Bumblebee 2 featuring LY R26

[Brigsy]

Updates

R26 had loads of use lately, makes a decent daily driver. Fast enough, around 30mpg, handles great and fun to drive.

Needs a wash.


To continue with the clubsport feel ive added a D7r rear strut brace and Jp Clubsport net to the rear.

Clubsport.

Quick wash on Sunday.

Clean.



If we get some decent weather this weekend will bleed the brakes and refit the compomotives.

Thanks for reading!!

 

[Brigsy]

Updates.

Finally flushed the brake fluid on Thursday. Ive been putting this off for ages as the bleed nipples on the brembos were solid when i tried a while back.

I managed to break 3 of them loose - using my induction heater, quenching with plus gas and tightening/loosening them. Final one broke loose then nipped and snapped as anticipated :cautious:

Id planned for this in advance and had a good used set of brembo calipers in stock so fitted them.

Good used calipers fitted.



Flushed brake fluid through with Motul Rbf600 and also flushed clutch hydraulics a load of old shite fluid came out of the clutch. Also fitted ferodo ds1.11 front pads in prep for some track work.

Massive improvement to pedal feel - brakes are super sharp, confident that they will stop and withstand hard track use as used the same setup with great results previously.

On removal of the old brembo calipers, I also noted they had a couple of tight pistons so due a rebuild, so did not turn out too bad in the end.

As weather is good got the compomotive mo6 back out to refit.

Quick clean.



Fitted.



Popped down to Croft on Friday..was going to try and get on for PM session but looked super busy/red flags so rain checked it.

Lids in the back ready for track action.



Croft. Next time.


Mot due early April..dont anticipate any issues so will get that sorted then booked up for some trackdays.

 

[Brigsy]

Sunday update.

Had spare half hour so cleaned up the seatbelts..they were super grotty and retracting pretty slow.

Mixed up a bucket of vanish oxy action and got the drill brush out. Quick soak in the bucket and buzz over with the brush.

Before - drivers belt was even worse was black



After - much better



Unfortunately they still retract quite slow but was worth a shot.

Thanks for reading!!

 

[Adey]

have you tried fully extending them and spraying the last few inches where it enters the reel with some lube then working them back and forth? has worked for me in the past

 

[Brigsy]

Updates

Seatbelts actually work spot on again after drying out period, retract fully..amazing what a simple clean has done.

Took for mot a few weeks back, passed no dramas as expected.

Running great as usual and been using it a couple of times a week.

Usual anti social parking



As ive been procrastinating and not using it for its intended trackday fun yet - ive booked a full day up at Croft on the 13th May. Its been a couple of years since last time at Croft so hopefully my driving wont be too rusty, and hopefully the extensive prep/repairs will result in a good day.

Small list to do before Croft.

Change oil and filter. This is optional really as current oil has only done about 1500 road miles but got loads of 5/40 and filters in stock so will do it.

Fit Ds1.11 pads back in the front. Bought a set of Ozert engineering pins for the brembos to make pad swaps a little easier.

Posh pins


Bought a copy scangauge aka "turbogauge". Turned up broken however but soon fixed with a bit of soldering, works good does basically all the scangauge can do. Ill get this fitted to monitor coolant temps and ait. Might be temporary as unsure if i like it or not but will serve a purpose.

Turboo



Also need to decide what tyres to use. I have yoko a048 medium hard semi slicks and pilotsport 5. Will decide near the day and weather forecast.

Thanks for reading!!

 

[andybond]

full day up at Croft on the 13th May

I assume my invite was lost in the post?

On a serious note let me know when you have had enough of this. I seem to have infected eldest Bond with the curse.

 

[Brigsy]

I assume my invite was lost in the post?

On a serious note let me know when you have had enough of this. I seem to have infected eldest Bond with the curse.

It was a sporadic purchase as it was listed as limited places left and i realised i had a fcuk load of javelin points in my account which made the price very attractive. Sold out shortly after!

Just hope weather is better than current shite.

It will be with me until after CSF and then ill decide whats happening. Everything is for sale at the right price!

 

[andybond]

It was a sporadic purchase as it was listed as limited places left and i realised i had a fcuk load of javelin points in my account which made the price very attractive. Sold out shortly after!

Just hope weather is better than current shite.

It will be with me until after CSF and then ill decide whats happening. Everything is for sale at the right price!

TBH I prolly shouldnt do a trackday 4 days before I head to Spa.


Ill message you ...

 

[Brigsy]

Updates

Croft prep last week.

First job pad change back to Ferodo ds1.11 and fit the posh pins. I refit stock pads for road use as saves the wear and excessive brake dust.

Full suspension check over, all good.



Ferodo Ds1.11 and Ozert engineering pins.



Regreased swivel bearings with grease gun whilst there as its had a winter of use.

Next job was fitting the chinese knock off Scangauge rep aka Turbogauge IV. I bought this for nothing off FB marketplace and it turned up broken ish with the rear connector not working. Stripped down, sweated the rear connector back onto the circuit board and all good. Ten mins to fit under stereo, location not ideal but its for a quick glance if coolant gauge starts moving a bit.

The vital numbers.



Next job was oil and filter, Valvoline 5/40 fully synth RN710 spec and Purflux filter. Took advantage of some ramp time at local garage, saves cleaning the oil off the drive after f4r oil filter change - as it pisses down your arm and everywhere else apart from the drip tray. Old oil was super clean prob didnt need it to be fair.

Easy work.



Oil down your arm as per every f4r.



Whilst there i had the ac recharged as weather is picking up. Ive changed condensor and seals, its gassed up and working spot on, see if it holds this time.

Ice cold again.



With that done give the interior a 20min clean as not been done in ages.

Good enough.


Helmets in back ready to go.

 

[Brigsy]

Updates

With the decent weather finally here, fitted the technomagnesio wheels with yoko a048 for Croft.

On the Makro run to test.


Turn in on semi slicks compared to pilotsport5 is immense. Steering feels direct but on the negative side, less comfort and more noise.

Monday comes and get to Croft early for sign on with the Kangoo as support vehicle, and my mate came along in his vxr for his first trackday. The roads were a bit damp initially and i was questioning my tyre choices.

Cloudy.



Passed noise test and they said 104db? Im sure their testing gear is not reading right as its pretty quiet but a pass is a pass.

Sighting laps.


Weather soon picked up and sun came out, went out for loads of sessions on track. Was good to meet @SharpyClio and catch up with @Mr Underhill and a few others.

No real issues to report, the handling is great, engine running nice in mid 20 deg ambient temps. Could hot lap back to back without too much hassle and making decent progress.

Working ac in the pit lane and on cooldown laps was great.

Only issue i had was the gearstick bush starting to stick again when hot so needs reaming out more, and the drivers skills are a bit rusty as not had much track action:LOL:

Leg killer towing eye in.


LY friend in the paddock.



Last session out i had a few laps with @Mr Underhill which was mega. I was in front for a bit and let him past and chased him for a bit.

At this point i noticed that the car was getting a bit loose and i assumed i was overdriving it a little or just fatigued as at the end of the day. I also was starting to notice a little vibration on the front which assumed was either rubber pickup or whatever.

At that i called it a successful trackday with around 130 miles done lapping the circuit and set off for the 25mile journey home. Just after Stockton on the A66 i noted i was having to give the steering wheel 10deg or so input to the right to keep the car straight, and i assumed id knocked the geo out a little or something was going on the piss, tyre wear or whatever. Next thing a load of noise and i thought a wheel had come loose/about to come off even though i had retorqued earlier, luckily was a layby nearby so pulled in.

Front n/s tyre was totally flat but looked reasonably ok without jacking up. Tried to blow it up with my compressor to get it to a better location but no joy.

Ffs.


No spare wheel so shot home in the Kangoo to pick my jack up and a pair of the compomotives to fit.

Inspected tyre and it appears to have started to fall to bits/blew out. The tyres are ten years old and show no signs of deterioration as stored in the garage on a wheel stand, and i wasnt really riding the kerbs/correct hot tyre pressures as had a bit of mechanical sympathy. N/s front taking all the loading on the fast corners has pushed it over the edge, or possibly damaged it at Anglesey last year??

Lessons learned - bin any track tyre over 5 years old. Would have been a disaster of it had let go on track.

Bit naughty.



Carcass has deformed.


Kangoo to the rescue.


With the compomotives fitted again the steering is now straight and no furthur vibrations.

The other 3 tyres are going in the bin and i have a fresh set of Ar1's to try next for Anglesey.

Thanka for reading!!

 

[Renny 5]

You’ll love AR1’s, they’re really good!! I was blown away by them.

 

[Brigsy]

You’ll love AR1’s, they’re really good!! I was blown away by them.

Cant wait to try them. Fresh rubber should make a good improvement to handling.

 

[Brigsy]

A few pics from Croft. Still pleased on how well it performed on first outing.

 

[Brigsy]

Small update.

Treated it to a retrimmed steering wheel as the original R26 wheel was past its best.

Had it trimmed in smooth nappa leather top and bottom, perforated nappa leather sides finished off with oem Lamborghini nappa leather yellow marker and yellow stitching.

All done by Ottoretrims. The finish/quality is excellent.

Fresh





Had a spare ten mins today so fitted it.

Massive improvement over oem.


Makes it a much nicer place to be and fresh leather smells awesome.

Thanks for reading!!

 

[Adey]

great touch that

 

[Brigsy]

Updates

Washed the r26 last week as it looked a right state after Croft. Front was peppered with flies and rubber marks all over the sills/lower doors.

Scrubs up ok.




Changed the oil and filter for fresh again, took advantage of some free lift time when my mates garage is quiet. Oil came out looking clean as it had only done 300 mile since last change, 130miles on track so probably didnt need doing but it costs nowt to change.

Another arm full of oil removing f4r oil filter.



Also had a couple of small issues to fix. The ac dryer had popped off the bracket on inner wing for some reason which makes the ac pipe rattle like feck on idle which resonates through the dash. Same thing happened on blue 225 years ago its a 2min fix, clip back on and rubber under ac pipe. Also the rear exhaust heatshield was rattling on increased idle with ac on, as it had corroded away around a bolt hole and making it flap about. This was under the plastic boot floor edge so got away with driving a small self tapper with a washer on it to secure. Its pretty much rattle free now and is a much nicer place to be.

Done some other work last weekend. Airbag ecu recalibrated on ph1 clio v6 with can clip. The ph1 v6 is a bit tricky to get into on clip as it does not auto populate vin but not difficult.

5 mins and done. V6 stance is epic.

 

[Brigsy]

Small update.

A while ago i reamed out the selector bush back to 10mm to stop the famous megane stiff shifter issue. Its caused no issues on the street but was starting to stick with heatsoak after several laps of Croft making me miss 4th and hit 6th gear etc, luckily it sticks to drivers side so cant money shift.

Revisited this morning with 10.5mm reamer for more clearance. Again done in situ due to the bodged on plate from previous owner, only took ten mins.

Its loads better now and hopefully no more issues.

Reem again with ratchet spanner to make life easy.



Greased up and refitted and hopefully the end of that.

Thanks for reading!!

 

[Brigsy]

Updates.

Quick blast to Croft a couple of weeks ago as an Opentrack day was on.



Gearchange 100% sorted no furthur issues. Also ac is still working spot on a few weeks after gassing so id say thats fixed. Nice having it working now weather is picking up.

Fitted a pair of carbon rear arch protectors from Mega Carbon. They kindly done a set as a one off for me as they aren't producing parts at the moment. Quality is mega and a very good fit.

Bonded on.






Also give it a wash with the rest as the birds had pebbledashed it and the front wheels were pitted with brake dust from regular use.

Ly pops when clean.



Interior had a once over too.





Wheel swap and should be good to go for Anglesey (Touch wood).

Thanks for reading!!

 

[Brigsy]

Updates

Done 470mile road trip to Norwich in the r26 last week to view another car.

Brimmed with momentum 99



Crap services on A1



Sneak preview of the new addition. Another meg 250 cup.

Was too good to turn down so the mrs bought it. Hers and his yellow megs.



R26 is really good on fuel for a meg when on a run. 37mpg with spirited driving on the way back.

Efi map ftw.



Completed the journey with no dramas. The drive is a bit congested with meganes and ive been out on site today, with the r26 at the front the mrs used the r26 for a run into the office.

She rings me up mid day, used it to pop out at dinner time and went to go in reverse and its lost reverse. When trying forward gears found out only 3/4th gear so had to limp it home whilst traffic was light as i was 2 hours away from home at this point in Sheffield.

I thought either shifter had fell to bits or the side to side cable had snapped. Popped by Rs Independant Spares on way home and picked up a complete good used shifter and cables just incase it needed changing as its on track at CSF next week!

Quick look when back home and the clip had fell off the selector arm on the box and it had all fell to bits on the side to side movement part!

Dug out an old box of e clips that i bought 15 years ago and used once. Kind of thing you buy for no reason and none fit anything, knew they would shine one day though.

Life saver.



Airfilter off, replaced missing washer that takes up the slack and refitted the plastic bush which had luckily dropped onto the top of the gearbox. Found a perfect sized e clip which fits tight in the groove on the end of the shaft so needed to be squeezed on with eagle beak pliers. Went on with a clunk and its solid, a good pull and the clip does not move at all so id say its fixed for good.

15 min fix before tea.



All working good again as confirmed with a quick blast down the local dual carriageway.

 

[Brigsy]

Technomagnesio alloys with fresh Ar1's are on.

Quick run out to check all good.

Driveway congestion.




Massive improvement in turn in. Also massive downgrade in comfort and noise as per usual for semi slicks.

Quick wash, fuel up and csf here we come.

Thanks for reading!!