ProComp LA Gold

Best of luck, I know what your like with electric string

Water gauge and sensor trial wired and working.

That said, it tends to show
+10 degrees.

I have checked all the pipework temps and the temp of the coolant in the header tank that when they are at 70 degrees, the gauge shows 80.

If I get time to drop the oil before Snet' I would hope to wire in the oil temp gauge.

I still have to find some 10mm studding for the alternator mount, mine snapped at Mallory.
Seat to make and cover
Catch tank to fit.
New mirrors to fit
Nodiz to fit
Racetech rev counter to fit.

Other than that, I am ready to go

Hi John

Try turning the engine off and see if it then reads 70 degrees. With the engine running the alternator will be kicking out about 14 volts, with the engine stopped and just the battery powering it at about 12.7 volts, it may drop to the correct reading showing it is just the extra voltage from the alternator causing the inaccuracy.

Thanks Billy

The general consensus is the the suspension on my car is rock hard.

I have enjoyed how it handles in the dry but think it would be mental in the wet.

Does anyone have a low cost accurate method of measuring spring poundage I could use please

If you remove the springs and look at the ground flat ends of the coils, then they should be either engraved or have the rate written on them, though this is often difficult to read on a used spring. As a minimum, there should be the rate in lbs", and probably also the free length in ", and maybe the inside diameter of the spring.

You can also work it out mathematically but the diameter of the wire has a massive effect on its poundage, and it is difficult to measure if its painted or plastic coated (Google for the calculation). You can also place them on accurate scales and compress them a set distance and then work it out, but you have to take very accurate measurements, and if your springs are stiff then the distance they will move will be quite small for a large load and consequently the answers wont be that accurate.

Some race prep shops have spring rate measuring tools, and the short oval one near you might have one. Alternatively you can pop round mine and just make a comparison of "squashiness" against the spare springs I have.

I used the compress and measure method on a set springs once. Can't remember what they were rated at, but I placed the spring on a set of bathroom scales with a steel rule alongside and compressed with a drill press. Don't use the drill's depth gauge as the scales will compress. It's as accurate as the equipment you use and the care you take, but it will get you a reasonable result.

Thanks Billy.

I initially Googled this and found an American home brew test set up.
This involved  the tow hitch of a 4x4, a 6' length of 2"x2", a 6" nail and a set of bathroom scales.

I have googled the maths measuring method to get an approximate result, this works out at 420lb front and 175lb rear.
This will be measured again before getting into removing dampers and springs.

Ben Marjoram is my oval racing chap, he is only 2 minutes up the road.  His mob are obsessed with corner and spring rates, so he may have a testing rig of some description.

Sean.
I have looked at the scale method.
It may well measure the front springs at the approximately required 170lb
But, I am not sure how I will get on with measuring the required 350lb springs for the rear

all suggestions welcome.

It's all down to factors i.e. the required pressure to compress the spring half an inch for example. Problem there is the smaller the measurement, the higher degree of inaccuracy. Strangely opposite set up to mine. Our Locosts without an anti roll bar have 350lb fronts and 130lb rear springs. I did see once on someone's website from the beginning of Locost racing, recommendation of 550lb fronts! A bit extreme even for a Xflow.

Thanks chaps.

It will be off to Ben Marjorams garage to blag so kit I think

Turns out Mr Marjoram does not have a spring measuring thingy.
Has his springs Measured by Sean Pickering at SP Suspension in Donington, Linc's

So with nothing to lose I decided to remove the Left Front damper

With spring removed it all became clear.
Marked on the flat of the spring was 7/500.

Looks like 7", matches the measurement.
As for 500, that could well explain some of the 'positivity' of the front end.
May also explain the comments of the previous owner and his mate who found it a "bit scary at times"

I have yet to remove the rears but suspect they will be around the 270lb mark given the lunacy of the fronts.
These poundages have lead to a very lively car.

Two options now
Have Sean Pickering service the Avo dampers currently fitted then muck about with spring rates.
Or, for only around 25% more, have Matt at Pro Comp make up 4 new dampers and springs.
The latter will not reduce the amount of grey hair I have but will reduce the likelihood of my vastly oversprung car giving me any more.

Hi John

The dampers are primarily there to control the springs, and the weight of the car is a secondary factor. The Avo dampers are designed to suit a wide range of spring rates and car weights, so there will only be one or clicks of adjustment that we be suited to your car.

If you speak to Procomp, they will sort out some relevant spring rates for your car and then they will build you up a bespoke set of dampers to suit those springs.

Consequently, I would strongly recommend going to Procomp.

Thanks Billy

Chaps, any thoughts on this crash hat?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Koden-Carbon-Fibre-Motorsport-Helmet-WITH-HANS-posts-Size-58-Snell-SAH2010-/281875738908?hash=item41a11a711c:g:8fQAAOSwT6pVzi54

Don't know anything about these helmets, but it seems to have the required standards and can be returned if it doesn't fit.

If I can convince myself to go to Autosport I may take a closer look

I'll be there myself, with a little shopping list.

Same here

This is what I wear they are now doing them for 198 quid 2/3 what I paid for mine quite cheap for a carbon full face you do need to add the cost of the hans posts on top that.

http://www.blackcatracewear.com/full-face.htm
You have to screw the hand posts in yourself but the threaded inserts are already formed into the lid.

Before I get questioned that's quite legal as the helmet is sah approved not sa. With the old sa helmets the hand post had to be fitted by the manufacture

Damn, they only have XL remaining in stock

Woop! 4 x dampers and springs in the post from Procomp.

Surprisingly, I am still employed, not sure how long that will go on for.

I should thank them for paying for the Procomp kit.

Some years ago, two of our wonderful European cousins knocked me over with a jack truck, resulting in 2 broken bones in my left hand.
Investigation, which equaled a bent senior manager writing statements for the none English speakers concluded I had done it ll on my own.
Rules at the time stated that:
"Should you have an accident at work which involves time off, there will be an investigation.
During the course of the investigation your wages may be suspended.
If the conclusion of the investigation indicates that you played any part in this accident then your wages will not be returned."

Unknown to all until 3 months ago, there has been a site union agreement for many years that no money would be withheld.

Now it is money time, dirty b'stards.

Lovely and shiny

Compared to the interesting 500lb dampers and springs

Fitted, an what a sod of a job that was/is

Looking good Jack it will be interesting to see how the car feels to you after the suspension change.

Great news about job to

I have now got the rears off and found 250lb springs

So, that is 500lb fronts and 250lb rears.
If it was never going to rain again and always sunny it may have been fun to leave it as was.

The front mounting brackets had be to 'adjusted' slightly to get the dampers to fit.

The rears are much more substantial so the bushes in the dampers may need to have a skim to get them to fit.

Hi Jack

Pleased to hear you still have your job

As suspected the old springs were quite stiff!

What rate springs are being fitted?

Fronts are 325
Currently set at zero damping, lots of suspension movement

Rears are 120
I have yet to fit these, little bit of modding to do first

That sounds a lot better, it wont have as quick a response, but you should find it easier to judge the limit now, especially in the wet.

I guess if I want iy go kart stylee I'll harden up the dampers and see.

Good news is all four are now fitted.

I had to grind 2mm of the bottom to get them to fit properly in the brackets.
Also, grind 1mm of the side of each bush.
I now have loads of movement on the front and rear suspension.

I will book in with Procomp in the next few weeks for the full monty set up

Nice one it will be good to see how it feels to you once you drive it.

I had to shave about the same amount of the front of mine