Harry's Garage - YouTube
Discussion
I fully respect the Carbon Tub design choice. But I really don't get the rest of the in-house bit. Ferrari was building engines when Bruce McLaren was still in short trousers ('47 - McLaren was 10). Ricardo was involved earlier, ironically with Alfa Romeo(30's), but they aren't in-house by any stretch of the imagination. Ricardo is a global PLC. No doubt the sensible choice for McLaren, and bespoke, but not under the same roof? As for switchgear and electronics - so what?
As Harry said, why would you need to go any faster!? Even with old Volvo turbos strapped to it.
One thing that strikes me with McLaren is the ride & handling balance is always better than the competition. I get the hydraulic steering & active suspension but I bet a lot of it is due to it actually being a British car designed for British roads.
One thing that strikes me with McLaren is the ride & handling balance is always better than the competition. I get the hydraulic steering & active suspension but I bet a lot of it is due to it actually being a British car designed for British roads.
Doofus said:
So even if they changed the turbo, you still wouldn't like it?
Nope.However, there's a huge difference between 'not liking' something, and hating it so much I couldn't put up with it.
After all, I have to accept the world has different desires to me, and most customers prefer a slug of torque and don't care about throttle feel.
That's not me, and I'd suggest a lot of enthusiasts who have kept the likes of Lotus going the past 20 years.
I'd far prefer a supercharger for efficiency/power than a turbo. It's a much better compromise for me between fuel/emissions and feel. A long time ago I realised that what I really want is only now available at sums of money that become lottery win considerations rather than realistic lifetime aspirations.
Uncle John said:
As Harry said, why would you need to go any faster!? Even with old Volvo turbos strapped to it.
One thing that strikes me with McLaren is the ride & handling balance is always better than the competition. I get the hydraulic steering & active suspension but I bet a lot of it is due to it actually being a British car designed for British roads.
At no point have I mentioned doing it for increased power...One thing that strikes me with McLaren is the ride & handling balance is always better than the competition. I get the hydraulic steering & active suspension but I bet a lot of it is due to it actually being a British car designed for British roads.
In fact, the benefits aren't at the top end. It's all about the bottom end and throttle response.
Which, let's not ignore McLaren made a huge deal of 'eliminating turbo lag' on the P1 using hybridisation. Many other firms have also recognised that there are customers who value a linear and direct relationship between throttle and engine response.
Indeed - one of the biggest reasons why classics are so great to drive is that they're typically incredibly intuitive to go and blat. Everything is entirely predicable. That 'telepathic' feeling.
They've done it on all other aspects as mentioned - ride, steering, visibility, etc.
Sway said:
At no point have I mentioned doing it for increased power...
In fact, the benefits aren't at the top end. It's all about the bottom end and throttle response.
I presume max power added will be the same with a given input/output capacity, regardless of what it's strapped to, but the spin-up speed and responsiveness getting up to that point is dependent on the mechanical bits within it?In fact, the benefits aren't at the top end. It's all about the bottom end and throttle response.
So a ball bearing setup will have less lag but blow the same max throughput?
RSTurboPaul said:
Sway said:
At no point have I mentioned doing it for increased power...
In fact, the benefits aren't at the top end. It's all about the bottom end and throttle response.
I presume max power added will be the same with a given input/output capacity, regardless of what it's strapped to, but the spin-up speed and responsiveness getting up to that point is dependent on the mechanical bits within it?In fact, the benefits aren't at the top end. It's all about the bottom end and throttle response.
So a ball bearing setup will have less lag but blow the same max throughput?
Of course, the impellors have become more efficient too - so you could go for the "same size, faster response and more power", or you could take the route of "smaller, even faster response, same power".
It's gonna be a tad more complex than that in the detail, but...
NDA said:
waynecyclist said:
Shocked at how bad the Jaguar is underneath, however love the colour choice.
Will look stunning when finished
I think many would have given up on it.... 'beyond economical repair' is a banned phrase with this one.Will look stunning when finished
However, looks like it will be immaculate once done, and will live happily in Harry's climate controlled car paradise.
And I thought getting some emulsion colour-matched to a favourite t-shirt at B&Q was pushing the boat out 
Not a million miles from Fern Grey then. Pretty much perfect - very close to the 1970s colour, yet somehow cleaner.
Repairs... So many repairs... So so many... Ouch. I have to admire the commitment here, and the abilities of the restorers.
Not a million miles from Fern Grey then. Pretty much perfect - very close to the 1970s colour, yet somehow cleaner.
Repairs... So many repairs... So so many... Ouch. I have to admire the commitment here, and the abilities of the restorers.
castex said:
Simultaneously -properly- restoring an xj12c and a lancia zagato?
This is epic.
It is almost as if a challenge was set over too many drinks and a conversation regarding the two most iconic brands for starting to rot on the assembly line. This is epic.
Deciding to restore a Jag and a Lancia simultaneously is possibly both a world first as well as an overt display of the mental health risks of lockdown. Under no circumstances is this normal behaviour.
RobXjcoupe said:
Considering there was zero cavity rust prevention when originally built, it’s amazing any car from that era is still around.
Not sure the epoxy primer prior to welding is a good idea, I may be wrong but i didn’t think it was a weld through primer?
Agreed. Epoxy primers are great when there isn't an edge to start rusting at but will burn off as soon as welded. Not sure the epoxy primer prior to welding is a good idea, I may be wrong but i didn’t think it was a weld through primer?
I would have thought a cavity wax after welding and painting would have done more. I guess they can do both but I can't see the epoxy doing much good.
The condition of that Jag underneath made me wince, made me fear for the terrors lurking in my old car. That little hidden I-beam to support the jacking point was as ingenious as it was worrying!
But, I have to say, absolutely inspired choice for the colour. It's beautiful.
HG is the only motoring TV Mrs OB will watch (although she enjoys HF too, she's ex-farming stock). She says she always comes away from it having learned something, even though she has no interest in cars.
But, I have to say, absolutely inspired choice for the colour. It's beautiful.
HG is the only motoring TV Mrs OB will watch (although she enjoys HF too, she's ex-farming stock). She says she always comes away from it having learned something, even though she has no interest in cars.
Pistom said:
Agreed. Epoxy primers are great when there isn't an edge to start rusting at but will burn off as soon as welded.
I would have thought a cavity wax after welding and painting would have done more. I guess they can do both but I can't see the epoxy doing much good.
It's still a good idea to do so. Epoxy primer is non-porous and will be doing a good job It will be inside those hidden sections that condensations forms, hence they rust from the inside out. I would assume it's cleaned off the welded surface prior to welding though. Then I'd use a zinc-rich weld-thru primer and then cavity wax it all at the end. I would have thought a cavity wax after welding and painting would have done more. I guess they can do both but I can't see the epoxy doing much good.
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