Any problems over the years?
Discussion
My Cars done nearly 3K now, only thing I've had to change was the rear lower wishbone bushes. They take the entire load under Acceleration apparently; my car was built with road driving in mind so rose joints where out of the Question. (They would be even worse for road, to harsh.) So changing them every 8 Months is not a Problem, and only about £5 and an hour to change so not that expensive or time consuming. It's a race car so regular maintenance is Essential.
Love working on the car anyway, it's so easy and cheap to Maintain. Most expensive thing is the 9 Litres of Engine oil, wooop.
Love working on the car anyway, it's so easy and cheap to Maintain. Most expensive thing is the 9 Litres of Engine oil, wooop.
Eric
The chassis is powder coated so is very well protected. The Ali panels are riveted to the chassis in the following sequence:-
Drill holes in ali and chassis then deburr.
Spray Waxoyl into the holes which will neutralise any swarf that remains in the chassis tubes.
Apply body sealant along the frame at the joint with the Ali.
Rivet the panel in position and clean up excess sealant.
As you can see, a pretty sound build technique which does not leave too many rust opportunities.
The chassis is powder coated so is very well protected. The Ali panels are riveted to the chassis in the following sequence:-
Drill holes in ali and chassis then deburr.
Spray Waxoyl into the holes which will neutralise any swarf that remains in the chassis tubes.
Apply body sealant along the frame at the joint with the Ali.
Rivet the panel in position and clean up excess sealant.
As you can see, a pretty sound build technique which does not leave too many rust opportunities.
I went to the added length of filling the lower chasis rails with waxoil.
Funniest thing was when I thought my car had a small oil leak (small drips on garage floor) but couldn't work out why the drips were at the front of the car!......... it was of cause the black waxoil dripping through the rivit holes.
The extra waxoil seemed like a good idea at the time, but to be honest I don't think its necessary now. Appart from any holes you drill the chassis is completely sealed and powder coated.
Funniest thing was when I thought my car had a small oil leak (small drips on garage floor) but couldn't work out why the drips were at the front of the car!......... it was of cause the black waxoil dripping through the rivit holes.
The extra waxoil seemed like a good idea at the time, but to be honest I don't think its necessary now. Appart from any holes you drill the chassis is completely sealed and powder coated.
ive done 5k miles over 3 years in my spyder (same car under the skin) only problems seem to be the same as others... Flasher unit, brake switch, one brake master cly. and the rear bushes. Use the BLACK ones NOT the orange ones. The black ones last a lot longer, the orange ones are too soft and WILL wear out in 200-300 miles. There isnt anything else to go wrong really....
Interesting point about bushes wearing out in a few hundred miles. l had to replace mine prior to resetting the front suspension which in turn was required due to excess wear on the front tyres. Anyone else had that? The latest is an engine oil leak and loss of air con fluid, problems to be resolved before Le Mans.
I have done about 15,000 miles in my car over the last 2 years and appart form the wear on the front tyres, my main problem has been the alternator's apparent appetite for breaking mounting bolts. See various articles in Ultimatum for gorey detail. The solution is a relaxed fan belt.
Has anyone done more miles in theirs?
I have done about 15,000 miles in my car over the last 2 years and appart form the wear on the front tyres, my main problem has been the alternator's apparent appetite for breaking mounting bolts. See various articles in Ultimatum for gorey detail. The solution is a relaxed fan belt.
Has anyone done more miles in theirs?
I have now replaced the drive shafts with the ultima ones. Not broken them yet.
Also got a few gearbox related problems - due to the oil overheating with silly driving. I am going to fit a gearbox cooler before the full heat of the UK summer!
The throttle cable has become very corroded and needed a good clean and re-oiling.
Not yet looked at the back bushes. I have done almost 3000 miles in my car now.
How can you tell they are worn without removing them ?
Also got a few gearbox related problems - due to the oil overheating with silly driving. I am going to fit a gearbox cooler before the full heat of the UK summer!
The throttle cable has become very corroded and needed a good clean and re-oiling.
Not yet looked at the back bushes. I have done almost 3000 miles in my car now.
How can you tell they are worn without removing them ?
I killed my rear bushes in 1000miles, more a reflection of the hard life it had for the 1st 1000miles.
They have been fine in normal driving and I've coverer another 1500miles withour any wear. It's fairly visable as one side of the bush crushes to half the size of the other. Oh and its only the rear ones on mine.
I think they are mainly knocked out by standing starts but that won't stop me once the sun comes out.
Also don't get the idea that this is a problem as they are very cheap and easy to replace and on this car (in my view) should be thought upon as a consumable like the tyres!
They have been fine in normal driving and I've coverer another 1500miles withour any wear. It's fairly visable as one side of the bush crushes to half the size of the other. Oh and its only the rear ones on mine.
I think they are mainly knocked out by standing starts but that won't stop me once the sun comes out.
Also don't get the idea that this is a problem as they are very cheap and easy to replace and on this car (in my view) should be thought upon as a consumable like the tyres!
I had a fuel pump pack up on me a couple of days ago in the outside lane of a very busy M25. Not an ideal place to be when your engine suddenly decides to stop working and with no chance of diving for the sanctuary of the hard-shoulder. Fortunately???, it has happened to me once before, so when the engine began to hesitate and then finally died, I guessed what the problem was and quickly switched over to the other tank (and the other pump).
Am I just unlucky to have had both of the original fuel pumps give up in less than 7k miles? They are Facet Red Top pumps mounted on rubber "bobbins" low down on the rear bulkhead. I know that they do not like to operate in high ambient temperatures and as the whole of the underside of my car is panelled, (it keeps the dirt out), I have ducted outside air to them from two intakes in the floor panels.
Has anyone else had fuel pump problems or is it just me?
Am I just unlucky to have had both of the original fuel pumps give up in less than 7k miles? They are Facet Red Top pumps mounted on rubber "bobbins" low down on the rear bulkhead. I know that they do not like to operate in high ambient temperatures and as the whole of the underside of my car is panelled, (it keeps the dirt out), I have ducted outside air to them from two intakes in the floor panels.
Has anyone else had fuel pump problems or is it just me?
Alan 2 said: I had a fuel pump pack up on me a couple of days ago in the outside lane of a very busy M25. Not an ideal place to be when your engine suddenly decides to stop working and with no chance of diving for the sanctuary of the hard-shoulder. Fortunately???, it has happened to me once before, so when the engine began to hesitate and then finally died, I guessed what the problem was and quickly switched over to the other tank (and the other pump).
Am I just unlucky to have had both of the original fuel pumps give up in less than 7k miles? They are Facet Red Top pumps mounted on rubber "bobbins" low down on the rear bulkhead. I know that they do not like to operate in high ambient temperatures and as the whole of the underside of my car is panelled, (it keeps the dirt out), I have ducted outside air to them from two intakes in the floor panels.
Has anyone else had fuel pump problems or is it just me?
Alan - I've had several problems with Facet on the race cars. However, the factory now supply Carter pumps. Maybe it's time for an upgrade?
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