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The cars on Saturday were good, but the motors about on the Sunday were class.    I decided to change my launch technique, and tried stiffening the rear shocks a little as an experiment. The rear should be soft so as to absorb some force and increase grip on take off, but as my last launch resulted in the wheels bouncing up and down in the arch, i thought stiffer shocks might help eliminate it. I wound them up and knocked them back, 5 from the top (as the top is like replacing the shocks with 2x4s) and gave it a go. One tyre screeched and spun off the line, struggling for grip; it didn't bounce though! When I hit 2nd it squirmed about and i had to fight it a bit to stay straight. Interestingly it was a faster time, a 14.2! I decided it was too stiff, it was doing me no favours off the line. It was my clutch technique i had to perfect in order to get the most out of my open diff.  My next technique involved taking the revs to a steady 3000rpm, slipping the clutch aggressively (but not dropping it) until it was happily away. It felt like a good one... another 14.2 I went back around quite a few times, a couple of occasions i hit 5th instead of 3rd which was really bloody annoying after queuing up for a while. But each run i was getting quicker (bar the missed gear runs!) and having a right laugh.  Apparently the commentator was enjoying my steady progress, and mentioned that he thought it was capable of getting into the 13s..  The next run was my fastest of the day, a 13.94 at 101mph - I was made up! Didn't manage to beat that one, but was really pleased with it. There's a lot of room for improvement in the launch, too. I lost a lot of time there, down to that one wheel fighting to put the power down. Interestingly, a lot of the other cars (including the other Capri) ran very small diameter slicks. I wonder what sort of difference that would make? I feel that my tyres may suit the launch of a torquey V8 more than a high boosted four banger... but to be fair, it was motoring in 3rd! Either way, I had a blast; and managed 10 runs over the 2 days (8 on the show itself!). |
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Managed to chat to a couple of Retro Riders on our stand:  Great blokes   Thanks for taking these photos; I can't remember who I pinched them from! A thoroughly awesome weekend. Got some pics from the pro photographers, too:   My time sheets for the day. Someone with more drag racing expertise may be able to decipher them a little, maybe it's possible to work out whether smaller tyres would have helped by looking at the times? Spot the 5th gear mistakes!  |
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The drive home as the evening approached was also extremely enjoyable. Stuck to the back roads as the sun was setting. The traffic was light most of the way home.   And it was cool looking out the back window and seeing this all the way home   And home:  Great success! As soon as i was home i was Googling Capri LSDs, but they're still a small fortune. I do have a welded diff on the shelf but I'm reluctant to fit it. It would definitely give me quicker times, but i think I'd sacrifice general driving enjoyment for it. I've also been looking at the next stage of tune for the engine. COMPLETELY unnecassary for the road, as it's stupidly quick... i can now understand how drag racing, and chasing quicker times, can become an expensive hobby! The next stage of tune only requires: 444cc topfeed injectors from either a Sunny GTiR Srr20det, or a Skyline Rb26dett. An AFM from a 300zx Z32 TT. A boost increase from 15 up to 17psi. That lot would see power had north of 300bhp... tempting! Completely and utterly unnecessary, but tempting! So tempting, in fact, that I've been emailing breakers yards to see if they have any Sunnys knocking about! Thing is, if i up the power I'll have even more problems off the line! I'd definitely need to lock the rear end one way or another... anyone got a Z32 TT AFM kicking about? |
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The icing on the cake is that a few days later, Santa Pod released the Retro Show highlights video; and i made the cut! See if you can spot me!
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Cool car! I read the first page and the last one, quite a transformation!
Now, to decipher the timing tickets...
Low 14's are decent, and a 13 isn't hanging about either. Where you are losing time is off the line. Look at your 60ft times - on your 13 you ran a 2.20, but all the 14's were 2.3's and slower. Work on getting it off the line quicker and more consistently and you'll have no problem dropping your times. The turbo really helps to build up speed from just before half track onwards. Slicks might help, they did for me. My beetle with an 80bhp 1600 twin carb motor ran low 16's with 60ft times between 2.1 and 2.3 seconds. Bolted 6" wide 26" tall slicks on and hit high 2.1's pretty much every run. Close ratio gearbox got me down to 15.7, 60fts into the low 2.1/high 2.0 sec area. 185bhp 2276cc motor got down to 12.0 @ 109mph, 60ft times were down to high 1.5's, still on the same close ratio gearbox and slicks.
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1968 Cal Look Beetle - 2007cc motor - 14.45@93mph in full street trim
1970-ish Karmann Beetle cabriolet - project soon to be re-started.
1986 Scirocco - big plans, one day!
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Cheers mate - yeah, i could tell the launch was hurting the times. Do you think the tyre size was a problem, or not really? I was
surprised that everywhere i looked there were cars running tiny diameter slicks. It's ingrained in my mind that drag cars have massive tyres!
I have a set of single leaf springs and a welded diff on the shelf, do you think i should fit them? The single leaf springs will allow me to fit an X brace that clamps to the axle and then clamps to the spring in front and behind it, too. I'm thinking that could potentially help with spring wind up and wheel hop?
Although a couple of things are preventing me from fitting them. I've seen single leaf springs snap, and a welded diff worry 265 section tyres could be a nightmare on the road......
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Spotted on minute 1:33s...
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Spotted on minute 1:33s... Good spot! I was made up when I saw it, especially considering the awesome cars at the show :cool: |
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Jul 13, 2016 18:03:01 GMT
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The small diameter slicks will help acceleration but will require the engine rev harder over the finish line. Taller tyres are better on top end but at the expense of acceleration. That's ignoring the fact that a taller tyre can have a softer sidewall so bite harder at lower pressures...
I wouldn't go for the welded diff if you want to use it on the road. I've pushed a friends car that was fitted with a spool and that was an ar5e to park - the outside wheel kept on skipping. Also if you snap an axle it'll put you in the wall.
As for leaf spring stuff, I'd bin the lot and go for a four-bar, but in the interim, look at some of the American drag stuff and see the types of snubber bars that they use. Google Cal-Trac bars for starters!
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1968 Cal Look Beetle - 2007cc motor - 14.45@93mph in full street trim
1970-ish Karmann Beetle cabriolet - project soon to be re-started.
1986 Scirocco - big plans, one day!
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Well hello there, you marvellous bunch of like-minded humans! Thought I'd give a quick update as it's been a while. I've been using the Capri on and off this year, got the XJ8 as a daily at the mo, but sometimes I'll just use the Capri for a week when I fancy some raucousness! Only thing I've done since the last update is to fit a new pair of rear wheel bearings; the old ones had had enough of the 10" wide wheels I think... Took it out last weekend for a little shake down and ended up covering nearly 20 miles in the glorious sunshine  It's looking a bit scruffy, but it kind of suits it.. the chalk board paint is clearly not weathering very well (or maybe it is!). I also thought I'd record my PB for future reference; I aim to have to T- cut this off and re-write it at some point this year! Need to get it to launch off the line better....  If you'd told the 18 year old Daveyboy20 that one day it'll be quicker than a Lamborghini Countach, he might have asked you what you were smoking! It has taken about 15 years, mind! A couple of shots showing its scruffiness off!:    Currently thinking of ways to get the power down off the line. I have a welded diff but I don't want to fit it as I enjoy commuting in it and generally driving it about. Budget LSD being the next thing in store |
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Davey
Posted a lot
Resident Tyre Nerd.
Posts: 2,349
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Sounds like you need some MT slicks on it.
Always loved this car.
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K11 Micra x3 - Mk3 astra - Seat Marbella - Mk6 Escort estate - B5 Passat - Alfa 156 estate - E36 compact
Mk2 MR2 T-bar - E46 328i - Skoda Superb - Fiat seicento - 6n2 Polo - 6n polo 1.6 - Mk1 GS300
EU8 civic type S - MG ZT cdti - R56 MINI Cooper S - Audi A3 8p - Jaguar XF (X250) - FN2 Civic Type R - Mk2 2.0i Ford Focus - Mercedes W212 E250
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Ian
Part of things
Posts: 977
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Think I spotted you in Caldy the other weekend, if not you a very similar Matt black Capri!
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That will have been me Ian, went through Caldy on my 20 mile cruise about!
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Colonelk
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,742
Club RR Member Number: 83
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'86 Capri Turbo Colonelk
@colonelk
Club Retro Rides Member 83
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My only recommendation with the welded diff / spool is to drive a car with one fitted. They are very much like marmite. I had one on my Carlton waaaaaaaaaay back in the day and it was excellent. Made b-roads a blast, did donnington track day with it and that was ace fun as well, really neutral. Obviously though, a lot of differences in suspension between a Capri and a Carlton so YMMV. Some people can't stand the wheel skipping at parking, some don't care (I didn't find it an issue at all). Also, obviously a lot harder on suspension and drivetrain parts. Cool motor |
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Yeah, I'm not gonna fit the welder. If it was a track slag I'd go for it, but I like to use it on the road, and to commute as well. I'm thinking of selling my Jag to help me chuck some cash at it (or push it straight down the drain outside my house - not decided yet) and fit an LSD. I've found a company that makes geared LSDs for the Atlas axle for £400, I'd like to get one of those soon. I think I'll need to look into the leaf spring strengthening options when I do that though, I think there'll be a fair bit of wind up! Once the axle and springs are tamed, I'll be looking to push the power over the 300hp mark, there's no point until then though!
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Have you thought of changing rear axle for a volvo one??....I'm using a volvo 245 axle in my 385 capri already has rear discs so u get a upgrade too for nowt lol.....I'm then getting a truetrac dana 30 lsd from summit racing for 400 dollars....Americans love them and run 700+bhp through them
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mk2 ford orion
mk2 cavalier sri
mk3 cavalier sri
95 clio 16v
mk3 cavalier gsi
ford scorpio
mk3 cavalier tdi
nissan 200sx (s13)
mk3 ford transit
mk2 astra gte rep
mk3 3.0 v6 cavalier
mk3 fiesta van
mk3 capri 1.6
mk3 3.0s capri
mk2 polo bready
96 bmw 3.2 evo
audi 80 tdi
landrover 200 tdi
mk3 g40 polovan
mk1 facelift vauxhall carlton estate
ford sierra
vw polo 6n
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Only just seen the drag slip post. I can make sense of it having won the oldskoolford drag championship in 2010 with my old pinto Capri. Your 60ft is bad... Lol. You need 1.7 or so and an LSD and 13" slicks will help you achieve this. Crossing the line at over 100 mph tells me your car could easily run a 12 sec with a slipper and slicks with a burnout. You could try some 15" slicks on Mondeo steels like we did as you have twice the power we did.
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96 E320 W210 Wafter - on 18" split Mono's - Sold :-(
10 Kia Ceed Sportwagon - Our new daily
03 Import Forester STi - Sold
98 W140 CL500 AMG - Brutal weekend bruiser! Sold :-(
99 E240 S210 Barge - Now sold
02 Accord 2.0SE - wife's old daily - gone in PX
88 P100 2.9efi Custom - Sold
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Love capri's! I aspire to have one soon! looks like it'd be a blast to drive! Good work
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Love capri's! I aspire to have one soon! looks like it'd be a blast to drive! Good work
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Have you thought of changing rear axle for a volvo one??....I'm using a volvo 245 axle in my 385 capri already has rear discs so u get a upgrade too for nowt lol.....I'm then getting a truetrac dana 30 lsd from summit racing for 400 dollars....Americans love them and run 700+bhp through them That'd be great but I don't have enough time at the mo for major mechanical surgery! Might be one to chalk up in the future though. |
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