Sticky's mini adventure (part deux!!)

Sticky's mini adventure (part deux!!)

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stickylabels

Original Poster:

533 posts

92 months

Sunday 25th February 2018
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There's something about leaving your car hundreds of miles away that twists the mind somewhat. Then there is the
anticipation of getting it back and wondering if you will feel any difference! None of this is helped, when Joolz got in
touch and says, 'hmm, bit flat, the exhaust might be holding it back.' Ah nuts or words to that effect. It was making
362bhp & 330lbs/ft and repeated this over 4 or 5 runs so everything else seemed to be in order.

Cue quick mull over, makes sense whilst its down there, train ticket runs out towards end of month, can we get an
exhaust from ACT in time? Its going to be close but lets go for it. ACT needed 2 weeks. It arrived Wed past. In
Joolzs' words, 'took me longer to unpack, than fit it!' Back on dyno and 390.7bhp & 355lbs/ft! I think we can call
that a result. My cats are good and look lovely in the boot laugh Graph is below. I was trying to be realistic with
might find 10/12 donkeys out of and exhaust....

There is more to come, the cam timing needs retarded as they seem to be factory advanced but time and cost
was against us there so maybe next time...;)

How does it feel? In a word 'bloomin' marvellous!!' Very torquey from 2.5/3.0K on, but a lovely ramping up to
near 7000rpms where the power comes in from 5000 on. Where previously, 3rd was needed for certain overtakes
its quite happy to oblige in 4th without needing lots of revs. Very useful in this cold weather, it spun up in 3rd at
around 70/75mph which it never even hinted at doing before the work. A quick change was needed after that!

Many thanks to all who have recommended Joolz in the forum, he is a true gent, very helpful and really knows his
stuff. Can't say enough about him.

Cheers!
Sticky




rossybee

931 posts

257 months

Monday 26th February 2018
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Happy days! Will make for an enjoyable run back up to Bonnie Dundee - hope it's after this imminent freeze has passed over us!

Look forward to seeing the car at some point wink

Jhonno

5,774 posts

141 months

Monday 26th February 2018
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Nice one!

Byker28i

59,816 posts

217 months

Monday 26th February 2018
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whats your sticky - a 4.5?

Jhonno

5,774 posts

141 months

Monday 26th February 2018
quotequote all
Byker28i said:
whats your sticky - a 4.5?
355lbft is a 4.5..

ukkid35

6,175 posts

173 months

Monday 26th February 2018
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That torque curve is virtually the same as my 4.5, with all the same bumps and lumps

stickylabels

Original Poster:

533 posts

92 months

Tuesday 27th February 2018
quotequote all
rossybee said:
Happy days! Will make for an enjoyable run back up to Bonnie Dundee - hope it's after this imminent freeze has passed over us!

Look forward to seeing the car at some point wink
Hi Ross,

She's already back up! Salt washed off on Sunday underneath, on top and all nooks and crannies I could get the Karcher into! Did just over 300 miles from Joolz, 5 hrs, half A1, other half 696 over t'hills so not a bad run at all! She turned 15000 miles just as we entered Jedburgh which was quite fitting as we got 12000 a year and a half ago in almost the same spot after buying. Back sorn'd, in garage waiting on all this weather to go away. We must meet up over the summer when you are about, I am a stones throw from your parents place.

Cheers
Sticky


stickylabels

Original Poster:

533 posts

92 months

Tuesday 27th February 2018
quotequote all
ukkid35 said:
That torque curve is virtually the same as my 4.5, with all the same bumps and lumps
Hi Ukkid,

That's interesting, have you had your cams timed in at all? Joolz thinks mine are too far in advance as per factory,
hence mine being a bit peaky/early in the torques. I am tempted at a later date to try re-timing them and mapping to suit
but really enjoyed the way it drove as is. Horses for course I suppose, but the greedy git in me would like to see a '4' on
the graph......biglaugh

The ACT is a little louder than my previous sports tails, but the tone is less brittle and its certainly looks the part. Couldn't
believe the weight of the cats when I lifted them out of the boot either!

Wee pick after cleaning off the salt and polishing my new pipes.

Cheers
Sticky

Byker28i

59,816 posts

217 months

Tuesday 27th February 2018
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Jhonno said:
Byker28i said:
whats your sticky - a 4.5?
355lbft is a 4.5..
Just checking I still have (used to have) a good 4.2 wink

ukkid35 said:
That torque curve is virtually the same as my 4.5, with all the same bumps and lumps
Joolz smoothed mine right out, no lumps at all, bringing my torque in early. I had 280ft/lbs at 2000 revs, topping out at 340, 380.7 bhp. Makes it really easy to drive.
Joolz said I was losing some through the exhaust but I like my quiet exhaust system. It's quick enough for me smile

ukkid35

6,175 posts

173 months

Tuesday 27th February 2018
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stickylabels said:
Hi Ukkid,

That's interesting, have you had your cams timed in at all?
I did the cam timing myself, but wasn't confident that it was correct so it was checked by a respected Indy

Here's the chart from Joolz, less torque than yours but more ultimate power

My simplistic interpretation is that means my car has less acceleration but more top speed

If that's correct, then that is not what I'm after

My car has gone through a lot of changes since then which is a long time ago

For instance: replaced badly worn Cam Followers, Exhaust changes (H linked SP back box rather than straight Sports tails), Head Gasket changes, Cam Timing Changes, etc

This surely means I will gain benefit from another visit to Chesterfield, but every time I've rebooked something has thwarted my plans

Fortunately Joolz has been very understanding


stickylabels

Original Poster:

533 posts

92 months

Wednesday 28th February 2018
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[quote=ukkid3

My simplistic interpretation is that means my car has less acceleration but more top speed

If that's correct, then that is not what I'm after

Ukkidd,

Hadn't thought of it that way, but it would back up my feelings acceleration wise. 4th gear from 45/50
mph is more than enough to safely pass dawdlers without creating any risk and without high revs
creating unwanted 'look at me' attention or wheelspin. Prior to the work, I had to use 3rd far more
frequently for similar manoeuvres. My old class one instructor would be chuffed!!

I guess its the old adage of the more horsepower you have, the faster your going when you hit the wall,
the more torque you have, the more wall you take with you!

Cheers
Sticky.










Jhonno

5,774 posts

141 months

Thursday 1st March 2018
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ukkid35 said:
My simplistic interpretation is that means my car has less acceleration but more top speed

If that's correct, then that is not what I'm after]
Not really correct..

Just means you probably need to keep yours more on the boil, but it will be quicker all round if you do.. (An over simplification again but still..)

stickylabels

Original Poster:

533 posts

92 months

Thursday 1st March 2018
quotequote all
OK chaps,

Is there a defined/recognised 'sweet spot' for 4.5s? i.e., we have to rob Peter to pay Paul in the torque
Vs. Hp game/graph. Much I appreciate comes down to a personal preference, or simply what that
particular car car can do re mechanical health at the time but just curious all the same.

I think I would consider sacrificing maybe 5lb/ft for perhaps nearly nudging the 400hps and
maybe a smoother torque graph in the lower section.

As an aside, has anyone tried the rather lovely looking ACT Carbon airboxes? Do they flow
any better than the originals? Dear Santa etc!!blabla

Sticky.

Byker28i

59,816 posts

217 months

Thursday 1st March 2018
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these ones:
http://www.actproducts.co.uk/product/cfab04c-tvr-c...

£950!!!

Look nice I suppose

edit: hum carbon fibre front splitter
http://www.actproducts.co.uk/product/sp007-front-s...

FarmyardPants

4,108 posts

218 months

Thursday 1st March 2018
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stickylabels said:
OK chaps,

Is there a defined/recognised 'sweet spot' for 4.5s? i.e., we have to rob Peter to pay Paul in the torque
Vs. Hp game/graph. Much I appreciate comes down to a personal preference, or simply what that
particular car car can do re mechanical health at the time but just curious all the same.

I think I would consider sacrificing maybe 5lb/ft for perhaps nearly nudging the 400hps and
maybe a smoother torque graph in the lower section.

As an aside, has anyone tried the rather lovely looking ACT Carbon airboxes? Do they flow
any better than the originals? Dear Santa etc!!blabla

Sticky.
HP is essentially torque x RPM but in different units. If you can shift your torque curve higher up the rev range, you'll get more power. The cars that make the best peak power hold onto the torque for longer as the revs increase, which is mostly down to the engine's ability to breathe enough (intake, heads, exhaust). Also combustion efficiency at high rpm plays a part.


Edited by FarmyardPants on Thursday 1st March 14:14

stickylabels

Original Poster:

533 posts

92 months

Thursday 1st March 2018
quotequote all
Cheers Farmyardpants,

Makes sense. Breathing wise I would guess the ACT manifolds as Byker mentioned to me before
would potentially have a greater effect than fancy carbon airboxes in moving that air/gasses more
efficiently. However, those boxes do look nice!

Has anyone tried hydro dipping? My wiper arms need cheering up and Leven seem to not be able
to manage their version anymore. I spoke with their chap last year a few times and the site still
shows out of stock. My painting skills are.....think racehorse and glue smash and hydro dipping
seems to give a decent finish from what I've read so far. I also have the factory (?) carbon effect
airboxes and this might be more cost effective to just cheer them up if not too expensive.

Cheers
Sticky.

Byker28i

59,816 posts

217 months

Thursday 1st March 2018
quotequote all
If you get a quote for hydro dipping your airboxes, let me know how much as thats a thought as my engines in bits at the moment.

The ACT tuned length manifolds made approx a 15bhp difference on my car, so you're almost into £100 per 1 bhp. I got them as they were the only alternative to the badly cracked cast ones at the time.

Edited by Byker28i on Thursday 1st March 17:09

stickylabels

Original Poster:

533 posts

92 months

Thursday 1st March 2018
quotequote all
Will do Byker. In that case re the manifolds, mine are OK at the mo, so I think I shall wait!

Sticky.

ukkid35

6,175 posts

173 months

Friday 2nd March 2018
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Byker28i said:
Joolz smoothed mine right out, no lumps at all, bringing my torque in early.
I didn't mean lumps or bumps you can actually feel, I just meant the trace on the chart itself

It looks as if the two charts could actually be the same, because the detail is so closely aligned

ukkid35

6,175 posts

173 months

Friday 2nd March 2018
quotequote all
Byker28i said:
actproducts said:
Additional information
Weight - 20kg
Even if that includes packaging that sounds insane