DB9 turned up to 11? Bamford Rose work starts tomorrow.
Discussion
Lewis, sounds like an incredible project. Are you the first to have this done on a DB9? I understand Cockers has had his V12V fettle by BR, but I'm assuming this is an entirely different proposition? You're a very lucky man, but the wait must be agony. Mind you, you've certainly picked the right time of year to not really miss it too much. Will this mod change the exhaust note, as I've just viewed your previous YouTube clips of the car at the Alpine track, and it sounds quite extraordinary - nothing like I'd imagined actually. Seems very far removed front the standard note (not unexpected, but I was struck by just how much it sounds like a racing car) Wonderful. Do you think it'll be ready for the April run in Wales, as I'd love to see/hear it in the flesh as it were?
Keep the updates coming, as its nice to give us something to dream about!
Regards
M
Keep the updates coming, as its nice to give us something to dream about!
Regards
M
yeti said:
Seriously, though, I'm sure it wont and BR will deliver a nicely matched set of components.
However, have you thought how you are going to put down all that extra power on to the road once you have a silly amount of BHP installed? I ask this because even though I have not had the chance to drive the Beast (aka Armstrong) in hot'n'dry conditions where the Corsas become useful rather than a liability, I'm having a hard time thinking how I'm going to do that without breaking away.
Further, how are you going to get it to top speed before your tank runs empty?
yeti said:
Another first as well... I discussed with Mike as to whether I could have a bigger fuel tank fitted but it wasn't practical; anyone who has been on a run with me knows that I always run out of fuel as my tank is 20 litres smaller than everyones elses (Volante) 
So Mike is going to fit cylinder deactivation on numbers 1/4/6/10 which means at cruise speeds it will do about 30mpg! Because of the exotic valvetrain components the engine will not need the rich running that normal V12s need to cool the metal temperatures. I will be running a much leaner air:fuel ratio.
Good idea! So Mike is going to fit cylinder deactivation on numbers 1/4/6/10 which means at cruise speeds it will do about 30mpg! Because of the exotic valvetrain components the engine will not need the rich running that normal V12s need to cool the metal temperatures. I will be running a much leaner air:fuel ratio.
ds2000 said:
Nice update Lewis. I was only reading up on deactivation the other day. It does seem the way forward for big engines these days. 30mpg out of that would be astounding!
Indeed, an amazing idea, it will just cut in when crusiing in top and straight back to 12 cylinders as soon as they're needed again! If I lived for about 100 years more, I could even justify the costs in fuel saved 
Guycord said:
However, have you thought how you are going to put down all that extra power on to the road once you have a silly amount of BHP installed? I ask this because even though I have not had the chance to drive the Beast (aka Armstrong) in hot'n'dry conditions where the Corsas become useful rather than a liability, I'm having a hard time thinking how I'm going to do that without breaking away.
Delicacy with the right foot is much improved once you have the lightweight clutch and flywheel, allows you much finer control. If I can pull away fast with 520bhp, I am sure I can do likewise with 650bhp+, I wouldn't use 7k revs from a standing start anyway. It's just about feeding the power in, not stamping on the loud pedal. The power and torque will be very linear rather than peaky like forced induction, it's only there when you ask for it. Even with the 650bhp engine the power to weight ratio is only the same as my Marcos and that doesn't have the perfect weight distribution of the DB9 or the electronic aids and I found that car fine on very fast road and track... not great in the wet admittedly, but that's fine This was the reason for switching to DBS wheels and Pirellis, I have 20mm more rubber on the road than a regular DB9 anyway; I have the switchable suspension to keep the tyres on the road, the chassis bracing for the suspension to push back against and I have some whopping great 6-pot brakes to keep it all in check. It's what you might call a holistic approach... I'm not just sticking a massively powerful engine into a standard car.
That would be silly
Bincenzo said:
Lewis, sounds like an incredible project. Are you the first to have this done on a DB9? I understand Cockers has had his V12V fettle by BR, but I'm assuming this is an entirely different proposition? You're a very lucky man, but the wait must be agony. Mind you, you've certainly picked the right time of year to not really miss it too much. Will this mod change the exhaust note, as I've just viewed your previous YouTube clips of the car at the Alpine track, and it sounds quite extraordinary - nothing like I'd imagined actually. Seems very far removed front the standard note (not unexpected, but I was struck by just how much it sounds like a racing car) Wonderful. Do you think it'll be ready for the April run in Wales, as I'd love to see/hear it in the flesh as it were?
Yes, it is the first custom build of a V12 engine to go into one of the cars. I have what Cockers and Guycord have at the moment i.e. the inlet manifolds, high lift cams, and full exhaust and catalyst package. The difference is the longer and more complicated collectors I have on my exhaust manifolds which give that higher pitched racing scream to the V12, that low pitched burble of their slightly simpler exhaust systems is gone. The new engine will keep this V12 screaming noise as the manifolds I currently have will be going back on.Bruce and I likened it to a classic Lamborghini or Ferrari V12 scream... There really is no modern car that sounds anything like it
IanV12VR said:
This might be a dumb question but if BR can do this then why not AM - surely a good way to improve emissions and fuel consumption numbers.
Please be gentle if it is a dumb question
2 reasons... Money and global regulations.Please be gentle if it is a dumb question
Aston just don't want to spend the considerable extra money on the individual cars. We're not kidding using the words 'exotic valve train', this is real money-no-object stuff, the best we can buy.
They also have global regulations and requirements to meet which the aftermarket is not bound by. Aston couldn't make a car with my free-flowing catalysts or the noise it makes, they wouldn't pass the regulations.
Works Service should be doing this... but they're just a body and trim shop nowadays sadly, sewing dragon shapes onto the headrests of Chinese millionaire's cars
Lewis, I would love to see this car run a standing mile once it is finished. I know those events are much more commonplace on our side of the Atlantic, but I wonder if there are one or two around in the UK that you could attend? 0-60 times seem to be becoming less & less relevant + how often do you really want to sidestep the clutch...
Do you think there's a decent chance of finding an event to run in the UK?
Do you think there's a decent chance of finding an event to run in the UK?
Stuart Dickinson said:
Lewis, I would love to see this car run a standing mile once it is finished. I know those events are much more commonplace on our side of the Atlantic, but I wonder if there are one or two around in the UK that you could attend? 0-60 times seem to be becoming less & less relevant + how often do you really want to sidestep the clutch...
Do you think there's a decent chance of finding an event to run in the UK?
Santa Pod which is just down the road from me. I'm sure if I promised to buy Lewis breakfast he would be here like a shot Do you think there's a decent chance of finding an event to run in the UK?
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