Dean's 340 F7P Megajolt Project

[Dean]

Right I've owned my 340 for a few months now and I really love these cars! They are so simple to work on and fun to drive... I get waves off people in the street and people smiling on the way to work which I'd never of got if I'd got a boring Fiesta or any other generic "first car" (I'm 19 you see and I've always had motorbikes since 16!)

Anyway, my actual 340 isn't too great and I'm planning on re-shelling it at some point once I've sorted out the problems with the drive-train and getting the F7P running megajolt. I thought I'd start a project to keep log of it and I guess my first task of the drive-train will help other people who keep snapping propshafts!

So here is my 340 as it stands today:





It's running on Kawasaki ZZR 1100 carbs on the bog bros manifold. Although it is running standard ignition and a bit lumpy low down revs. It's currently fully stripped out with 2 "half-buckets" and a deep dish steering wheel. It's half way to being a good drift car if it had a hydro handbrake and a welded diff.

See it's on cut springs and 3" lowering blocks on the back and the prev owner front-end smashed it drifting so he roller-painted it matte gray

I'd love a nice shiny red 340 completely stock with this engine under the bonnet! Thats on the cards later anyway. Mechanics before looks eh?

Shortly after getting it I snapped a prop shaft (infact it was only 10 miles down the road) so I took some advice and checked out my engine mounts...



Turns out the engine was held in by hopes and dreams...The second front mount was actually bent (the thread was almost 90 degrees! So I swapped them out and it has held up thus far other than a misshap with me not fitting the prop correctly and it fell off

I can't stress the importance of fitting the prop you really need to knock it on at the clutch end, then get it on the gearbox shaft and hit it ALL THE WAY back along the splines. Then make sure your clamps are in good shape (make sure all the threads etc are clean on both the bolt and clamp) and position the clamp so it sits in the groove on the prop shaft for the bolt to slot in and tighten her up.

Anyway, my bellhousing cracked after changing the mounts so I know it still isn't right and it is only a matter of time before I need a new prop, so Dai sent me some goodies which came in the post today!



Some nice new poly rear mounts! Now these are only in testing so I will fit them on Sunday if the weather lets me and make sure all my mounts are to the green book (bottom of the slots!) and check it out with Dai's loaned alignment tool. Thanks Dai!

I will keep you all posted on how I get on.

Regarding Megajolt it is deffinitely on the cards now, I'm after sourcing a crank pulley for the F7P so I can get a trigger wheel fab'd on! More on this once my stuffs aligned anyway

[MCHUDD]

Hi Dean.
Good luck with the project.
Cheers Mark.

[Chris_C]

Looking forward to seeing how this pans out

Wtf happened to that poly front mount though!? Someone try jacking the car on the sump??

[classicswede]

Snapped prop hammered the crap out of it. Lucky the mount gave rather than the bellhousing breaking!

[Dean]

Thanks guys Well it sorta has, the bellhousing has a big crack from the edge where it meets the block across the ridge where the bolt goes and a bit further. Looks like I need a new housing. I'll get pictures soon... If only it could be welded.

The mount was like that when I got the car, so not entirely sure what happened, although one of the mounts I got off Dai did the same at first. But that might be down to the second mount being fooked and me not noticing the first time. Deffinitely worth replacing both not just the 1 for troubles sake.

Anyway, I got down under the car today despite the snow coming down still and swapped out the mounts for the new ones... Sorry about the pictures, it got dark and I couldn't see what I was picturing





Then on went Dai's alignment tool which was a pain! Had to pry open the splines a bit as they were crushed shut:



And the result:



Awesome, thanks Dai! I will get the alignment tool and previous failed mounts posted to you asap.

I didn't need to use any of the spacers provided, both front and rear work perfectly as they are.

The poly mounts are deffinitely worth an investment, I have both front and rear now and I cannot move my engine at all! It is completely solid and it just moves the chassis instead

[volvodspec]

great work but you aren't helping your mounts/bellhousing to stay intact if you don't have all the bellhousing bolts fitted

[Dean]

great work but you aren't helping your mounts/bellhousing to stay intact if you don't have all the bellhousing bolts fitted

I got a new bolt made off Mac last week. I need to get it in but not had chance to do it yet because the weathers to crap and its a fairly big job, the prev owner didn't put it in when he fit the bellhousing...

This particular bolt won't go in unless you remove the housing and get it in place first.

[Chris_C]

Dean, I don't know if you did, but before the tool goes back...

Looking at the way Dai has done the tool, it looks to be fairly long from spline to laser. It wouldn't surprise me if the laser also doesn't point straight out of the pointer (if I look down the "barrel" of my laser pointer, it's fairly obvious to spot there is about a 3-4deg angle) plus I can't see if Dai's put any calibration screws in there.

To counter that, try and take a long exposure picture and rotate the gearbox input/clutch output shaft 360 degs. Then you describe a circle, the centre of which is the exact point you want


Total length of mine

[Dean]

Yeah I see what you mean, it did align up fairly well when I rotated it but I would probably say maybe a few mm off center within the circle it drew - I just assumed I wouldn't be able to get it 100%

It's a pain really I'm working 6 day weeks at the min and Sunday is the only day I can do it

The laser pulled in/out actually, although I did look straight down at it and it was straight (to the eye anyway).

[Chris_C]

Cool I spent ages trying to get mine central, then just thought about the drawing a circle thing, it removes all error as long as nothing else can move as you do it.

[Dean]

Just a few pictures, got to the car today to re fit the prop and tighten it all up and there was too much snow! Didn't stop me though I just can't feel the back of my body at all after Lying under the thing for about an hour!

[Dean]

Little update, was doing some skids and bent a strut...



Managed to get another, and i've decided its time to address the cut spring issue so got a set of these off Dai @ 75mm lowered springs 3x as stiff:



Not got round to fitting them just yet, did a few more skids and snapped one of these (thanks again Dai):



So replaced that and got one of these temporarily until I sort out standalone ignition as I'm sick of going off the odometer when drifting!



More soon I guess

[Dean]

Unfortunately I cannot keep this car due to fuel expenses etc etc - If anyone is interested it is up for sale £1100

I still haven't fit the lowering springs off Dai although they will be included in the sale, also the omex is included.

I also have included with the sale a propshaft (very good condition be that) and a differential and gearbox.

Contact me on here or 07791444468 I'm in Manchester.