The Cincy Birkin (now in Oregon)

[Cueball1]

Thought I'd start this now that I've had the car for a week.  Still fighting the Oregon DMV and their contradictory rules regarding replica vehicles though.

 

Many of you will remember much of this from Crocs epic for sale thread.  This was a craigslist find thanks to him.  Kitkat lives in the area where the car was and generously volunteered to check it out.  He returned with a glowing report and after several years of lurking I finally pulled the trigger on a 7!

 

The car was originally commissioned and built for George Hillard.  Some of you know him.  He attended and drove in a number of 7s track events.  I've been in contact with George and he is sending me all sorts of pictures and history on the car.  What an unexpected bonus that is! 

 

Car was built by Dennis Tobin, a former Birkin dealer.  The 2.0l zetec motor was rebuilt by Focus Power and put out 182rwhp when completed.  Will post a lot more info on specifics of the  build when George's package arrives. 

 

For the owner in Cincy it was a sunny day car.  He installed leather Birkin seats, carpeting and other interior dress up, installed black 949 racing wheels and had the windshield surround and exhaust powder coated black.  It's a pretty car and in very nice shape. 

 

Here's a few pics to get the thread started.. 

 

Edited September 8, 2023 by Cueball1

[Cueball1]

[Austin David]

how do you like the ITBs?

[Cueball1]

Honestly have no real opinion since I haven't driven a 7 without them.  Exhaust is loud enough I don't hear the intakes.  Trying to come up with a plan and parts to quiet the exhaust.  Maybe that will change my opinion.  It's a healthy free revving zetec.  Gotta think the itb's play a part in that. 

[Austin David]

I see the oil cooler.  Did they also lighten the flywheel?

 

My 2.0 Duratec (360 spec, standard intake w/ plenum) definitely has some intake noise when the butterfly is open, but the intake is on my side (LHS) and exhaust on the other.

[Cueball1]

Fidanza flywheel, extensive head work, pistons, lots of other parts.  Will post more specs when I get the info package from the original owner.  Transmission has aftermarket gears. 

 

Original owner was a track rat and this car is well sorted and built to a fairly high spec.  Will post engine compartment pics later.  It's pretty dang sexy how clean and tidy it is. 

[Cueball1]

Here are a few engine compartment pics.  Will do a proper photo shoot of everything soon.  These are phone pics under garage lighting.  Not ideal.

 

Pretty clean and very tidy.  When I moved the pedals back to a comfortable position it pulled the throttle cable a little tight.  Other than that I don't see much I can improve on! 

 

[MV8]

That is cleaner than most I've seen. The throttle cable is well routed but you could add fire sleeve to the throttle cable and expansion tank hoses above the header. I'd lube the cables with a motorbike cable tool and aerosol graphite (if it is metal-on-metal and the cable not coated or the housing unlined), and replace any hoses (especially fuel (likely 5/16 (8mm) SAE J30R9) that seem hard/rigid, reuse the clamps that don't cut the hose when tightened, and add some heater hose or rotate the master banjos to get the braided lines off the corner of the expansion tank. The fire sleeve will help the hoses around the header/exhaust last much longer.  

[Cueball1]

@MV8thank you!  Good suggestions.  All stuff my newb brain didn't think of.  Nor all the vastly more experienced folks that have worked on and maintained this car over the years!  

 

The hoses weren't against the expansion tank until I moved the pedals back so I guess that one is understandable.

 

Thanks for the ideas.