With the season scheduled to start in around six weeks, the excitement is building. OK, granted, the year hasn’t begun quite as we’d all hoped, but as the days get longer and warmer (maybe not the latter), it’s time to push ahead with preparing the ZR for battle.
Back in January, Paul Streather Motorsport gave me a catalogue of things that we could do to the engine to make it as competitive as possible. Looking at this list, it occurred to me that the sensible thing to do would be to pick some choice, carefully considered upgrades, then leave the rest in case I needed the cash later in the season… And with this sage advice fresh in my mind, I emailed Paul and asked him to do the lot.
Fast forward to mid-February and my engine is now the automotive equivalent of Trigger’s broom. New block, pistons, oil pump, water pump, headgasket, cambelt – the works. You name it, it’s been replaced. Only the crank, sump and cylinder head have been carried over.
If we’re being honest, we're not suddenly going to find an extra 50bhp. The engine was solid in the first place, so this rebuild is more about marginal gains and reliability. Of particular note are the forged steel conrods that, from 2021, will be permitted in the MG Trophy. They’re a little pricier than the previous cast steel rods, but should be tougher and better suited to racing. Also new is a set of M-Sport bearings that are designed to give us a freer revving engine and – fingers crossed – maybe an extra horsepower or two.
Updates from Paul suggested the MG’s open-heart surgery went well, with only a few sticky bolts causing bother. As you can see from the pics, the before, during and after shows just how much works has gone into the car for this year, so a big thanks to Paul Streather Motorsport for that.
All we need now is the gearbox to be returned (that’s also being rebuilt) and the whole lot goes back in the car ready for a dyno run-in session. Then it’s off to what will no doubt be a hastily arranged track day (we’re of course guessing as to when we’ll be able to do such things) and then, all being well, the first round at Silverstone National.
James
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