2b Turbocharged Cosworth

[Guest paul mercer]

It's been a few years since I've been on this website, but if you've been here for a while, you'll know all about my ROBIN HOOD 2B and possibly even seen it.

 

I'll make a brave claim to it being one of the best, if not the best 2B built and here's a few of the reasons why:

 

 

The kit was bought new on 29.06.02 from Robin Hood. I opted for the stainless chassis and stainless panels to ensure no rusting could take place – a problem with the mild steel versions.

 

The donor car was a K-reg sierra 2.0L. This ensured certain options were available as will become evident further down this write up.

 

By trade, I'm a prototype vehicle engineer for Ford Motor Companies Research and Development facility in Basildon, Essex. I build prototype cars and components on a daily basis and had the full use of all the technology, knowledge and facilities available to one of the largest Research and Development facilities in the UK.

 

Robin Hood kit cars are known to be the poorer cousin in the kit car market but the 2B tubular chassis is one of the best chassis available on the market. Unlike some companies which have a basic chassis, the 2B chassis has a full height safety cell; this means that it gives more protection than most other chassis available. It was this chassis that drew me to Robin Hood and the 2B. Unfortunately it’s the accessories that normally let down the 2Bs, so I decided to make use of the chassis and body panels and replace all other components.

 

•I have documentation for everything to do with the vehicle.

•I have receipts which total over £12,000 and that doesn’t include the missing receipts or parts that I fabricated. Additionally the carbon fibre components that I made have an estimated production price of about £5500, and the number plate is worth £900.

•I have a full wiring diagram with all connections marked.

•I have instruction manuals for everything purchased for the car.

 

Here’s a list of all things on the vehicle that differentiate my 2B from most 2B’s.

 

Engine + gearbox:

•2wd Sierra Cosworth red top engine – fully rebuilt

•4x4 Sierra Cosworth exhaust manifold

•2wd Sierra Cosworth turbo – fully rebuilt by turbotechnics in Essex.

•Custom built turbo manifold with xrays to prove structural integrity

•Custom stainless 3” straight through exhaust

•Limited slip rear differential off of an XR4X4

•New Bailey oil separator

•Every sensor is brand new

•Every seal is brand new

•Every gasket is brand new

•Every bearing is brand new

•Every bolt is brand new

•New coil

•New clutch summer 07

•Dump valve – recirculating (no annoying whoosh noise)

•Custom made heavy duty prop shaft

•Borg warner T5 gearbox. New seals fitted

•Custom plastic fuel tank

•New fuel pump

•New intercooler

 

Current 0-60 is 5 seconds with the standard 205bhp. The engine has been rebuilt by a professional with ALL new components. To increase power to 270bhp would require a stage 1 conversion which is about £270 and takes about 30 minutes from most good tuning companies.

 

Cooling:

•Coolmans radiator (I think these are OEM parts for the original Mini)

•Adjustable electromic thermostat

•New electronic fan (from Transit). Custom housing to ensure efficient cooling

•Custom ducting. All nosecone air passes through the intercooler and radiator

•Air intake directing air into engine bay to keep temperatures down

 

Electrical:

•Custom made looms throughout.

•All connectors are brand new quick detach waterproof connectors

•All joints are fully soldered.

•Loom is colour coded and number labeled

•Wiring diagrams showing all connectors/wire numbers. (like a Haynes wiring diagram)

•New battery March 2008

•Custom built fuse/relay box

•Battery safety isolator

•Emergency fuel cut off switch

•New headlight housings

•Cusom rear light housings

 

Stereo:

(due to the set up of the engine/turbo/exhaust, the car is not loud in any respect)

•Sony CDX-CA680X FM/CD player

•Kenwood KFC-6959IE speakers

•Clarion component speakers

•Remote control (you cant reach it when you’re strapped in)

 

Dashboard and dials:

•Custom made wiring loom. Fully removeable with dashboard.

•Custom made carbon fibre dashboard.

•Smiths turbo pressure gauge

•Smiths speedo with electronic sensors.

•Smiths rev counter

•Smiths coolant temperature gauge

•Smiths oil pressure gauge

•Smiths clock

•Smiths battery voltmeter

•Smiths fuel gauge with electronic sensor.

•Durite switches

 

Wheel / Tyres / Suspension:

•Ford locking wheel nuts (2 sets to cover all 5 wheels)

•Tyres – 5 x 225/45ZR17 Toyo Proxes

•Wheels – 5 x Mim Amalfi wheels

•Avo coil springs and adjustable shocks

•All suspension parts have been bare metal refinished

•Front wishbones coated in plasticoat for durability

•Adjustable ride height

 

Interior:

•Aluminium pedals.

•New Cobra seats and runners

•Carbon fibre trim housing speakers and other items

•4 point harnesses

•Fully carpeted throughout

•Adjustable rake/pull steering wheel

 

Braking:

•Sierra cosworth ABS and power servo

•New brake disks all round

•New brake pads all round

•All brake lines custom made

•Bonnet air intake to keep brake fluid temperature down

 

Alarm:

•CrimeStopper CS-2000 alarm (This is a top American Company)

•Dual zone microwave

•Shock sensor

•Boot lid sensor

•Bonnet sensor

 

Other information:

•K registered car with personalized number plate K17 CAA

•Tiger wing mirrors

•Every bolt, nut and washer on the car is brand new

•CBS screen demisters with custom made pods

•Wheel arches lined with spray on rubber to prevent stone chips

•Boot lid all custom made. It can house wet weather gear without it being on show

•Boot lid conceals jack and wheel brace

•Bonnet catch correctly fitted with fully working safety

•Bonnet secured to windscreen along whole length

•Body fully waterproofed (apart from roof)

•New windscreen wiper motor, pipework and gear box

•Specially cast vin plate with all vehicle details shown.

•The car is always garaged and never used in the wet.

 

So what needs doing to the car?

•The handbrake cover has started to flake so could do with replacing (£15)

•The carbon fiber around the handbrake needs fixing down again. (I pulled it off to show someone the mounting mechanism at a show and haven't glued it back down yet)

•The roll bar needs polishing. I never got round to it. I’ve got all the polishing stuff needed

•I don’t like the rear view mirror but can’t find one I do. Maybe it won’t bother you

 

Parts also to go with the sale of the vehicle:

•CBS smart battery monitor.

•Cosworth engine manual

•New aluminium fuel tank – custom made

•Spare carbon fibre componets – I have spares for most of the components, just in case

•Spare rear diff

•Lots of spare engine sensors

•Spare propshaft

•Lots of other spare vehicle parts

•Set of rear camber wedges (I didn't feel the need to use them in the end)

 

 

As I have shown, this car is so much more than a standard Robin Hood. I estimate that as a prototype vehicle engineer I have put 2000 hours into this car. I also had 2 colleagues that probably put 900 hours into it between them. Again, I build prototype cars for Ford Motor Company, so have done a professional job on everything on this car.

 

Problems I have had with this car since new are:

•The RH prop shaft snapped 3 weeks after building. I had a new uprated propshaft built and fitted. I think I have the original(repaired) as well somewhere.

•The gearbox developed a leaky seal, so had to replace the clutch. The gearbox was removed and all seals replaced on it.

•I didn't use the car for a year and the battery died. New battery and every since I use the CBS battery monitor and the car fires on the button even after sitting for a year.

 

Why am I selling it if it's such a good car?

I recently decided that after 14 years of prototype car building I needed a career change. My new job allows me to move back to where I grew up so I'm selling my current house and it would be better when choosing a new house if I didn't need to specify a garage. This reason is just the straw that broke the camels back. In the last two years I have managed to get out in my car 4 times. 2 of those times were for MOT's and 1 of them was Detling this year to sell it. It's great to show people the car as they wander into my house, but seems pointless having it when I never use it.

 

I've set a figure in my head of £10,000 I won't drop below. I know it'a more than 2B's normally go for, but trust me, there is a difference..... I don't need the money so feel free to offer more, but don't go offering silly amounts.

 

More pics available at Pistonheads. If you'd like to see more pics, I can email them to you. I'm going to try and get some uploaded on here (just seen I can create a garage)

 

Thanks for reading this mammoth advert.

 

Paul

 

07956 944 840

pmercer@hotmail.co.uk

[Guest Tim Norman]

I've seen it and if I had the cash I would have it in a flash. He is not blowing his own trumpet but he should be!

Good luck with the sale Paul and the new job and house

[Guest ant.b]

looks a good un , here s the piston pics