4722 replies to this topic

[hairy]

 

Also, the other night, I managed to long term borrow my neighbours quite expensive Geo kit with mirrors, it looks a bit rusty but is functionally sound

 

Nice one Nev

[Nev]

I've been doing some more experimenting/fiddling with the geo and finally think I've got it handling as best I can (for the road). I also have a good idea of what I would change for fast-road or track work (should that day ever come!). I do have some lighter Lb springs now, though I am loathed to put them in during the summer as I prefer the go-kart experience (whist the tyres are nice and warm), however I might use them for winter. Over the last couple of day I stuck some more shims in and reduced the camber on the rears down to -1.7 degrees (slightly less than book settings). I also reduced the toe in on the rears to almost nothing, around 1 or 2mm. This has marginally improved road manners. One of the unique considerations I need to make in Nipper is utilising the extra rubber (1.06 metres of it), things like Caymens and 911s which have similar footprints have less rear camber than a VX220, in the region of -1.5 degrees, and with good reason. I also rotated the car around in the garage so it faced the other way in case the slightly uneven garage floor surface was causing errors. I then setup a full string geo again to double check all my previous settings. Even after about 700 miles of crashing over of Welsh roads as fast as I dared I was really glad to see everything all measured up exactly the same. Doing your own geo is so easy really and as it's a "low hassle" job I'd really recommend it to anyone with a flat patch of ground as it is both rewarding and might well improve your car's handling if it has been neglected over it's 10 to 14 year life. Experimenting with various settings is great over a period of several weeks, so you can drive the car between tweaks and really notice the real world differences (for better or worse), which means you end up with the car handling how YOU want it, rather than how someone else imagined it would handle on geo setting-X. This is particularly important for cars which have modified ride heights and coil-overs I would imagine. I've also shoved a new pair of air filters in the bird-box as the old ones were shockingly filthy; the improved engine response was quite noticeable, both at low revs and mid revs.   More details on my website if you are interested: https://sites.google...07---new-engine

Edited by Nev, 08 August 2014 - 08:14 PM.

[jules_s]

You will also be massively surprised at how much difference winding a few clicks off the rears makes

[Ormes]

[Nev]

Off for one of my rambles over to the Black Mountains, back in 4 hours

Edited by Nev, 09 August 2014 - 05:59 AM.

[steveboyslim]

Off for one of my rambles over to the Black Mountains, back in 4 hours

 

 

Back in 4 hours,  you hope.

 

Steve

[Nev]

With a bit of advice from Alex (Ormes) this evening I stuck a fan override swith on the dash panel today. Works a treat, so I can pre-emptively turn the fans on when ever it looks like the engine might get hot. I spose my next job tomorrow will be to wire up the aux. water pump (which I already tested earlier in the year). The combo of those 2 will sort out switch off heating issues after a good thrapeing.

Edited by Nev, 13 August 2014 - 08:29 PM.

[VXT Tim]

How was your blast out? Enjoyable?

[Nev]

Wonderful thanks, though I've been over to south/mid Wales so much this year, I'm starting to learn where all the dips/bumps/corners are! Had a worrying moment at one point, saved by RC6, strong leg muscles and a some adrenaline Also on Fri/Sat, I changed the oil, cured an oil leak, put the new headlight bulb in, put some spacers under the seat front to rake it backwards a bit, put some more wrap on the manifold and probably some other bits and bobs. In fact, thinking about it... I'm starting to run out of things to fiddle with! Maybe we could meet up one day Tim if you drove over to the borders, it would be nice to meet you finally, as you've been one of my few friendly supporters over the years

Edited by Nev, 13 August 2014 - 08:38 PM.

[VXT Tim]

Jesus Nev, I've been meaning to put the little air deflector on my undertray for the last 4 weeks, it's 3 pot rivets, I have everything I need and I am yet to build up the desire, your motivation is impressive. Got a couple of like minded friends, we keep planning a good blast out but we all have kids and something ALWAYS crops up. The plan is still there so when it happens I'll give you as much notice as possible. It'll most likely be in the Wales direction as we have a place over there now and I love it. Your build is my type of build . You're running/run out of things to mess about with now, so what's next?

[Nev]

Jesus Nev, I've been meaning to put the little air deflector on my undertray for the last 4 weeks, it's 3 pot rivets, I have everything I need and I am yet to build up the desire, your motivation is impressive.

[color=#0000ff;]I find it's so much easier to motivate myself when I  have a "spanner buddy", Alex (Ormes) on here has helped me enormously with engine extraction/insertions. [/color]

Got a couple of like minded friends, we keep planning a good blast out but we all have kids and something ALWAYS crops up. The plan is still there so when it happens I'll give you as much notice as possible. [color=#0000ff;]Coolio, you are always welcome in Bristol if you ever pass by for work etc [/color]

 

It'll most likely be in the Wales direction as we have a place over there now and I love it.[color=#0000ff;] I keep looking on RightMove.co.uk and drooling over the lovely properties you can get in Wales for 1/2 the money, where is your new place?[/color]

Your build is my type of build . You're running/run out of things to mess about with now, so what's next? [color=#0000ff;]Thanks. Big brakes and master cylinder change is on the cards in the winter. I have teamed up with a nice and knowldegable engineer (JoshuaUXB on here) who is offering to machine up the brackets and MC plunger with me and double check the maths/design of the ratios. [/color]

 

[color=#0000ff;]Also once the winter sets in I will get the power map completed, at the moment I am running about with a guestimated 300 to 350 BHP which is fun but a bit weedy at times. Getting the other remaining 200 BHP and being able to modify the boost/power levels with the onboard laptop will be nice.[/color]

 

Edited by Nev, 14 August 2014 - 11:55 AM.

[slindborg]

I'm curious to know why you'd think that "crashing about" over roads for 700 miles might cause the "geo" to wander?

That is, unless you didnt tighten the nuts and bolts up after fiddling... (this is a semi general question based on everyone assuming that their suspension alignment fucks off every year and that they need to spend £££££££ making the car handle like a dream, but a different one as its changed due to going to a different chooner/place)

 

sorry, rambled

[KurtVerbose]

put some spacers under the seat front to rake it backwards a bit

 

I will have to do that with mine - good idea!

 

unless you didnt tighten the nuts and bolts up after fiddling

 

Or bent something?

[VXT Tim]

It'll most likely be in the Wales direction as we have a place over there now and I love it.[color=#0000ff;] I keep looking on RightMove.co.uk and drooling over the lovely properties you can get in Wales for 1/2 the money, where is your new place?[/color]

It's just outside Porthmadog, about 2 miles from Henjb (on here's) cafe. He really does have it all sorted, met him a couple of times now, gorgeous place, serious cars, idyllic location.

[Nev]

I'm curious to know why you'd think that "crashing about" over roads for 700 miles might cause the "geo" to wander? That is, unless you didnt tighten the nuts and bolts up after fiddling... (this is a semi general question based on everyone assuming that their suspension alignment fucks off every year and that they need to spend £££££££ making the car handle like a dream, but a different one as its changed due to going to a different chooner/place)   sorry, rambled

No particular reason, other than with the amount of crashing a VX does, it's hard to understand how the whole car doesn't fall apart. I tend to double check safety critical stuff once I've changed it anyway as a matter of course and the other reason was to rotate the car by 180 degrees on the garage floor to check/eliminate any errors due to slight floor unevenness.

[Nev]

I'm curious to know why you'd think that "crashing about" over roads for 700 miles might cause the "geo" to wander?
That is, unless you didnt tighten the nuts and bolts up after fiddling... (this is a semi general question based on everyone assuming that their suspension alignment fucks off every year and that they need to spend £££££££ making the car handle like a dream, but a different one as its changed due to going to a different chooner/place)
 
sorry, rambled

No particular reason, other than with the amount of crashing a VX does, it's hard to understand how the whole car doesn't fall apart. I tend to double check safety critical stuff once I've changed it anyway as a matter of course and the other reason was to rotate the car by 180 degrees on the garage floor to check/eliminate any errors due to slight floor unevenness.

It'll most likely be in the Wales direction as we have a place over there now and I love it.[color=rgb(0,0,255);] I keep looking on RightMove.co.uk and drooling over the lovely properties you can get in Wales for 1/2 the money, where is your new place?[/color]

It's just outside Porthmadog, about 2 miles from Henjb (on here's) cafe. He really does have it all sorted, met him a couple of times now, gorgeous place, serious cars, idyllic location.

Ah yes lovely area Tim, I'm quite familiar with the area as I used to climb on the cliffs at Tremadog. In fact I was up there with the g/f only a few weeks ago walking etc for a long w/e.

[VXT Tim]

Place is yards from tremadog. You climbed those cliffs, sends me funny when I see the countless people hanging from them.

[Nev]

Now that I've driven on the Federal 595 RSR tyres a bit more, they do seem to have noticeable less grip than the Khumo V70a tyres. It's not a huge difference, but it is there. For the price difference though the Federal's are still good value however. One other thing to note is that the lip of the Federals stick out proud of the wheel edge by approx. 8mm more than the Khumos, something to bear in mind if your existing wheels are close to rubbing on the chassis.

Edited by Nev, 15 August 2014 - 08:09 AM.

[Aerodynamic]

Interesting note about the Federal. What dimension of the Federal have you been using? BR, Per

[Nev]

Hi Per: Front = 18 x 245mm x 35% Rear = 18 x 285mm x 30% Additionally, I think the sidewalls on such a low profile make the car more "crashy" on bumpy roads (due to less side wall flex), but give the car a quicker turn in response. As with all tuning, what you gain in 1 hand you lose in another !

Edited by Nev, 18 August 2014 - 05:48 PM.