4722 replies to this topic

[SteveA]

 

Hmmm, he felt heavy and very different in character to the nimble Caterhams and 7s. Noise: Surprisingly Simon said he wasn't any noisier than the Caterhams and 7s once he was moving, which is intriguing, maybe I just need to get the static 4500 RPM noise down somehow.  

 

It's pointless comparing a VX to a Caterham with regards to the nimble character. Mine weighs 515kg which is a good 300kg lighter than even the lightest of VX's. In power to weight terms it's about the same as a stage two VXT but I've got the best part of 400kg less to lug round the corners so I don't have anywhere near the same inertia to deal with.

 

If you come to the National I will take you out for a few laps to experience the difference.

 

As for sound, don't forget that in a modern Caterham the exhaust is about a foot away from the drivers ear and you have little or no sound protection so it sounds very loud from in the cabin. I have to wear ear plugs as it's that loud but it static tests at 93db and the driveby is under 88db.

Edited by SteveA, 09 September 2015 - 10:03 AM.

[Nev]

I'm supporting a Global GT1 car at Llandow next week, that will be perfectly suited to get round such a small track. 370 Kg and 190 BHP, sequential box. I can't make the National at Snetterton unfortunately, as I am climbing for 2 weeks. Other things I forgot to mention from Llandow was that water temps only got to 97 degrees, IATs got to 45 degrees. I suspect (but don't know for sure) that the oil got very hot, I think I need to get a gauge in there. Also my minimal negative (road optimised) camber (-0.5 degrees front and -1.8 degrees rear) on the wheels meant the outside edges of the tyres were wearing very heavily.

Edited by Nev, 09 September 2015 - 10:17 AM.

[SteveA]

Laps aren't particularly blistering for a single seater BEC with aero, I guess thats why they are cheap.

[siztenboots]

there was a zenos at the french frolic , nicely engineered , engine with potential , but it was not quick.

[Nev]

Changed the drive shaft seal this morning, but the new one is also leaking.

 

The old one was deffo knackered as the old spring was detached from the rubber. I could cry.

Edited by Nev, 10 September 2015 - 01:00 PM.

[mbes2]

Track day effects starting to kick in already ... 

[Nev]

I dislike the interference fit, it makes it a real bugger to locate and drive home, not to mention bloody hard to extract.

 

 

[JamesC]

The most hateful job I had on my VX.  Took me 3 attempts to get it seated properly, working with the box in place didnt help.  I ended up turning a tool up to the exact diameter of the seal made it a whole lot easier.  You are welcome to have it, although it probably weighs about 5kg, so posting wouldnt be cheap, as it was just made up from bar stock.....

[ayresyy]

 I just used a very large socket to locate on the outer metal edge of the seal so as not to damage it when tapping it in. A small smear of silicone on the outer edge of the seal will help it go in and ensure a seal on the outside edge. Even then I'd have to agree they are not the easiest thing to fit, or remove....

[SteveA]

I also got something turned by the engineering department at my works in some sort of hard plastic (poly prop maybe?) to do mine and that worked a treat but I lost it years ago. Didn't someone say that a scaffolding bar is the exact diameter?

 

I found the problem with sockets is the wall tends to be too thick so it can't seat properly on the GB.

Edited by SteveA, 11 September 2015 - 10:17 AM.

[Nev]

Thanks for the kind offers chaps, I have found an old pulley tensioner in the garage that fits well (once I ground off some bits from it).

 

I have ordered another seal from Autovaux and will endeavour to fix it again tomorrow.

[FLD]

Just a thought...

is this the sort of seat that needs driving in to a certain depth?  I could easily turn up some drifts with a shoulder so you know when you're at the correct depth.  I know it doesn't help you this time Nev but it may help the .org massive if you could take some measurements.  Happy to turn you a tool up for next time too.

[CHILL Gone DUTCH]

Did you put the new deal in the freezer nev Really helps to get the seal located correctly

[SteveA]

Just a thought...

is this the sort of seat that needs driving in to a certain depth?  I could easily turn up some drifts with a shoulder so you know when you're at the correct depth.  I know it doesn't help you this time Nev but it may help the .org massive if you could take some measurements.  Happy to turn you a tool up for next time too.

 

The seal itself has a shoulder on it so it can only be driven so far. I've got a spare new seal that I'm never going to use, you can have it to do this if it will help.  

Edited by SteveA, 11 September 2015 - 03:14 PM.

[Nev]

Did you put the new deal in the freezer nev Really helps to get the seal located correctly

 

Yep, of course.  

[Nev]

 

Just a thought...

is this the sort of seat that needs driving in to a certain depth?  I could easily turn up some drifts with a shoulder so you know when you're at the correct depth.  I know it doesn't help you this time Nev but it may help the .org massive if you could take some measurements.  Happy to turn you a tool up for next time too.

 

The seal itself has a shoulder on it so it can only be driven so far. I've got a spare new seal that I'm never going to use, you can have it to do this if it will help.  

 

 

Thanks Steve, if this second one gets knackered I'll take you up on that, thanks.

[Nev]

As I am moving out to Spain this autumn + winter to rock climb non stop, this weekend was the last chance to go for Welsh dawn run.  And what a run; full blast (no passenger or followers), doing 4 laps of my favourite bits, 2 coffee stops, 2 pee stops, 2 petrol stops and 190 miles of driving Nirvana (apart from 20 miles of mandatory motorway). I will sorely miss Nipper whilst I'm away, that's for sure. He is so filthy, noisy, smelly and brash, but once concentrating the experience is thoroughly immersive and visceral.

 

Thank goodness petrol prices are plummeting again, 190 Miles and 70 litres of fuel works out at 12 MPG - eek !

 

Also, the second drive shaft seal is now working nicely. To be honest, I couldn't really see any visual clue why the last one was weeping, I guess knocking them into the locating hole has to be done extremely square on without any twisting/offset.

Edited by Nev, 13 September 2015 - 10:57 AM.

[Nev]

Finally got round to getting the front wheel balanced this morning. It's amazing how something so trivial can improve the driving experience, now the 70 to 90 lepton range isn't wobble-tastic any more.

Edited by Nev, 15 September 2015 - 10:59 AM.

[Nev]

Replaced the 2 air filters today and whilst I was in there took the wing off to strip and re-paint the wing struts, as the original paint was peeling. I used etching paint and finished them in silver this time, to keep with the black/silver theme of the car.

Edited by Nev, 03 October 2015 - 12:25 PM.

[Nev]

Wow, those air filters were badly clogged, the car picks up so much better now. I must have got back about 50 BHP. When I took the old ones out I noticed, even with my support behind them, that they had partly concaved in with the air demand. This is why I am planning on making a new 3 panel filter airbox (over Xmas hopefully). I will also attempt to use some ducting to provide cleaner air.

Edited by Nev, 03 October 2015 - 04:52 PM.