Been a while so I thought I would drop in and do a quick update:
Have to say... everything's running really well! I've covered about 1500 miles since the IVA now, and that included a high-speed, flat-out, adrenaline-fuelled track day; so all is very much well.
The cycle wings have been perfect since the last post - haven't budged. Very happy about that, and it's such a relief when you're driving around to know that they aren't always trying to fall off. I do need to get the brackets back on the workbench and give them a bit of "beautifying" now, all those bare welds and sharp edges need taking care of.
With some miles under my belt, another couple of minor issues have presented themselves now.
Fuel starvation - when cornering hard left (or drifting right) with less than 1/2 a tank, you get pretty severe fuel starvation. And on-track, cornering right, it was leaking a lot of fuel. Both easy fixes, just need to fit a 2nd fuel pump in tandem and lower both pickups, and adjust the breather pipe to not back-siphon. Might need an anti-siphon valve.
Whine - I do have a whine/grumble coming from the back somewhere. I think this is one of the bearings in the diff. I hope it's not a wheel bearing (which is unfortunately what it does sound like) because all 4 were newly fitted. Hope I haven't got a duff one. Have to do some more investigation.
Dash - the standard BMW dash is difficult to see behind the teeny tiny steering wheel, and most of the instruments are reading incorrectly - so need to think about dash options. Dave Rodgling has a pretty sexy digi dash which caught my interest - think I need to start writing to Santa with some specifications.
M3 engine - The car is not slow by any stretch - You'll see in a moment that it was keeping pace with some serious motors on the track day and is enough to give you a massive thrill. But Having an extra 130bhp would be immense.... so I need to get on the case with building this M3 engine I have in various pieces in my garage.
But otherwise, it's running terrifically well. As the winter sets in, the opportunity for ad-hoc drives are less; mainly due to the rain; but not impossible. If you wrap up warm it's actually not too bad.
So the track day:
Dave convinced me to bring it up to Cambridge and have a go at Bedford Autodrome. I dragged the kit car up on a trailer because it would be insane to drive there from Devon in an open-top sports car in November...
We made it to the track and had a couple of laps... well I didn't even get that far before I'd spun! on the parade lap no less! a combination of cold tires, greasy/rainy surface; and nil traction control with a lot of power - totally driver error and inexperience. I got a stiff telling off by the marshalls because they thought it was showboating; but with a humble apology I was back on track.
The car performed superbly - I was thoroughly impressed with how quick it was and how well it handled. It felt so balanced, poised, and quick - and did it ever grip! Like a go-kart!
I had a few sessions and slowly started pushing faster and faster - but that came at a price. I kept tripping the noise meters; and you get a few warnings but if you keep tripping the decibel meter then they kick you off - the track organisers have to obey their planning permission rules; which is only fair.
I'm sure people were thinking I was driving like a an idiot because I'd catch a few people up and overtake them; only to have to slow down and be overtaken again on the same corner each lap (the one where the most sensitive microphone was!). But it was doable to stay within the noise limits and didn't detract from the enjoyment too much.
Dave also took his car and we took it in turns to go out and drive our own cars and passenger in the others for sessions - that way it saved on either car taking a pounding in terms of brakes, tires and overheating. It worked really well doing that, as neither of our cars showed any signs of track punishment.
I had a few "on-the-go" repairs, sorting the fuel breather out by re-routing up the roll bar with some gaffer tape and trying to quieten the exhaust down with a bung; but nothing that ruined the day. Not like a few people we saw who dropped out with total engine and gearbox failures, clouds of steam and smoke; punctures etc.
In the end I managed to get a total of about 35 laps when I finally tripped the noise meter for the last time and they black flagged me off - shame really, but I was well happy with what I'd achieved. Some really fast laps and 125mph, in a car I built in my own garage all by myself!!!
If you want to see the video of the day look AT THIS VIDEO
Some pictures:
Haha, that wasn't a stiff telling off, that was pretty light :-) More outings next year I hope? Glad you enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteFor the breather, you could fit a valve but it has to breathe both ways so not sure this is ideal. Mine seems fine with a loop of hose round the tank (so it goes higher than the tank) and a very narrow diameter restriction in the breather, perhaps that is a better approach?
If I were you I'd be hoping it was a wheel bearing rather than the diff, seems easier? Although you do need a reason to fit an LSD I suppose... anyway easy enough to stick the car on axle stands, run it in first and have a listen.