Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

Engine, transmission and braking let-downs too one side for a second, I still think the XJ-220 looks great.

http://www.teslamotors.com/blog/most-peculiar-test-drive

Interesting report from Tesla about unscrupulous journalists who review their products.

Bungs.

Engine, transmission and braking let-downs too one side for a second, I still think the XJ-220 looks great.

+1

Took the little rattler out for a spin yesterday. Ear to ear grin as usual. Flatted nearside rear meant I had to get the spare out and a new Pirelli Cinturato 125 SR 12 is on order from the 'bay. When the weather warms up a bit I might run her over to my friend Mal at Trentside Classics (not too far from me in Lincs) to help sort the lumpy idle and a few rattles (thermostat flap I think).

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/07/rs01-and-r26.jpg

Gulf Morgan anyone?

http://sphotos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/856789_476697272397792_506784525_o.jpg

Yes!

Cheers for the jump Richie, here's a picture of an MG (and a Volvo) for you.

no worries. was it alright after a drive?

that a is blatantly lapping the 544

Yep, blasted the toupe of moss, leaves, cat fur and bird-poo off that the car was wearing, and went for a quick drive.

Shut it down in Saino's car park and it fired straight back up when I'd finished shopping.

good.

i have just got back from a (fucking freezing) blast out to brands hatch. first drive without the enemy in the car, so there was a bit of fuckwittery. it's a totally different car.

happy.

now i need another 100 horsies.

That reminds me, I need to speak to Tim.

I reckon when the wick is turned up to 400 I might need stiffer springs/ARB's.

Just swapped the suspension on the old 405 from a Partner van. I think I may need to drop it a few inches.

Torsion bars are a mm thicker, not worked out what that is in poundage yet.

Nah, just drop the front and get some serious rake going on.

Pretend its a dragster? Tempted to drive it as it is to see how easy oversteer would be find.

Turn in, lift off, see what happens?

Are you going to get some different springs or just take the angle grinder to the van ones?

Possibly give it a little flick, but that's the usual technique. Then hope that 75bhp is enough to pull me out of it...

Nah, just undo the bolt slide the torsion bar out and set the height according to calculation. I'll see if I can find a picture to explain it better.

Although the design is slightly different the principle is the same from the 405 beam and the 205 beam in the picture-

The tube in the centre is stationary. A pair of bearings poke out around 4" from where you can see the mounting points going inside the trailing arm. This allows the hub to rotate on a point about 12" forward of the hub.
The torsion bars are the two bars you can see travelling parallel to the tube, one end is mounted into the trailing arm and the other is mounted into the stationary casting at the end of the tube. As the axle moves it twists the bars. The length and the thickness change the stiffness of the bar, not in a simple straight graph like 10mm gives 100lb/ft and 20mm gives 200lb/ft - it curves upwards to a point where a 2mm change in thickness can give you an extra 60-70lb/ft.
On the 205 the ARB sits inside the tube but on the 405 it sits outside and in front. The 205 is merely pulled into place and bolted into the ends of the bars. The 405 bars are put in place then clamped. A better design imo as they're less likely to seize

The bonuses of this system is a wide flat floor and fast change of ride height or spring poundage on a race car. Downsides being that you can't change camber or castor without machining your own stub axles. The rear suspension is pretty good anyway as Peugeot have proven in their rally history with the 205 and 306

Bought a golf '92 mk2 driver 1.8 carb last month...much fun :) back to basics driving, no power steering, no abs, will post pics when I take some :)

After a year without power steering I want it back. If I was keeping the car I'd fit a pump. Modern electric power steering can gtfo though. Positively scary when on the edge.

No power steering is hard work, but has a more direct feel which I'm enjoying atm...will see how it goes, will probably get fed up, can always fit a pump if needs be!