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

pretty cool, how arp bolts are made.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-DYp8q2fjA&feature=player_embedded#at=304

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubb7hhRehsc&feature=player_embedded#at=146

‪Special Presentation: How ARP Fasteners Are Made Video Series Part 3/3 V8TV‬‏ - YouTube

Good lord - that is going to be a serious handful as FWD. Take bets on how long before you melt the diff? ;)

The chap who looks after the car has a GT2871R turbo, dyno'd at 420 at the wheels.

He's done a number of 'ring trips with the M59 gearbox and viscous diff that I have, although that said he has recently upgraded to a gripper differential.

JC Viggen got his T5-R round the 'ring with a 2871 in 8 minutes, although the lack of a baffled sump did cause oil starvation on that run, lunching the engine- he had a quaife diff, said to be the best for these cars for mixed road and track use.

I think that 4WD would be best, personally, but currently the only option is a weak AWD.

Vacilating!

I've seen 370atw in a V70. Gripper diff and it was silly on the wheelspin.

Do they use haldex for the 4WD?

The latest models do, the AWD system for the P1 cars (before Ford, basically) and the early P2's (first gen V70) use a viscous coupling to send drive to the rear wheels.

In a sense it is torque sensing- but it's fairly crude.

The viscous coupler locks up when there is a speed differential between the two shafts- i.e. one or both of the front wheels are spinning.

So it's a "slip then grip" system.

The coupler itself is fairly robust, however the angle gear that takes drive from the gearbox and directs it to the viscous coupler is notoriously weak.

The M56 box (open diff as standard, can have Quaife or Gripper fitted) can take 700+ horsepower.

The M58 (AWD) box's angle gear is generally guaranteed to have failed in use by 100,000 miles on the standard cars- with 170bhp at the crank.

These cars are crying out for a proper centre diff, and stronger angle/bevel gear, giving full time 4WD and a trans robust enough to deliver the power without grenading.

I think the new C30 Polestar is using a Haldex. I've been trying to read up on them to see how they work etc. I do still wonder why Ford haven't developed a 4WD system of the Focus, the floorpan is very similar to the C30 so it's definitely possible and it would make so much more sense than 350hp through the front wheels

Depends on what you are trying to achieve- FWD will be faster round a circuit than 4WD as long as the car can deliver it's power to the tarmac.

Ford stated that the combination of diff and revo-knuckle suspension meant that 4WD was simply extra weight that they did not want to carry.

Haldex is just an electronicly controlled/actuated clutch that feeds a certain amount of power to the rear (or front if you are Lambo) wheels when required.

I don't get the paying some one to do the work as thats part of the fun for me. It means that car becomes mine and part of me.

The throw money at it means that I have no connection with the car and it becomes an object nothing else.

Easy to work on an imaginary car though, innit?

I don't get the paying some one to do the work as thats part of the fun for me. It means that car becomes mine and part of me.

The throw money at it means that I have no connection with the car and it becomes an object nothing else.

mate you should know sometimes it's impossible not to throw money at cars, otherwise everyone with a bit of mechanical knowledge would be able to fix everything for free.

mate you should know sometimes it's impossible not to throw money at cars, otherwise everyone with a bit of mechanical knowledge would be able to fix everything for free.

But its not free is it. Its time, at some thing elses expense . So it depends on how much you earn to afford to pay someone to do it instead of working on car you get to have fun instead ;)

Parts aren't cheap but there is always an excuse to buy more tools.

Easy to work on an imaginary car though, innit?

Is there a question you like to ask?

Feel free to read see photos about my motorbikes and cars and motorbike and car adventures in several publications in Great Britain and Europe. Purchase the publications not just read them in WHSmths ta.

Why can you not fathom that I don't want my photos linked here. You seem to have the urge to photo document your life and its something I do not. This seems strange to you?

Sorry, I don't believe you. I used to purchase just about every motoring periodical, including the slightly odd ones such as Practical Classic, Practical Performance Car and so on, never seen a beaten up Laguna featured, or a Ducati held together with zip-ties and gaffa tape.

So- when I see your Porsche, your Lorry, your classic Alfa and whatever else you have claimed to own in the past I'll apologise.

But not until then.

damn this forum got jagged edges.

Got a mate who works for practical classics/ retro car/ car & car conversions (still going?), has an aircraft hanger in wiltshire packed full of eastern block win. Think theres even a 'racing' Tatra and at least one fiat 2.0 16v'd lada/fiat 131 their fun. flexible, but fun.

The AWD v70's have always interested me, esp with the 2.5D or later D5 but always heard things about the box/centre diff/viscous bits exploding/imploding/electrical failures so steered clear. Where I live there is always plenty of ice & slush in winters, and our roads are terrible so the 'mild AWD' did appeal over FWD no matter how good it is. So later V70s have proper full time 4wd systems or is that just the jacked up Allroad style model?
Another subaru legacy estate/outback would be the obvious choice but they only started doing diesels recently so not in my price bracket yet. BMW 530x tourer would be nice, but not sure they even bothered making a 4wd in the last few models (2001>2005 model). Theres also that jag X-type with 4wd but being owned by ford, is that also going to be rubbish AWD? also the interior of an x-type is cramped at best. 2001-2005 audi a6 2.5tdi quattro would do job alright but everyone I've ever found has been auto or early tiptronic (and partially broken).

Sorry, I don't believe you. I used to purchase just about every motoring periodical, including the slightly odd ones such as Practical Classic, Practical Performance Car and so on, never seen a beaten up Laguna featured, or a Ducati held together with zip-ties and gaffa tape.

So- when I see your Porsche, your Lorry, your classic Alfa and whatever else you have claimed to own in the past I'll apologise.

But not until then.

I really don't care what you think. I doubt I will ever write about the Laguna...actually it has been mentioned, and the Ducati occasionally gets mentioned in passing along with the other bikes and even once the vespa. What amazes me is that you didn't have to get several peoples advice on what to do.

Actually were you one of the people that saw the van?

Am also looking at doing a plastic wrap on a car and see what results I get. Matt black seems to be popular as its easier than getting matt paint applied.

I think I may have finally after a silly amount of deliberation and changing my mind every other day found a car I might buy. Until the keys are in my hand it will be a secret however. It is an E30 though...

Am also looking at doing a plastic wrap on a car and see what results I get. Matt black seems to be popular as its easier than getting matt paint applied.

This would be your Dino, or maybe the D-type?

Which you will then write up in your typical barely literate style in your world famous motoring column in the Times?

I think I may have finally after a silly amount of deliberation and changing my mind every other day found a car I might buy. Until the keys are in my hand it will be a secret however. It is an E30 though...

Eh? Secret? I thought you posted that big ole bimmer back there? confused

Eh? Secret? I thought you posted that big ole bimmer back there? confused

I haven't posted this one before though, it's rather special... Might not excite the rest of you too much but it's perfect for me. Haven't had a look at it just yet but should be seeing it today. Before anyone gets over excited it's not a V10 M3.

alloy sheetmetal CSL?

I haven't posted this one before though, it's rather special... Might not excite the rest of you too much but it's perfect for me. Haven't had a look at it just yet but should be seeing it today. Before anyone gets over excited it's not a V10 M3.

I used to see a rather nice white E30 Alpina touring parked up on De Beauvoir Road everyday, not sure if it's there any more. Looked like the real deal. Something along those lines?

I'm off Touring shopping this weekend but not of e30 flavour as much as I lust after a mint, OEM 325. I wouldn't trust the lively handling in the care of my lead booted Mrs...

alloy sheetmetal CSL?

If only! Nothing that exciting at all! Oh fuck it then, it's a 324td Saloon, however it is right hand drive, these didn't exist. The diesel E30 was only ever built for mainland Europe market in LHD and most were thrashed by taxi drivers. This car started life as a 316i but has had M21D24 engine, gearbox and a whopper turbo added.

It's been built by some chap recently, M3 Evo brakes, E36 compact rear arms, dropped on coilovers, 17 x 7.5 Borbet As.

Dark blue with cloth interior.

55mpg!

Sexy daily driver yo!

Haven't had a look at it yet and apparently it's got tinted windows and a spoiler which I'll be getting rid of if it becomes mine. Probably get retrimmed in leather too and maybe a respray to BMW Pepper White or Silver. MAYBE change the wheels to BBS RS too, the 17" wheels are a bit naff but 16" won't fit over the brakes.

Basically this but diesel... with shit tints and a spoiler...

^sick fucking wheels.

Hope your gonna keep the tyres over-inflated as well ;)

^sick fucking wheels.

Hope your gonna keep the tyres over-inflated as well ;)

Actually love Borbet As so much it's not funny. They don't look right in 17" on an E30 though I think, too big. Maybe some BBS RS. I'd prefer 16" wheels if I'm honest, the over inflated wheels thing bites balls, shit roads here in Ireland are not suited to super skinny rubbers.