Ultima weights

Author
Discussion

Racingroj

488 posts

162 months

Sunday 15th February 2015
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Jim

Thats nearly more questions than I posted, thanks for your input.

You state anti roll bars in your post above - what is your thinking behind this? Ok I see stiffer springs listed as well. Check them out before adding a roll bar. Consider talking to some damper suspension gurus / pro drivers and they may test your understanding of the science behind how the car should be driven fast & how the suspension set up should assist that. - As you know I have some racing experience but definitely not pro standards. I have done one short track day and having wound the dampers from 6 clicks from soft to 30 clicks from soft (6clicks from hard) I still found the car was rolling too much in the tight corners. I'm sure that increasing the spring rates would reduce this but in my experience adding roll bars (for track only) should give me the feel I want. I must add that the tyres I had on for the track day didn't help (Pirelli P Zeros).

Gearbox oil kit, what are you running back there? What is the intended use of the car? - As I said its a G50 001-1-J gearbox but I will be changing to a Turbo box with an SQS shifter. I intend mainly road use but some track days.

Remind me what is the engine bay cooler kit consist of? - I'm not sure I can answer that off the top of my head, its about 9 months since I spoke to Jason & Steve but they seemed to think that it was an important addition

Heavy duty drive shafts. Are they Factory spec, ain't they heavy duty enough? - Thats an addition I believe will be required as you load the car up more with the spring, ARB and track day tyre additions. Not factory spec, Jonny at Macgtech.

Billet Peddles, check out Autobionics research & tests on their facebook page I believe on some non factory spec billet peddles that have been seen around. - Will do.

Fitting clam warning lights -I would add that as a priority item. Got fed up looking like a Paranoid schizophrenia checking & double checking & walking around the car checking again every time! Completed on my finished car as an add-on recently with sounding alarms also. Must have upgrade! May help your insurance premiums also. - Agree

New oil breather tank - have a chat with the factory on the concept & thinking behind how their system works, it more than just a tank I believe. - Yes AB system.

Front clam redesign - Again have a chat with the Factory, I could listen to Ted for hours on his stories on the development of the car, especially the body shape design & aerodynamic thinking. - Will do.

Central locking install on a finished car. I have no idea how to install that, but I am useless with a spanner anyway. Love the Autobionics products though.

Roj

845ste

577 posts

126 months

Sunday 15th February 2015
quotequote all
please post photos anti roll-bars

i have problem in track day with roll, with dampers total hard: is noo sufficent!
sigh

Ult-Jim

624 posts

189 months

Sunday 15th February 2015
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thumbup This is such a good forum, just shown a newbie all the smiles you can have biggrin Thanks for the reply Racingroj, inebriated on blood of the land at the moment, but your reply sounds good on track, carry on business as usual biggrin

Abbosevolution

352 posts

134 months

Sunday 15th February 2015
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Roj - what a to do list but as we all know they are never finished !
Being close to completion I think I would pass on building the car from scratch again but maybe thats because I've done it.
I think I'd look to improving what you have along the lines you've identified. As scoob says most is doable although the body being on will make some jobs a pain unless you are a contortionist. I like the Dash2 and all the high quality AB parts along with the wicked SS diffuser which for me once seen was a must. Enjoy the dry summer days this year in the car and get planning for the improvements and work to come over next winter.
For anyone interested the coil covers are quite heavy, the coils don't simply bolt on unless you have the older smaller Delphi coils and they do need spacers due to the larger later coils that I have. However they do tidy up the engine and give it a more classic look imo.
Happy days all - the summers not that far away jester

Racingroj

488 posts

162 months

Sunday 15th February 2015
quotequote all
Thanks Guys
Yes Steve the to do list is now a next winter program but as with all these things if you don't think it through and plan ahead it won't turn out an improvement. Really appreciate all the input. I now need to finalise the list on a spread sheet with costs etc.
Jim you're going to have a fat head in the morning, I like your style.
Roj

V8Dom

3,546 posts

201 months

Sunday 15th February 2015
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ive got anti roll bars on mine,... huge huge difference on track

dom

Storer

5,024 posts

214 months

Sunday 15th February 2015
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V8Dom said:
ive got anti roll bars on mine,... huge huge difference on track

dom
Hi Dom

Do you keep them connected for road use?
Got any pictures or the rear one's you could post?


Paul

Ult-Jim

624 posts

189 months

Monday 16th February 2015
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Still up & going strong, Fat head & painting the town red is normal for a hard core mariner like myself, even easier when you arrive in your home port as its easier to stagger home... anyway I have has F1 style Penske 3 way shocks valved for hill climbs for my Caterham, & wow what an improvement, and I am keen to do the same with the Ultima. In the caterham world we were all sold adjustable roll bars to adapt to our understeer / oversteer problems, but after some serious driving experiences I questioned this. Now I have 3 way adjustable customed valved dampers & wow have lightened off on the adjustable bars now body control is more controlled by the dampers. My knowledge of the subject is limited, relying on gurus such as Meteor Motorsport.

Ult-Jim

624 posts

189 months

Monday 16th February 2015
quotequote all
845ste said:
please post photos anti roll-bars

i have problem in track day with roll, with dampers total hard: is noo sufficent!
sigh
Yes I agree those long slow corners can be a bore... Factory do stiffer springs - check them out. I haven't check them out but have indicated to the factory it will be a big upgrade in the futrure for me, rose jointed suspension, brake vents & factory spring upgrade all in one go in the future smile Get to know the vehicle on the road with a few track days first before installing all the gizzmos first wink

deadscoob

2,263 posts

259 months

Monday 16th February 2015
quotequote all
I'd be interested in anti roll bars too, would like a go in one with them before committing though.

It doesn't feel like it rolls much and I have track spec springs, but photos show it does. Not sure if the roll helps make it a little more friendly on the limit though, it's certainly not snappy, feels like a big go kart.

Dom, can you describe the differences other than keeping it flatter, does it change any other dynamics?

Question for the factory, is a bolt in upgrade available, if so are rose jointed wishbones required?

Cheers

V8Dom

3,546 posts

201 months

Monday 16th February 2015
quotequote all
Storer said:
Hi Dom

Do you keep them connected for road use?
Got any pictures or the rear one's you could post?


Paul
hi
no not on the road, too dangerous as causes tram steer

ill have a look for photos for you.. they are factory fit ones and the same as the record car as mine was built about the same time..

dom

V8Dom

3,546 posts

201 months

Monday 16th February 2015
quotequote all
deadscoob said:
I'd be interested in anti roll bars too, would like a go in one with them before committing though.

It doesn't feel like it rolls much and I have track spec springs, but photos show it does. Not sure if the roll helps make it a little more friendly on the limit though, it's certainly not snappy, feels like a big go kart.

Dom, can you describe the differences other than keeping it flatter, does it change any other dynamics?

Question for the factory, is a bolt in upgrade available, if so are rose jointed wishbones required?

Cheers
yes it makes a huge difference on track,, it still rolls slightly but corner speed increased alot, not good on the road unless very smooth

yes you need weld on tabs on the a arms and mine is full rose joint suspension so would not know about bushes

Paul.. im sure there has been a thred before about this and i posted a load of photos

dom

mt308

Original Poster:

438 posts

142 months

Monday 16th February 2015
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Back on original topic(!) mine weighed in at 1030kgs at the IVA - I didn't know they had weighed it.

That is with 80 litres of fuel, aircon, carpets, rear wing.

I have LS7 and G50/20 gearbox.

So a "dry" weight of probably 930kgs or so (before fuel, water, oil).

Mark