My first bit of carbon fibre....

Lashout_UK · 16 Jan 2007 at 14:19

OK so it's a tiny piece!

I've always been a fan of Autometer gear but wether I'll fit this or not I'm uncertain - I'll wait till I can look at it in the car. I couldn't refuse it at the price hence the purchase...can always sell it on. The blue rubber cover over the lamp is removed at the moment, I prefer it without but it's to prevent dazzle at night.

It's a lovely bit of kit though - 5" monster tacho - green illuminated dial (so it'll 'match' my Smiths!), high-intensity blue shiftlight (changeable though, would be tempted to go for yellow), variable shift point, max RPM recall, the works. Also, it's very accurate which is part of the reason for getting it so I actually know what's going on.

Really weighty too, nice solid heft to it. I might get a few matching gauges for the other bits that may appear soon. I'd like a carbon fibre ACT plenum and rampipes for my 3.5 but they're so expensive it's insane, especially for what 'little' you recieve - so I'm tempted to have a go at making my own (especially after seeing one of the Retro-Rides members - who's exceedingly skilled - make a fantastic intake system). Time will tell I guess ...

Also recieved:

And:

1904788890.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_V65933156_.jpg

I'm sure you can see where this is headed

saitrix · 16 Jan 2007 at 14:21

Haha nice to see you're getting on with it.

Lashout_UK · 16 Jan 2007 at 14:23

Yes! I've found that an additional 200BHP's worth of nitrous oxide with a progessive controller is not an unreasonable demand from a near-stock 3.5 with appropriate fuelling and cooling modifications. It will also stop me from hopefully having to rework the rear axle for the meantime as it'll come in smoothly and not rip the diff to pieces.

I've decided that I want to get as close as possible to the 0-60 of a lot of modern supercars, so as soon as I get it under 5 seconds I'll be quite happy

(to say the least!)

saitrix · 16 Jan 2007 at 14:38

What you doing about the wheels/tyres then for extra grip?

Lashout_UK · 16 Jan 2007 at 14:48

<pedant> grip's not really going to be the issue </pedant>

I think I'll be following Phil in some respects - I'll fit a Panhard rod (off a Fiesta, would you believe it) to aid the location of the rear axle, stop any side to side motion and stop it tramping too much.....softer rear springs on the rear a la the racecars - say 300lb on the front and 180lb on the rear to give a nose up attitude....

Ideally wider wheels would be nice but that's something I'll come to later

The nice thing about the N20 kits is that it's simple to change the jets from as low as 25BHP to......infinity and beyond! So can deal with that issue as it arises

Mr_Sukebe · 16 Jan 2007 at 14:54

Surely "nice and weighty" and "carbon fibre" shouldn't mix together?

Lashout_UK · 16 Jan 2007 at 14:57

Only the gauge's face is CF

saitrix · 16 Jan 2007 at 15:02

Lashout_UK said:
<pedant> grip's not really going to be the issue </pedant>

I think I'll be following Phil in some respects - I'll fit a Panhard rod (off a Fiesta, would you believe it) to aid the location of the rear axle, stop any side to side motion and stop it tramping too much.....softer rear springs on the rear a la the racecars - say 300lb on the front and 180lb on the rear to give a nose up attitude....

Ideally wider wheels would be nice but that's something I'll come to later The nice thing about the N20 kits is that it's simple to change the jets from as low as 25BHP to......infinity and beyond! So can deal with that issue as it arises

Should be better when you do that. Plus with the soft rear suspension it makes it look like you are always accelerating hard.

Did you know who's Dolly it was at Autosport by the way?

Lashout_UK · 16 Jan 2007 at 15:03

No - but I've seen it before - competes a lot in the "Top Hat" series

pinkaardvark · 16 Jan 2007 at 15:09

Guage seems to say carbon fiber. is the spelling mistake a sign of quality or just coz it isn't actually carbon fibre and they didn't want to get sued. Also why state the fact on the dial? it's like painting the word car on your car.

Lashout_UK · 16 Jan 2007 at 15:11

It does say Carbon Fiber indeed - 'coz it's damned American

pinkaardvark · 16 Jan 2007 at 15:12

Lashout_UK said:
It does say Carbon Fiber indeed - 'coz it's damned American

Ah that explains it. Plus the americans need everything labelled clearly in case they forget what it was.

Mark A · 16 Jan 2007 at 15:12

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_fiber according to this thats how its spelled :confused:

.

Lashout_UK · 16 Jan 2007 at 15:18

From that Wiki:

Carbon fiber or carbon fibre (See spelling differences)

> Spelling differences

American and British English spelling differences

volospian · 16 Jan 2007 at 15:29

So what sort of HP are you aiming for in total?

Jonnycoupe · 16 Jan 2007 at 15:34

pinkaardvark said:
Guage seems to say carbon fiber. is the spelling mistake a sign of quality or just coz it isn't actually carbon fibre and they didn't want to get sued. Also why state the fact on the dial? it's like painting the word car on your car.

Is that why you mispelt gauge, to avoid the English dictionary sue police

cloudy · 16 Jan 2007 at 15:48

That hurts my eyes! i'm a personal disbeliever in using carbon fibre for cosmetic effect, especially on dial faces where it makes reading the information harder....

Just my opinion of course....

jimblowscash · 16 Jan 2007 at 16:11

where did you get the guage? and can you get anymore at reasonable cost?
i need to re guage the mini but cant decide between analogue dials or a stax dash system

IainB · 16 Jan 2007 at 16:51

Lashout_UK said:
Yes! I've found that an additional 200BHP's worth of nitrous oxide with a progessive controller is not an unreasonable demand from a near-stock 3.5 with appropriate fuelling and cooling modifications. It will also stop me from hopefully having to rework the rear axle for the meantime as it'll come in smoothly and not rip the diff to pieces.

You need to make sure your ignition is WELL up to the job, a std one wont cut it, Tony (V8Kid) has only just gone upto 100bhp after a couple of years playing with 50 / 75 extra.
Shame I sold all my Rover stuff off so cheap - would have been nice to see it go to a good home.

Lashout_UK · 16 Jan 2007 at 17:37

You need to make sure your ignition is WELL up to the job, a std one wont cut it, Tony (V8Kid) has only just gone upto 100bhp after a couple of years playing with 50 / 75 extra.

Yea, that's what started this all off - but on the same forum is the guy with the MGB V8 running a well-balanced 3.5 and that's on 200 - I won't be jumping straight to that though

Definitely going to be progressively controlled though, the potential for gains is oh so much higher

Ignition and fuelling will be Megasquirted or I might be tempted to follow Tony with his VEMs as it does seem a very sensible alternative.

I'm looking at running a twin plenum, ARP bottom end, lightened and balanced rotating assembly and a good thorough overhaul (2nd engine to be built up whilst I drive the current one), Rhoades lifters, decent cam, few tweaks and tunes - usual drill....power would probably be something like 200BHP and 250lb/ft and whatever extra on top.

Friend showed me dyno outputs from his EFiD 3.5 that'd been tweaked recently and was generating a remarkable 260BHP....but I doubt wether that was an accurate reading...bit high for a 3.5....

Saw Nick Mann's minor - single turbo, nitrous oxid'd 6~:1 compression ratio 22psi 3.5 .... runs 500BHP

and 300BHP streetably...tempting!

where did you get the guage? and can you get anymore at reasonable cost?
i need to re guage the mini but cant decide between analogue dials or a stax dash system

eBay for this one - and yes, Autometer sell a full selection of gauges - almost everything! Retail on a full rev counter like this is around 220 quid over here...not sure on the others.

http://www.autometer.com/cat_gaugeseries.aspx

My first bit of carbon fibre....

Man of Honour