Notax compact update

[notax]

Well, Schrick cams still haven't arrived Had to fit new engine in car less cams which isn't ideal but otherwise would run out of time as car needs a new custom exhaust to be made and various other bits and pieces.

At least the car has a working mechanical handbrake now (for the first time since it was built )
I've bought some tiny separate calipers as the standard Aston Martin ones that match are bigger than most car's front calipers and weigh a ton!

We are going to experiment with a standard Evo radiator at first - I never had any issues with the blue car running one. If the size is ok I'll get a lightweight one made up - and this time ensure it has good flow...

[notax]

Just been to see Zippy, we've been promised the new cams tomorrow. Greg has done a brilliant job fitting the new handbarke calipers and fabricating the new exhaust which really does look superb - can't wait to hear it I checked the noise of the last system he built and it is 126DB at 3500 revs He is able to bring it down to 104db when required and is hopeful Zippy's will come in under 100. As there is no wadding in the system it shouldn't ever get any louder. If we are too loud there is just enough space to fit and extra silencer if needed. New engine is in, less cams and car is looking good having just had a bit of a refresh in the paint shop. Will try and remember camera next time

[phiwp66]

well the drenth went back in the escort and caerwent was its first event, first stage mark reported that the box was the best its ever been (still sounds like it doesn't have any bearings in the box though) second stage hit a caerwent curb and snapped a bottom arm, end of play.
back out on the 21st of october for pembrey so we will see what happens there

[notax]

Thanks for the update - unfortunately I have run out of cash before being able to get a Drenth The new engine has cost me far, far more than I budgetted for and given a huge amount of grief. In the end we went with recommendations and I had the car towed up to Wayne the Brain in Rochdale - a massive journey from the south coast. The car and my rally prep guy have been at Wayne's for two full days - against expectation. There were more problems with cam timing issues and various other problems. The good news is Wayne is apparently as good as his reputation and the car now runs sweetly - albeit with a bad oil leak from the cam timing cover - see 'engines section' if you can advise...

Another unexpected issue is that I was running a Superchips map without knowing it, so Wayne had to deal with the changes on that too.

Apparently the car sounds awesome but is off the scale loud partly due to the exhaust - which will need another box adding but also because of the pimpy carbon airbox. Can't wait to hear it scream! Next event is this weekend - two day event Regency Stages. New venue for me, I haven't driven the car for 4 months and we are seeded 10th...

Forgot to mention the power figures....

It apparently got up to about 330bhp at the flywheel, but the torque curve suffered so it has been knocked back a bit and now pulls really well but 'only' produces 320bhp. I was aiming for 330bhp but a genuine 320 isn't too shabby. Looking forward to my test drive (shame its going to be the first stage of a new event...)

[rallyka]

I am going to Regency stages this weekend to see Mike Threllfall, so will pop in and pinch some ideas for my compact...Andy

[notax]

Be good to meet you I need to update my photos on here, but the car I'll be in will be my red compact not the original one that keeps appearing underneath everything I type! Mike and I nearly had a coming together at the last event - combination of my incompetence and his determination to get by...

[bruvs1]

glad you went to wayne, and what did i tell you about that exhaust!! power figures sound good, and some in reserve too!!

[notax]

Yes, great advice thanks Greg has now got the car back in the workshop and having taken the front pulley off he can see that there is a big crack across the timing chain cover which wasn't there when he built it I suggested it may have been over tightened but he doesn't think so. With a number of dead M3 engines to my name we do at least have some spare covers and it seems that 3.0 and 3.2 are the same afterall.

Greg has another long night ahead of him and my bill is getting ever more massive Jobs before tomorrow:

Put whole front car car back together
Re tap rocker cover bolts
Add another box to new exhaust - and noise check again
Fit 12v cigarette lighter for Potti
Fit lamp pod (already been on car so should be straight forward)
Fit new wipers

That's what I can remember anyway...

[hsr2.6]

Good luck for the weekend Chris, hope the car will carry you through without problems......

[notax]

Thanks - not quite how it turned out I'll post write up later!

[notax]

Sorry for delay since last post, as you may have read elsewhere the car failed again - after one mile

One of the brand new driveshafts failed having just negotiated the purpose built jump - I've got a photo of us airborne but having broken up with Miss Notax I don't have anyone to help me post it! I've always been crap with technology

Various other cars retired with broken shafts so we weren't alone. It seems that the beam bent and this probably didn't help the driveshaft...

The car is now up and running again and I'm driving it on the road for the next couple of days to test it out. With the new carbon airbox and race engine it is insanely noisy inside and feels quick, albeit not quite as explosive as I'd hoped - I still think it'll be a major handful in the cold and wet though...

[bruvs1]

hope you have a better run next week, sorry to hear about the miss notax split. are you looking for a new rally bitch now?

[notax]

hope you have a better run next week, sorry to hear about the miss notax split. are you looking for a new rally bitch now?

In no great rush!

[M3 Compact]

Commiserations on both counts, notax.

[notax]

Our luck still hasn't improved - thats 6DNF in a row!!! This time the diff blew after one stage

This was the first time I'd run the car with in board springs in the standard position rather than coil overs. With no testing to set the car up the handling wasn't as good as before with the car understeering badly on the tighter turns. In spite of this and us getting a little lost we finished the first stage in 14th against a pretty strong entry.

At the very start of stage 2 the diff blew.

A complete sod, not least because I've been waiting literally 6 months for a new diff to arrive. It finally arrived before the rally but all I got was the LSD unit, no CWP and no casing. I had expected a complete diff and remember the seller saying he had a mint casing, would supply the CWP etc... He now denies that. I'll have to look at the invoice and see what it actually says

The diff I was using had only completed two full events since it was rebuilt with a brand new CWP which was supplied by the same chap the new diff is coming from. He blames the builder of the diff and I have no idea where the blame lies. The diff builder is a specialist used by the new chap running my car and he has never had an issue with him before.

So now I have one incomplete diff, that has so far cost £1056 and will need a casing (£150) and a CWP £250 and building with new bearing etc which I'm told will add another £450. With postage we're looking at over £1800 all in. This is far more than I expected, but is it a fair price? It is a GRipper diff which I hope is ok? I also now need another CWP for the diff that has blown after only two events. The bearings are all ok. Not sure whether to get the CWP from the same chap or try somewhere else? He has now offered me two CWPs for £400... Any advice? The CWPs are new ...

We finished 6th in the championship we were contending - would have been well into the trophies without all the recent DNFs