Bunkey's Fast Road/Race Development Diary

roop298 · **Posted:** Tue Nov 17, 2020 9:32 pm

Don't hurt yourself. I'm in no rush.

SlackGarry · **Posted:** Mon Nov 23, 2020 5:41 pm

Bunkey. Big valve head and a Wild Cam.

Thats if there available.

Bunkey · **Posted:** Sun Nov 29, 2020 3:53 am

Website is live: http://www.c1autoworks.com

There's still quite a bit of work to do but at least you guys can have a click about and let me know if there's anything funky happening on your system.
Its a desktop only site right now - It does seem to work ok for mobile but the graphics don't play on my phone.

I'm set up as a Pipercross and Powerflex dealer too, more to follow.
I've got to sort out the checkout and things before I can start processing orders though.

If anyone is after servicing or anything do give me a shout; I would really welcome some business at this early stage - I don't want to go too public with the site just yet though so please keep it to yourselves until I do a 'big launch' when it's polished and ready to go.

On the engine side, I've invested in a decent stand to make life a bit easier. Cleaning up the outside before I take it apart as I'm not planning on rebuilding the bottom end - I didn't want a bunch of dust getting in there whilst the head and sump are off. Now it's clean I can just wrap the block in clingfilm and go work on the other bits.

Doesn't look like I'm gonna be having a Trossachs adventure any time soon - kind of a relief tbh cos there's way too much to do here.

Oh I just received a batch of 2-part RTV silicone and polyurethane resin too - Gonna have some fun developing a parts casting process with them soon...

I'll try and find the time to do some good write-ups on this engine build, as you can probably tell most of my energy has gone into getting this business off the ground so I'm struggling for words right now.

Thanks for your continued interest :wave:

Bunkey · **Posted:** Tue Dec 01, 2020 3:44 pm

I'd like to hear if you guys have any suggestions; anything you think I could be doing better with the website or ideas for things you'd like to see included?
I'm still refining everything and getting it set up but I expect to do a 'hard launch' soon via the club page. (No pun intended)

I'm afraid I don't quite have the skill and facilities to manufacture camshafts yet but I do have an idea for the valves so ta for bringing that one up Gary :thumbs:

The harness bar is a really good idea too, I'm gonna keep that one in mind. It's not something I'd include in the product catalogue per se but there's a really good fabricator based in Ft William who I'm fortunate to be friends with and hope to get him on board with some of this stuff - check out 'Classic Fabs' exhausts if you're interested; they build the worlds best exhaust systems for classic racing Jaguars - the guy who runs that company actually outsources the work to my friend in question (Aidan, Lochaber Stainless). I'm hoping to work with him in a similar sense to manufacture a C1-Autoworks designed 3-1 exhaust manifold once I've found my feet a bit.

I've revised the induction system design too; it's the same idea but I'm adopting a different process which should give better results and look a bit more up to spec - again I've sought consultation on this one from an old schoolfriend who just so happens to be an aerodynamisist for a well-established formula 1 team :lol:

It's crazy where people end up!

I'm aware I can get a little wrapped up in my own ideas and self interest at times but I don't mean or want to be like that so just wanted to use this moment of clarity to say thank you to everyone who's taken the time to follow and comment on this diary over the past year or two - If it wasn't for you I wouldn't be here doing this, honestly. I owe you all a beer or something -
Once I've got the shop running I'd like to offer you all a discount on the products there - I'll keep you updated on this in the near future.

Take it easy 8-)

Ben

Bunkey · **Posted:** Thu Dec 03, 2020 7:53 pm

To avoid any confusion going forward I feel I need to clarify some terminology here - As I'm not yet in a position to take on staff and I don't yet turnover any considerable sum, I'm operating as a sole trader until I deem it necessary to register the business as a limited company (its own legal entity). However, 'C1 Autoworks' I think can be defined as its own intellectual entity regardless and it's important to present oneself in a professional manner so my basic rule of thumb is that anything concerning both the business & I shall be addressed as 'we' from now on.

So with that; I'm very excited to say that we shall be working with TTV Racing Components to offer their range of lightweight billet flywheels and engine pulleys for the 1KR-FE! - I really cannot wait to get some of this stuff on the car.

The committee for the Scottish Sprint & Hillclimb Championship have also just announced a full calendar of races for 2021 which I'm really looking forward to competing in.
Due to the cylinder head porting work, chassis alignment setup and a few other bits; it looks like I'm going to have to enter the modified 1400cc class to keep within the regulations, so that should be interesting. I'm not quite sure how competitive we're going to be against the cars at the upper limit of the class (they have very heavily modified 1400cc engines and chassis), I think we'll be doing our own race in this respect, but if I can start to challenge the times of the bigger engined standard road cars (the mx-5's, clio 172's etc.) like we did at Forrestburn a few years ago, I will be very pleased with that.

Back to the Piper manifold saga: I've just posted this up to Aidan at Lochaber Stainless to carry out some modifications to the flange and collector in line with what I'd talked about previously. The idea is to incorporate this into a proper 1.5" system and be able to reap the benefits of that larger pipe diameter - with the modifications it should serve as a functional 3:1 manifold until I can begin to work on our own design for a performance alternative.

Stay tuned!

Steve107 · **Posted:** Sun Dec 06, 2020 1:20 pm

Things are progressing, good luck with it all, good to see a decent set of performance parts for the bugs, it never been a first choice performance mod car, but that's not to say it shouldn't be done, as you say there are few bug racing series now, who would expected that a few years ago.

Bunkey · **Posted:** Sun Dec 06, 2020 1:44 pm

"Simplify and add lightness"

It's not a genre or a type, it's not an image or an idea. It's not a brand or a statement. 'Performance' and 'luxury' are terms which don't bare any real meaning except in the imagination of the onlooker.
It's just a platform from which to work - one which adheres to the principle in question at a cost attainable to anybody in a position to drive a car. There aren't many cars you can drive flat out on the road and safely find the limit - for all intents and purposes the C1 might as well be the best 'performance car' in the world, it really depends on your own expectation of what that idea actually encompasses.

Bunkey · **Posted:** Sun Dec 06, 2020 2:58 pm

...and with that we got rid of the clunky gov.uk looking text overlaying the s-bend image on the 'About' page.
Awesome.

PetrolDave · **Posted:** Sun Dec 06, 2020 4:18 pm

Bunkey wrote:

"Simplify and add lightness"

A philosophy widely attributed to the late great Colin Chapman.

https://www.lotuscars.com/en-GB/lotus-philosophy/

Bunkey · **Posted:** Sun Dec 06, 2020 4:23 pm

Indeed. It's an idea that's been referenced since the beginning but Colin Chapman applied the philosophy particularly well.

Citroen C1, Peugeot 107, 108 & Toyota Aygo Owners Club. (Discount code for CityBugStore: C1OC)

Bunkey's Fast Road/Race Development Diary

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