CAR HAS BEEN CONVERTED TO FORMULA FORD
I received this 1997 Pinto Van Diemen FC from Primus at the beginning of 2020. Turns out that was perfect timing for taking on a reconstruction project at the beginning of a pandemic !! I pulled it down to being a slider and reconstructed the car with intentions of doing 2021 RunOff's. Circumstances took me on a different route and I am putting this car out there in hopes that someone gets it and does the RunOff's. Car was last raced in Nov 2020 at COTA and the following weekend in Arizona. Car stays in an insulated workshop and goes through a ‘roll over from cold’ sequence once a month and is then started and warmed up to temp.
This RF-97 is located in Phoenix, Arizona. When this car sells, I want to get a Kent powered Formula Ford. So, if you have a Late Model Van Diemen with a Kent, and want to do some trading.... Let's Talk. I would also consider a Honda powered car.
It is almost easier to say what has NOT been changed, updated, or refurbished on this car. I didn't need to change the belly pan or repaint the frame. Nor did the fiberglass need a complete paint job. Presently the paint job is decent for a race car.
Here are the main things about the car. Feel free to contact me for more details about the the rebuild or other aspects of this car. I have photos from most of the reconstruction.
Pinto 5.7 rod motor with Weber 38. Professionally built and dyno'd in CA early in 2020. Presently has approx 16 hours. I keep a log with run times and number of sessions on motor. Cam was new from Elgin. TDC pan and pump. Updated pressure section on pump.
AIM XG LOG data with brake sensors
Ohlins TT44 shocks (reconditioned and dyno'd at Harrison Auto Dynamics)
Crow belts were new in the first part of 2020
Rear uprights have new bearings, tripod housings, tripods and gun drilled half shafts
Penon type diffuser
Late Model rear wing
Car will come with hard wired transponder
All 4 push rods updated to new aero models with new rod ends and mount hardware
New SPA Extreme fire system provided by Primus
New radiators and oil cooler
New PFC rotors
New Wilwood Aluminum LD20 calipers on all 4 corners (Hawk blue pads)
Fully rewired car with color coded wiring. Dash has aircraft grade toggles
New rear brake lines and clutch line from master cylinder back
Epoxied dual layer 5 oz. Kevlar on side panels
New Tilton pressure plate and clutch disk
Wheels: 2 complete sets of 5 spoke OZ, 1 set of Jongbloed with American Racer rain tires
Gear selector is new from my hand back to gear box. This was updated to remove slop and to reposition the gear selector assembly which created more room for my legs.
SPARES
1 or 2 Diffusers
1 complete rear wing, ready to mount. Just put 3 bolts through the back of gear box
1 complete nose / wing assembly. Crush box and wings need to be painted and assembled
1 new out of the mold custom low drag engine cover (better aero and better air flow to carb. Needs to be mounted on car)
1 universal upright (new)
Push rod for front and for rear (originals, put into spares when upgrading to aero push rod)
Original rear ARB kit. I pulled this and installed the newer style double blade ARB that mounts to frame
Fitting in the ’97:
I am 5’09”, I do have some padding on the wall of fuel cell, but it is not a poured foam seat
My inseam measure is 32” and there is pedal adjustment for a bit longer legs
I have a 33” waist and weigh 170 lbs. I have a ¾” piece of heavy plywood under my butt to add a little weight and improve vision slightly over the gauge cover. Someone a little taller could fit in car, but you can’t be very much taller.