Taillights swapping - opinions please
Discussion
eff eff said:
eff eff said:
spagbogdog said:
Really like !!!
What’s your experience of the LS conversion / uprated chassis..?
I’m seriously considering upgrading my baby...and would really appreciate your feedback.
Just seen this, I’m in India working I’ll write a bit more with some pics when I get home next week.What’s your experience of the LS conversion / uprated chassis..?
I’m seriously considering upgrading my baby...and would really appreciate your feedback.
The engine - the car is easy to drive, no shunting, no piston clatter on hard acceleration, great MPG, and amazing power smoothly delivered.
The most noticeable difference from the RV8 is that the power delivery doesn't drop off as the revs increase it just keeps pulling.
My engine is the 430bhp version and judging by the RR figures of 450+ GM are not exaggerating the numbers. Tuning is easy and relatively inexpensive a cam change and remap would give 50 brake more and I'm thinking about that. The engine has a standard 90mm fly-by-wire throttle and I really like it, I'm told a 101mm throttle body would be good for taking the power well over 500bhp, I'm not thinking about that......yet!!
I think if you are going to go the LS route you should consider a gearbox upgrade. I first went for a Tremec TKO 600 to LS3 kit from a well-known southern supplier. The kit comprised a flywheel, clutch with a custom bellhousing and slave cylinder. This kit turned out to be completely unfit for purpose
so be careful what you buy. Sportmotive rightly advised me to go GM all the way and so a standard flywheel, LS7 clutch, concentric release bearing and a Tremec TR6060 6-speed gearbox with the correct bellhousing replaced the awful TKO set-up.
The chassis - where to start? The best description is on the Sportmotive website, so I'll try to give a user's perspective.
The first and most obvious thing you notice is the ride height, it looks lower, I never did ask if it is lower, guess I should ask.
The suspension is fully and easily adjustable so changes to geometry and damper settings are a doddle. The chassis allows rearward running exhaust primaries so the under bonnet temperature is significantly reduced. The revised layout and increased volume of the cooling system has reduced engine temperatures as well. So how does it drive, I've not had it on a track yet so I don't know where the limits are, but the car feels tighter, and there's not a hint of tramlining. The front is very precise and turns into corners almost too readily, there is little body roll no perceivable bump steer on uneven corners. The car changers direction like a go-kart and is immediately stable again, and there is little or no rear-end steering on hard acceleration. The chassis comes with an Impreza rack which is I think better and more robust than the original. So I would advise anyone to go for both.
Let me know if you’ve got some time for a coffee n a chinwag....
...plasticman said:
I have always thought that the standard rear lights spoiled tha car . There is not a straight line or right angle on the car apart from those rear lights . This is what I had on my Griff previously . I have lent the moulds to someone and they never came back but it is not to hard to replicate . 
just spotted this agree perfect for the shape of the Griff spagbogdog said:
eff eff said:
eff eff said:
spagbogdog said:
Really like !!!
What’s your experience of the LS conversion / uprated chassis..?
I’m seriously considering upgrading my baby...and would really appreciate your feedback.
Just seen this, I’m in India working I’ll write a bit more with some pics when I get home next week.What’s your experience of the LS conversion / uprated chassis..?
I’m seriously considering upgrading my baby...and would really appreciate your feedback.
The engine - the car is easy to drive, no shunting, no piston clatter on hard acceleration, great MPG, and amazing power smoothly delivered.
The most noticeable difference from the RV8 is that the power delivery doesn't drop off as the revs increase it just keeps pulling.
My engine is the 430bhp version and judging by the RR figures of 450+ GM are not exaggerating the numbers. Tuning is easy and relatively inexpensive a cam change and remap would give 50 brake more and I'm thinking about that. The engine has a standard 90mm fly-by-wire throttle and I really like it, I'm told a 101mm throttle body would be good for taking the power well over 500bhp, I'm not thinking about that......yet!!
I think if you are going to go the LS route you should consider a gearbox upgrade. I first went for a Tremec TKO 600 to LS3 kit from a well-known southern supplier. The kit comprised a flywheel, clutch with a custom bellhousing and slave cylinder. This kit turned out to be completely unfit for purpose
so be careful what you buy. Sportmotive rightly advised me to go GM all the way and so a standard flywheel, LS7 clutch, concentric release bearing and a Tremec TR6060 6-speed gearbox with the correct bellhousing replaced the awful TKO set-up.
The chassis - where to start? The best description is on the Sportmotive website, so I'll try to give a user's perspective.
The first and most obvious thing you notice is the ride height, it looks lower, I never did ask if it is lower, guess I should ask.
The suspension is fully and easily adjustable so changes to geometry and damper settings are a doddle. The chassis allows rearward running exhaust primaries so the under bonnet temperature is significantly reduced. The revised layout and increased volume of the cooling system has reduced engine temperatures as well. So how does it drive, I've not had it on a track yet so I don't know where the limits are, but the car feels tighter, and there's not a hint of tramlining. The front is very precise and turns into corners almost too readily, there is little body roll no perceivable bump steer on uneven corners. The car changers direction like a go-kart and is immediately stable again, and there is little or no rear-end steering on hard acceleration. The chassis comes with an Impreza rack which is I think better and more robust than the original. So I would advise anyone to go for both.
Let me know if you’ve got some time for a coffee n a chinwag....
...Dominic TVRetto said:
spagbogdog said:
eff eff said:
eff eff said:
spagbogdog said:
Really like !!!
What’s your experience of the LS conversion / uprated chassis..?
I’m seriously considering upgrading my baby...and would really appreciate your feedback.
Just seen this, I’m in India working I’ll write a bit more with some pics when I get home next week.What’s your experience of the LS conversion / uprated chassis..?
I’m seriously considering upgrading my baby...and would really appreciate your feedback.
The engine - the car is easy to drive, no shunting, no piston clatter on hard acceleration, great MPG, and amazing power smoothly delivered.
The most noticeable difference from the RV8 is that the power delivery doesn't drop off as the revs increase it just keeps pulling.
My engine is the 430bhp version and judging by the RR figures of 450+ GM are not exaggerating the numbers. Tuning is easy and relatively inexpensive a cam change and remap would give 50 brake more and I'm thinking about that. The engine has a standard 90mm fly-by-wire throttle and I really like it, I'm told a 101mm throttle body would be good for taking the power well over 500bhp, I'm not thinking about that......yet!!
I think if you are going to go the LS route you should consider a gearbox upgrade. I first went for a Tremec TKO 600 to LS3 kit from a well-known southern supplier. The kit comprised a flywheel, clutch with a custom bellhousing and slave cylinder. This kit turned out to be completely unfit for purpose
so be careful what you buy. Sportmotive rightly advised me to go GM all the way and so a standard flywheel, LS7 clutch, concentric release bearing and a Tremec TR6060 6-speed gearbox with the correct bellhousing replaced the awful TKO set-up.
The chassis - where to start? The best description is on the Sportmotive website, so I'll try to give a user's perspective.
The first and most obvious thing you notice is the ride height, it looks lower, I never did ask if it is lower, guess I should ask.
The suspension is fully and easily adjustable so changes to geometry and damper settings are a doddle. The chassis allows rearward running exhaust primaries so the under bonnet temperature is significantly reduced. The revised layout and increased volume of the cooling system has reduced engine temperatures as well. So how does it drive, I've not had it on a track yet so I don't know where the limits are, but the car feels tighter, and there's not a hint of tramlining. The front is very precise and turns into corners almost too readily, there is little body roll no perceivable bump steer on uneven corners. The car changers direction like a go-kart and is immediately stable again, and there is little or no rear-end steering on hard acceleration. The chassis comes with an Impreza rack which is I think better and more robust than the original. So I would advise anyone to go for both.
Let me know if you’ve got some time for a coffee n a chinwag....
...
..I’m struggling to understand/appreciate the differences between the Sportmotive Evo chassis and Dom’s new chassis. From what I can gather Dom’s is faithful to the original whereas Sportmotive’s is a more radical redesign/improvement..Apologies if I’ve got the wrong end of the stick..I’m really no expert..but would really like to know the differences..?????
spagbogdog said:
..I’m struggling to understand/appreciate the differences between the Sportmotive Evo chassis and Dom’s new chassis. From what I can gather Dom’s is faithful to the original whereas Sportmotive’s is a more radical redesign/improvement..Apologies if I’ve got the wrong end of the stick..I’m really no expert..but would really like to know the differences..?????
andy43 said:
spagbogdog said:
..I’m struggling to understand/appreciate the differences between the Sportmotive Evo chassis and Dom’s new chassis. From what I can gather Dom’s is faithful to the original whereas Sportmotive’s is a more radical redesign/improvement..Apologies if I’ve got the wrong end of the stick..I’m really no expert..but would really like to know the differences..?????
If you want to understand the differences and what that means to the ride and handling you need to talk to Ian at Sportmotive.
My Griff is currently having a new hood fitted we should as you suggested meet up when its back.
swisstoni said:
I vaguely remember that article. I think the Sportmotive chassis is also designed to allow straightforward LS engine swaps if desired.
Or I could have dreamt it.
You're correct and the chassis could also accommodate the RV8. One of the improvements is the engine mounts as you can see in the first picture, I've posted a couple of other pics that show the custom billet uprights, custom dampers and revised damper attachment points, they also show the revised wishbone and steering layout.Or I could have dreamt it.
eff eff said:
swisstoni said:
I vaguely remember that article. I think the Sportmotive chassis is also designed to allow straightforward LS engine swaps if desired.
Or I could have dreamt it.
You're correct and the chassis could also accommodate the RV8. One of the improvements is the engine mounts as you can see in the first picture, I've posted a couple of other pics that show the custom billet uprights, custom dampers and revised damper attachment points, they also show the revised wishbone and steering layout.Or I could have dreamt it.
So..why would Dom simply bother to recreate the original chassis when GM pointed out it’s many weaknesses..? I’m unsure why anyone would buy his in preference to the Sportmotive design..?
eff eff said:
andy43 said:
spagbogdog said:
..I’m struggling to understand/appreciate the differences between the Sportmotive Evo chassis and Dom’s new chassis. From what I can gather Dom’s is faithful to the original whereas Sportmotive’s is a more radical redesign/improvement..Apologies if I’ve got the wrong end of the stick..I’m really no expert..but would really like to know the differences..?????
If you want to understand the differences and what that means to the ride and handling you need to talk to Ian at Sportmotive.
My Griff is currently having a new hood fitted we should as you suggested meet up when its back.
..soon as all the ice has gone !spagbogdog said:
Thankyou..
So..why would Dom simply bother to recreate the original chassis when GM pointed out it’s many weaknesses..? I’m unsure why anyone would buy his in preference to the Sportmotive design..?
A couple of points, So..why would Dom simply bother to recreate the original chassis when GM pointed out it’s many weaknesses..? I’m unsure why anyone would buy his in preference to the Sportmotive design..?
As far as I know GM did not point out any weakness in the original Griff/Chim chassis, and it's not that the standard chassis is wrong but it could be improved.
There are a number of companies, including Sportmotive, who will make you a new standard chassis.
The Evolution chassis was precisely that, an evolution of the original with many improvements in materials, structural stiffness and suspension geometry.
eff eff said:
A couple of points,
As far as I know GM did not point out any weakness in the original Griff/Chim chassis, and it's not that the standard chassis is wrong but it could be improved.
There are a number of companies, including Sportmotive, who will make you a new standard chassis.
The Evolution chassis was precisely that, an evolution of the original with many improvements in materials, structural stiffness and suspension geometry.
This all comes down to owner preference, there is no doubting the evolution chassis improves the format, and handling. GM did comment that the basic platform just wasnt rigid enough but thats the original format, like many older classic cars, what you are buying is not always upto best modern standards. If someone wants originality in their classic then it has to be the original format. If I needed a whole new chassis I'd look at something made from CDS for sure though.As far as I know GM did not point out any weakness in the original Griff/Chim chassis, and it's not that the standard chassis is wrong but it could be improved.
There are a number of companies, including Sportmotive, who will make you a new standard chassis.
The Evolution chassis was precisely that, an evolution of the original with many improvements in materials, structural stiffness and suspension geometry.
Owners choice, extra capability vs originality. Under the new Vehicles of historic interest program, you have to declare originality to get the various benefits that the program may or may not bring. I don't have a crystal ball to see what impact that may have.
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