An Odyssey of Tuning a Big Power VX220

An Odyssey of Tuning a Big Power VX220

Author
Discussion

nevcontractor

Original Poster:

59 posts

141 months

Wednesday 17th October 2012
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When I started my project I considered other manufacturer's engines, but I thought the path of least resistance was to stick with the same engine block as the car rolled out of the factory with. Now that I know every inch of the car, I have considered building a vx220 race version with some sort of big power but low torque engine like an M3 V8, perhaps with a supercharger (though this add expense and complexity and charge temp issues).

However, every time I think about it, it seems a bit stupid to create another VX when I already have a 500 BHP one sitting the garage.

Edited by nevcontractor on Wednesday 17th October 19:07


Edited by nevcontractor on Wednesday 17th October 19:08

nevcontractor

Original Poster:

59 posts

141 months

Wednesday 14th November 2012
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I've made some more mods and got more power out of it. Write up is here: https://sites.google.com/site/z20letpower/07---upd...

dom9

8,040 posts

208 months

Wednesday 14th November 2012
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Olie and Nev - are you aware of Caral?

http://caral.co.uk/VX220_Speedster.html

nevcontractor

Original Poster:

59 posts

141 months

Wednesday 14th November 2012
quotequote all
dom9 said:
Olie and Nev - are you aware of Caral?

http://caral.co.uk/VX220_Speedster.html
Yep, I've seen that one before.

OlberJ

14,101 posts

232 months

Wednesday 14th November 2012
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Yurp. Stretched wheelbase though, you want to keep it lovely biggrin

NEV, numbers aside, does it feel much quicker now?

nevcontractor

Original Poster:

59 posts

141 months

Wednesday 14th November 2012
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Hmm, not really, becuase it is smoother it feels less powerfull. However its so hard to tell.

OlberJ

14,101 posts

232 months

Wednesday 14th November 2012
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I'm not really one for the nothing, nothing, woah!! Style of engines myself but I lnow what u mean.

Get a data logger and do some timed 30-120 runs to see how quick it really is.

Coldfuse

518 posts

193 months

Wednesday 14th November 2012
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That looks potent laughbiggrin

Well done on the build

dom9

8,040 posts

208 months

Wednesday 14th November 2012
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OlberJ said:
Yurp. Stretched wheelbase though, you want to keep it lovely biggrin

NEV, numbers aside, does it feel much quicker now?
But with the new 'box... wink

I'd love to know (off topic) whether you could squeeze a Cayenne 4.5 V8 in a Cayman... Keep it all Porsche but with an NA V8 soundtrack!

nevcontractor

Original Poster:

59 posts

141 months

Tuesday 10th September 2013
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thought I'd update this thread a bit as I haven't been on here for ages:

Over the winter the car started smoking a lot, and after discovering it had lowish compression, I took the engine out and had gave it back to Steve Milton, who re-honed it and put different pistons in and also new stem seals. We suspected possible over fueling causing blow by (due to the sheen), which in turn was causing the turbo to leak past the seals/flingers (pic below):

About 6 months ago I swapped the throttle body over to larger size (and large 3 inch top hat), but TBH I don't think this helped at all.

Also, last month I got someone to install a new rack, new steering UJs in it and also a new very stiff front anti-roll bar. This has had a big impact on the way it handles and gives more confidence when cornering.

I have finally saved up enough money to get a semi-decent after market ECU for the car. On the 12th Oct the car is going up to EFI Tuning in Runcorn to have Adaptronic 440 installed and mapped. This will allow me to modify the maps in the car for different conditions, set in gear boost limits, traction control and the ability to remap it locally and easily if I ever change the engine/mechanicals. I have wanted to do this for 2 years now, and importantly this will allow me to bring the torque down as it the car is lethally powerful at the moment.

Am off to my brothers wedding in it this weekend, hopefully nobody will turn up with a faster car



Edited by nevcontractor on Tuesday 10th September 15:34

nevcontractor

Original Poster:

59 posts

141 months

Friday 26th September 2014
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The car has seen quite a lot of mileage this summer, since rediscovering the wonderful roads in Brecon Beacons it has been hard not to drive out there at 5.00 AM every Sat/Sun morning.

Since the last update I've stuck some uprights on it (to help with lowering it's COG), fixed a burst water hose and carefully experimented/changed to the geo. I've also switched from Khumo V70a tyres to Federal RSRs, they last a good deal longer and are considerably cheaper (though a bit less grippy)

Mainly I've just been putting lots of petrol into it and blasting about.









Edited by nevcontractor on Friday 26th September 13:11

nevcontractor

Original Poster:

59 posts

141 months

Friday 13th March 2015
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Last weekend I got round to finally getting the power map completed (with both revs and boost kept below maximum for reliability reasons). With 521 BHP and being 940 Kg, this gives it a power to weight ratio of 550 BHP/Ton - better than a Bugatti Veyron.

Mid range grunt is beyond most people's imagination (even mine!), many motorbikes can't keep up, let alone cars.









Edited by nevcontractor on Friday 13th March 14:44

amoeba

200 posts

165 months

Friday 13th March 2015
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pictures on website dont appear to be working

selym

9,539 posts

170 months

Friday 13th March 2015
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nevcontractor said:
Last weekend I got round to finally getting the power map completed (with both revs and boost kept below maximum for reliability reasons). With 521 BHP and being 940 Kg, this gives it a power to weight ratio of 550 BHP/Ton - better than a Bugatti Veyron.

Mid range grunt is beyond most people's imagination (even mine!), most motorbikes can't keep up, let alone cars.

you are asking for a whole heap of butthurt from the bikers Nev!

xRIEx

8,180 posts

147 months

Friday 13th March 2015
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Awesome, love it.

nevcontractor

Original Poster:

59 posts

141 months

Friday 13th March 2015
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Haha, well they can come and try their luck against me, a well driven one (ie gets the weight over the front) with plenty of power will be faster for sure. Last weeks attempt came from a Ninja, when the bloke caught up he was just shaking his head in bemusement.

selym

9,539 posts

170 months

Friday 13th March 2015
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nevcontractor said:
Haha, well they can come and try their luck against me, a well driven one with plenty of power will be faster for sure. Last weeks attempt came from a Ninja, when the bloke caught up he was just shaking his head in bemusement.
It doesn't often happen to him, I bet!! It sounds like a different prospect to my 2.2 NA!!

ikarl

3,730 posts

198 months

Friday 13th March 2015
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Truly bonkers! Brilliant.

Don't think the bikers comment was anything more than it was,...if I was on my bike, I'd be amazed at this vx220, but if I knew what was in it, I wouldn't be surprised when it took off like a scalded cat.

I certainly don't think I'd be able to keep up with a car like this.

robinessex

11,046 posts

180 months

Friday 13th March 2015
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Quote:-

Since the last update I've stuck some uprights on it (to help with lowering it's COG)

How does that work then?

You can do that to adjust the roll centre, but it ain't going do anything to the COG

nevcontractor

Original Poster:

59 posts

141 months

Friday 13th March 2015
quotequote all
robinessex said:
Quote:-

Since the last update I've stuck some uprights on it (to help with lowering it's COG)

How does that work then?

You can do that to adjust the roll centre, but it ain't going do anything to the COG
The uprights I installed raise the hub location by 40mm, this in turn allows me to lower the car by the same amount without affecting the geometry of the wishbones. So in summary, the car is now 4cm lower with corresponding lower CoG.

Edited by nevcontractor on Friday 13th March 15:21