Racing Javelin project

[juliancrossley]

I have recently bought a 1953 Javelin originally a New Zealand car imported in 1998 but stored since. My plan is to restore it and circuit race in the pre 1960 classic saloon car series.if anybody has any experience of circuit racing a Javelin or Jupiter I'd really appreciate any tips you have on suspension set up, power train and engine tuning.Does anybody know what is the maximum reliable flywheel bhp that can be achieved with the flat four.Fortunately the engine in this car has a later oval web nitrided crank as a reasonable start point And I have a copy of the Jowett tuning manual .

[ian Howell]

Julian: -

You are in the right place! As you may have noticed already there are a large number of restoration or repair projects that are being posted on this website and (usually) being almost overwhelmed by helpful advice - and even help!

I had Javelins as everyday transport for 21 years and I am currently working on the repair of a 1930 Long Four. I've been at it for years but it is only a part time hobby.

I cannot help you directly with information about race tuning etc., but I am sure it will not before someone can.

In the meantime, just to encourage you, have a look at 'The Great SC Rebuild' postings under Jupiters.

Welcome aboard.

[Chris Spencer]

Julian - I beleive that we (Team SC) can help -

A: Keith Clements has for many years attempted to wring every last BHP out his Jupiter that has been rallied to a point of vertual no return with most known mods within a budget. Buy him a pint and be prepared to listen for hours on end and you should come away with most of what info you need for the oily bits

B: We are due to commence a Javelin project this year and one option is to build to period rally spec of the 50's

C: If you need any guidance on bodywork and how to make it shiney - you are more than welcome to ask me as many questions as you like

D: You would not have aquired the white (originally yellow) what looked like a very solid car that appeared in a E bay listing a couple of months ago - by any chance ??

Chris

[Robin Fairservice]

You could replace the pistons with either Ford Fiesta or Mazda 808 pistons. These are, I believe 74 mm in dia., compared with 72.5 mm standard, so you would need to bore out the liners, but this would give you more swept volume and boost the compression ratio slightly.

The Mazda's are cheaper from the New Zealand club parts department than the Fiesta pistons in the UK. I believe that you would have to become a member to buy parts from them, but the rate of exchnge is good. Besides, Neil Moore, their parts man, races his Jupiter, so would be useful to talk to.

Scott Renner, in California, is also a fund of knowledge, and he competed in the Baja 100 with his Javelin in 1988 and races a Jupiter.

Look at your wheels very closely as there are stories of them cracking. Sand blasting and Mag Flux examination could save some grief.

What ever you do, read the rules and regulations very closely.

[Jack]

Welcome to the forum.

Keith (our webmaster) is also the club Competition Secretary I believe, when you get round to registration etc he should be able to help.

Team SC is probably getting together in the next couple of weeks to get some work done in the garage, you are very welcome to come down and we will do what we can to help - interested in any performance or competition parts you might be looking at for the Javelin project we are planning.

As for the rebuild, fire away with any and all questions - if nothing else to ensure we store the knowledge that so many members seem to have about every aspect of the cars, asking questions gets it out of them and written down and stored in the forum.

And please can we have as many photos as you've got of the car currently, and keep us updated with a thread dedicated to your car - it's really worth it in the moments of frustration and difficulty to see what you have achieved already, with date and time stamps and photos, and at the end of all of it it makes a great record of the build.

Jack.

[Forumadmin]

Fear not. I have had a couple of long conversations with Julian already. I correctly diagnosed a sticking oil pressure relief valve in his Jav.

We need to get Mike Smailes, Frank Woolley, John Blanckley, Richard Gaine and Geoff McAuley into this conversation. Perhaps start up a new Jowett Team Sport as in the 80s and 90s! Of course the Wiley in Perth, WA, is probably the most racing modified vehicle and shows the reasonable ultimate you can do. Doug Rath may also like to interject. There is lots of expertise, we just need to pool our knowledge.

I would start with wheels, tyres, steering, suspension, brakes and brake cooling.
Then back axle gearing, diff, overdrive and gearbox.
Followed by stiffen bottom end, bearings, oil pump/ways, crankcase, pistons, push rods, valves and head.
Then carbs and air intake, oil and water cooling (aly rad).
Finally start taking weight off the car, (glass, seats, trim, bumpers, heater) fit all mandatory safety features (roll cage, safety harness, extinguishers) and get the balance correct for each circuit.
As Robin says, know the regs, there are some things you can do and some things you might be able to get away with.

[PJGD]

A good first step would be for Julian to actually post the Regs (as a PDF) in this thread so that we can identify what is and isn't allowed, and then we can see how they apply to the Javelin and make helpful suggestions that stand a chance of being accepted. I say this on the basis that there are lots of possibilities that could be suggested but which are pointless if disallowed.

Philip

[juliancrossley]

Gents,
Thank you all for a fantastic response, its great to know there's a wealth of knowledge and willing support out there.

Just to give a bit of background to the rationale of this project its one I've been planining for a couple of years now and looking for the right car to start things off was the first step. (In response to Chris's question yes this is the white one which was on ebay a couple of months ago which had been in storage and hadn't turned a wheel for a 10 years or so.Maybe not a good base for a concours rebuild but your right, a solid base for a race car)
I'm currently a member of the Classic Touring Car Racing Club and have campaigned a 1959 Mini in the pre 1966 Thermex Classic and Historic Championship for the last 7 years. Typically I'm racing against Ford Anglias, Morris Minors ,Lotus Cortinas ,Austin A35s ,JaguarMK2s ,Ford Consuls, Wolsleys, the odd Triumph 2000, an early Saab and others but I don't think, in the club's 30 year history, we've ever had a Javelin race in the series.
I'm sure that in the 50's some guys must have been taking these circuit racing as well as the well documented rallying exploits and such a technically advanced car of its day deserves to be represented today in Historic Racing.It will be a tough challenge to make a Javelin really competitive against cars such as these, and its unlikely it would ever get class wins on a regular basis but there's enough of a spread of talent and tuning levels in the field to have some good battles further down the grid and a good bit of fun too. That's what its about after all. With a few races under its belt then it may even get an invite to the coverted St Mary's trophy at the Goodwood Revival (for pre 1960 saloons only).If ever a car deserved to be represented there a Javelin does.Some of our races get shown occasionally on the satellite channels so could be a good bit of PR for the Jav.
So enough of my personal crusade and back to the technical stuff.Somebody in our racing club told me Weller can make period steel racing wheels to any suit any pcd has anyone come across this before?
Robin thanks for the info on pistons are the Fiesta and Mazda pistons the same, if so presumably the Fiesta pistons will be easier to source?
First job is to get the car road worthy again before the strip for the race build. I need to drive it for a while and get a feel forthe handling.I managed to get the engine running this weekend and it will drive, but no brakes so that's the next job
Thanks again everyone I will try and post a few photos later this week.
Julian

[Forumadmin]

A number of us regularly watch Goodwood Revival races. You are right it would be something to get a Jav on the circuit (although I did take Sir Stirling around it on the way to his 80th birthday party when he wanted me to be doing 100mph into Woodcote which was not really on in a fairly standard Javelin with Lady Suzie on board!) . I suspect that the regs are so open on the StMary's race that you would need a fortune and not much of the Javelin left to be competitive!
http://jowett.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f ... ling#p9039
http://jowett.org/jowettnet/dt/tech/mods/mods.htm

[Robin Fairservice]

I have been told that the 1100 cc Ford Fiesta pistons are now very rare in the UK. When I got mine a few years ago I got them through Mike Smailes, who must know more than I do. For my spare engine I got the Mazda 808 pistons from the NZ club, and they were a lot cheaper than the Fiesta pistons. I remember that Mike made a modification to the Fiesta piston little ends for me, but this wasn't necessary on the Mazda's. They are both the same dimensions.

[Moises Jr.]

Hi all.

Had never interested me before, but I looked a little online and in Spain it seems easy to get Fiesta MK1 pistons even owners' club where you can place an order. If you are interested it would not be a problem for my research on prices and parts.

I find it fantastic for preparing a Javelin!. Competition in England's longest tradition in Spain and more racetracks. For classic discipline in Spain there is a road called "historical regularity" (Do not exceed 50 km/h on average in the sections.) in which the javelin might have need to be more reliable than the force of the engine.

Not if you ever did before, to make specific parts of the body in aluminum or light for jav, would deserve it?

I can only encourage motorsport resume jowett section, as commented would be a fabulous advertisement for the brand.

Saludos!