4722 replies to this topic

[Nev]

Hmm, just went out to the car to measure the running heights at all 4 corners only to find the springs have sagged in the last couple of weeks. I jacked it up and gave the Nitrons 12 turns at the front and 14 at the rear to raise the car up by approx 5mm all round. Then went out for a drive and the ride quality is deffo a bit better. I can also get over the speed humps near my house without any splitter scraping too

[siztenboots]

by 12 turns, you mean a 1/6 , as one full 360 turn = 3mm of ride height in normal use

[Nev]

Yup, sorry, I meant 12 x 1/6th of a turn ! ie a total of 2 x 360 degree turns.

[Nev]

I've just done some MPG calcs for the first time since the new engine, and I'm only getting about 25 MPG for spirited A-road bashing - not quite as good as I'd hoped. Never mind, it doesn't really make a huge difference after the expenditure on everything else. Anyway a 50 mile blast in Nipper is enough to tire me out these days, so that's only £12 for a good shot of adrenaline - cheaper than drugs anyway !

[MrSimba]

I'd have thought 25mpg was quite good for your build Nev!

Edited by MrSimba, 08 August 2012 - 07:53 PM.

[luke.]

[DarrylB]

25mpg! Nev..... you're not trying hard enough!!!! i get 200mpg to 30L which is about 29.6mpg I think (I did 200/30 * 4.45 to get 29.67) and i've got 150bhp!

[Nev]

The thing is, it's impossible to use more than 400 BHP on a twisty road (except for 2 second bursts maybe). It was this vague logic that made me think I might get 35 MPG, but I think the map (understandably) runs very rich whist going through peak V.E. (ie 3800 rev to 4500 revs) where peak torque is made. As I am constantly doing this in 'mid speed' driving this affects MPG I think (at a guess). I think revving it (ie 5000 to 8000) wouldn't use any more fuel as a result as it wouldn't go through the boost transient, however driving like that take FULL concentration and is very draining and not so 'fun' (on a road anyway). At a guess on a big open road/track where I could actually use the power it would get around 5 to 10 MPG. But thats a guess. Anyway, fueling the thing is chicken feed really, I was just curious.

Edited by Nev, 08 August 2012 - 08:48 PM.

[Nev]

Incidentally, I just re-measured the ride height after raising it again last night. It is currently around 102mm at the front and 105mm at the rear - ride and handling improved as a result (from the experience of tonight's evening drive). I fear I may have to raise it to 4x4 levels before it's handling stops improving

[MrSimba]

Thats still really low Nev, I dont understand the effect the angle the wishbones have on handling but would have thought that too low unless you had 2-11 wishbones? Try 110/120 and see how you go from there

[Nev]

Yea, I keep raising the height and every time I do it, the general handling improves, even though it must be toe-ing in a fair bit now due to the change in rack end heights dropping.

[DarrylB]

I see waht you mean, I drove my Ka like I was in the VX* and it returned shocking fuel economy! If i'd driven it gently it would of returned more but then the guy behind me would of been on the horn for me doing 26mph in 50 :-D Thats why sometimes going for the bigger engined car car is better than driving a smaller engined one, as you dont have to thrash it to keep up with traffic - and thus using more fuel. *read that as "I wanted to get up to speed quickly" - not hooning it about like a mad man

[Nev]

Oh blimey. I just went out for one of those drives that was sublime. No traffic, no mud on the road, dry tarmac. Just loads of revs and plenty of beans for miles and miles. Wonderful

Edited by Nev, 20 August 2012 - 09:11 PM.

[MrSimba]

Oh blimey.

I just went out for one of those drives that was sublime. No traffic, no mud on the road, dry tarmac. Just loads of revs and plenty of beans for miles and miles.

Wonderful

[Nev]

I took it well over 7000 RPM on quite a few occasions, for the first time ever I felt the need for more power... I think the wing is robbbing me of quite a lot of acceleration at medium+ speeds, though the car is more planted

[VXT Tim]

Get rid nev Can't be that sketchy without

[jules_s]

for the first time ever I felt the need for more power...

[Nev]

Get rid nev
Can't be that sketchy without

I am tempted to take it off and see how it feels. I think the front splitter is way more important than the wing TBH. Though the wing does make the car look more striking and purposeful.

Phase 3 is preliminariliy scheduled in for winter this year. This will hopefully be:

• a new ECU (+ permanent laptop for the cabin).
• new map(s)
• more boost, probably 440 ft/lb of torque and maybe 600 BHP.
• gear dependant boost (adjustable from in the cabin)
• larger throttle body (probably cable operated)
• eliminate MAF
• my new 2 pannel airbox + minor inlet pipework changes
• possible BIG brakes (330 or 350 mm with a decent manufacturer set of 4 or 6 pots) , though ATM my brakes seem quite reasonable.

Edited by Nev, 22 August 2012 - 07:01 AM.

[siztenboots]

or how about just stop spending money and enjoy the thing on some amazing trackdays

[CocoPops]

My thoughts entirely Steve! Have you actually done any trackdays since the work? You already said in one if your replies it needs a track or large open roads and that it tires you out