A bit emotional
Discussion
Just over a year ago I was in Bristol to have a look at possibly the tattiest Chimaera for sale in the country. I was seduced by the V8 burble and low price tag, and of course I ended up taking it home with me.
A week later I was back in Bristol, on some lonely godforsaken industrial estate, to arrange an MOT which it's fair to say was shadier than a palm tree. I persuaded myself that it was all okay as it was only to get the car on the road initially- I vowed to myself that the next MOT would be squeaky clean and shiny. But every time I looked at the car, I was doubting that more and more. It was barely fit as a parts donor.
Today, though, I got some fantastic news. The scuffed knuckles, bleeding fingernails, fibreglass splinters, bruised ego, empty wallet, and repeated reminders from my girlfriend that I was a loser with a rotten car, have all been worth it- it passed! My love affair continues for another year and this time with no skeletons in the closet, I'm completely chuffed as I never thought it would be achievable without throwing the mortgage at it!
I have to say a huge thank you to Neil Garners, they've had a colossal role to play in bringing this Chim back onto its feet. Where some specialists would have scoffed at a clueless young bloke with a rubbish car, they've had an awesome enthusiasm for it and have really been the catalysts.
Anyone who's seen it knows that in truth it still looks like s
t, but I'm drawing up some grand designs and there's plenty of progress still to be made.. But before I think too hard about making it beautiful I need to resume wringing it's neck on track- speaking of which, onto Pembrey on the 20th.. Buzzing! 
(Apologies for soppy melodramatic content)
A week later I was back in Bristol, on some lonely godforsaken industrial estate, to arrange an MOT which it's fair to say was shadier than a palm tree. I persuaded myself that it was all okay as it was only to get the car on the road initially- I vowed to myself that the next MOT would be squeaky clean and shiny. But every time I looked at the car, I was doubting that more and more. It was barely fit as a parts donor.
Today, though, I got some fantastic news. The scuffed knuckles, bleeding fingernails, fibreglass splinters, bruised ego, empty wallet, and repeated reminders from my girlfriend that I was a loser with a rotten car, have all been worth it- it passed! My love affair continues for another year and this time with no skeletons in the closet, I'm completely chuffed as I never thought it would be achievable without throwing the mortgage at it!
I have to say a huge thank you to Neil Garners, they've had a colossal role to play in bringing this Chim back onto its feet. Where some specialists would have scoffed at a clueless young bloke with a rubbish car, they've had an awesome enthusiasm for it and have really been the catalysts.
Anyone who's seen it knows that in truth it still looks like s
t, but I'm drawing up some grand designs and there's plenty of progress still to be made.. But before I think too hard about making it beautiful I need to resume wringing it's neck on track- speaking of which, onto Pembrey on the 20th.. Buzzing! (Apologies for soppy melodramatic content)
It's great to hear your specialist shares the passion.
My specialist offered to lend me a clutch alighnemet tool to other day as I can't afford labour charges right now. Cool I thought.
I like the tatty ones,,, ( not saying yours is tatty for one second ) good mechanics and all but a few scuffs are just war wounds and I sometimes quite like that.
Some might have closed the book on your cars story but you've turned another page and started a new chapter, it's yours for the writing.
Well done. It's not easy pushing against the tide of common belief let alone common sense
QBee said:
What's your track day experience, and how are you preparing the car?
What is it's status re cats and exhaust (thinking noise limits)?
Just the one trackday at Castle Combe under my belt so far!What is it's status re cats and exhaust (thinking noise limits)?
Tested 91db there, so barely a whisper
Fresh fluids for the car and a new water pump belt (I made that mistake at Combe...), plus I'll be putting my new front brakes to the test! Done about 250 miles on them so far so pretty well bedded in.
Have you done Pembrey before Anthony? Any knowledge to impart?
Thank you Alun- philosophical as always! Clutch issues not bad I hope?
Gareth, I was probably wondering about your calipers and mounting brackets as you're still on the 4 stud hubs (despite the RL7s- that really surprised me!), I think we're running the same diameter disc but mine is still on single pot calipers- bigger discs and solid calipers probably mean that I'll have all the stopping power I need, but if I'm ever wanting more.. Well your setup does look awfully pretty
Stick with it Kev, keep the carbie spirit alive! Some of the challenges with my car seemed insurmountable at the time but I promise you with every ounce of my soul and being that it's worth it! One day you'll be cruising around in beastie, happily burbling away but poised to sink your right foot into the carpet and hear the awesome howl as she opens her lungs wide and sucks in half the atmosphere in front of you I can't remember whereabouts you're based fella, if you're anywhere nearby I'd love to stop and see the car sometime. Can't recall ever seeing another Chim on carbs!
Gareth, I was probably wondering about your calipers and mounting brackets as you're still on the 4 stud hubs (despite the RL7s- that really surprised me!), I think we're running the same diameter disc but mine is still on single pot calipers- bigger discs and solid calipers probably mean that I'll have all the stopping power I need, but if I'm ever wanting more.. Well your setup does look awfully pretty
Stick with it Kev, keep the carbie spirit alive! Some of the challenges with my car seemed insurmountable at the time but I promise you with every ounce of my soul and being that it's worth it! One day you'll be cruising around in beastie, happily burbling away but poised to sink your right foot into the carpet and hear the awesome howl as she opens her lungs wide and sucks in half the atmosphere in front of you
I can't remember whereabouts you're based fella, if you're anywhere nearby I'd love to stop and see the car sometime. Can't recall ever seeing another Chim on carbs!QBee said:
Not done Pembrey....long way for me. Doing Snetterton next Wednesday
I saw the thread, a lot of likely suspects going along and I was seriously toying with the idea of booking off work for that one, but it's a long way back after thrashing hard for the day.. Not quite the confidence for it yet. I'll get there though, I'll definitely join the motley crew for some laps sometime! Hope you have a good one Clutch,,, hmm.
Dom who built the engine said I'd probably broke the crank
Looks like fork arm or pivot but until it's apart hard to say.
it's fine when running and feels as good as usual so a bit odd!
Only when engines off can I replicate the noice. I can clearly feel it and it's at the plunger/ thrust bearing end of the arm.
So philpot could well be right. ( thrust bearing ) no noise from it though.
For the experience of accelerating to 60 mph in less than 4 seconds it still seems worth it.
I'd post my fastest time but someone will throttle me for it one day.
P Jackson for a start
( a little inter Chim rivalry) between me and a very funny and alarmingly fast chap in a very bright yellow car have led to some really class races between us. He's faster but I'm better that's nonsense but the banter is hilarious. I'm faster overall,,, at the moment
I think it's less than a tenth or so between us,,, but that tenth is one precious tenth
Dom who built the engine said I'd probably broke the crank
Looks like fork arm or pivot but until it's apart hard to say.
it's fine when running and feels as good as usual so a bit odd!
Only when engines off can I replicate the noice. I can clearly feel it and it's at the plunger/ thrust bearing end of the arm.
So philpot could well be right. ( thrust bearing ) no noise from it though.
For the experience of accelerating to 60 mph in less than 4 seconds it still seems worth it.
I'd post my fastest time but someone will throttle me for it one day.
P Jackson for a start
( a little inter Chim rivalry) between me and a very funny and alarmingly fast chap in a very bright yellow car have led to some really class races between us. He's faster but I'm better
that's nonsense but the banter is hilarious. I'm faster overall,,, at the moment I think it's less than a tenth or so between us,,, but that tenth is one precious tenth
Top work mate, it seems only yesterday we were using a Dremel on your old fire extinguisher holder in order to allow the roof to fold and attempting to stick what was left of your heat shielding back to the underside of the bonnet
I can vividly remember that first drive out on those crazy 17" wheels with ludicrously low profile tyres and rock hard shocks that turned out to be knackered Nitrons... It's come a long way since then!
I can vividly remember that first drive out on those crazy 17" wheels with ludicrously low profile tyres and rock hard shocks that turned out to be knackered Nitrons... It's come a long way since then!
CanoeSniffer said:
QBee said:
Not done Pembrey....long way for me. Doing Snetterton next Wednesday
I saw the thread, a lot of likely suspects going along and I was seriously toying with the idea of booking off work for that one, but it's a long way back after thrashing hard for the day.. Not quite the confidence for it yet. I'll get there though, I'll definitely join the motley crew for some laps sometime! Hope you have a good one If you do decide to join the gang for a track day further east/north, you will have our collective help should you have a breakdown/mishap. John H rebuilds TVRs for fun, Mat S is a TVR workshop guru, and most of us have trailers and some spares with us. We'll get you home if the RAC can't.
CanoeSniffer said:
Thank you Alun- philosophical as always! Clutch issues not bad I hope?
Gareth, I was probably wondering about your calipers and mounting brackets as you're still on the 4 stud hubs (despite the RL7s- that really surprised me!), I think we're running the same diameter disc but mine is still on single pot calipers- bigger discs and solid calipers probably mean that I'll have all the stopping power I need, but if I'm ever wanting more.. Well your setup does look awfully pretty
Stick with it Kev, keep the carbie spirit alive! Some of the challenges with my car seemed insurmountable at the time but I promise you with every ounce of my soul and being that it's worth it! One day you'll be cruising around in beastie, happily burbling away but poised to sink your right foot into the carpet and hear the awesome howl as she opens her lungs wide and sucks in half the atmosphere in front of you I can't remember whereabouts you're based fella, if you're anywhere nearby I'd love to stop and see the car sometime. Can't recall ever seeing another Chim on carbs!
Ahh yes that was probably it! You should be alright since they're the bigger discs anyway. I think the discs are from a Focus ST170?Gareth, I was probably wondering about your calipers and mounting brackets as you're still on the 4 stud hubs (despite the RL7s- that really surprised me!), I think we're running the same diameter disc but mine is still on single pot calipers- bigger discs and solid calipers probably mean that I'll have all the stopping power I need, but if I'm ever wanting more.. Well your setup does look awfully pretty
Stick with it Kev, keep the carbie spirit alive! Some of the challenges with my car seemed insurmountable at the time but I promise you with every ounce of my soul and being that it's worth it! One day you'll be cruising around in beastie, happily burbling away but poised to sink your right foot into the carpet and hear the awesome howl as she opens her lungs wide and sucks in half the atmosphere in front of you
I can't remember whereabouts you're based fella, if you're anywhere nearby I'd love to stop and see the car sometime. Can't recall ever seeing another Chim on carbs!And with your single pot calipers I think it'll probably be the Mondeo MK3 pads although depends what calipers actually went on!
Quite a number of us with 17 inch wheels (some will say 16 is sufficient) have fitted a 324mm front disc upgrade.
Consists of BMW Brembo callipers (4pot) off a 7 series I think, Ford Focus RS mk 1 discs 324 x 28 (I bought grooved but not drilled as I do track days, but plain vented discs are fine and cheaper - Brembo sell some, but be careful to get the Focus ones) and suitable pads. Again, Brembo supply pads, as do Hawk and Ferodo. Suit your pads to your useage.
IMHO you don't need to upgrade the 273 mm rear set up of the later cars. I just upgraded the discs to grooved and the pads to Ferodo DS2500 to deal with track heat.
Consists of BMW Brembo callipers (4pot) off a 7 series I think, Ford Focus RS mk 1 discs 324 x 28 (I bought grooved but not drilled as I do track days, but plain vented discs are fine and cheaper - Brembo sell some, but be careful to get the Focus ones) and suitable pads. Again, Brembo supply pads, as do Hawk and Ferodo. Suit your pads to your useage.
IMHO you don't need to upgrade the 273 mm rear set up of the later cars. I just upgraded the discs to grooved and the pads to Ferodo DS2500 to deal with track heat.
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