Have just finished watching an episode of the English car restoration show Car SOS that features a Mk1 Capri. The owners claimed it was a genuine RS3100 but it obviously wasn't. Quite an interesting episode as it follows the restoration of the car as it evolves into a "fake" RS3100. The show does contain the normal dramatic rubbish that these shows seem to need, but interesting none the less. One of the highlights is seeing Ric Wood's workshop and collection of race cars. I watched it on YouTube, Car SOS S6 E10.

The finished product Looks nice

Yes, I was pretty impressed with the 230hp result from just porting and camshaft change, even looked like the standard Weber. I was also a bit surprised when Ric Wood said not to use the steel timing gear as it shakes the cam to bits at greater than 6000rpm, always use an aluminium one.

Just make sure it doesn't look like this.

I'll stick to the nylon toothed ones - I just never rev them that high - an old fuddy duddy!

I bought a nylon toothed one from Lawrie Nelson many years ago and he said he ran them in his race engines and never had a failure and he did a lot of race miles when he was active in the sport.

I think the issues with nylon are also due to cam lift and HD valve springs putting more load on the cam, not just about rpm, but surprising that the steel would cause the cam to break.
 
I watched it last night, interesting that they bolted he guards on.  Did that become standard?

It is only an issue as stated over 6000 rpm. Only on race track are you going to do that. Still I would think if it’s balanced then well it’s balanced and should not add to the stress but I’m not Ric Wood and never will be.
The guards should be removable if you ask me half our cars would still be here if they were. Remove the guard without a new replacement and it always looks bad. My car had the guard cut two inches from the spot welds and welded back up. Looks so much better than any other option I’ve seen.

Timmo
I watched it on YouTube, Car SOS S6 E10.

Keen to watch this, but for the life of me, can't find it. Would you mind posting the link?
 
Thanks.

Try this, www.dailymotion.com/video/x6j9nmj