Stealth Cam + Racing Reds 1st Day Feedback!
Discussion
I gave Neil Garner a reasonably large cheque this morning and took my Chim 500 out for a spin (1st time since October). As well as a 12k service Neil had replaced my worn orignal cam with a V8 Developments 'Stealth Cam' and the original Bilsteins with shiny new set of 'Racing Red's' - possibly the 1st Chim to have these. Additionally I've added an ACT 'smoothbore' induction kit.
I've driven in excess of 100 miles today on a variety of road types and services - and WOW - What a difference
When I first asked for advice on the Stealth vs Taraka upgrade a couple of months ago there were some fairly heated exchanges!! But I have to say I'm DELIGHTED with my decision.
Stealth Cam - went straight in with existing plenum, trumpets and original ECU - no changes apart from ACT kit - the car runs smoothly, no shunting, hold 4th or even 5th gear at 30mph and pulls strongly from anywhere!!! Coming out of one village today I floored it from 30mph in 4th and was hitting 70+ within what felt like nanoseconds. There is a definite power band which needs some care however, especially as it was damp in places.
My car was a little down on power (about 240-245 horses at flywheel on TVR Powers rolling road), I guarantee it's more now - can't wait to get it on the dyno once more!! It certainly is up to the mark - undoubtably faster in all phases. There feels no difference between the standard cam and the Stealth in terms of low speed work (maybe a little more right foot needed at move off in 1st), but runs really smoothly and is outstandingly quick
Racing Red's - It's a little early to give a full opinion on these as I've only driven around 100 miles, I have a Peak District work out planned for next weekend and a track day two weeks later - I'll give a more valid report after these. However, my initial impressions are VERY positive. The best word I can use is SMOOTH - in every phase. Obviously I need to spend some time playing with the settings but the initial set up dialed in by Neil seems to work well - in some very 'spirited' driving on a variety of surfaces - A & B roads only - the suspension was much quieter and smooth than before, the front end was light, accurate/pointable and responsive and the back end solid - I did get a little oversteer when accelerating hard in 2nd out of a 90 degree bend - but it was very easy to deal with.
Neil Garner, who knows a thing or two about suspension set up (having worked in this area in the Williams F1 team!) also test drove the car in before and after set ups - he was EXTREMELY impressed with both the performance boost supplied by the Stealth Cam and reckons the Racing Red's are the best value for money upgrade around.
Hope this helps - will post more as time moves on - especially on the Racing Red's as a lot of folks seem to want to know about them.
Finally I should let you know a great big grin appeared on my face around 11am - it's still there now!!! Cheers, Ian
I'd also like to add a big thanks and thumbs up to Neil Garner and his team - top bloke, very knowledgeable and reasonalby priced!!!
I've driven in excess of 100 miles today on a variety of road types and services - and WOW - What a difference
When I first asked for advice on the Stealth vs Taraka upgrade a couple of months ago there were some fairly heated exchanges!! But I have to say I'm DELIGHTED with my decision.
Stealth Cam - went straight in with existing plenum, trumpets and original ECU - no changes apart from ACT kit - the car runs smoothly, no shunting, hold 4th or even 5th gear at 30mph and pulls strongly from anywhere!!! Coming out of one village today I floored it from 30mph in 4th and was hitting 70+ within what felt like nanoseconds. There is a definite power band which needs some care however, especially as it was damp in places.
My car was a little down on power (about 240-245 horses at flywheel on TVR Powers rolling road), I guarantee it's more now - can't wait to get it on the dyno once more!! It certainly is up to the mark - undoubtably faster in all phases. There feels no difference between the standard cam and the Stealth in terms of low speed work (maybe a little more right foot needed at move off in 1st), but runs really smoothly and is outstandingly quick
Racing Red's - It's a little early to give a full opinion on these as I've only driven around 100 miles, I have a Peak District work out planned for next weekend and a track day two weeks later - I'll give a more valid report after these. However, my initial impressions are VERY positive. The best word I can use is SMOOTH - in every phase. Obviously I need to spend some time playing with the settings but the initial set up dialed in by Neil seems to work well - in some very 'spirited' driving on a variety of surfaces - A & B roads only - the suspension was much quieter and smooth than before, the front end was light, accurate/pointable and responsive and the back end solid - I did get a little oversteer when accelerating hard in 2nd out of a 90 degree bend - but it was very easy to deal with.
Neil Garner, who knows a thing or two about suspension set up (having worked in this area in the Williams F1 team!) also test drove the car in before and after set ups - he was EXTREMELY impressed with both the performance boost supplied by the Stealth Cam and reckons the Racing Red's are the best value for money upgrade around.
Hope this helps - will post more as time moves on - especially on the Racing Red's as a lot of folks seem to want to know about them.
Finally I should let you know a great big grin appeared on my face around 11am - it's still there now!!! Cheers, Ian
I'd also like to add a big thanks and thumbs up to Neil Garner and his team - top bloke, very knowledgeable and reasonalby priced!!!
Glad you're pleased with Neils's work! Had my cam changed by Neil recently plus 12k service, recored rad and the chassis treated, but had an MC1 from V8 Developments put in...decided against stealth..only have 4 litres
Did notice some improvement though, especially from 3k RPM onwards..she just wants to keep going
Did notice some improvement though, especially from 3k RPM onwards..she just wants to keep going
Spot on Quinny, (thanks for the advice at the time) I've had mine for a long while now and without a doubt far better than the MC1 before, no need to rev it and it pulls and pulls . . Although mines running a few other subtle mods it is pulling over 280 lbs ft at 2000rpm and climbs from there.
The MC1 always wanted to be revved that bit harder than I wanted and the Stealth provides such a nice balance.
Took a lot of weight in the boot, little Dave and my rather large frame in the car to keep it on the rollers at Emerald last week and it was still trying to climb out
I didn't find that it shunted when running Lucas ECU, and from comments it seems people think it's wilder than it is. As I understand it is a blend of the best bits of the MC1/MC2 and 404 cam's and therefore doesn't give ultimate bhp, or need revving to develop the grunt.
Much prefer it to MC1 I had previously . . .
The MC1 always wanted to be revved that bit harder than I wanted and the Stealth provides such a nice balance.
Took a lot of weight in the boot, little Dave and my rather large frame in the car to keep it on the rollers at Emerald last week and it was still trying to climb out
I didn't find that it shunted when running Lucas ECU, and from comments it seems people think it's wilder than it is. As I understand it is a blend of the best bits of the MC1/MC2 and 404 cam's and therefore doesn't give ultimate bhp, or need revving to develop the grunt.
Much prefer it to MC1 I had previously . . .
I've had all my upgrades and tweaks to make the car driveable, a real stump puller but not at the expense of a really smooth drive and the stealth fits that perfectly . . . It is a beast now, certainly not as powerful as others around, but I bet it rates well against others as a really nice one to drive
Edited by Johno on Sunday 13th April 00:39
Quinny said:
Same here, I know there are loads of 5.0 RV8's out there pulling loads more power than mine.
But its not always about the high numbers, as I discovered.
Now this i really agree with! I'm only putting 290bhp at fly but not had a speed6 pull from me yet! Need an acceleration algorithm that integrates power to weight through the rev range and also takes into account early torque delivery. But its not always about the high numbers, as I discovered.
Chimjunkie said:
Quinny said:
Same here, I know there are loads of 5.0 RV8's out there pulling loads more power than mine.
But its not always about the high numbers, as I discovered.
Now this i really agree with! I'm only putting 290bhp at fly but not had a speed6 pull from me yet! Need an acceleration algorithm that integrates power to weight through the rev range and also takes into account early torque delivery. But its not always about the high numbers, as I discovered.
At Emerald last week with a corection for air temp at 30 degrees, which Dave reckoned probably pulled the numbers down a bit it was doing 315bhp and 327 lbs ft on my 18mth and 10k miles old stealth cam, that is corrected for transmission losses etc . .
It's the 280 lbs ft from 2000rpm that makes it the 'really torquey motor' in Daves own words.
I've only done 35 miles home as no MOT, but it pulls from anywhere and just gooes . .. and gooess and goooess ... . Have to be even more careful at roundabouts now, even a gear up, as it puts it right into the torque curve and they were greasy, not wet . . . Thankfuly she is also predictable
Idles a treat as well and pulls around in town from 4th happily . . . Awesome cam, top work Rob.
So driveable, which as Quinny has highlighted is what both of us turned out to be after, seperate work, seperate builds etc same philosophy
It's the 280 lbs ft from 2000rpm that makes it the 'really torquey motor' in Daves own words.
I've only done 35 miles home as no MOT, but it pulls from anywhere and just gooes . .. and gooess and goooess ... . Have to be even more careful at roundabouts now, even a gear up, as it puts it right into the torque curve and they were greasy, not wet . . . Thankfuly she is also predictable
Idles a treat as well and pulls around in town from 4th happily . . . Awesome cam, top work Rob.
So driveable, which as Quinny has highlighted is what both of us turned out to be after, seperate work, seperate builds etc same philosophy
Edited by Johno on Sunday 13th April 19:07
Quinny said:
Really did feel as though i was with you there in the passenger seat. Felt that cattle grid too! 
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