A quick update...
Discussion
Since its been so quiet on here we thought we would update people on our progress.
Had a few engine issues - had a failure at Snetterton, fitted a new one and the camshaft seized after a few seconds due to incorrect bearing fitment, causing significant damage. The engine is due back to us this week.
We have been addressing some reliability issues, and have concentrated on the drive train, as this was consistently the weakpoint of the car. We had several bearing and hub failures this year, so we have had the rear uprights modified to have larger race specification bearing units fitted with custom designed and made stub shafts and hub assemblies in 300M alloy steel.
Coupled with this, we have been working with Albins (Australia) to develop a transaxle suitable for mid engined GT cars, based on their ST6 race transmission, as used in the V8 Supercars in Australia. This is a full sequential transmission with fully adjustable LSD, dropgear option, hydraulic release bearing, integral oil pump and spray bars, custom LS7 bellhousing, driveshafts fitted with high performance tripod joints, inspection ports, and integral shift position sensor.
Its beautifully machined and finished, thought out very well with all the inspection ports and will hopefully prove to be much more efficient and quicker than the Porsche box we were using previously.
The bellhousing is superb, machined from billet...
Coupled with this, with have had a clutch developed for the car by Xtreme clutch (Australia) which is a triple plate, ceramic, race specification clutch. Also looks tasty...
The transmission fitted a treat, we have hung the unit from the top chassis rail (not shown fitted yet), and it is supported midway by the purple struts. Just ahead of this the main supports are anti-vibration mounts, bolted to the lower chassis transverse member.
The driveshafts are also a work of art, thicker than standard (shown at the bottom), with huge splined sections to cope with the torque and shock loads transmitted.
More photos available here:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.507476665...
Not got round to fitting the clutch line, electronics or transmission cooler yet, saving that for tomorrow!
Had a few engine issues - had a failure at Snetterton, fitted a new one and the camshaft seized after a few seconds due to incorrect bearing fitment, causing significant damage. The engine is due back to us this week.
We have been addressing some reliability issues, and have concentrated on the drive train, as this was consistently the weakpoint of the car. We had several bearing and hub failures this year, so we have had the rear uprights modified to have larger race specification bearing units fitted with custom designed and made stub shafts and hub assemblies in 300M alloy steel.
Coupled with this, we have been working with Albins (Australia) to develop a transaxle suitable for mid engined GT cars, based on their ST6 race transmission, as used in the V8 Supercars in Australia. This is a full sequential transmission with fully adjustable LSD, dropgear option, hydraulic release bearing, integral oil pump and spray bars, custom LS7 bellhousing, driveshafts fitted with high performance tripod joints, inspection ports, and integral shift position sensor.
Its beautifully machined and finished, thought out very well with all the inspection ports and will hopefully prove to be much more efficient and quicker than the Porsche box we were using previously.
The bellhousing is superb, machined from billet...
Coupled with this, with have had a clutch developed for the car by Xtreme clutch (Australia) which is a triple plate, ceramic, race specification clutch. Also looks tasty...
The transmission fitted a treat, we have hung the unit from the top chassis rail (not shown fitted yet), and it is supported midway by the purple struts. Just ahead of this the main supports are anti-vibration mounts, bolted to the lower chassis transverse member.
The driveshafts are also a work of art, thicker than standard (shown at the bottom), with huge splined sections to cope with the torque and shock loads transmitted.
More photos available here:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.507476665...
Not got round to fitting the clutch line, electronics or transmission cooler yet, saving that for tomorrow!
Jonny
That transmission looks fabulous and sounds great.
I suspect it was not a cheap fix - are Albins planning to sell it to customers but being sequential I suspect it will not be suitable for road use.
Those driveshafts look identical to mine.
Lets hope all these changes give you the reliability you need.
I hope to get to Snetterton to lend some support.
Paul
That transmission looks fabulous and sounds great.
I suspect it was not a cheap fix - are Albins planning to sell it to customers but being sequential I suspect it will not be suitable for road use.
Those driveshafts look identical to mine.
Lets hope all these changes give you the reliability you need.
I hope to get to Snetterton to lend some support.
Paul
Storer said:
Jonny
That transmission looks fabulous and sounds great.
I suspect it was not a cheap fix - are Albins planning to sell it to customers but being sequential I suspect it will not be suitable for road use.
Those driveshafts look identical to mine.
Lets hope all these changes give you the reliability you need.
I hope to get to Snetterton to lend some support.
Paul
Hi Paul,That transmission looks fabulous and sounds great.
I suspect it was not a cheap fix - are Albins planning to sell it to customers but being sequential I suspect it will not be suitable for road use.
Those driveshafts look identical to mine.
Lets hope all these changes give you the reliability you need.
I hope to get to Snetterton to lend some support.
Paul
Not cheap - but hopefully it will give us the reliability (and performance!) we need. We are acting as distributors for Albins with the hope to get the trans into a few other GT cars once we have proven it - they also do another transaxle (their AGB range) which is available as a synchromesh which is rated at silly torques - suitable for twin turbo LS7's ;-)
Will certainly be at Snetterton, look forward to seeing you there!
WOAAW THAT IS A NICE looking box this will sort out the drive train issues.
I dont think it all was bad luck you should take your time sometimes to get things right
like the engine parts would not get stressed just order them and if it comes in time you race otherwise there is always another race.
Just get things sorted and you will enjoy this car
I dont think it all was bad luck you should take your time sometimes to get things right
like the engine parts would not get stressed just order them and if it comes in time you race otherwise there is always another race.
Just get things sorted and you will enjoy this car
alfasteve said:
WOAAW THAT IS A NICE looking box this will sort out the drive train issues.
I dont think it all was bad luck you should take your time sometimes to get things right
like the engine parts would not get stressed just order them and if it comes in time you race otherwise there is always another race.
Just get things sorted and you will enjoy this car
Hi Steve,I dont think it all was bad luck you should take your time sometimes to get things right
like the engine parts would not get stressed just order them and if it comes in time you race otherwise there is always another race.
Just get things sorted and you will enjoy this car
Agreed, although that's not quite so easy when we have sponsors to satisfy too!
We were blissfully unaware of the bearing issue until the engine was sent back, as we don't prepare our own engines - hopefully that is the next step! Thankfully it went in the workshop after a few seconds running so came straight out and back to the supplier, but still meant we missed a round.
Johnny,
Albins transaxle was my target few years ago. They were manufactured for offroad desert cars and the main handicap was its heavy weight very close to 200Lbs for an aluminium unit. Have they make a new lighter model?
I rejected the idea of how to manage 100kg at the rear of car (+30kg compared with my present unit). Could it need a new suspension setup?
Good luck. Hope that transmission problems will dissapear.
Cheers,
Javier
Albins transaxle was my target few years ago. They were manufactured for offroad desert cars and the main handicap was its heavy weight very close to 200Lbs for an aluminium unit. Have they make a new lighter model?
I rejected the idea of how to manage 100kg at the rear of car (+30kg compared with my present unit). Could it need a new suspension setup?
Good luck. Hope that transmission problems will dissapear.
Cheers,
Javier
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