Iain
Part of things
Posts: 351
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I had some fun at Cadwell Yesterday, although I probably was not as quick as you TBH! However, I am surprised that you like the Helix 4 paddle. I am not a fan and none of my friends can drive it. I am told the AP 4 paddle is meant to be friendlier  . Mind you it is not bad on the track bar the weight of the clutch. What suspension are you running? The car seems planted for sure. What is your opinion on the ATB? I am debating getting one for my RST which I reckon is an open diff ATM . G'day ChasR. Glad you had a good day, if nothing broke then even better! I actually took the Nova to Snetterton on Monday 9th, unfortunately it was wet and my Toyo T1Rs were all over the shop, so today I'm ordering some Rainsport 3s to replace them. Helix is good, it's only the friction plate mind and not the full setup including the uprated cover plate. It's a bit grabbier but perfectly drivable and feels great out on track. Overview of suspension is.... Front: Gaz GHA coilover, 2.25" 325lb spring Adjustable alloy topmounts Poly bushes Strengthened bottom arms GTE thicker tie bars Spherical bearing tiebar brackets (lowered for braking 'anti dive') Front ARB (although testing with running without for improvements) Rear: Gaz GHA coilover, 1.9" 250lb spring Poly bushes Nova rear ARB Cav rear ARB I really like the ATB, driven it for years and it's great on road and OK on track. I've recently had mates move over to plate diffs and really like those on track, so if it were pure track I'd be looking at one of those I think. One thing I did notice at Snetterton in the rain was accelerating out of a corner made it heavily understeer opposed to my mates open diff, but that can probably be fixed with driving style. |
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,309
Club RR Member Number: 170
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Nov 11, 2015 20:44:47 GMT
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Absolutely! Even in the Clio on some well worn Conti Sport 3s up front and Toyo T1-Rs on the rear the car was a joy! The rear did get lively at times mind you with the ESP/nuns and kittens light reminding me that it was keeping things in check. I may have had the ESP turned off more if I were at Bedford or somewhere with more run off. I'm planning to go to Michelin PS3s on that or the Yoko AD08Rs, although I was outcornering a 205 GTi that day with them on which I would not have expected ; the Nankang NS2-Rs are not terrible in the wet by any means on my RST. Ah, you have the setup I plan to go to. Now that is more than livable with when I tried a friend's RST with a Helix plate but a normal clutch cover. I still wonder how I can drive the car on the road. Rev matching is mandatory for a vaguely smooth shift at the moment! That is good news about the ATB. It has to be better than what the RST is ATM. That is wheelspin with your foot down in second, sometimes 3rd if it is wet outside and the tyres are cold. I value the gearbox too much (i.e differing oils for either diff) and driveshafts (not the strongest of things anyway) to go plated but I can see that they are the superior setup for the track . Cheers as always for the comments. It's nice to actually get someone who has played around with a few things thus can tangibly see the improvements (or lack of) being made . |
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Iain
Part of things
Posts: 351
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After some hilarious slip slidey moments at Snetterton: I've upgraded my track wets to Rainsport 3s on some snazzy new powdercoated rims:   Bloody hell they're immense in the wet! Took them out last night and they have really impressed me. At Donington this Saturday so probably get to test them more there. |
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Nov 17, 2015 12:59:13 GMT
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how do Iain, recognised pauls astra in a couple of the pics cracking work all round, i imagine this is just a potted history too. allot more work has gone into it than we can appreciate in the pictures. |
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Iain
Part of things
Posts: 351
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Harvey with your old engine was in the background too, was chasing him around Yes many years of my life are in this, sometimes I think it's a shame I never started with a car that's worth something haha. |
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Nov 18, 2015 10:09:45 GMT
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Well,.. you have my well earned respect,.. what a mighty fine build. I Hope you'll keep this car regardless of what the future may brings.. as in my eyes this is and will become a true classic more so in the spirit of what you've done with this.
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Iain
Part of things
Posts: 351
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Nov 22, 2015 21:16:06 GMT
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Came close to meeting its end yesterday but it lives to fight another day.  |
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Last Edit: Nov 22, 2015 21:17:43 GMT by Iain
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gazz81
Part of things
Posts: 842 
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Nov 22, 2015 21:25:18 GMT
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I think I would have crapped myself!
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Ooo... happy for you it went without a bang...
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frodo
Part of things
Posts: 104
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Nov 23, 2015 10:40:29 GMT
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Glad the car is ok - could have been a lot worse, reminds me a lot of Kieth Odor's crash at the TOCA Shootout in 1992...
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Nov 23, 2015 18:25:33 GMT
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100mph lift off oversteer !! foook!
ignoring you ended in the gravel i think the video actually exudes car control and experience! most folk wouldnt even have made it down to old hairpin gravel, pointing the right direction. they would've oh-sheeeet-braked and be *rse into tyres at craners, no question
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Last Edit: Nov 23, 2015 18:27:34 GMT by darrenh
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Iain
Part of things
Posts: 351
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Nov 24, 2015 12:57:37 GMT
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Nice video frodo! My attempt looks poor now, 1/10 could do better.
Darren watching it back it did make me laugh how I was still trying to oppo lock it on full lock side to side.
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Nov 24, 2015 19:30:23 GMT
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Cracking thread iain some work gone into her. Jeez that spin out.... scary moment!!!
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Iain
Part of things
Posts: 351
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I've made a few improvements over 2015/2016 winter, hopefully see some track improvements from them. First off, some better quality bushes made by Superflex:  One piece stiff poly bushes were fun, but slid in with some funky contraptions:  Followed by the steel insert:  Front arms got the same bushes:  My Wilwoods after the gravel trap at Donington:  Stripped, used Hammerite before but wasn't happy with it, tended to flake:  High temp red, then some regular red as they turned out kinda pink, all fitted up with new Wilwood discs and spigots pressed in:  |
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Iain
Part of things
Posts: 351
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I have just completed some braking upgrades too, was previously running a Corsa servo and cut-down pedal to suit the Nova:   I've stripped this out, and built up a Harry Hockly brake bias set up. I built this originally with .625 front and .7 rear cylinders:  Due to the rollcage I've mounted it in an 'unusual' direction but it's all good working this way. New braided lines made up to suit my current lines:  On the pedal side, I tried using my cut-down pedal but it was completely the wrong ratio and I was struggling with braking force, so out it come. I used an original Corsa one, braced to the original Nova bulkhead strengthening:  My plan was to fit a standard but straightened Corsa pedal for more leverage:  So with a slightly longer aftermarket M10 clevis coming off the pedal box:  I was able to build this contraption, a shortened housing, straightened pedal, which gives me an original Corsa pedal ratio back:  Needs adjusting down on the clevis in this pic, but it all lines up:  I've test driven it and can't get the backs to stop locking up, so I since swapped t a 0.75 rear cylinder and am going to see how I get on. |
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Feb 23, 2016 14:50:43 GMT
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i've never seen one piece rear beam bushes like that, i like them
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alecf
Part of things
Posts: 424
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Feb 23, 2016 19:29:30 GMT
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i've never seen one piece rear beam bushes like that, i like them Alot of the superpro bushes are like that. Which can mean a pain when fitting them. I fitted some to the front radius arms on a disco 2 and with a 12 ton press they were a challenge. However they are then only bush I will use now. Got 3 years out of a set on the old car. Where as the previous ones lasted just 3 races. Love the build had a white totally original great about 10 years back but never got it on the road. |
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Iain
Part of things
Posts: 351
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Fitted an Odyssey PC680, which with it's bracket weighs in at 6.6kg. The original battery and bracket was 12.9kg, and the large cable to the rear a whopping 1.8kg.  This was mounted on the back of the passenger footrest so nice short wiring now. Longacre bulkhead connector fitted and new lines made up inside and engine bay:  I've also made a new dash and had it flocked a nice mid grey, made up some carbon switch panels and it's looking neater inside now. Killswitch, brake balance adjuster, oil/water temp/pressure gauges etc all in the centre and easy to access.    |
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Apr 27, 2016 17:17:19 GMT
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an absolutely fantastic Nova you have, and really enjoyed reading through the thread. Had a number of novas over the years including an L reg gsi and very brief time with K95 VHD. thought I was finished with them, but actually would really like another at some point.
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 1965 Mk1 Mini 1989 Porsche 911 3.2 Carrera Sport 2004 Audi A2 TDi 2007 Lotus Exige S 2011 Mini Cooper SD |
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Iain
Part of things
Posts: 351
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Apr 28, 2016 10:40:53 GMT
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an absolutely fantastic Nova you have, and really enjoyed reading through the thread. Had a number of novas over the years including an L reg gsi and very brief time with K95 VHD. thought I was finished with them, but actually would really like another at some point. Cheers, was originally intending to buy a GSi but found it hard to find a good one... And that was 10 years ago! Eek. |
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. Mind you it is not bad on the track bar the weight of the clutch.
