Seam welding 122 for rallying

I'm going to have to completely strip and rebuild my 2-dr 122 to make it roadworthy and I thought it might be good fun to go rallying in it when I've finished.

I've heard that seam welding is a good idea and wondered if anyone on here knew which parts of the body need seam welding or indeed if there is a book or website showing what to do.

I have done welding before just not for rallying.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

TIA

Hadi

Hi,

I expect it depends on what parts of the car you are replacing.

Strenghtening is obviously required in the form of bracing etc.

Chris Hart of Putney (L.H.Motors) can give you advice, expertise and parts etc. Contact him on 0208 788 2406.

[Tony Barrett]

Seam welding is not needed on an Amazon . Body strengthening only needed at rear shock absorber mounting . The only other place is bulkhead to chassis leg (where chassis rises over front subframe) but this is illegal for some classes of rallying . We build rally cars for really long and arduous events , usually over 10,000 miles !
Give me a call 0208 741 7500
Tony

Thanks for the response chaps!

Vicente:

Didn't you have a fully prepared stage rally Amazon? How did you get on with it?

Tony:

I may well be in touch once I've assessed whether it's worth restoring the car. I know it definitely needs a floor but I'm not sure about what else needs doing until I've stripped it. I believe you used to service the car a few years ago when it was owned by a friend, Jo Bruce Gardner. It competed in the 1986 Pirelli Challenge and won a team prize and I think it would be a real shame if it's too far gone to repair. We'll have to see I guess!

Thanks again

Hadi

[Bob]

Hi

I can highly recommend using the Amazon for rallying it is a very very nice car to drive, especially on the very fast stuff, be that tarmac or forest. I used mine for club rallies as opposed to classic ones because classic rallying was only just coming in when I had the car and it was also less restrictive on what you could do with the car.

Tony is right in saying that seam welding isn't needed and also about the rear shock mountings. I also had problems with the lower shock mountings on the axle which developed cracks and had to be reinforced, also with the front anti-roll bar mountings which ripped away a few times. The biggest problem I had with the car was the gearbox, which i blew on a regular basis, but it could normally be changed in service so I could carry on. Large amounts of smoke and the occasional flame were also seen coming from the brakes (both front and rear) so I suggest you look at them.


I actually came onto this site with the intention of selling all my old bits, but I am not sure I can do it now. I can honestly say that it is the best balanced car that I have ever driven and I would have another one tomorrow if the House and Wife would let me.

All the best

Bob

Thanks for the tips Bob.

I'm not sure I'm a good enough driver to go all out stage rallying straight away. I thought I'd do a few road rallies first and then maybe do a few rally school days to get my car control up to scratch. It's amazing how complacent you get driving an Impreza Turbo as a road car!!

The reason I was asking about seam welding is that I'm going to have to do a load of welding anyway and thought I might as well do this in addition. As it isn't necessary it should save me some work!

Incidentally, at the last NEC Classic show, I was talking to a chap who had a fully stage rally prepared PV444 or similar. It looked absolutely stunning but it transpired it had been built for a customer at a cost of £45,000!! They'd also done an Escort at £70,000!

I'm hoping to rebuild mine for somewhat less ;-) Let me know if you do decide to sell any bits.

Regards

Hadi

Hi,

I rallied a 122s 4 door for the first time on the Hughes Rally last month, fantastic fun. Dont worry about seam welding but do worry about having a car that wont fail you, four cars failed at or just after the start due to not enough car being put into preperation. there is a fgolden rule, preperation, preperation, preperation. DONT FORGET THE GOLDEN RULE!

Like you I am starting with a few road rallies, the stage rallies are a bit of a a way off. It was tremendous frun but DONT go thinking it will be easy. I am very very fortunate to have an excellent navigator (believe me, this is an essentail piece of equipment for the budding rally driver). We came in 29th in the rally but it was so good that we are now top of the HRCR novices rally league, we are well pleased.

One good piece of advice I can offer you is LISTEN to Tony Barrett, he offers sound advice on Amazons.

There for two rules, remember them, Preperation and listen to Tony Barrett, and you wont go wrong, any failures will be down to you or the navgator.

Good luck and see you on the road (look out for a white amazon with a handsome driver:-) )

Grap

".......They'd also done an Escort at £70,000!"

Maybe Okie Gringos don't see things the way they do in England
(My people left Scotland and Ireland almost 2 centuries ago)
but putting 70,000 into an Escort seems about like putting
diamond bracelets and tiara on a hedgehog.

Pardon my insolence; in some ways we may be less refined over here.