Special K

James - GPRM do a machined intake manifold which they use on their Avon British GT Championship car. Not cheap.. beatifully engineeered, as is every GPRM component. I was at Rockingham on Saturday to watch GT practice, had a chat with the GPRM mechanics - with a stock crank and forged pistons/rods they are running 2.2bar boost... <gulp>. And their GT86 was up there with the big boys - Astons, Z4's, Mercs. Fastest in practice 1... technical issue in race session two dropped them from second overall... I would seriously question whether the oem manifold would stand that sort of pressure. Spec K

Kesler - If you find you are 'bottoming out' on rear bump (which can happen on lowered springs, especially under acceleration 'squat' and uneven road surface) it could be worthwhile getting your mate Phil to cut down the (rubber) rear suspension bump stops. It's not a difficult job. If you do so, make sure you cut off from the narrow (lower) end of the cone-shaped rubber. Or phone Fensport - they can provide them (I think) Spec K

Hrrmph. Silver on blue is not 'bling' - it's 'classical retro'.

Bring it on! I love partying.. so long as nursey doesn't get an invite, those pyjamas she straps me into are so scratchy... I fancy the Barca run in August... Spec K

Awesome, man! And you never mentioned a frigging word! I am really, really, envious. Timed road sections? Any circuit experiences, or just karting? <.. musing...> Hmm... if 50 of us put in £300 each we could buy/prepare a 'Club' GT86 for next year... I'd throw in my tonka toy as support vehicle... bring it ON!!!.... Spec K

I cannot agree more, Lauren. To have adjustable active suspension, in cockpit, for the cost of Tein EDFC is astonishing. Dunno about Streetflex Z - is that what GT86 Ian has just had fitted? (Yes it is - just seen his reply..) And I see that BAE are now putting active suspension on Chieftan tanks... to save maintenance costs, no less! F1 technology for (ex) Tower Hamlets Mayoral transport...? Spec K

Grrr... all this chat, chat, rabbit, rabbit about 'bling'... what next, chromed nipples? The only 'Rocket Bunny' worth talking about is a high speed sanitiser in the ladies toilet... Am I still in the same Forum or have I regressed to a past life..? If you want to strut your stuff go to Spearmint Rhino.. Golden rule number one - if it's made to make your thing look pretty it's a waste of money. Golden rule number two - if in doubt refer to rule one. <Grumpy from Lunnun> :blink:

What does make a difference is the lower front 4-point bracing from Summit... Spec K

Sounds good, Lee. The oil cooler - where do you plan to mount it? Or is it the integral oil/water rad? Spec K

I am somewhat surprised that EVO don't mention the brakes... for me, that was the outstanding bit of their demo car. (Or mebbe they do... I can't read the whole scanned article..) Spec K

Yeah! I'd had a few beers.. and the girlies in the lapdance club had taken their wicked way with me.... .. I jumped on the underground at Holborn, sat down and a priest sat next to me... I opened the Evening Standard, read a few headlines and asked him a question - "Say, Father - what causes arthritis?" He looked at me ( yeah, I was smelling of beer, covered in lipstick...) and said - "My Son (and he was 50 years younger than me, ffs!), my son - it's caused by loose living, being with cheap, wicked women, too much alcohol, contempt for your fellow man, sleeping around with prostitutes and lack of a bath.." I muttered in response - "Well, I'll be damned!" and returned to my paper.. The priest, thinking about what he had said to me, nudged my arm and apologised - "I'm sorry" he said. " I did not mean to come on so strong. How long have you had arthritis?" I answered "I don't have it, Father. I was just reading here that the Pope has it..." Spec K

Needs an ECU controlled map with wastegate sensor. It's not rocket science. Abbey/Fensport have been doing it for years. Spec K

Andy uses Red Vector 1 on the road with just two gears -although he does have up to 1000bhp to play with... The existing (auto) first gear is hardly used at all and fifth in the autobox is the equivalent of top gear in the manual, so I don't think 3+1 would be too long. Spec K

Hi, I wonder if there is any Forum member in the Dudley area who may be able to help me out..? As many of you will be aware, I was forced to miss the opening round of the TSS by a broken auto transmission. Fensport managed to get this to Andy Frost of RedVector1 / Penn Motors fame and he has set about rebuilding it with upgraded parts. Andy was hoping to complete it by today and ship it back to Fensport. But I've not heard from him so I reckon it probably won't be finished until tomorrow. (I promised not to phone him, as I was taking him away from my rebuild!) If the box is not back with Fensport first thing Monday morning my hopes of competing at Blyton are doomed. There is just not enough time to get it into the car, re-plumbed and the car re-mapped. That, effectively, ends my TSS campaign this year, as I will have missed two of the six rounds and it's the best five results that count... four results won't cut the mustard.. I need a local member - preferably with an estate or similar wagon - who is willing, at the drop of a hat, to visit Andy at Penn, Woverhampton and collect my two boxes/torque converters and hold 'em until I get up there tomorrow afternoon/evening. Now - it may turn out to be a waste of time, as Andy may not have finished the rebuild - but, if anyone is able to help me please send me a PM with a mobile number wher I can contact you and I will text you back. Thanks Spec K

Some of Jeremy Clarkson's best quotes - Bentley Continental GT's suspension adjustability - " It really is about as useful as having a snooze button on a smoke alarm" BMW Z3 - "And if you are clinically insane, by which I mean you wake up in the morning and think you are an onion, here's your car" Ferrari F430 - "Now we get quite a lot of complaints that we don't feature enough affordable cars on the show, so we're kicking off tonight with the cheapest Ferrari of them all" Chevvy Corvette ZO6 - "In many ways then this car is like herpes. Great fun catching it but not so much fun to live with every day" Nissan Almera - "Telling people at a dinner party that you drive a Nissan Almera is like telling them you've got the Ebola virus and you're about to sneeze" Renault Espace - "This is the Renault Espace, probably the best of the people carriers. Not that that's much to shout about - it's like saying 'Oooh good I've got syphilis, the BEST of the sexually transmitted diseases" Porsche Cayenne - " I've seen better looking gangrenous wounds that this" Renaul Clio V6 handling bends - "In typical French fashion it gives up! A bit like the French did with the Germans" Suzuki Wagon R - "You do not just avoid the Suzuki Wagon R. Yo avoid it like you would avoid unprotected sex with an Ethiopian transvestite" Lotus Elise - "This car is more fun than the entire French Air Force crashing into a firework factory" Toyota Camry - "Whenever I'm suffering from insomnia, I just look at a picture of the Camry and I'm straight off" 4 seater convertibles - "The only person ever to look good in the back of a 4-seater convertible was Adolf Hitler" Nuclear submarines - " Britain's nucelar submarines have been deemed unsafe.... probably because they don't have wheelchair access" Bus Lanes - "I don't understand bus lanes. Why do poor people have to get to places quicker than I do?" Front Wheels - "asking the front wheels of a car to do their normal job of steering while handling more than 170hp is like asking a man to wire a plug while juggling penguins.. whilst making love... to a beautiful woman while on fire, on stage.. in front of the Queen. It'a all going to go wrong" Toyota GT86 - "This car is so much fun, you can drift it while reading a book. Look, I'm showing you.." Spec K

No? Then how do you explain yourself in this..? We can all see your handiwork, sir... http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=qybUFnY7Y8w Spec K

I'd get another arse if I was you, Nige... there's loads of them about... Spec K

I had the new clutches sitting at Fensport when the oem packed up - I bought them direct from SSP, not DSG. The original plan was to get the engine and trans rebuilt at the same time but delivery of the clutches was delayed, so I decided to re-install the engine using last years modified autobox, run in the engine and compete in the first Sprint before stripping and rebuilding the trans via Andy Frost. The rest, as they say, is history... Spec K

Excellent, Nige! Competition.... (Better hurry up though.... not sure I'll get my wife's approval for another year... and she don't know what this year has cost..!!) Spec K

Thanks for the good wishes, guys I collected from Andy yesterday afternoon - I am very, very, impressed by that guy's attention to detail, even down to fabricating a bracket to hold the coverter plate at tdc for Dave at Fensport to follow. He's a bit annoyed that we hadn't given him the whole car so he could slot it all back together and test it... when I get a chance I'll go back up there and let him have a test drive. He had kept the old dog clutches to show me - temperature killed 'em. Dropped all the bits off at Fensport 9.30am this morning.. No, Tareim. My original SSP upgrades were the stage 2 valve assembly body, torque converter and trans oil cooler (see their website). Now, if you are looking for a modicum increase in power (and still keep it docile for road use) I would recommend the stage 1 valve body assembly.... the stage 2 is very aggressive and gives you a belt up the backside when it changes at lower rpm (this is mentioned on SSP's website - you don't notice it a full throttle/high rpm) These proved more than adequate for 320bhp on sprint/drag use but extreme use on trackdays built up too much heat for the cooler to deal with adequately and cooked the original dog clutches. The latest upgrade, now fitted, are the high performance dog clutches. Plus Redline Lightweight ATF instead of Toyota ATF. This new trans fluid is recommended by Andy and is safe to 540 deg C - now stocked by Fensport 'cos I ordered double what I need just in case... I am also moving the trans oil cooler from behind the rear bumper (with electric fan) to the front of the car, ducting air via a (removed) foglight. The electric oil pump for the trans fluid will remain, of course. The engine oil cooler is being moved from in front of the intercooler to the other (removed) foglight. I am also taking a temp sensor from the transmission oil sump to a new guage fitted in the drivers fresh air vent with a red light warning/klaxon... this is one seriously expensive trans so I'm taking every precaution with it. We shall see if this cures the issue - oh, and a Seibon vented bonnet to aid cooling. If I was to look at competing again next year (with possibly more power, hehe ) I would have a serious chat with Andy. He has offered to build me a 'special' autotrans - 3 speed plus overdrive - based on a competition spec which is safe to 1200bhp. Would mean some serious gearbox mount fabrication and a custom-built prop... also it would be stick shift, not paddle - a sequential box but without a clutch. Of necessity it would be a closed-season project but we will have to see.. Spec K

Update at 8.20am - I emailed Andy and he responded immediately.... transmission rebuild is completed and he is awaiting the rebuilt converter which should be with him by 11.00am this morning. As soon as he lets me know all bits are available I'll leave for his place to collect... then it's up to Fensport to perform miracles between Monday and Friday... ... can I see a glimmer of light at the end of this dark tunnel..... ? Spec K

Always look on the bright side of.. <BANG!> Spec K

I can verify to the excellence of these calipers - it's what I use in the TSS, albeit with Ferodo DS2500 pads and StopTech rotors.. ... as Tlly says, you retain the front/rear balance using std rear calipers but the progressive feel on the fronts is way superior to the original. Spec K

See post re Dudley... :( Spec K

So am I.... Spec K