An Odyssey of Tuning a Big Power VX220

An Odyssey of Tuning a Big Power VX220

Author
Discussion

nevcontractor

Original Poster:

59 posts

142 months

Saturday 24th March 2018
quotequote all
Jimmy Recard said:
Fantastic car!
Mind if I ask a few questions about Z20LET tuning at some point?
Best to have a good read here first, lots of in depth info about my build (use the menu on the left): https://sites.google.com/site/z20letpower/

nevcontractor

Original Poster:

59 posts

142 months

Saturday 15th September 2018
quotequote all
Another great summer gone by, with several thousand pleasure miles under my belt. Only one major job to do this year, taking the exhaust manifold off and re-welding it. Some pics:








danllama

5,728 posts

142 months

Saturday 15th September 2018
quotequote all
I don't think i've ever really wanted one of these until just now.

nevcontractor

Original Poster:

59 posts

142 months

Saturday 15th September 2018
quotequote all
danllama said:
I don't think i've ever really wanted one of these until just now.
Wait till you get a passenger ride in one...

danllama

5,728 posts

142 months

Saturday 15th September 2018
quotequote all
nevcontractor said:
danllama said:
I don't think i've ever really wanted one of these until just now.
Wait till you get a passenger ride in one...
That almost sounds like an invitation biggrin

nevcontractor

Original Poster:

59 posts

142 months

Friday 16th August 2019
quotequote all
Another year has rolled by. For about half of it, I had terrible noises coming out of the gearbox in 2nd and 4th gear, and due to apathy I put off replacing the gearbox and didn't drive it much.

However, 2 months ago I fitted a new gearbox, it has 7% lower final drive ratio which suits the car better as it aids acceleration, allows me to stay in the power band more easily and reduces the top speed down to 180 MPH.

I have also built a new airbox in the cabin, the induction noise is immense, as is the turbine noise. Also, I got a Polish company to install traction control, which makes me braver exiting corners with my foot down and might save me on wet/rainy days.

Some pics from the last few drives out into mid Wales:









Edited by nevcontractor on Friday 16th August 11:11


Edited by nevcontractor on Friday 16th August 11:12

RobM77

35,349 posts

234 months

Friday 16th August 2019
quotequote all
Cracking photos - thanks for posting.

RazerSauber

2,280 posts

60 months

Friday 16th August 2019
quotequote all
That picture in the trees is phenomenal!

5harp3y

1,942 posts

199 months

Friday 16th August 2019
quotequote all
looks like a mini gumpert Apollo

TheJimi

24,993 posts

243 months

Friday 16th August 2019
quotequote all
5harp3y said:
looks like a mini gumpert Apollo
It really does! Can't believe I missed this first time around.

OP - what's the power/weight ratio?

nevcontractor

Original Poster:

59 posts

142 months

Friday 16th August 2019
quotequote all
It's 520 HP and weighs 940 Kg with fluids, so that's circa 550 Hp/Ton. So power to weight ratio is a bit better than a Bugatti Veryon.

When it was being mapped originally, it actually made 552 Hp, but I got the boost (and power) reduced to make it more drivable. I usually drive it on a lower powered map (toggled by a switch on the dash) which is only 480 HP, as the torque is far reduced and it's more predictable on the road.


Edited by nevcontractor on Friday 16th August 14:33

TheJimi

24,993 posts

243 months

Friday 16th August 2019
quotequote all
Cheers for that smile

Healthy then! Thing must be nuts.

Although, the Veyron power to weight comparison is pointless wink

5harp3y

1,942 posts

199 months

Friday 16th August 2019
quotequote all
nevcontractor said:
It's 520 HP and weighs 940 Kg with fluids, so that's circa 550 Hp/Ton. So power to weight ratio is a bit better than a Bugatti Veryon.

When it was being mapped originally, it actually made 552 Hp, but I got the boost (and power) reduced to make it more drivable. I usually drive it on a lower powered map (toggled by a switch on the dash) which is only 480 HP, as the torque is far reduced and it's more predictable on the road.


Edited by nevcontractor on Friday 16th August 14:33
bloody hell!

CedricN

820 posts

145 months

Friday 16th August 2019
quotequote all
What a great build, they are brilliant and fairly quick in standard /stage1 tune, this must feel nuts on the road.

nevcontractor

Original Poster:

59 posts

142 months

Saturday 17th August 2019
quotequote all
Thanks for the kind words. If anyone is interested I have a detailed project webset: https://sites.google.com/site/z20letpower/

johnwilliams77

8,308 posts

103 months

Saturday 17th August 2019
quotequote all
Have you been on track much recently to use the potential of the power?

nevcontractor

Original Poster:

59 posts

142 months

Saturday 17th August 2019
quotequote all
Not recently, I did a couple of track days some 3 years ago. The power is highly exploitable on the road, even in 1st gear it barely spins up the wheels so long as it's dry.

johnwilliams77

8,308 posts

103 months

Saturday 17th August 2019
quotequote all
nevcontractor said:
Not recently, I did a couple of track days some 3 years ago. The power is highly exploitable on the road, even in 1st gear it barely spins up the wheels so long as it's dry.
Fair enough - whatever you enjoy but surely it would be at home on a track.

nevcontractor

Original Poster:

59 posts

142 months

Saturday 17th August 2019
quotequote all
I'm sure it would be fine on track, particularly the larger ones where you could use the power more, however exhaust noise is a serious problem with it.

I've put TC in it and it has well over a meter of rubber on the tarmac and I've spent 100+ hours adjusting the geometry, so it is both grippy and predicable on the road (providing it's dry).

Edited by nevcontractor on Saturday 17th August 09:48

johnwilliams77

8,308 posts

103 months

Saturday 17th August 2019
quotequote all
nevcontractor said:
I'm sure it would be fine on track, particularly the larger ones where you could use the power more, however exhaust noise is a serious problem with it.

I've put TC in it and it has well over a meter of rubber on the tarmac and I've spent 100+ hours adjusting the geometry, so it is both grippy and predicable on the road (providing it's dry).

Edited by nevcontractor on Saturday 17th August 09:48
Fair play, I find 250-350bhp more of a sweet spot for the road exploitation (within 3 point zone!)