Bec gearbox and clutch up to 3 days of nurburgring action?
Bec gearbox and clutch up to 3 days of nurburgring action?
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Discussion

teabagger

Original Poster:

723 posts

221 months

Tuesday 24th March 2009
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Hi all

I am in the market for a 7 style car (once the M3 sells).
I am booked up for a nurburgring trip in June for 3 days.
I am wondering if a bec would have a problem in the g/box clutch department with this sustained Nurburgring punishment.
Would the clutch take it, do i need to take a replacement?
Is the g/box of a blade or R1 up to it.

Or should I look at at a cec if this is my intended use?

I have been looking at a westfield with a vauxhall xe 2.0 'redtop' and a type 9 g/box.

Any thoughts on either setup would be much appreciated.

Benzini

122 posts

205 months

Tuesday 24th March 2009
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Also looking for a 7 myself for track day action an d a run to the ring in the summer!

Also waiting for my M3 to sell lol

Interested to hear these responces..

are you intending to drive the car over or trailer it over?


teabagger

Original Poster:

723 posts

221 months

Wednesday 25th March 2009
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I will be driving!

Jon Ison

1,304 posts

257 months

Wednesday 25th March 2009
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Took seven years of total abuse before 4th gear dogs gave up my blade engine, during that time I used 3 clutches, abuse included Le mans x 2, 2 up, camping gear complete with associated burn outs and donuts, track day upon track day, 6 hour two up endurance event at Mallory and much more, clutch should be fine, your not going to be using it to change up so once it has engaged your not realy "doing it any arm" take a spare set of plates though, 30 min job.

JRM Rossi

703 posts

213 months

Wednesday 25th March 2009
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HI my advise is make sure the car you buy has the right diff ! mine was built for hill climbs its not too good on the open rd @ high speed as it max,s out @ 103 (less than 9 sec) but im working on the new diff now & larger tyres as for the clutch how much abuse has it had, mabe its worth changing it when you get it? "go for it" with a bec you will get the skyline smile but bigger.....

Busa_Rush

6,930 posts

275 months

Wednesday 25th March 2009
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BEC gearboxes and clutches will easily take 3 days at the ring, will do a year at the ring if you want as long as you respect them.

matt frost

783 posts

275 months

Wednesday 25th March 2009
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It should be no problems at all.

I am only 1 year into ownership of a Megabusa and no problems yet. I've heard of BEC's doing 18,000 track only miles with no issues other than a replaced clutch cable. Bike engines are fairly reliable if left standard.

I would try and do a quick UK trackday first to see if you get any problems and then iron them out before the Ring though. Buying a used one, anything could be wrong and it could be a wasted trip to Germany....especially if you are driving it there...which is pretty hardcore.

dean100yz

4,582 posts

208 months

Wednesday 25th March 2009
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matt frost said:
It should be no problems at all.

I am only 1 year into ownership of a Megabusa and no problems yet. I've heard of BEC's doing 18,000 track only miles with no issues other than a replaced clutch cable. Bike engines are fairly reliable if left standard.

I would try and do a quick UK trackday first to see if you get any problems and then iron them out before the Ring though. Buying a used one, anything could be wrong and it could be a wasted trip to Germany....especially if you are driving it there...which is pretty hardcore.
Im with Matt on this one - especially the last bit. Mine was bought used and has had a good few things go wrong that I have either strengthened or replaced. I would highly rec. a cheap 1/2day UK trackday first to make sure its all ok.

The clutch is barely used so as long as your not constantly 'flying gear change' or slipping it will last. My engine is 12 years old done around 20k now and still runs sweet. Found after a good 100+ mile thrashing it can burn a very small amount of oil but as long as there kept std (exhaust and filter are fine) they run for ages

Again as Rossi said too. Make sure the gearing, settings etc are all setup for what you want.

Furyblade_Lee

4,114 posts

248 months

Wednesday 25th March 2009
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I doubt the gearbox will even notice it's on the ring! As the other guys say, gearing will be important or it will quickly become annoying to say the least! And make sure you have the sump baffled if whatever engine you choose requires it. That's why I love the early blade cars, just chuck the engine in no mods, 3.54 English diff and 130mph of indestructible fun to be had at the 'ring!

dean100yz

4,582 posts

208 months

Wednesday 25th March 2009
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Furyblade_Lee said:
I doubt the gearbox will even notice it's on the ring! As the other guys say, gearing will be important or it will quickly become annoying to say the least! And make sure you have the sump baffled if whatever engine you choose requires it. That's why I love the early blade cars, just chuck the engine in no mods, 3.54 English diff and 130mph of indestructible fun to be had at the 'ring!
Yep thats exactly what I got. Never taken it out without revving it to the red. Do it everytime Im out and it never misses a beat. Do check oil though and keep them just off the max on the eye glass

antnicuk

351 posts

212 months

Wednesday 25th March 2009
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your gearbox will be fine but your ears will be bleeding by the time you get there. If you are planning several trips to the ring, my personal choice would be a CEC or even better a REC.

Furyblade_Lee

4,114 posts

248 months

Wednesday 25th March 2009
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Dont be soft! I drove mine BEC 2,300 miles through the Alps to Monte Carlo last summer, not once did the revs annoy me. Just stuck my MP3 on nice and loud and drove to the Sun. Its no different at all to riding a Superbike, maybe just a bit more comfortable.

antnicuk

351 posts

212 months

Wednesday 25th March 2009
quotequote all
Furyblade_Lee said:
Dont be soft! I drove mine BEC 2,300 miles through the Alps to Monte Carlo last summer, not once did the revs annoy me. Just stuck my MP3 on nice and loud and drove to the Sun. Its no different at all to riding a Superbike, maybe just a bit more comfortable.
good point i spose, without a screen you will be wearing a helmet. I always wear foam ear plugs when i ride my bike, which is every day. I havent ridden to the ring, but i wouldnt fancy 5 hours of wearing a helmet and ear plugs and getting buffeted, My kit car has a curved windscreen and a roof so no buffeting and no much noise but then i'm a soft southern jessie smile

Edited by antnicuk on Wednesday 25th March 22:28

Furyblade_Lee

4,114 posts

248 months

Wednesday 25th March 2009
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So am I!

teabagger

Original Poster:

723 posts

221 months

Thursday 26th March 2009
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I own a bike so I know what its like sitting on a motorway for miles getting blown around.
When I finally get a '7', I imagine I'll wear a helmet most of the time.

I think the 'extreme' comment regarding driving a '7' to the ring is part of the appeal for me. The m3 makes the 800 miles to the ring into a lesurly cruize- I want some thing abit more exiciting.

I notice there is a choice of inboard and outboard front suspension setups. Can anyone advise me on which cars the inboard suspension is available on and what its pros and cons are?

Also, in the car adverts, engines and gearboxes are normaly mentioned but what cars do the diffs normally come from and what ratios do i need to be looking for for a 130mph top speed when used with most bike engines or a type 9 g/box?

Thanks for the info.
(I popped into a local 7 meet last night just to get a sneek peek at the cars in the flesh- I am hooked)

matt frost

783 posts

275 months

Thursday 26th March 2009
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Furyblade_Lee said:
Dont be soft! I drove mine BEC 2,300 miles through the Alps to Monte Carlo last summer, not once did the revs annoy me. Just stuck my MP3 on nice and loud and drove to the Sun. Its no different at all to riding a Superbike, maybe just a bit more comfortable.
But much lower revs on a bike surely? As bikes have longer gear ratios, so a little less annoying, other than that, yours is a good point. I have never had the need to drive with headphones on though, I imagine it would help boredom. Not that it bothers me, but is it actually legal and do you find you have to concentrate more or can you still hear the engine fine?

I'll be trailering the Westie over to the Ring, but I have said before that if I didn't have a trailer or any access to a trailer then I would drive it if it was my only option.

Furyblade_Lee

4,114 posts

248 months

Thursday 26th March 2009
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I don't have the music on do drown out the engine!! 80mph is about 7000rpm in mine, so I would imagine that is like doing 90-100 on a bike?? I only have one earpiece in, which doubles up as telephone too. You only get background music that way, and I can hear emergency vehicles ect fine. I did however put both earpieces in to do the famous Davos to Stelvio Pass road, with Jamiroquai pumping all the way. Ahhh the memories of 9 of us passing the superbikes....

DAN3M

138 posts

224 months

Thursday 26th March 2009
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Whats the ring like with one of these cars?

Would imageine that they are ok round the benhds but the straights would be a bit boring.

drskodd

95 posts

217 months

Thursday 26th March 2009
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DAN3M said:
Whats the ring like with one of these cars?

Would imageine that they are ok round the benhds but the straights would be a bit boring.
Only been there a couple of times, but from memory even the straighter bits are still bendy. Taking the BEC in May for a potter round, just hope it doesn't rain much!

matt frost

783 posts

275 months

Thursday 26th March 2009
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DAN3M said:
Whats the ring like with one of these cars?

Would imageine that they are ok round the benhds but the straights would be a bit boring.
Well going by your logic, thats the same on every track though isn't it?

Besides, there aren't that many straights, and as has been said, they are all bendy and hilly anyway. Plus, given the larger lap they only come round as often as the main straight would on any other track...and the main straight isn't even properly used on TF days.

I imagine doing the Ring in a kit car would be about as good as it gets for a petrolhead!

Edited by matt frost on Thursday 26th March 15:51