167mph in a griff 500:yikes:
Discussion
Even then I cannot think why the back would start coming round unless you hoofed it down a gear as well. tbdgriff500 said:
advice please
has anyone any experience of how light a griff feels at full speed!
i have taken one up too 140 and she didn't feel to clever when i let off the power
the back started to come round and i nearly stained my trousers.
any thoughts on flat out, is it a wise move.
has anyone any experience of how light a griff feels at full speed!
i have taken one up too 140 and she didn't feel to clever when i let off the power
the back started to come round and i nearly stained my trousers.
any thoughts on flat out, is it a wise move.
That sounds nasty. I imagine going even faster would produce even more of the same, unless you sort the problem out first.
145 top speed for me with the old engine (not in this country!!) - maybe a little light at the front but nothing to worry about. 140 is the best so far with the new engine and with my new set up it felt well planted with no appreciation of the speed and zero difference in handling.
I need to get over to Germany for a blat for a weekend...
I need to get over to Germany for a blat for a weekend...
Tim they're not all like that.
Do you have PAS?
If you do, then you may find that a very little steering input causes BIG direction change. It's speed sensitive, but the wrong way.
You can get an electronic steering pump that cures this. Talk to Paul at Austec for details.
You need to reduce your input accordingly. Too much input will upset the stability. Perhaps that's what you experienced.
That aside, mine is very stable at ANY speed, irespective of accelerating/decelerating.
Get the suspension checked out. The one and only time it did that to me was just after I bought the car and just before I totally overhauled the suspension.
Perhaps I have just learned to compensate.
Polybushes are well worth it. The before and after difference was huge. Much more stable.
In the bible, Steve is none too sure about them. But now he's selling them at the best price I have seen.
Do you have PAS?
If you do, then you may find that a very little steering input causes BIG direction change. It's speed sensitive, but the wrong way.
You can get an electronic steering pump that cures this. Talk to Paul at Austec for details.
You need to reduce your input accordingly. Too much input will upset the stability. Perhaps that's what you experienced.
That aside, mine is very stable at ANY speed, irespective of accelerating/decelerating.
Get the suspension checked out. The one and only time it did that to me was just after I bought the car and just before I totally overhauled the suspension.
Perhaps I have just learned to compensate.
Polybushes are well worth it. The before and after difference was huge. Much more stable.
In the bible, Steve is none too sure about them. But now he's selling them at the best price I have seen.
tbdgriff500 said:
thinking about it now it was running original shocks (9 years old)
but no power steering. neither has my 500 but i have got gaz gold shocks and
a front splitter.
Front splitter made lots of difference to mine at higher speeds to. So many get torn off and not replaced....
sorry to harp on but i will be doing full speed in a mile long drag race in august
and obviously wont be practising 167mph too much between now and then
wondered if there was any quick mods that help stability at high speeds
and also if she span at that speed would she just slide or dig in and roll
and obviously wont be practising 167mph too much between now and then
wondered if there was any quick mods that help stability at high speeds
and also if she span at that speed would she just slide or dig in and roll
[quote=antonyjFront splitter made lots of difference to mine at higher speeds to. So many get torn off and not replaced....[/quote]
It really does make a significant difference to stability. Perfectly straight at 160 (on road angel) at Brunters a couple of years ago..... Mind you I suppose the setup also helps!
I made my own slightly larger one out of an old plastic BP garage sign.
Also helps cooling with higher ambient temperatures (eg on the way to Le Mans).
It really does make a significant difference to stability. Perfectly straight at 160 (on road angel) at Brunters a couple of years ago..... Mind you I suppose the setup also helps!
I made my own slightly larger one out of an old plastic BP garage sign.
Also helps cooling with higher ambient temperatures (eg on the way to Le Mans).
160mph (indicated) with more to go, for me. Standard engine and standard suspension.
At 140 it started to go light - so in true Brit spirit, I kept my foot hard down and gripped the wheel even harder.
No problems slowing back down.
I think uprated shocks would help stability immensely.
At 140 it started to go light - so in true Brit spirit, I kept my foot hard down and gripped the wheel even harder.
No problems slowing back down.
I think uprated shocks would help stability immensely.
Edited by lazyitus on Tuesday 22 May 16:20
tbdgriff500 said:
sorry to harp on but i will be doing full speed in a mile long drag race in august
and obviously wont be practising 167mph too much between now and then
and obviously wont be practising 167mph too much between now and then
In that case I wouldn't worry about it mate ... in only a mile you will get nowhere near 167mph
The runway that we use for V.Max at Bruntingthorpe is one and three quarters to the timing beam and I think the quickest Griff there (and it is fairly tweaked) has managed 161mph.
The usual at Brunters is mid 150s for the 500s.
So, accelerate at will I say
Easing off the throttle on a light curve at 140 (ahem kph) causes mine to tighten its line ...
I put that down to the fact that the LSD was probably pretty much locked up with foot to the floor accelerating - hence there was a bit of slip angle on the front tyres. When backing off, the LSD unlocks and the front wheels have an easier time turning when they don't have to fight against a locked up diff .. hence the car turns in as the power is backed off.
I assumed that was normal, even if it was a little exciting the first time! The car felt pretty light at the front at those speeds, but this was roof down which probably makes the aerodynamics even worse - the splitter may also have been missing at that time!
tbdgriff500 said:
advice please
has anyone any experience of how light a griff feels at full speed!
i have taken one up too 140 and she didn't feel to clever when i let off the power
the back started to come round and i nearly stained my trousers.
any thoughts on flat out, is it a wise move.
has anyone any experience of how light a griff feels at full speed!
i have taken one up too 140 and she didn't feel to clever when i let off the power
the back started to come round and i nearly stained my trousers.
any thoughts on flat out, is it a wise move.
Stick some weight in the boot, That helps with 150+mph runs.
tbdgriff500 said:
advice please
has anyone any experience of how light a griff feels at full speed!
i have taken one up too 140 and she didn't feel to clever when i let off the power
the back started to come round and i nearly stained my trousers.
any thoughts on flat out, is it a wise move.
That was my first mistake when i got a Griff - lifted off too quickly at 145mph and engine locked the rear wheels has anyone any experience of how light a griff feels at full speed!
i have taken one up too 140 and she didn't feel to clever when i let off the power
the back started to come round and i nearly stained my trousers.
any thoughts on flat out, is it a wise move.
. These engines have such high torque they will quite easily lock up the rears if you take your foot off the loud peddle to quickly (especially over 4.5k rpm which you must have been for that speed). Ease off the throttle slowly or get ready to dump the clutch if you're in a hurry to slow down. I never made that mistake again.
On the point of stability, my first Griff was very stable at high speed and didn't get light at the front (no splitter), this one does get light so i shall be fitting a front splitter.
fastandcurious said:
There is a whole section in the bible about not engine braking. That makes it pretty important in my book!
It was that section of the bible that saved my bacon, as I had only been reading it the day before, realised what it was and got my foot on the clutch pretty sharpish. Edited by Bluebottle on Tuesday 22 May 18:38
Gassing Station | Griffith | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff