Hi just (re)joined the club.
I first built my Berli in the early nineties, chassis No. 1515SBV8. Many of you will know this means it is Sierra based with a Rover V8. Fitting the engine was a
major task not helped by little or no technical back up from the factory. I was told the guy who was developing the V8 installation had left half way through the job! Anyway I solved each problem on my own one by one and my Marlin was registered in Dec 1993. It served as daily transport until 1999 when the call of motorsport won the battle for my time and money! The Marlin was left in the garage unloved and in slow decline, but there is a happy ending because I have rediscovered my enthusiasm for her and a total restoration is underway.
I was never totally happy with the V8. There was not enough room for a big enough radiator and so overheating was a problem. I even tried a second radiator under the boot!Other problems were the brakes. Due to lack of space I relocated the Sierra brake servo and operated it by a home made linkage but I was never happy with it although it passed each MOT. The other thing was low MPG.
So after much thought out goes the V8 and in goes a Vauxhall red top c20xe. I hope this will solve many of the aforementioned problems mainly due to more room in the engine bay, and use of injection and 16v will help the mpg. I hope the performance will be similar as both engines are about 150hp.
Other things I plan are to sand blast the chassis but I'm unsure whether to paint it or powder coat it or even galvanize it. Any advice appreciated. The standard Sierra rear end will be replaced with one from an XR4 with a viscous diff and disc brakes. I want to fit larger brakes to the front too.
I was a member of the club in the nineties and look forward to being a member again.
I first built my Berli in the early nineties, chassis No. 1515SBV8. Many of you will know this means it is Sierra based with a Rover V8. Fitting the engine was a
major task not helped by little or no technical back up from the factory. I was told the guy who was developing the V8 installation had left half way through the job! Anyway I solved each problem on my own one by one and my Marlin was registered in Dec 1993. It served as daily transport until 1999 when the call of motorsport won the battle for my time and money! The Marlin was left in the garage unloved and in slow decline, but there is a happy ending because I have rediscovered my enthusiasm for her and a total restoration is underway.
I was never totally happy with the V8. There was not enough room for a big enough radiator and so overheating was a problem. I even tried a second radiator under the boot!Other problems were the brakes. Due to lack of space I relocated the Sierra brake servo and operated it by a home made linkage but I was never happy with it although it passed each MOT. The other thing was low MPG.
So after much thought out goes the V8 and in goes a Vauxhall red top c20xe. I hope this will solve many of the aforementioned problems mainly due to more room in the engine bay, and use of injection and 16v will help the mpg. I hope the performance will be similar as both engines are about 150hp.
Other things I plan are to sand blast the chassis but I'm unsure whether to paint it or powder coat it or even galvanize it. Any advice appreciated. The standard Sierra rear end will be replaced with one from an XR4 with a viscous diff and disc brakes. I want to fit larger brakes to the front too.
I was a member of the club in the nineties and look forward to being a member again.
Comment