AdamR28 Posted May 1, 2014 Report Share Posted May 1, 2014 Alex, modifications are very limited, yeah. There's only one track all season where we use 5th gear, haha. All we can do for power is skim the head, cut valve angles and change the exhaust (but not the manifold), standard diff, standard gearbox, standard brakes (pads are 'free'), we all have the same shocks, wheels and tyres (more on that later), maximum camber limits, minimum ride height of 100mm, minimum weight of 970kg... makes for close racing and less about who has the fattest wallet (to an extent). Yeah, I try to keep it smooth to protect the tyres. They go off towards the end of the race - everyone finds the same and lap times typically go up about 1 second per minute (if that makes sense). The person in the yellow car won the series last year and by getting past her in that race it puts me level on points with her so far this season... so maybe that's why I was pushing a bit 'too hard' and getting tense at the end (plus combined with the tyres giving up makes the car get a bit loose giving the impression of wrestling it around). I have a logger but encoding the video with the data takes ages so I don't bother any more, but speeds are pretty low - maximum all weekend was about 107 with a massive slipstream! G forces peak about 0.95 in braking and 1.3 for lateral. Tyres is a bit of a complicated subject at the moment - we generally only have one control tyre, which last season was Federal RSR 595s, but they were found to vary a LOT (like... 2-3s a lap) between batches so we have now switched to Nankang NS2-Rs. However, there's a year crossover for those who have stockpiled Federals to allow them to use them up, meaning we have cars on different tyres. They are pretty close in terms of lap time overall but some people find the Nankangs faster and others find them slower - all depends if you are comparing them to a 'good' Federal or a bad one! For example, I found about a second on the Nankangs over the Federals, but the person in the yellow car was 1-2s slower on the Nankangs. I can't wait til we're all back on the same tyres, at the moment it's a variable that shouldn't be there in single marque racing IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Rainbird Posted May 1, 2014 Report Share Posted May 1, 2014 Give me 2K and your Leon and you can have my Audi Nah. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pashley26 Posted May 1, 2014 Report Share Posted May 1, 2014 Haha, if only my Audi had half the miles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dann2707 Posted May 1, 2014 Report Share Posted May 1, 2014 Wana buy a battered Seat ibiza with circa 200bhp and 80mpg? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Rainbird Posted May 1, 2014 Report Share Posted May 1, 2014 Haha, if it was in something mk4 based then I'd be keen. Having a look around now. Will be checking out your thread on Briskoda properly if I go ahead and get involved - 80mpg would be sick! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncy H Posted May 1, 2014 Report Share Posted May 1, 2014 (edited) Right, so my van managed to somehow pass it's MOT, the airbag light interestingly went off when they plugged it in and came back on on the way home. Hmmm I've been given a fault code but have no idea where to go from there with that. Anyway, I'm going to spend some money on the work horse, starting next week with a full respray including colour coding in candy red/dark metallic red (doing all the work myself). Here's the van that is just boggo standard pretty much, except now it is rusty as fuark. Does anybody have any ideas of mods for me to do while I've got the urge to do some work to it? Thinking possibly tinting part of the lights, maybe look at making a very discreet splitter and spoiler (the opposite of chavvy), maybe chop out the grille and fit a honeycombe mesh style one somehow, dr badge in places and all while keeping my eye out for some wheels. Edited May 1, 2014 by Duncy H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadManMike Posted May 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2014 This post, annoyingly, has got me looking at Leon Cupra/FR tdis. Shame yours is so royally screwed or it may have been an option, Mike! Swap my brakes, doors, bumpers, interior etc over and we're in business. Simple enough?! It's not royally screwed any more, I've done loads to it Still a bit more to do, cam belt next and then hopefully tidying up the exterior a bit. In general though it's driving quite nicely now. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Rainbird Posted May 1, 2014 Report Share Posted May 1, 2014 Winner. Will have to compare notes when I find something. May go down the Mk4 route as they seem a little cheaper and more readily available. If I can swap my brakes, steering rack and wheels/interior depending on what the new one has then it could be the way to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CurtisRider Posted May 1, 2014 Report Share Posted May 1, 2014 2005 Vauxhall Astra 1.9 SRI 120bhp 4 months tax 7 months MOT 136K Black 3 Door Now due a service Broken clutch (potential dead flywheel too according to the clutch place it has been towed to) Been offered this by a work colleague for £750, room for negotiation on price too as she needs it gone ASAP (Reckon I can get it for £600+150 ish to get it towed back to mine). It's obviously a tempting price to sell on but what should I realistically expect from this if I want a quick sale once fixed? I'm guessing I can fix it for £3-400 using a mixture of new and secondhand parts+ a service. Anything else I should be looking out for on these? I know the 150s have weak bearings in the boxes, do these have any similar issues? I don't want to keep it as i'm not interested in it, just fix it and get rid really Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prawny Baby Posted May 1, 2014 Report Share Posted May 1, 2014 Adam - there were many rumours about differences between UK and EU spec federal RS-R's.Apparently, UK spec ones, bought from 'premium suppliers' like demon tweeks were said to be genuine UK spec and full price.The cheaper tyres, like those on MyTyres recently at considerably less money, are said to be EU spec and a harder less grippy compound! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdamR28 Posted May 1, 2014 Report Share Posted May 1, 2014 Yep! What i heard I'd that Federal have two manufacturing plants, one for 'race' tyres and one for road tyres. There were a load made at the race plant then production issues meant later ones were made at the road plant, meaning different compound and less tight tolerances... These were cheaper to make hence all the discount places chopping them out cheap. Half tempted to try and find a 'proper' set, will gain me quite a lot of time for no effort! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake. Posted May 1, 2014 Report Share Posted May 1, 2014 Has anyone ever stripped their car apart and completely rebuilt it before? I've had an idea going over and over in my head for a while now, for someone with as little experience as I do it's probably quite an idiotic thing to do but I'm really keen. Basically I want to strip the caddy to bare shell, get rid of all the rust, every last bit. Give it a nice new spray job. MAYBE stick a VR6 engine in, big maybe there. Then build it all back up and replace bits that look worn, including the interior. I'm convinced this is a silly idea as it'll probably cost a fair bit and have the caddy off the road for a while. But I really want to do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CurtisRider Posted May 1, 2014 Report Share Posted May 1, 2014 (edited) Not quite done the FULL strip down but near enough with a mini (mucho welding and respray, etc). It takes more time than you would ever think, takes up loads of space, more money than you think (especially when you start doing conversions) and although there is lots of satisfying elements there are also massively disheartening and crap sides to it to that you have to really try and push through, staying motivated is key. I'm going to do a full strip down soon on my Commer as it'll be easier to work on, but that's only because its a sieve, otherwise i'd do the minimum Edit: Bought that Astra for £600, should be getting it collected tomorrow. Didn't really want another clutch job but meh, should be some easy money Edited May 1, 2014 by CurtisRider 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake. Posted May 1, 2014 Report Share Posted May 1, 2014 Exactly what I thought Curtis. A lot of hard work with a big hit to your wallet, unless someone takes a massive liking to it and is willing to pay a premium. But the sentimental/personal value and the sense of achievement is massive, also being able to say "I built that" will be bloody cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trials owns Posted May 1, 2014 Report Share Posted May 1, 2014 I work at a car breakers, i used too strip cars down too bare shells, alot harder than i first imagined that's for sure! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamKidney Posted May 1, 2014 Report Share Posted May 1, 2014 (edited) Exactly what I thought Curtis. A lot of hard work with a big hit to your wallet, unless someone takes a massive liking to it and is willing to pay a premium. But the sentimental/personal value and the sense of achievement is massive, also being able to say "I built that" will be bloody cool. Exactly why I want to do my EK3. Not quite as much of a recognized classic as your Caddy, but they're what I'm into and with it being in the family from new as long as I can remember, it's nice to know I'll get many more years out of it as MY car. I know not many people here are fans of the whole VTEC yo' thing, but you build it for yourself. Good learning curve too. I've got pretty much all aspects to cover to build it how I want it. We've had an old Caddy in at work, if yours is anything like it they're actually very simple and easy to get your head around once you have a good look Edited May 1, 2014 by SamKidney 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake. Posted May 1, 2014 Report Share Posted May 1, 2014 I really think you should go ahead with your EK3, from what I've seen of your posts online I genuinely think there's a sizable piece of you that you really want to go some lengths to make it top notch. The caddy isn't even a "proper" classic, as much as I like to think it is. It's merely a black sheep in a flock of white sheep, truth. It's merely the first generation of a popular van/car which is what I love about it. To be honest I couldn't care less about the VTEC thing, put whatever engine you like in it as long as you're happy! Ah no way! That's sweet, yeah they're pretty darn simple compared to a few cars I've had the benefit of doing small work to at my college. Engine bay is way bigger too which is rather nice haha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*gentlydoesit Posted May 1, 2014 Report Share Posted May 1, 2014 Done Bmw 3.0 csl Mk1 e type 4 pagodas Ponton Currently doing Pagoda 356 Capri Its a f**k load of work to completely rebuild a car!. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skoze Posted May 2, 2014 Report Share Posted May 2, 2014 I have. Even something as rudimentary as my Land Rover took 3 years hard graft to put back on the road. If it's running, keep it running - only strip it right down if absolutely necessary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CurtisRider Posted May 2, 2014 Report Share Posted May 2, 2014 Rolling resto is best I find, that's what I'm doing with the Porsche. I get to enjoy it everyday as well as make decent progress. Each little change I get to enjoy and it feels instantly more rewarding than having it sit in the shed for 5 years whilst I get round to it. Relying on it as a daily makes me get on with it and gives me enthusiasm/no f**king choice but to do it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake. Posted May 2, 2014 Report Share Posted May 2, 2014 Good shout Curtis. I think I'll do that for now, get as much as I can done then when I can't do anymore without stripping which won't be for a while then at least I'll have all the parts and it'll be much easier to handle. I may be getting a second car eventually, probably will strip the caddy when I do. That way I won't be stuck with no car to drive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prawny Baby Posted May 2, 2014 Report Share Posted May 2, 2014 Good shout Curtis. Just to confuse you, his name is Paul. Or Oliver. or a combination of both 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake. Posted May 2, 2014 Report Share Posted May 2, 2014 Oh f**k yeah Curtis is the name of a bike isn't it hahahah. Isn't your Ford called Oliver? Or am I thinking of top gear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prawny Baby Posted May 2, 2014 Report Share Posted May 2, 2014 I don't own a ford any more, I sold it I have a company Ford though, known as the Red diesel Race car Jardo owns a ford, called Kylie. it's amazing 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pashley26 Posted May 2, 2014 Report Share Posted May 2, 2014 (edited) And a Clio RS called Oliver many moons ago. The Top Gear car was a Vauxhall Viva HA. Edited May 2, 2014 by Pashley26 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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