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My Astravan


Bucky

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Ok, I can't stay out of this thread for any longer...

I for one have no problems in believing that a 300bhp Ashtray van will beat a 350bhp WRX / Evo from a roll from 30 - 150+. Transmission loss makes for a MASSIVE difference which many people underestimate. I've experinced this for myself in my own car. From a roll, providing there is traction, a similarly powered and weighted FF car will out accelerate any rwd / 4wd and the faster the speed the more effect it has. A subaru is quick off the mark and will do impressive 0-60 times however the standard subaru isn't great at accelerating at anything over 70-80. I've raced a WRX on the motorway - involving a corner may I add (M3 > M27 junction eastbound) my car out accelerated the WRX from 60 - 145 pulling 3-4 car lengths, round the corner and up to 150 on the straight. At no point did he catch up around the corner. I know that this isn't a comprehensive test which proves the end of the WRX etc etc, as there are so many variables - for all I know he could of had a stack of bricks in the boot or woman-like driving instincts - I don't know.

I've also tested my car against an E46 330ci. Rolling from 40 it was fairly even up untill 60-70 when i started to pull away; from 60 in 5th, 4th and 3rd, I easily walk away from him. The cars are of similar weight (I assume) his has 232bhp, mine I'd guess at running anywhere between 190-200bhp (he also has the advantage of n/a over turbo lag). Over the 1/4 mile both cars have similar times (book figure for the BMW vs other ppls times with similar mods to me in America - with auto boxes)

Again, this is no comprehensive test that proves anything really, I'm just trying to illustrate how bigger bhp numbers do not always make for a faster car and that transmission losses have a lot to answer for. Many people on the Lancer register (evo forum) have said how they've had a close race, or even lost to a "lesser" fwd car such as Seat LCR, Megane Cup sport whatever it is...

Handling wise, ANY car or van can be made to handle well - look how well the Volvo 850 estates did in the BTCC. I've spent hundreds (well over 1k actually :|) on KW coilovers, strut braces, anti roll bars, decent wheels and the best tires I could afford and theres not much on the road that will out corner it on a long sweeping bend at speed. I've had a tussle with an E46 M3 over a large motorway junction and I whilst he was struggling to keep the back from swapping ends, I was able to stick right behind him with the ability to go much faster. Sure, as soon as we got to the straight he left me standing, and sure my car has been heavily modified for that sort of corner, but his car is regarded as one of the quickest point to point cars available..... Oh, and he probably spent 45k vs my 2.5k+mods. I'd prefer the M3 mind...

All of this about vans unable to go around corners as well as their car counterparts is rubbish. I'd agree that a standard ashtray car vs a standard van equivilant will probably handle worse due to the purpose they were designed for (car for general motoring, van for carrying loads) however I have every confidance with identical suspension setups a van will out-handle the car. I ask, in what way is the van any different to make it handle worse? The van is likely to have a longer wheelbase making it more stable around fast corners, the lack of glass (which is very heavy), interior, seats, sound deadening etc etc make it lighter than the car. I'd also guess that they run on almost identical chassis also. Like what has been previously said, the weight is over the front wheels where the power is, the rear wheels are there to stop the back end from dragging on the floor. This might make the van a little tail happy, but with 300bhp through the front wheels with no LSD, I can't see how this is a bad thing because it's going to want to understeer.

As a final thought, I do believe that the above claims from Bucky, and Wayne are true - I've experianced a XE Nova which wouldn't have any problems with my car on the straights and I can also see why they do it - the need to do something different from the norm and moreso to personally create and build a unique vehical. A fast car out of the box is all well and good, but an equally fast car built by yourself (for less) is a much better feeling. On the otherside of the fence, I can also share your thoughts of "buy a decent car" I sometimes drive a 55 plate BMW 525i with all the extras when I have to go to meetings, and I have to say travelling up to london on the motorways it's the car I'd most like to be in, but then I'm glad I'm going home in my own car - why?? because its faster. Different people have different tastes, so if Wanye says he'd much rather spend a few k's on his van than get a "proper" car which is just as fast or faster, let him. At the end of the day it's his money, and his choice.

Just to add, I drive a Volvo S40. The video posted earlier by Nick are S40 clocks... just a thought....

Andy P

Ps. brakehorse for show, torque for go.

Edited by Andy P
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True, they both have their uses. Lighter track cars gererally user higher revving higher bhp lower torque (bike engined caterhams for example). Bigger, lower revving cars have more torque. Its about useability. I'd rather have a torquier car to use everyday than have to go to work at 7am with my engine screaming 11krpm in my ear haha.

Andy

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It's a mixture of both...........

torque and bhp

Yup both equally as important...

I have refrained from posting in this thread, mainly becuase of the arguing, but I do feel I need to congratulate Bucky on his van. Engine swaps are not the easiest of things (some harder than others granted), and respect is due to anyone that pulls it off.

On the subject of swaps, I'm planning this for my Civic: K20a EG6

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Go on then, how the hell does that work?

press the loud pedal down and you get the same power in every gear surely?

not strictly true, the EDS chip on the ecu drops boost to around 10psi at vehicle speeds of less than 35mph iirc, once above that speed it allows for full boost.

cheers for the positive comments guys.

i'll just let waynio keep on arguing with the people who want to and i'll stay out of it (Y)

will put some more pics up later as i took the cylinder head off mine thursday night do do the gasket, piston rings, little end shells, valve stem oil seals and the other gaskets.

bucky

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Quick one for you danny............ BHP is measured at the flywheel my friend ;) its VERY hard to have it measured at the wheels. hence what i was told by a "professional" car tuner from Racing Line in halifax. NOT WHAT IM MAKING UP. and this guy tunes and tests cars for a living.

i just wanted to confirm that with you. ;)

Also Andy P i totally agree with what you say, id like to have something to dirve long distance on like a BM or summit a bit more "motorway" friendly :P but i cant physically afford 2 cars at the mo, but when i can i probably will have. the humming of a full stainless straight through exhaust puts you in a transe!!!! :lol:

Waynio.......................

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Quick one for you danny............ BHP is measured at the flywheel my friend ;) its VERY hard to have it measured at the wheels. hence what i was told by a "professional" car tuner from Racing Line in halifax. NOT WHAT IM MAKING UP. and this guy tunes and tests cars for a living.

on a dyno perhaps wayne, but on a rolling road its clearly the pther way round.

a rolling road can only connect to the wheels of course, so it can only measure bhp at the wheels.

the figure a rolling road gives at the flywheel is a calculated figure, based on a roll down from high rpm in top gear from high revs to idle, a load is applied during this roll down, and the speed at which the engine rolls down is used to calculate the transmission losses. these calcualated transmission losses are then added to the measured power at the wheels.

as a result, power at the flywheel given by rolling roads can be very dubious.

its entirely possible to cheat a rolling road, for example, its commonly thought that running tyres SUPER hard can add 1-2 bhp to the measured figure, due to the low rolling resistance of very hard tyres.

a dyno can of course ONLY test power at the flywheel, as it connects up directly to the crank.

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the rolling road i went to i got given BHP from the flywheel, as they told me its the MAIN ACCURATE measurement to get the power output from. dont ask me how or why, i just took mine to the rollers and they did it, they are the experts not me.

you need to go to a well established rolling road to get a decent reading too, the highest reading is not always the most accurate. there is a few rolling roads round yorkshire and a couple of them are 20 or 30 HP out. the 1 i have been to have had a 360 bhp and 360 lb/ft mark3 Astra 2.5 V6 TURBO van. and i was advised to go there as there customer service is good and give good info. they are also Scooby tuning specialists and have built some 500/600hp subarus.

Waynio.........................

Obviously i know absolutly nothing and the above is probably absolute bollox ;):lol:

Kenny your more than welcome a go, il hopefully catch up with you this week?

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