan in Car No. 2, a Toyota Land Cruiser GX scoring 71.16 kms over all 13 guard posts. A regular entrant Duncan, whose luck and skills have alluded a win since his only other one in 1998, described this year's course as the " toughest ever".


With just three cars out of 58 actual starters completing the entire course of 13 guard posts, Duncan's remark is borne out.

Tuesday 13 March 2007

400 BHP or bust




The plans are for a 400bhp/400Nm build on a MY95 STI type RA.

Why, you ask....... Sijuee!

Specs as is (or, as was);


  • Usual RA items such as light weight construction, DCCD, 3.9 final drive close ratio box

  • Cosworth forged pistons and steel conrods

  • Closed deck block

  • Full decat St.St. turbo back exhaust

  • Bltz Nur Pec R- the daddy!

  • HKS induction kit

  • Prova chip, running upto 10 deg of advance

  • Rolling roaded at 312 bhp

  • 6 point bolt in Sparco cage

For the 400+ build;



  • Semi open neck St.St. downpipe, lagged. 3 inch all the way

  • Grouppe S unequal tubular length headers, ceramic coated

  • Uprated Up-pipe, lagged

  • Andy F TD05-20G turbo with custom 90 deg compressor inlet

  • 850cc Denso Injectors

  • 255 l/hr Walbro fuel pump

  • Aeromotive fuel pressure regulator, running 3 bar

  • Parallel fuel rail with -6AN fittings and braided hoses

  • Apexi Front Mount Intercooler

  • Intercooler water spray

  • Apexi FC ecu- to be mapped by Andy F

  • To run on V max fuel + NF booster (race fuel ??)

Least but not least, full front and rear newage big gold Brembos!






Down pipe






Ceramic coated tubular un-equal exhaust manifold








Up-pipe




TD05-20G


For comparrison


Parallel fuel rail


Front Mount Intercooler



Team Metal- RHINO CHARGE




This is dedicated to the Team Metal crew, supporters and sponsors. Please keep visiting for updates.

Team Metal are veteran Rhino Charge competitors both in Kenya and in the UK.


see http://www.rhinoark.org/about2.htm#began for details.



Rhino Ark's mission is to raise such funds and material support as are required for the building of an electrified fence to encircle both the Aberdares National Park and the demarcated forestry areas which make up the Aberdares Conservation Area.




Summary of Key Points for the Uninitiated:






  • 10 Guard Posts are set up over 400 sq. km. of bushland.



  • The Competing cars are given a simple map the night before the event, onto which the location of these Guard Posts is plotted



  • The cars must visit all 10 Guard Posts within 10 hours to complete the course.



  • The winner of the event is the car which completes the course in the shortest possible distance.



What can go wrong?

UK Charge, September 2004;




Not as gruelling and extreme as the KENYAN event but with the same amount of enthusiasm by the organisers, competitors and spectators.




Team comprised of; Viral Jadeja, Jaspa Kalsi, Gurvir Bhabra, Rash Bhabra & Karan Kalsi

Our sponsor; Moto Tyres, Southall



Big thanks to all our friends who made it out there!





Although we did not win (hmm??) the event as we had set out to do, we were clearly the favourites. In the end, we left with an award for the most sportsman conduct. We had not had so much of a good time in a long time. Named, Juicy Lucy, the Rangy had been sat around idle since the event and, sadly for some, sold for a couple of pints of beer just recently. Bye Juicy Lucy.......!






She was purchased (off EBAY...) barely a fortnight before the event and as it had an expired MOT, we got cracking fixing her, welding her up, finding bigger holes as we progressed. She passed the MOT, driving it, was the only way we were going to get the car down to the event, an odd 150 miles or so.





It's March of 2007, and with a break of almost 2 1/2 years, we will be doing this years event;






Rhino Ark UK are delighted to announce that this year's UK Rhino Charge charity 4x4 event will be held on Sunday 23rd September at the traditional venue of Pippingford Park, Wych Cross, East Sussex.
The event has been moved forward to a Sunday in September to give access to more of the site and enable those who have to work on a Saturday to enjoy this unique competition, which can be entered by seasoned off-roaders or complete novices.



Introducing, Juicy Lucy II;














80 series, Toyota Landcruiser 4.2 TD . She came with a factory winch and a set of factory lockers. Hmm, now we're talking! A few bits to get together to make her a little meaner, a set of mud terrain tyres c/w alloys to suit, airtec snorkel and lots of diesel!



The plan is to get some practise with our local 4x4 club (http://www.viking4x4club.com/). Will post as and when this happens.



Latest addition, a TJM wich bumper and some modular 10.5x15 wheels!



Next on te list; Airtec snorkel, lift kit?, 33's or 35's for even more lift?



This is a 6 inch lift, maybe overkill for the UK. Will settle for 3 or 4 inch lift with 35 tyres.




Some updated pics, TJM bullbar + airtec snorkel.



33x12.5xR15 on back order.............




Still waiting for the new shoes but managed to steal some temporarily;