Excited! - Sag back with 3.91, CR box etc tomorrow
Discussion
Hey all,
just wondering if any of you've got any tips for what I should expect, any running-in tricks etc .... - I due to pick up my Sag from RG tomorrow with:
3.91 diff
CR box
Quaife ATB helical LSD differential
OMEX engine management unit
Decat
Lightened flywheel / upgraded Simplex timing chain kit
Alu rad
I'm hoping for a good bit more grunt .... will I notice the difference??
Anyone else out there fitted the OMEX unit?
cheers
DaveR
just wondering if any of you've got any tips for what I should expect, any running-in tricks etc .... - I due to pick up my Sag from RG tomorrow with:
3.91 diff
CR box
Quaife ATB helical LSD differential
OMEX engine management unit
Decat
Lightened flywheel / upgraded Simplex timing chain kit
Alu rad
I'm hoping for a good bit more grunt .... will I notice the difference??
Anyone else out there fitted the OMEX unit?
cheers
DaveR
Koen,
here is the link from the website:
http://www.thetvrshop.com/TVR/News/60.htm
I'm just hoping it even does even half what it claims ....
DR
here is the link from the website:
http://www.thetvrshop.com/TVR/News/60.htm
I'm just hoping it even does even half what it claims ....
DR
Sooo how is it?
I've been driving a Chimaera today, which was a nice reminder of the old days (owned one for 6 years). Jumping straight into the T350 reminds me of why these newer models are such great cars (yes they are newer but you know what I mean). I think the only thing the Chimaera does better is rumble.
I've been driving a Chimaera today, which was a nice reminder of the old days (owned one for 6 years). Jumping straight into the T350 reminds me of why these newer models are such great cars (yes they are newer but you know what I mean). I think the only thing the Chimaera does better is rumble.
Well I got the car back yesterday afternoon from Raving Green, but drove home in fairly dense traffic on the M25 and M1, and so wasn't able to really give it some stick. Also had a bit of a blast in the dark later last night - which would have been great, except that my headlights seem all out of alignment (full beam illuminates part of the sky and the nearside ditch very well but don't do much for the road ahead !?). Will get those sorted shortly.
But back to the car - well I can already tell that the difference is dramatic. The car feels like a totally different beast, with a much more direct response (likely the result of the CR box and diff setup), but at the same time MUCH more manageable and civilised at low speeds, startup, in traffic etc., due to the OMEX.
For starters the new unit handles the cold startup all by itself - just turn the key, no need for a prod on the loud pedal to catch the engine. The engine starts and revs at ~1050 for a minute or two whilst the oil circulates, then automatically settles to a nice steady 850rpm. Then pulling away, as Martin demo'd for me, you just need to engage first, lift the clutch and the car pulls smoothly away at walking pace with no need for any throttle. Moments later you can grab second, again without any need for throttle. Sounds like a minor thing but makes a world of difference in heavy traffic, with no need to constantly play the pedals.
The CR box and the diff have meant that I obviously need to re-learn my Sag clutch control! The pickup on the clutch during faster driving is much sharper than before, so I'm needing to be a little gentler on lifting the pedal to avoid little 'hiccups' as I accelerate. Also I've found that if I attempt second gear too soon when pulling away aggressively (as turns out to be a habit of mine), the car isn't too happy - again it is just a question of me learning how best to employ the new box .... there is so mcuh legs in first gear you don't even need to change into 2nd for what feels like ages.
As for third - wow. The gear feels incredibly long and the acceleration just piles on and on!
A lot of changes to the car were made at once - CR box, 3.91, ATB diff, decat, OMEX, lightened flywheel, simplex timing chain etc. so it is a little hard for a non-mechanically-minded numpty like myself to properly distinguish between the changes made, and attribute which changes to which upgrade. But the overall package is certainly very impressive. The car now feels alive in a way it never did before unless it was being really pushed. There is also less mechanical 'noise' from the engine, whilst the exhaust note is slightly deeper and gruffer than before.
The only thing I've found I miss so far is the insane pop and crackle on the overrun that the car used to have! I guess the OMEX unit has reigned that behaviour back in, because it isn't exactly fuel-efficient behaviour, and one of the apparent skills of the unit in addition to everything else, is some improvement to fuel economy.
I'll keep you guys posted once I've taken her out for a few more spins. So far though - very pleased - the guys at RG really know their stuff.
cheers
DaveR
But back to the car - well I can already tell that the difference is dramatic. The car feels like a totally different beast, with a much more direct response (likely the result of the CR box and diff setup), but at the same time MUCH more manageable and civilised at low speeds, startup, in traffic etc., due to the OMEX.
For starters the new unit handles the cold startup all by itself - just turn the key, no need for a prod on the loud pedal to catch the engine. The engine starts and revs at ~1050 for a minute or two whilst the oil circulates, then automatically settles to a nice steady 850rpm. Then pulling away, as Martin demo'd for me, you just need to engage first, lift the clutch and the car pulls smoothly away at walking pace with no need for any throttle. Moments later you can grab second, again without any need for throttle. Sounds like a minor thing but makes a world of difference in heavy traffic, with no need to constantly play the pedals.
The CR box and the diff have meant that I obviously need to re-learn my Sag clutch control! The pickup on the clutch during faster driving is much sharper than before, so I'm needing to be a little gentler on lifting the pedal to avoid little 'hiccups' as I accelerate. Also I've found that if I attempt second gear too soon when pulling away aggressively (as turns out to be a habit of mine), the car isn't too happy - again it is just a question of me learning how best to employ the new box .... there is so mcuh legs in first gear you don't even need to change into 2nd for what feels like ages.
As for third - wow. The gear feels incredibly long and the acceleration just piles on and on!
A lot of changes to the car were made at once - CR box, 3.91, ATB diff, decat, OMEX, lightened flywheel, simplex timing chain etc. so it is a little hard for a non-mechanically-minded numpty like myself to properly distinguish between the changes made, and attribute which changes to which upgrade. But the overall package is certainly very impressive. The car now feels alive in a way it never did before unless it was being really pushed. There is also less mechanical 'noise' from the engine, whilst the exhaust note is slightly deeper and gruffer than before.
The only thing I've found I miss so far is the insane pop and crackle on the overrun that the car used to have! I guess the OMEX unit has reigned that behaviour back in, because it isn't exactly fuel-efficient behaviour, and one of the apparent skills of the unit in addition to everything else, is some improvement to fuel economy.
I'll keep you guys posted once I've taken her out for a few more spins. So far though - very pleased - the guys at RG really know their stuff.
cheers
DaveR
hairyaardvark said:
Interesting! - tell me more about the oil change you're referring to?
I specifically asked the guys at RG about whether or not I'd need a running-in period or oil change and they advised me that this wasn't necessary, unless I was planning on doing Le Mans 24 or something .... ?
You have new gears and bearings. The gears need to bed-in and the oil that carries the small metallic particles as a carry over from this action is best taken out early rather than left to its next service - potentially 6000 miles away. I specifically asked the guys at RG about whether or not I'd need a running-in period or oil change and they advised me that this wasn't necessary, unless I was planning on doing Le Mans 24 or something .... ?
I would like to say that RG should know best, but I think you've been given very bad advice. I would run both for around 5 or 600 miles and then drop oils. In the very early life of both, my advice would be to drive the car like it was being driven in very wet and slipery conditions, be smooth and do nothing to load gearbox or diff excessively. After that initial period, drive as normal (not like youre doing the 24h hrs) but it is important to get the old oil out as it will have worked harder than normal and as mentioned before it will be contaminated.
As a matter of interest which T5 gearbox have you got ??? Standard or World Class ???
Can tell by the Tremec Part No. on the metal label on the box (TTETs are std.)#
http://www.ttcautomotive.com/English/products/T-5....
Can tell by the Tremec Part No. on the metal label on the box (TTETs are std.)#
http://www.ttcautomotive.com/English/products/T-5....
Edited by glow worm on Thursday 1st October 15:36
glow worm said:
Yep, need to get underneath...label is quite difficult to read...I required a lamp and the car on a ramp.
Graham Varleys Manual refers to it being a World Class (WC) box, but mine wasn't
Who cares if the one you have works fine? When it stops working you can look. Its not as if you're going to change it because its not 'World Class' until it goes wrong anyway.Graham Varleys Manual refers to it being a World Class (WC) box, but mine wasn't
Edited by glow worm on Thursday 1st October 10:03
From what I gather TVR just changed the gears to change it to a CR box...RG seem to specify two prices...one for changing the gears on your box or fitting a CR box which is considerably more in price than a non CR box... just wondered why ??? Are they fitting WC boxes as new ???
The fact the WC box are needle bearings would appear to make it more important ensure running on clean oil than the jounals used in a std. box.
The fact the WC box are needle bearings would appear to make it more important ensure running on clean oil than the jounals used in a std. box.
Edited by glow worm on Thursday 1st October 10:14
glow worm said:
From what I gather TVR just changed the gears to change it to a CR box...RG seem to specify two prices...one for changing the gears on your box or fitting a CR box which is considerably more in price than a non CR box... just wondered why ??? Are they fitting WC boxes as new ???
The fact the WC box are needle bearings would appear to make it more important ensure running on clean oil than the jounals used in a std. box.
Lots of variations in the T5 to provide a robust box. Quaife internals, re-inforced selector forks etc.The fact the WC box are needle bearings would appear to make it more important ensure running on clean oil than the jounals used in a std. box.
Edited by glow worm on Thursday 1st October 10:14
Best call RG and discuss the specs and price difference, it maybe you're getting all out of shape for nothing?
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