Twin Plenum Vitesse restoration
Discussion
Pappagallo said:
Any idea of the power you're getting from the 4.5?
It's a good spec with lots of work so I would hope for a genuine 300+ BHP.It's got an adjustable ECU, next step will be the fully mapable ECU and mapped ignition. Will run it in first in using the current set-up and then a full rolling road session with the modern setup.
All ready and waiting to go on
I had the air con pressure tested and filled at the weekend and it only works perfectly! All new seals to cope with the new refrigerant as part of the rebuild and it's fantastic, gets really lovely and cold. The dashboard can go back in now (left it out in case of problems and the various HVAC boxes had to come out again).
Also I've started to get the suspension adjusted, front feels right but the back was too soft. They're on-car adjustable units so the work of a moment to pop it on ramps and get to the adjuster.
Also I've started to get the suspension adjusted, front feels right but the back was too soft. They're on-car adjustable units so the work of a moment to pop it on ramps and get to the adjuster.
There's a vid a page or two back with the first start up, will try to get one sorted with it on the road soon 
I've noticed that the tyres were just making contact with the very edge of the lip inside the wheel arch when hitting a big bump. The suspension feels right so I don't want to stifen it up any further but clearly I don't want the tyres rubbing either, the solution is to get the arches at the rear rolled.
Thankfully the metal is good on my car, so no crusty rust to worry about - as such rolling was pretty straightforward. Did think about doing it myself but was concerned about screwing it up so had it done professionally instead:
Made a few preparations to get the dash board back in, got the top section cleaned up and a much better wood set installed:
All A/C, gauges, switches and clocks working as they should now, so am feeling confident about it all going back in.
I've noticed that the tyres were just making contact with the very edge of the lip inside the wheel arch when hitting a big bump. The suspension feels right so I don't want to stifen it up any further but clearly I don't want the tyres rubbing either, the solution is to get the arches at the rear rolled.
Thankfully the metal is good on my car, so no crusty rust to worry about - as such rolling was pretty straightforward. Did think about doing it myself but was concerned about screwing it up so had it done professionally instead:
Made a few preparations to get the dash board back in, got the top section cleaned up and a much better wood set installed:
All A/C, gauges, switches and clocks working as they should now, so am feeling confident about it all going back in.
Duke Thrust said:
It's a good spec with lots of work so I would hope for a genuine 300+ BHP.
It's got an adjustable ECU, next step will be the fully mapable ECU and mapped ignition. Will run it in first in using the current set-up and then a full rolling road session with the modern setup.
All ready and waiting to go on
300hp! Sounds like a lot from the RV8. To save me going back through the thread again, what's the spec? It's got an adjustable ECU, next step will be the fully mapable ECU and mapped ignition. Will run it in first in using the current set-up and then a full rolling road session with the modern setup.
All ready and waiting to go on
A lot of the guys on the Chimaera forum would love 300hp from an NA 4 or 4.5 litre.
It's a balanced Rovercraft 4.5 block, ported stage 3 big valve heads, Piper 285 cam, 45mm inlet trumpets on a ported manifold, 4 into 2 into 1 exhaust with 1 & 3/4 inch primaries, twin plenum intake, Mark Adams adjustable ECU, larger injectors, Jag AFM.
Etc.
300 should be doable, will know when it's on the rollers in the next few weeks.
Etc.
300 should be doable, will know when it's on the rollers in the next few weeks.
Duke Thrust said:
It's a balanced Rovercraft 4.5 block, ported stage 3 big valve heads, Piper 285 cam, 45mm inlet trumpets on a ported manifold, 4 into 2 into 1 exhaust with 1 & 3/4 inch primaries, twin plenum intake, Mark Adams adjustable ECU, larger injectors, Jag AFM.
Etc.
300 should be doable, will know when it's on the rollers in the next few weeks.
Great, I'll look forward to it. That is a very nice spec. My 4 litre (MC1 cam, carbon superflare trumpets, ACT induction kit) produces 240hp on a reputable dyno. I'm considering a Mark Adams chip too. Etc.
300 should be doable, will know when it's on the rollers in the next few weeks.
Mark's a very knowledgable guy, really nice guy as well.
He'll be setting it all up for me on the rollers and would absolutely recommend him. He first set the car up for dad back in '88, so am pleased that he'll be doing it again.
Out of interest, did you change the inlet manifold along with your trumpets or are they a standard width? (38mm from memory)
He'll be setting it all up for me on the rollers and would absolutely recommend him. He first set the car up for dad back in '88, so am pleased that he'll be doing it again.
Out of interest, did you change the inlet manifold along with your trumpets or are they a standard width? (38mm from memory)
Yes, we have emailed back and forth a bit. Must get round to actually getting it booked in with him.
I have the standard inlet manifold. I just bought the ACT thermal gasket, superflare carbon trumpets and all the intake hose bits. Doubt it really adds much power, but it made it so much nicer to drive. It's so smooth now, not all lumpy and jerky as it was before.
http://www.actproducts.co.uk/shop/ti022b-superflar...
I have the standard inlet manifold. I just bought the ACT thermal gasket, superflare carbon trumpets and all the intake hose bits. Doubt it really adds much power, but it made it so much nicer to drive. It's so smooth now, not all lumpy and jerky as it was before.
http://www.actproducts.co.uk/shop/ti022b-superflar...
Dashboard back in:
Everything plugged back in - the module you can see sticking up is just there whilst I get all the bulbs working/tested.
As it was such a nice day yesterday I decided to give it a proper wash and polish:
Still quite a few jobs to do, got to put the underside of the dash in (basically the glove boxes), the centre console and various HVAC air pipes for the vents etc.
Now it's done a few miles I have to get the geometry checked/adjusted as well.
Everything plugged back in - the module you can see sticking up is just there whilst I get all the bulbs working/tested.
As it was such a nice day yesterday I decided to give it a proper wash and polish:
Still quite a few jobs to do, got to put the underside of the dash in (basically the glove boxes), the centre console and various HVAC air pipes for the vents etc.
Now it's done a few miles I have to get the geometry checked/adjusted as well.
Look, the interior is back in!
Needs a good clean and vacuum, obviously:
Also, been set up on the rolling road:
Warming up:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_9qmyS01d0
Final power run:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbRq7iP85Vw
The little puff is where it pinked slightly and the shock wave knocked the carbon off the top of the pistons. Happy to see the engine I built run so nicely and no smoke or rattles. Most importantly the horror of seeing the car full chat on the rollers was not accompanied by the engine going off like a shrapnel grenade.
It made 278 bhp and 295 lbs/ft - very happy with those numbers. Virtually flat torque curve and all available from 1500 rpm which has made it very, very quick. The engine is still very tight from the rebuild and those numbers should go up as it beds in and gets a few more miles. Interestingly the power was still climbing at 6000 rpm but we didn't want to risk revving such a new engine any higher.
This has been set up on the original adjustable system that Dad fitted back in the late 80's (and the same guy, Mark Adams, did the setup then and again for me on Saturday). When I fit a modern fully mapable system and mapped ignition both should bring the power again, each by 10-15 bhp to crack 300 bhp in total - am going to get a couple of thousand miles on it first though.
Needs a good clean and vacuum, obviously:
Also, been set up on the rolling road:
Warming up:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_9qmyS01d0
Final power run:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbRq7iP85Vw
The little puff is where it pinked slightly and the shock wave knocked the carbon off the top of the pistons. Happy to see the engine I built run so nicely and no smoke or rattles. Most importantly the horror of seeing the car full chat on the rollers was not accompanied by the engine going off like a shrapnel grenade.
It made 278 bhp and 295 lbs/ft - very happy with those numbers. Virtually flat torque curve and all available from 1500 rpm which has made it very, very quick. The engine is still very tight from the rebuild and those numbers should go up as it beds in and gets a few more miles. Interestingly the power was still climbing at 6000 rpm but we didn't want to risk revving such a new engine any higher.
This has been set up on the original adjustable system that Dad fitted back in the late 80's (and the same guy, Mark Adams, did the setup then and again for me on Saturday). When I fit a modern fully mapable system and mapped ignition both should bring the power again, each by 10-15 bhp to crack 300 bhp in total - am going to get a couple of thousand miles on it first though.
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