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Author: Subject: Sylve Phoenix rebuild
qwerty_100

posted on 28/7/14 at 03:07 PM Reply With Quote
Hi Phil
The article that I referred to was in CCC October 1998. Mark Hales tested 4 cars not 3 cars as I originally said they were The Eldon V8
A Westfield SE 1600
My Phoenix/MK4
Sylva Striker
I found a copy of the issue on ebay after tracking down year and month and it makes for good reading, No need to answer the other questions as Jeff has posted some pictures. I have a full set of suspension bushes but would like to change the upper and lower ball joints but I am not a 100% sure what they are off. If when you are back let me know and I can post the article to you or drop it in I am often up that neck of the woods with work cheers Kev

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Sam_68

posted on 28/7/14 at 05:28 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by jeffw
OK....but was it ever called Phoenix? My understand from conversation with Jeremy that it wasn't.



Far be it from me to disagree with Jeremy, but I'm pretty sure it was, yes.

My recollection (and it's obviously a number of years ago now) was that the Phoenix name arose when Chris Appleby briefly took on the project from Jeremy. I think I've got rid of it in recent clear-out, but unless I'm going senile, I'm sure I had a brochure from during this era that I got directly from Chris at Stoneleigh in the name of 'Phoenix Sports Cars'.

A brief Google suggests I'm not alone in this understanding:

link
link

Marketing of the car subsequently passed back to Jeremy (who told me that Chris had wrecked the moulds for the 'downforce' front end by trimming off the returns), but the Phoenix name stuck.

Edited to add:

I'm now absolutely sure that the Phoenix name pre-dates the 'current' bodyshell. Among the handful of old kit car mags that I haven't thrown out is a copy of Kitcars International from March 1993, which has a couple of pages listing back-issue articles, amongst which: 'SYLVA PHOENIX. Track test of a championship winner. MAR 92'.

[Edited on 28/7/14 by Sam_68]

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philfingers

posted on 28/7/14 at 06:55 PM Reply With Quote
That later article confirms my thoughts and earlier comments that the MkIV was originally called the Sylva Clubmans or MkIV Striker with chassis using the modified MkIII chassis (I owned a MkIII from 94-96, Q421 PFW). It was later it became known as the Phoenix.
I remember back around 92 going to Martley, Worcs. to Teme Valley Race Engines (in a BDA Escort for tuning). Graham's partner had the agency, I think for Sylva. There was a fast Fury there. At the time I think the Fury was still under Sylva ownership. I still have a magazine somewhere at home with a feature on it

Kev, I will also have the CCC issue too, I have them all from about 1990 until the last issue. What a great mag that died off. Will have a search for it





The true home of cars born under the Sylva name - http://jpsc.org.uk/forum

STM Phoenix R1
Sold-Sylva Striker 1300xf, 40s etc
Sold-Sylva Phoenix, 1300xf, BVH, 234cam, 2xDCOE 40s, live axle - 'old school', rally car and a few bikes

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Sam_68

posted on 28/7/14 at 07:23 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by philfingers...the MkIV was originally called the Sylva Clubmans or MkIV Striker with chassis using the modified MkIII chassis (I owned a MkIII from 94-96, Q421 PFW).


Yes, I've got a copy of the original build manual for the Striker (with proper photographs, individually pasted-in, presumably because small print runs of colour printing were too expensive back then!), which refers to it as the 'Striker Mk.4 Clubman' [sic].

As you say, the early Clubman cars (including my own) used Chevette uprights and outboard springs, but later cars were fitted with the Escort strut-derived uprights and rocker arms.

Jeremy told me at the time that the Chevette uprights and outboard suspension actually offered slightly better geometry, in his opinion, but that later Strikers (and Furys) standardised on the Escort components for the convenience of 'single donor' sourcing (at least if you turned a blind eye to the need for an Allegro steering column and a few other 'foreign' bits!).

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philfingers

posted on 28/7/14 at 08:25 PM Reply With Quote
I have to say that I've always felt that my MkIII striker handled better than my 1st Phoenix with striker MkII chassis, my MkII striker I just sold and the IRS Phoenix I have now. But then it could be 20 years of rose tinted memories!
Sam- that clubmans of yours looks lovely too, nice traditional old school look. I bought an old Raleigh Whisper the other week for the 1968 plate to use on my (2005 registered Phoenix) but didn't have the heart to ruin the Raleighs identity. Best give Kev his thread back, my apologies Kev :-)





The true home of cars born under the Sylva name - http://jpsc.org.uk/forum

STM Phoenix R1
Sold-Sylva Striker 1300xf, 40s etc
Sold-Sylva Phoenix, 1300xf, BVH, 234cam, 2xDCOE 40s, live axle - 'old school', rally car and a few bikes

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qwerty_100

posted on 29/7/14 at 06:30 AM Reply With Quote
No need to apologise Phil it has been very interesting learning about all the different marks of striker/phoenix/MK4 there are, hopefully I will have it back on the road or the Donnington show and we can all have a good old chin wag once again thanks for all the advise and as per previous post does anyone know what lower and upper ball joints are required cheers Kev.
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philfingers

posted on 29/7/14 at 07:04 AM Reply With Quote
Sorry I don't know. But I'm sure if you google it you'll find the answer. You'd be better maybe looking on JPSC forum. Sherpa ball joint rings a bell. Do they need to be changed?
When's the Donnington show?
I'm going to try and make the Blyton track day, 18th Sept





The true home of cars born under the Sylva name - http://jpsc.org.uk/forum

STM Phoenix R1
Sold-Sylva Striker 1300xf, 40s etc
Sold-Sylva Phoenix, 1300xf, BVH, 234cam, 2xDCOE 40s, live axle - 'old school', rally car and a few bikes

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Sam_68

posted on 29/7/14 at 10:50 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by qwerty_100...does anyone know what lower and upper ball joints are required cheers Kev.


Assuming it's the Escort strut based front suspension, the early build manual I have specifies Vauxhall Chevette top wishbone knuckle joints for the rocker arms.

The lower track control arm is listed in the manual as standard Escort Mk. II (fitted with a Sylva-supplied compression strut), so would have been standard Escort Mk.II lower ball joint. Yours is the later tubular alternative, though, hence will be different - can't help you there, I'm afraid!

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qwerty_100

posted on 30/7/14 at 06:59 PM Reply With Quote
Thanks any way Sam I think it is time to take them off and get the parts book out Chevette sounds familiar and I am sure the guy in the local parts shop will be able to help many thanks Kev
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philfingers

posted on 30/7/14 at 07:45 PM Reply With Quote
Pretty sure the lower is the Sherpa QR1774RH

I have the PDFs of both the sylva MkII and MkIV construction manual and the Fisher Fury build manual 94-04
The former states the upper is late metro top wishbone joints for the rocker arms
Fisher manual states chevette

When I get home I'm more than happy to email them but not a chance from here at the moment
The former covers the MkIV striker too

Interestingly it is dated 1987 and reprinted 1999. There's no mention of Phoenix. Only 'striker MkIV clubman' !





The true home of cars born under the Sylva name - http://jpsc.org.uk/forum

STM Phoenix R1
Sold-Sylva Striker 1300xf, 40s etc
Sold-Sylva Phoenix, 1300xf, BVH, 234cam, 2xDCOE 40s, live axle - 'old school', rally car and a few bikes

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Sam_68

posted on 31/7/14 at 06:10 AM Reply With Quote
That is interesting: my copy of the manual is the original (1987) version, not the later re-print. So clearly the spec of the upper wishbone joints were changed from Chevette to Metro at some stage?

Does your version still show the Mk.IV 'Clubman' as having outboard suspension with Chevette uprights, or had it standardised on the Escort-based rocker suspension by then?

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bigfoot4616

posted on 31/7/14 at 07:43 AM Reply With Quote
my striker (originally a mk3 but at some point someone converted it to inboard as mk2) with escort uprights uses the metro upper balljoint.
my rocker arms are different to the pics above, the ball joint screws into the top of the upright.
the lower joint is from a sherpa, not sure on part numbers, raw have just supplied me with new ones along with my new wishbones.


link shows my uprights with metro balljoint.
the bolt on steering arm means mine are from a RS escort (or capri i think)

http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=101166

[Edited on 31/7/14 by bigfoot4616]

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philfingers

posted on 31/7/14 at 08:14 AM Reply With Quote
Bigfoot-
So is it just a single stud from the ball joint through the outboard end of the rocker (like my 2005 STM Phoenix below) or is it a two bolt arrangement?



[Edited on 31/7/14 by philfingers]





The true home of cars born under the Sylva name - http://jpsc.org.uk/forum

STM Phoenix R1
Sold-Sylva Striker 1300xf, 40s etc
Sold-Sylva Phoenix, 1300xf, BVH, 234cam, 2xDCOE 40s, live axle - 'old school', rally car and a few bikes

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bigfoot4616

posted on 31/7/14 at 08:46 AM Reply With Quote
same as your pic, although my rocker is a different shape, much more box like.
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philfingers

posted on 31/7/14 at 09:03 AM Reply With Quote
I guess yours are the chevette ones then Kev





The true home of cars born under the Sylva name - http://jpsc.org.uk/forum

STM Phoenix R1
Sold-Sylva Striker 1300xf, 40s etc
Sold-Sylva Phoenix, 1300xf, BVH, 234cam, 2xDCOE 40s, live axle - 'old school', rally car and a few bikes

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qwerty_100

posted on 31/7/14 at 09:47 AM Reply With Quote
Thanks Phil I am going to take them off and take them with me so I can get the chap to match but chevette seems to be the favourite thanks to all for the help specially Phil as I now know what model my gar is and I will try to post some pics of engine bay and seats soon cheers Kev
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