Raffo Belva - Handling Query
Discussion
Hi,
I bought one of these cars about 2 months ago but unfortunately I haven't actually driven it too much but when I took it for it's first long(ish) drive last weekend I noticed that it seemed to move around a bit...Like it was being buffeted in the wind...But…. It wasn't windy! I wondered if I needed to alter the tyre pressures or maybe the suspension??....Does anybody have any advice regarding this query??...If you do it would be greatly appreciated.
Regards
Ruky
I bought one of these cars about 2 months ago but unfortunately I haven't actually driven it too much but when I took it for it's first long(ish) drive last weekend I noticed that it seemed to move around a bit...Like it was being buffeted in the wind...But…. It wasn't windy! I wondered if I needed to alter the tyre pressures or maybe the suspension??....Does anybody have any advice regarding this query??...If you do it would be greatly appreciated.
Regards
Ruky
I've never driven a Belva, but I had an interest in the car when it was launched, as I'd owned a Tipo 12 in the past.
The kit car magazines all made reference to the suspension set-up 'needing further development'. The British kit car press is usually very uncritical of the industry's products, so this sort of comment should be taken as a fairly severe criticism, reading between the lines.
John Raffo was an excellent designer. My Tipo 12 was one of the best handling cars I've driven (and as you can see from my profile, I've owned a few of the all-time greats!), but the relatively high centre of gravity and low polar moment of a transverse mid-engined installation like the Belva is a different kettle of fish to the ultra-low CG and fairly high polar moment of the longitudinal flat 4 (Alfa Boxer and VW Beetle) installations with which Raffo made his name. It's hardly suprising that the design had teething troubles, therefore, and it very much sounds as though your car is exhibiting the deficiencies of the early set-up.
I've heard that Raffo later sorted the suspension to his satisfaction, but getting hold of information on the relevant settings might be tricky.
As far as I know, John Raffo has now retired to Italy.
First suspects would be to check for bump steer and toe variations under suspension movement, followed by playing with the balance of spring rates, anti-roll and damping, front to rear, but you need an expert in suspension set-up, really.
>> Edited by Martin_s on Monday 23 May 23:29
The kit car magazines all made reference to the suspension set-up 'needing further development'. The British kit car press is usually very uncritical of the industry's products, so this sort of comment should be taken as a fairly severe criticism, reading between the lines.
John Raffo was an excellent designer. My Tipo 12 was one of the best handling cars I've driven (and as you can see from my profile, I've owned a few of the all-time greats!), but the relatively high centre of gravity and low polar moment of a transverse mid-engined installation like the Belva is a different kettle of fish to the ultra-low CG and fairly high polar moment of the longitudinal flat 4 (Alfa Boxer and VW Beetle) installations with which Raffo made his name. It's hardly suprising that the design had teething troubles, therefore, and it very much sounds as though your car is exhibiting the deficiencies of the early set-up.
I've heard that Raffo later sorted the suspension to his satisfaction, but getting hold of information on the relevant settings might be tricky.
As far as I know, John Raffo has now retired to Italy.
First suspects would be to check for bump steer and toe variations under suspension movement, followed by playing with the balance of spring rates, anti-roll and damping, front to rear, but you need an expert in suspension set-up, really.
>> Edited by Martin_s on Monday 23 May 23:29
Hi Ruky,
Fuoriserie is quite right - find an expert and let them look at the problem(s). Thre are two (2) good reasons for doing so - any reasonably competent suspension shop will be able to fix your hassle and if they do then they have liability if it mucks up.
It would be sensible to go to a suspension shop - not a place that just replaces tyres and sets suspensions to the manufacturers book. A true suspension shop looks at the whole thing - toe-in (or out) castor angle) spring rates, bumpsteer, understeer, etc, and makes whatever alterations need to be done.
If those terms are simply gobbledegook to you then start off reading a book about building your own kit car from either "Kit Car" or Which Kit" magazines for an easy introduction to suspension. Then graduate to simple chassis and suspension design books - forget Costain and others whose books are full of maths until or unless you understand a fair bit about engineering maths.
Fixing the suspension will probably cost a small bag of gold. It may be wise to shop around for a shop with a good reputation...BUT...make sure you get them to write down the new measurements because you will be able to take the car to a normal tyre shop thereafter.
I cant remember the names of the chassis books - they are american and the one I am thinking of has a picture of the author hacking into a suspension spring for a bit oof a quick fix - someone in Pistonheads will know the name of this book and would be delighted, enraptured and charmed to post the name for you....I am sure.
Webrat
Fuoriserie is quite right - find an expert and let them look at the problem(s). Thre are two (2) good reasons for doing so - any reasonably competent suspension shop will be able to fix your hassle and if they do then they have liability if it mucks up.
It would be sensible to go to a suspension shop - not a place that just replaces tyres and sets suspensions to the manufacturers book. A true suspension shop looks at the whole thing - toe-in (or out) castor angle) spring rates, bumpsteer, understeer, etc, and makes whatever alterations need to be done.
If those terms are simply gobbledegook to you then start off reading a book about building your own kit car from either "Kit Car" or Which Kit" magazines for an easy introduction to suspension. Then graduate to simple chassis and suspension design books - forget Costain and others whose books are full of maths until or unless you understand a fair bit about engineering maths.
Fixing the suspension will probably cost a small bag of gold. It may be wise to shop around for a shop with a good reputation...BUT...make sure you get them to write down the new measurements because you will be able to take the car to a normal tyre shop thereafter.
I cant remember the names of the chassis books - they are american and the one I am thinking of has a picture of the author hacking into a suspension spring for a bit oof a quick fix - someone in Pistonheads will know the name of this book and would be delighted, enraptured and charmed to post the name for you....I am sure.
Webrat
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