My VX220 2.2 Normally Aspirated
Discussion
Had the car for about a year and a half now. Its my daily driver in which I do about 40 miles a day, this year it has also doubled as my track car as the track cars being rebuilt. I've done 8 track days over the last year in it and that highlighted a few short comings which I've rectified or am in the process of sorting.
The car was 100% standard when I got and on 40,000 miles
Unfortunately within a few weeks a muppet had decided to reverse into it, fortunately they admitted being a clown and so I had a new front clam fitted at their insurers expense.
The engine also started to make a worrying rattle and I concluded it must be the iffy timing chain setup these early cars had (small oil squirter), so booked it in for a new one. Thought I may as well have a Tullet equal lenght manifold fitted at the same time
Turned out the balancer shaft chain tensioner had failed so lucky I got it attended to.
As the tyres on the car were needing replacing I thought it a good idea to go Exige Spec wheels 16" up front, wider and wider track. On went a set of Team dynamics 1.2's
Also got a hardtop for winter. Going to the 16" fronts I thought it wise to go for an Exige 4 channel ABS unit thats calibrated more for track and 16" fronts. This cured the well know iffy VX ABS issues - I think your mad not to make this update if you've a VX, no more ice mode when braking on rough roads and not intrusive on track either
Got home one day to find a puddle under the front of the car, cracked radiator end tank
so on went a Pro Alloy uprated rad, may as well upgrade when fixing things.
I found on one trackday where I was pushing very hard I got some brake fade so thought time for some better pads and discs so fitted some Pagid RS4-2 all round and a set of Alcon 295mm front discs on Plans Motorsport Aluminium bells and spaced the caliper out. Brakes are now absolutely amazing, I can push hard on track and I get to tired out before I notice any decrease in performance.
Doing a trackday a month and my track car build going slow I decided time for harnesses and harness bar so got some sector 111 harness hole grommits and chopped them into the stock seat. While seats were out I decided to chop the stupid head restraint things off the roll bar, this give so much better rear visability and stops the seat rubbing on them and squeeking.
and thats how it stands at the minute now on 54,000 miles.
I have issues on track where if it gets to 10litres of fuel fast left handers I get fuel starvation - really annoying as I need to fill up about 3 times each day so I've got a ProAlloy 48 litre baffled fuel tank to go in. Also my gearbox has emptied a good bit of oil over the rear wheel so I've a Pro Alloy gearbox breather catch tank to go on.
The car was 100% standard when I got and on 40,000 miles
Unfortunately within a few weeks a muppet had decided to reverse into it, fortunately they admitted being a clown and so I had a new front clam fitted at their insurers expense.
The engine also started to make a worrying rattle and I concluded it must be the iffy timing chain setup these early cars had (small oil squirter), so booked it in for a new one. Thought I may as well have a Tullet equal lenght manifold fitted at the same time
Turned out the balancer shaft chain tensioner had failed so lucky I got it attended to.As the tyres on the car were needing replacing I thought it a good idea to go Exige Spec wheels 16" up front, wider and wider track. On went a set of Team dynamics 1.2's
Also got a hardtop for winter. Going to the 16" fronts I thought it wise to go for an Exige 4 channel ABS unit thats calibrated more for track and 16" fronts. This cured the well know iffy VX ABS issues - I think your mad not to make this update if you've a VX, no more ice mode when braking on rough roads and not intrusive on track either
Got home one day to find a puddle under the front of the car, cracked radiator end tank
so on went a Pro Alloy uprated rad, may as well upgrade when fixing things. I found on one trackday where I was pushing very hard I got some brake fade so thought time for some better pads and discs so fitted some Pagid RS4-2 all round and a set of Alcon 295mm front discs on Plans Motorsport Aluminium bells and spaced the caliper out. Brakes are now absolutely amazing, I can push hard on track and I get to tired out before I notice any decrease in performance.
Doing a trackday a month and my track car build going slow I decided time for harnesses and harness bar so got some sector 111 harness hole grommits and chopped them into the stock seat. While seats were out I decided to chop the stupid head restraint things off the roll bar, this give so much better rear visability and stops the seat rubbing on them and squeeking.
and thats how it stands at the minute now on 54,000 miles.
I have issues on track where if it gets to 10litres of fuel fast left handers I get fuel starvation - really annoying as I need to fill up about 3 times each day so I've got a ProAlloy 48 litre baffled fuel tank to go in. Also my gearbox has emptied a good bit of oil over the rear wheel so I've a Pro Alloy gearbox breather catch tank to go on.
Edited by Herman Toothrot on Saturday 16th October 21:07
Uprated rear toe link kit will be next, but I'm wondering about saving a bit more and doing Alloy GT rear hub carriers, toe link kit, alloy bell rear discs with larger diameter, twin pot rear calipers and Nitrons all in one shot. However I'm sceptical that the Nitrons and the reduced travel they offer over OEM will actually be an upgrade for road use, sure it will be for track, but road not so.
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