The Range Racer
Discussion
Max M4X WW said:
illmonkey said:
charlie-5mkmt said:
ntiz said:
What’s the plan for the gearbox?
Did this generation have paddles? Could you replace the current torque converter for something else lighter and more sporting?
Sadly it didn't have paddles, not thought too much about it so far, it does have a sequential mode but the gear Leaver is the wrong way round (currently push forward to change up). So we might try to rewire that at some point.Did this generation have paddles? Could you replace the current torque converter for something else lighter and more sporting?
Great project, following with interest!
You could also fit an E46 SMG steering wheel, matching slip ring and a little bit of wiring to E38s & E39s and get the paddles working so I assume the same applies here (RR Steering wheel is carry-over E38 too), but that's a moot point as you've already bought a "proper" steering wheel!
fred bloggs said:
charlie-5mkmt said:
The Benchmarking track Day! And what an eventful day it was!
So on the 15th of December we took the range racer to Bedford autodrome for some benchmarking in completely standard form.
During the driver brief we were told it’s the hardest circuit in the UK for brakes……whoops!
]
I didn't know Bedford was all downhill ? As engineers surely you can work out no circuit is harder on brakes than another, unless you never need to slow down. Silverstone has some much larger braking zones. So on the 15th of December we took the range racer to Bedford autodrome for some benchmarking in completely standard form.
During the driver brief we were told it’s the hardest circuit in the UK for brakes……whoops!
]
Let's do a thought experiment.
Two tracks of equal distance. Which will be harder on brakes:
- driving a circuit that is just two parallel straights with two 90 degree corners:
<=========>
- driving on a big circle - with effectively no braking zones.
Hopefully from this example you can see that severity of corners has a large effect on braking effort.
fred bloggs said:
I didn't know Bedford was all downhill ? As engineers surely you can work out no circuit is harder on brakes than another, unless you never need to slow down. Silverstone has some much larger braking zones.
Unfortunately the other chaps are correct, brakes are converting kinetic energy into heat. Simplicity, Kinetic energy = 0.5 x mass x speed squared
As the speed is squared it has by far the biggest factor.
I.e. Circuits that have lots braking from high speeds are hardest on the brakes by far.
This is awesome! 
Also it's really easy to add Paddles to these and most similar era BMW stuff. The selector is just two NO switches and there is nothing stopping you mounting any NO switch on either side of the wheel (ITW mini push button to Shiftec paddle or anything in between). If you don't need the multiplex for the stereo controls etc. then you can repurpose these pins in the clock spring to pass your paddle signals through the clock spring or just do a curly lead for maximum race car look!
Also it's really easy to add Paddles to these and most similar era BMW stuff. The selector is just two NO switches and there is nothing stopping you mounting any NO switch on either side of the wheel (ITW mini push button to Shiftec paddle or anything in between). If you don't need the multiplex for the stereo controls etc. then you can repurpose these pins in the clock spring to pass your paddle signals through the clock spring or just do a curly lead for maximum race car look!
charlie-5mkmt said:
aaron_2000 said:
It's impossible to convert an L322 to manual right?
Impossible is a strong word!!But it's not easy
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/xk8-xkr-x100-17...
You could get an adaptor plate made to fit any gearbox but it defies the point somewhat given its meant to be done with a budget in mind. The auto isn’t the end of the world, and if the glass is replaced for lexan or Perspex as already suggested that’ll take out a fair chunk of weight, and up high, too.
OP what's the thoughts on ditching the air suspension completely and going over to coils?
I know a lot of the classic RR's that had air we're often converted to coils. I'm in the process of putting my old one back to air and there's a significant amount of weight in the tank, valve block & pump so I can imagine in an L322 there's probably even more weight to be saved as the struts themselves must also weight a fair bit.
A quick google spotted stuff like this
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Arnott-Coil-Spring-Conv...
I know a lot of the classic RR's that had air we're often converted to coils. I'm in the process of putting my old one back to air and there's a significant amount of weight in the tank, valve block & pump so I can imagine in an L322 there's probably even more weight to be saved as the struts themselves must also weight a fair bit.
A quick google spotted stuff like this
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Arnott-Coil-Spring-Conv...
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