team illuminata

transformation by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


As our 85 UR quattro is getting to the point of being on the road again I'd like to introduce our latest project which we plan to start almost immediately. A 1983 UR qauttro, currently in such a sorry state that it's only viable future is as a RALLY CAR!

232323232-fp93232-uqcshlukaxroqdfv367---nu=3356-36---;2-WSNRCG=97;h-gf80dh43-7-hh0c7-3-f445738cid3fot1lsi by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr

232323232-fp93232-uqcshlukaxroqdfv359;7-nu=3356-36---;2-WSNRCG=;4f;38i409864-79de0-4ci--5-c7;h3-9efot1lsi by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr

232323232-fp93232-uqcshlukaxroqdfv3-87;-nu=3356-36---;2-WSNRCG=ih8hf3d40g5h8-7e730d6;g-d9idecg8dh8got1lsi by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr

232323232-fp93232-uqcshlukaxroqdfv395-8-nu=3356-36---;2-WSNRCG=33f564gh0h-98-7;i80-425-6;95f99746--ot1lsi by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr

232323232-fp93232-uqcshlukaxroqdfv36;86-nu=3356-36---;2-WSNRCG=g4e-i48d0cege-7;6-0c;28-g8i4-387g;f4ot1lsi by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr

The shell is pretty solid and the car "ran when parked". We will be rebuilding the engine and transmission and it does have this hole in the rocker panel.

232323232-fp93232-uqcshlukaxroqdfv3;454-nu=3356-36---;2-WSNRCG=82g4gh9e054ch-768-0d78e-3e4dgehdg-44ot1lsi by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


We picked up the car about a year ago quite locally as it happens. The previous owner had driven it for about five years then decided to put a cage in it and use it as a more dedicated track toy. He stripped a lot of the interior out, bought some go fast bits, put a rudimentary cage in it and then got distracted for about twelve years. That's when we cam along and "saved" it.

It came to us in the stripped out condition you see but with some interesting bits; some attached, some not.

Koni based custom coil overs:

232323232-fp93232-uqcshlukaxroqdfv3-763-nu=3356-36---;2-WSNRCG=e2i-;c9707ed6-74;20-e73-6c5he3i3i9-9ot1lsi by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


Rally rear spolier.

232323232-fp93232-uqcshlukaxroqdfv38852-nu=3356-36---;2-WSNRCG=767;-h3-039f5-7g390c;23-4e-9i4efdgd9ot1lsi by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


Fiberglass front fenders

232323232-fp93232-uqcshlukaxroqdfv3;--3-nu=3356-36---;2-WSNRCG=98;f57-h097;6-7-i40-586--gfd59i6dc5got1lsi by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


NOS kit!

232323232-fp93232-uqcshlukaxroqdfv38;56-nu=3356-36---;2-WSNRCG=-gd3eff307i89-7di;0d4f5-3588-fee4fi-ot1lsi by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


Audio

232323232-fp93232-uqcshlukaxroqdfv3-;79-nu=3356-36---;2-WSNRCG=i9i8-4hd06e47-77520cgdi-3f764c-fdh-8ot1lsi by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


Refurbished brake calipers with new discs

24434593049_6dfc892688_o by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


Fiberglass S1 (short wheel base) hood

232323232-fp93232-uqcshlukaxroqdfv368;;-nu=3356-36---;2-WSNRCG=dd3d;c8c0g4;;-7e4-0;-94-3e486c5d4938ot1lsi by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr

and all the parts that came off it in a trailer!

232323232-fp93232-uqcshlukaxroqdfv38796-nu=3356-36---;2-WSNRCG=673;h46-0;-6f-75i90d57d-5;d5-9g8-5;9ot1lsi by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


So the plan is to strip the shell, fix the rust, install a cage, install a Group B body kit, and rebuild it as a Rothmans tribute to match our Porsche 911 Carrera RX and Mercedes RALIVAN. Stay tuned.

user3076_pic6590_1332236093 by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr

team illuminata

INTRODUCING THE TEAM

We’ve teamed up with a small group of Engineering students from Oakland University to assist with the project and contribute to the education of a few future automotive experts in some small way. These guys are so keen they’ve already given themselves a name. They call themselves the “Qauttro Sqaud”.

IMG_1557 by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


So who are the Quattro Squad? Well we have Amanda, Nathan, Matt and Aaron. All students at Oakland University and all way younger than this car! They vary in age from Sophomore to graduate student and most have worked on OU’s Formula SAE car to some degree. They have never worked on restoring a car, building a street based race car or, for the most part worked on modifying any street car, though Nathan did install mud flaps on his Dodge Dart. This is truly going to be a new experience for all of them, as it is for us and we are excited to be able to help broaden their experience as they progress with their engineering careers.

FullSizeRender by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


We plan to work on the car as a team one evening a week and maybe some weekends. Last Wednesday was our first such gathering. So what did we accomplish? Well job one is to strip the shell so it can go off to our fabricators: Thompson Racing Fabrication, for a proper shell and then paint. All the team were very eager to jump in and not shy to put wrench to car. Fortunately one of them seem too overly aggressive so much of what comes off should survive the process and as we discussed, most parts should get bagged, labeled, organized and photographed as we disassemble everything in a logical and methodical way. These are engineers and future engineers after all. I myself being a recovering engineer

IMG_1507 by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


We assigned people to different areas of the car but they spontaneously teamed up when needed. Nathan and Aaron attacked the interior but that soon turned into stripping the trunk as they had to to get the rear belts out. Typical Audi.

IMG_1543 by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr

IMG_1505 by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


Amanda took over trunk duty as she was also working on interior wiring and much of that terminates in the trunk.

IMG_1530 by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr

image by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


Matt removed what he could from the front suspension then went after the front body work: bumper and spoiler mostly.

IMG_1493 by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr

IMG_1521 by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr

image by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


It seemed as if everybody was involved in removing the dash.

IMG_1592 by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr

IMG_1594 by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr



Next time we will continue stripping the shell before we figure out how to get it off the rolling platform so we can drop the rear sub-frame then front sub-frame/engine/transmission. Should really test the engineer’s skills that one.

team illuminata

Second evening for the "Qauttro Squaud". We were a little light on numbers last night due to unforseen testing of the Formula SAE car. Still, we made some progress.

We stripped the trunk lid of its lights, spolier, trimmings and wires.

image by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr

image by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr



We also got the rear lights out but forgot to photograph that.

Matt continued with the interior and managed to relieve the car of the dash panel and the blower housing though that is hardwired into the harness as far as we can make out. Good one Audi. Sorry, we had to cut the dash as the current cage goes through it. It was already cut up and cracked anyway.

image by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr

image by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


Next week we hope to remove the headlining, pedal box, fuel tank and the rest of the interior wiring harness. And we think we have a plan to get it off the table and onto the lift so we can remove the engine, transmission and sub-frames. Stay tuned.

team illuminata

So this is an unusual experience for us, being a parts supplier we are often asked for donations to people's projects. Now we are now the recipient of donations ourselves! So we'd like to introduce a couple of project sponsors:

Firstly, Thompson Racing Fabrication (Home) will be doing our cage and other fabrication. We have helped them with a couple of their project cars in the past and almost always use them for any fabrication needs we have such as the custom radiator and exhaust for our Subaru Rally Wagon and the custom harness bar and skid plates they made for our Porsche 911 RX.




Then we have BRAID wheels USA (www.braidusa.com) who are going to provide a set of wheels for the car once we settle on a design. We are currently contemplating their Serie 6 three piece design but with hidden spokes as it looks very reminiscent of the Speedlines the factory used to run in tarmac trim. Probably will be 16x9 with 245/45-16 tires.



Lastly (for now) Cherry Classic Cars (Cherry Classic Cars | Auto Restoration) will be helping us restore and paint the shell and body panels. These guys do fantastic work and are TRF's primary source for bodywork and paint so we will be in good hands.




Thanks guys. Now we wonder who else can help...............

[/url]

team illuminata

On Wednesday the Quattro Squad continued to turn the 83 quattro inside out.

Matt relieved it of its sunroof

image by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


Then we decapitated the halo cage.




image by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr

image by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


so we could extricate the headliner.

image by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


We also removed the trunklid

image by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr

image by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


and the gas tank

image by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


We are producing quite a pile of parts


image by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr

team illuminata

Not much action to report this week as we took the Quattro Squad on field trip. We managed to get our 85 quattro running again for thew first time in 2.5 years to to celebrate we took three of the students in it to visit a friend's shop and quattro heaven.

image by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr

Werner owns a 85 from Switzerland and an 83 that he rescued. His 85 is for all intents and purpose a restored example but, because he is a perfectionist, will undergo a full engine rebuild this winter.His 83 is a rescued project that for now is just sitting. We believe the squad were suitably impressed.

image by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr

image by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr



Perhaps inspired by their experience the guys removed the rear bumper when they returned to the shop. Though it put up some resistance.

Batch6. 9/28 by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr

IMG_2004.jpg by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr

Batch6. 9/28 by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr

image by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr

image by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr



Now the hoist is free perhaps we can take the engine and transmission out.

team illuminata

Not a lot of progress these last two weeks. We didn't meet last week as we were at Lake Superior Performance Rally posing about with a bunch of other old rally cars.

image by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


However, progress was made "off" the car while we were away. The Quattro Squad came up with a logo and created a Facebook Page that already has over 140 likes. https://www.facebook.com/QuattroSquad/

fb page by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


We did accomplish some stuff Wednesday night though, mostly in the engine bay in preparation for removing the engine and transmission.

image by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


We managed to pull the radiator

image by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


The distributor and hydraulic "bomb".

image by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr

image by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


Nathan and Josh struggled almost all night to remove the fuel distributor.

image by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


But when they got it free they were very happy; disturbingly so.

image by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


We are a little concerned about how they will react once we drop the actual engine. Stay tuned for that one and like the Quatro Squad on facebook

team illuminata

Two weeks of progress to report! We didn't get much accomplished last week as we had a very special visitor in the form of Paul Ritchie, former head of Porsche Motorsport and Porsche Engineering. Needless to say there was much conversation and much left over pizza as everyone was too bust talking to chew.

image by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


We did discover that 12 year old gasoline will dissolve a plastic cup!

image by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


This week we continued to remove as much weight from the front of the car

image by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


and stuff as much weight in the back of the car

image by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


in anticipation of moving the car from the table where it has sat for the last twelve years to the host. I tricky endeavor as the hoist has a center post so we couldn't just wheel it over the hoist and lift it up. We settled on jacking the front just off the table and sitting the subframes on jack stands then moving the jacks to the rear to jack that end off the table.

IMG_3117 by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


Once it was elevated we carefully rolled the table out from under the car and smartly brought the hoist pads into contact with the jacking points and BOOM! The car was on the hoist!

image by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


Our goal now is to remove everything from the underside of the car starting with the front subframe, engine and transmission as it is rather nose heavy at the moment. This is the first time we have really been able to get a good look at the underside of the car. The body looks to be remarkabley rust free except for two spots but the fuel supply components have not fared so well. All to be replaced anyway so no concern. Just hope all the fasteners cooperate.

image by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


We dont think we should put it back on here. It's just too long and gets in the way of the suspension.

image by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


Excited by the leap forward Matt decided he wanted to get a lift too. I think we'll call him Jack.

image by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


transformation by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr

team illuminata

Yesterday the Quattro Squad accidentally took the engine and transmission out! Well, it wasn't a proper accident; just that it wasn't part of the evening's plan. Being a little light on peeps and wanting to have an early night we only planned to prep for engine removal. Instead it just sorta happened as we were on a roll and we still got out of there by 8:455pm. Not a bad night's work.

image by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


Being a Quattro it comes out of the bottom with the sub-frame and transmission. Being a Quattro it doesn't just drop straight down but instead has to be quided past several obstacles on the way down. This is not a Porsche 911.

image by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


Nice job gentlemen.

image by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


Toothless grin

image by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


The right side engine mount fell apart; as they do.

image by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


And this doesn't look exactly pristine.

image by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


transformation by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr

team illuminata

This past Wednesday we reached a big milestone with this project: we finished stripping the shell! The biggest chunk that came off was the rear sub-frame and diff then the steering rack and drive shaft. We also introduced video to our arsenal so you have been warned.





We also visited a local rally prepped quattro that's up for sale to get some ideas and, in the process acquired a windshield for our car.

image by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr

image by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr

image by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr

image by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


We also took delivery of our tires. Bridgestone Potenza RE11 in 245/45-16. A little ahead of ourselves here but they are hard to find and we already had two. We now need to finish the car before they age out.

image by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


Next task is to get it off the hoist and back onto the table then onto the trailer so we can haul it up to our cage builder Thompson Racing Fabrication . That won't happen till the first full week in December as we are off to Barcelona to see how BRAID wheels are made and then to Stuttgart to visit the Porsche museum.


transformation by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr