What to look for in a Vee

[That guy]

Hello;

I'm looking to get a FV car soon and I was wondering what I should be looking at/for when checking the cars. I should probably mention that I'll be racing in Canada, so I'll need to follow those rules/regs.

Next week I'm going to go and check out a Lynx B that's for sale in the area. It has one race on a regional rebuilt Veetech, a few extra parts/spares and it was certified race ready last year. Is there anything in particular I should be aware of with this type of car?

Is there any general/generic information about FVs I should be aware of? What are the biggest things to look for when purchasing? I know these are a lot of questions, but I'm not experienced in racing and am trying to avoid being hosed if at all possible.

Thanks greatly!
That guy

[marshall9]

I'm not a Vee guy, but I would say engine and transmission condition would be key. Do a leak down test and compression check on the engine, which requires it to run...make sure the transmission shifts, clutch works and doesn't leak fluid. I hear the other parts are very reasonable, if they need replacement. From there, I'll let the Vee specialists here chime in.

[DanW]

Look up your local race group and find a knowledgeable person to go with you to look over the car together and provide a hopefully unbiased opinion.

The link below will give you a general idea what to look for.

http://www.thekentlives.com/index.ph...-formula-ford/

Best advice you can get:
"You get what you inspect, no what you expect." - Advice from both Barry and Jake Lamont.

Good luck and best wishes.

Regards,
Dan Wise

[marshall9]

What DanW said.

Having bought, raced and driven a lot of cars over the years, I would rather own a mechanically sound cosmetic nightmare, than a pretty vice versa.

[Hawke]

There is only one way to buy a race car. When the car is coming back from its successful race, drive it on your trailer, pay money, and take it home with you.

[karmaboy]

Here you go.
Already in Canada.
I'll take CDN $ at par.
http://www.apexspeed.com/forums/showthread.php?t=65960

[That guy]

Thanks for all of the very helpful responses! I'll keep it all in mind! Does anyone know if there is a particular area on the frame that has a tendency to crack or bend, or is that really not an issue with these cars?

Here you go.
Already in Canada.
I'll take CDN $ at par.
http://www.apexspeed.com/forums/showthread.php?t=65960

While that's an undeniably beautiful car with fantastic pedigree, it's also rather out of my price range haha. Best of luck selling it though! Whoever buys it will have a lovely car!

Thanks!
That guy

[gmac]

Hello;

I'm looking to get a FV car soon and I was wondering what I should be looking at/for when checking the cars. I should probably mention that I'll be racing in Canada, so I'll need to follow those rules/regs.

Next week I'm going to go and check out a Lynx B that's for sale in the area. It has one race on a regional rebuilt Veetech, a few extra parts/spares and it was certified race ready last year. Is there anything in particular I should be aware of with this type of car?

Is there any general/generic information about FVs I should be aware of? What are the biggest things to look for when purchasing? I know these are a lot of questions, but I'm not experienced in racing and am trying to avoid being hosed if at all possible.

Thanks greatly!
That guy

First get to know the vee guys at the WSCC. They are a great group and will help you along your way. I assume you will be racing with them in Gimli. I have found the Lynx B to be a stout chassis have crashed one heavily in 2001. I would look for cracks at the front engine mount, the transaxle mount and the front beam mount.

Next sit in the car as you would on race day, strapped in and with your suit shoes gloves and helmet on.

Make sure you get as many spares as possible. Front spindles and rear brake drums are common casualties. Since you are new I recommend you watch the Bill Vallis vee maintenance videos on his web site. These cover the basics to keep you running for the week end.
http://vallismotorsport.com



Cheers

Greg

[Steve Davis]

You didn't mention how tall you are. I would say that your NUMBER ONE goal would be to find a car that you FIT ... or that fits YOU. If you can't get comfortable in the car, you can't drive it well. Most cars fit an 'average' driver pretty well... however, if you are over 6 feet tall or have shoe size > 10, you need to make sure it will accommodate you.

Most anything else can be corrected with little fanfare if you are 'handy' or have access to someone that is. Stress cracks are generally NOT an issue for a vee. You might find some cracking in the engine trans area, but it would usually be the result of CRASH damage... but it's still a good idea to look for anything obvious. Make sure you get a car LOG BOOK and make sure that it matches the number stamped into the roll bar - generally left side just above the upper forward going chassis tube. Look through the log book for mentions of crash damage and make sure it got repaired properly. Inspect a few welds and make sure that they LOOK good. If you don't know what a good weld looks like, get some help.

I agree that the BEST thing to do is to find someone in your area that already has a vee. Go to a race or 2 with him/her and learn a little about the car. Another option is to RENT a car from someone that provides support for a weekend or 2 .. or even BUY a car from someone that will help you for an event or 2.

Good luck and welcome to the class.

[G.B.]

Some pointers:

Do you fit in the car? i.e. Can you fit your hips down between the frame rails? Is your helmet the regulation distance below the roll hoop?

Ask to see the logbook(s). When and where was the car last raced? When was the car’s last technical inspection (Annual Tech)? Are there any results sheets? Result sheets maybe available on the internet.

When and by whom was the engine last refreshed? You will probably need to factor an engine refresh into your budget.

Does the owner have a settings sheet?

How much life is left on the belts and does the car have a transponder? Transponders are expensive.

[Jean-Sebastien Stoezel]

Hi there:

I have a Lynx B and have been racing it in Gimli. I'm available if you need local information about the class in the region. Just PM me (and enable your PMs as well).

JS

Hello;

I'm looking to get a FV car soon and I was wondering what I should be looking at/for when checking the cars. I should probably mention that I'll be racing in Canada, so I'll need to follow those rules/regs.

Next week I'm going to go and check out a Lynx B that's for sale in the area. It has one race on a regional rebuilt Veetech, a few extra parts/spares and it was certified race ready last year. Is there anything in particular I should be aware of with this type of car?

Is there any general/generic information about FVs I should be aware of? What are the biggest things to look for when purchasing? I know these are a lot of questions, but I'm not experienced in racing and am trying to avoid being hosed if at all possible.

Thanks greatly!
That guy

[Albatross]

Have an experienced Vee owner go with you to look at the car. When was the last time [it] raced? Look at the last 6-8 log book entries-any accidents? You MUST, repeat MUST do a leak down before you buy. You want to know what kind of condition the rings are in and also the valves. Nobody seems to want to do an oil sample check to see what, if at all, to determine if the engine is making metal. I suspect that in your "neck of the woods" so to speak, you want to be using a "short" gear box. A Lynx B is a good starter Vee to have, but don't expect to be running at or near the front of the pack....ever, but it was a good car to learn and race with without spending lots of $$$$. Seems to me that "Problemchild' could make some helpful suggestions, aye?