Damper/spring recommendations

[robinlarry]

Looking for recommendations for some track/street damper/spring recommendations...supplier and brands. I'm not familiar with how various British suppliers are valving their products and matching them to spring rates. The car is an S1 with PU bushings. I'm an instructor so I'm happy to sacrifice street comfort for improved handling.

[gifdy]

The suspension wiki is a good starting point

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[v8s4me]

The WIKI hasn't been updated for a while now chaps

[robinlarry]

My thought as well. And I would expect there might someone with V6 experience out there vs. the (I assume) heavier V8.

[glenrobbo]

23 cars on the wiki.
8 are V8s, the rest are V6s.

Except for Alan's, which although an S1, is a V8 and also something completely different!

[phillpot]

V8 = Alluminium engine

V6 = Cast iron


Despite two more cylinders I suspect the V8 is lighter?

robinlarry said:

I'm an instructor so I'm happy to sacrifice street comfort for improved handling.

What quite making the connection here, what do you instruct, meditation or something to overcome the discomfort?

[AutoAndy]

Hope the weight isn't too different ..just fitted some v8s suspensions to my v6... Don't know what spring rates are so not added to the wiki yet....will let you know more once I have driven a few times ....

[robinlarry]

I've instructed for Porsche, BMW, Ferrari, Mustang, Viper clubs. Fast company so I with only 160 hp. I better not need to brake in the turns.

[glenrobbo]

robinlarry said:

I've instructed for Porsche, BMW, Ferrari, Mustang, Viper clubs. Fast company so I with only 160 hp. I better not need to brake in the turns.

I thought you are supposed to do all your braking before the turn?
Unless you mean using the handbrake to impress the amazed onlookers?

[Kitchski]

robinlarry said:

I've instructed for Porsche, BMW, Ferrari, Mustang, Viper clubs. Fast company so I with only 160 hp. I better not need to brake in the turns.

If you manage to draw 160bhp out of a 2.8, you're doing very well

[zombeh]

robinlarry said:

the (I assume) heavier V8.

There's not a lot in it. The engine isn't much heavier, gearboxes probably similar weights, v8 chassis is only slightly heavier.
I expect over the whole car the V8 is maybe 20kg heavier than an S3. I've no idea how much lighter the earlier cars are than that but it won't be a lot.

[robinlarry]

glenrobbo said:

I thought you are supposed to do all your braking before the turn?
Unless you mean using the handbrake to impress the amazed onlookers?

Nope ... here in the States you only are allowed to use the brakes if you have at least 200 hp.

[Top Gear TVR]

did anyone mention driver 'dimensions'?

zombeh said:

robinlarry said:

the (I assume) heavier V8.

There's not a lot in it. The engine isn't much heavier, gearboxes probably similar weights, v8 chassis is only slightly heavier.
I expect over the whole car the V8 is maybe 20kg heavier than an S3. I've no idea how much lighter the earlier cars are than that but it won't be a lot.

[DamianS3]

As you are in the us how about some Penske coilovers??

You would need to grap spring lengths Etc of wiki.

Alan and a few chim boys have these.

Cheers

Damian S3

[glenrobbo]

robinlarry said:

glenrobbo said:

I thought you are supposed to do all your braking before the turn?
Unless you mean using the handbrake to impress the amazed onlookers?

Nope ... here in the States you only are allowed to use the brakes if you have at least 200 hp.

Yeah but here in the UK and Yoorup we have proper bends!

[robinlarry]

Putnam Park a few years ago ... instructing a student with an already seriously underbraked Viper GTS ... coming down the front straight at about 110 (MPH). Student looks over ... "no brakes." Response ... no problem. Just drive straight off ... students response when we eventually stop in the gravel: "You mean, we are supposed to bleed the brakes?"

The Penske 7300 Alan lists in the suspension wiki are seriously expensive at about $900 each. I'm leaning towards the Gaz Gold Pro ... suggested springs?

Edited by robinlarry on Wednesday 25th February 17:42

[glenrobbo]

Try 450 front, 375 rear.

Seems to work for a lot of us.

By the way, Gaz GP8 / Nickel are a bit cheaper and give a more compliant ride when fitted using poly bushes when compared with the GGPros which are rose jointed & partly of alloy construction instead of steel.

[DamianS3]

robinlarry said:

The Penske 7300 Alan lists in the suspension wiki are seriously expensive at about $900 each. I'm leaning towards the Gaz Gold Pro ... suggested springs?
]

Got these on mine I cannot reccomend. I would go for mono's or nitron also don't go too hard on the springs makes the car v choppy IMHO

Damian

[v8s4me]

AutoAndy said:

Hope the weight isn't too different ..just fitted some v8s suspensions to my v6... Don't know what spring rates are so not added to the wiki yet....will let you know more once I have driven a few times ....

TVR probably used the same dampers and springs across the S3, S4 & V8S. Does anyone know different?

[robinlarry]

Nitrons are 955 vs. 500 pounds. Tough decision there given the cost difference. Any votes for Protech?