Project 205

In September 2009 I purchased a 1989 Peugeot 205 XS Endurance/Road Rally car. The car had participated in numerous Endurance and Road events with 100% reliability.

It has a full OMP Roll cage, two racing seats and three inch four point TRS harnesses fitted, as well as a pair of Cibie Super Oscar spot lamps and Lifeline fire extinguisher.

I purchased it to take part in Road rallies. I used to be a navigator, my last Rally was back in 1997, so, after a long lay off I've decided to get back into Road Rallying as a driver this time round.

The first thing I did after purchasing the car was to give it a thorough going over.

I found a lot of mechanical things that needed to be sorted out;

Front End Bits

1. Standard Struts were tired and have been replaced with a pair of Koni Adjustable struts with Peugeot 205 Diesel springs.

2. Both drive shafts were knocking, and have been replaced with two new shafts.

3. All three engine mountings were tired and the engine was "rocking" badly, resulting in problems with gear selection. They were replaced with BBM group N engine mounts, the result was amazing!

4. Gear selection needed shortening, so I fitted a "Quick Shift" setup to shorten the throw of gear selection.

5. Gear selector rods were worn, I fitted a set of up rated "all steel" double locking linkages, fantastic bit of kit!

6. Driver side front calliper wasn't working too well, so I changed it for a new one, also fitting a new master cylinder for peace of mind! Braided brake pipes, DOT 5.1 high performance brake fluid and Green Stuff pads were also purchased for the car.

7. A steel sump guard was fabricated to protect the underside of the car.

8. Exhaust manifold nuts replaced for new ones, and down pipe to centre section joint drilled out and stronger bolts fitted to accommodate the heavier loads that Road rallying putts on a car.

9. Strut Brace was fitted.

10. The engine bay has been tidied up generally, with the installation of bonnet pins and spot lamp stabilisers.

Rear End bits

1. Original handbrake cables were tired and hanging down, so have been replaced with new cables.

2. Brake shoes replaced.

Other bits

1. Stud conversion kit fitted.

2. Door bars welded in.

3. Wired in a central fuse box to feed the, interior light, map light, 12v std connection socket, Navigators "potti" lamp socket and Rally Clock, along with interior light switch, Rad fan switch (alongside the std auto fan function) and fan heater switch.

Future Upgrades

1. 1400 Challenge TCA's with poly bushes.

2. Grooved and cross drilled disks. Done.

3. Re spray exterior.

4. Fully prepared 1360 Rally engine running split 40 Webber DCOE carbs and 4-2-1 Manifold.

5. Pair of Motordrive Competition Pro 2 side mounted Seats.

Project 205 Pictures