GAZ Gold Coilovers

[tarmac terrorist]

So, I just spoke to the man down at GAZ shocks.
I asked him if he'd be interested in knocking up a set of dampers for me and he agreed provisionally.
I need to now measure everything up and get it drawn up in CAD to send off to him for quote. From initial figures discussed, it's going to be considerably cheaper than KW and Renault.
We'll see what come of it.
Here's the dampers:

And a link to GAZ Shocks

 

[Brett]

Excellent work! I have used these in the past and they were very good. Although not on a V6, I couldn't really fault them.

 

[tarmac terrorist]

Getting There.
Need to measure up the ARB mounting location. Then discuss the top mounting strategy. But its becoming a reality

 

[Lankan]

Excellent! Would certainly be interested in knowing how this progresses......coilovers are on the cards when #002 comes out of hibernation in spring 2014.

 

[tarmac terrorist]

I'm in the final stages of doing the CAD ready to send off tomorrow. Hopefully get the quote and get them straight onto making them.
As soon as they're done, I'll update on here

 

[Lankan]

Great stuff. What sort of adjustability are they likely to have and separate compression and rebound settings?

 

[Athboy501]

Good old Catia V5 I see! How come you modelled at seperate part bodies in a single part rather than in an assembly... On second thoughts don't answer that- far too geeky for this forum (?!?). Good work though!

 

[tarmac terrorist]

Heh, I'm a trained V5 monkey.
Model it I all in a part then if needed publish it out. Where are you in Warks? I often end up working there.

 

[EEE007]

Guessing JLR ?

 

[tarmac terrorist]

Only when absolutely necessary ;p

 

[Athboy501]

I'm principal engineer at a consultancy called Drive System Design. We're based in Southam (not too far from Gaydon) and mainly design and analyse gearboxes for OEM's

 

[Kett]

I'm principal engineer at a consultancy called Drive System Design. We're based in Southam (not too far from Gaydon) and mainly design and analyse gearboxes for OEM's

Can the PK6 be improved? I know Spike was contemplating this conundrum...

 

[tarmac terrorist]

Yeah, take a cornflake packet and fill it with sawdust. Instant improvement.
Other than that I reckon a different gerabox with a custom bellhousing would be the best option.

 

[Brett]

Other than that I reckon a different gerabox with a custom bellhousing would be the best option.

This! I offered my Audi O1E transaxle to a stock vee engine and it very very very nearly fits. A bell housing adaptor will be a piece of piss to make and there are plenty of VAG 'boxes with the same bell housing pattern. Many of which also have off the shelf LSD's and ATB's which can be fitted. DSG anyone? Many people on the vw scene have sussed out how to retro fit them these days!

Anyhow, how are these coilovers developing?

 

[tarmac terrorist]

Coilovers are good to go. Bank is a different situation. Unauthorised payments from account have placed a hold on things. Hopefully get everything sorted ASAP

 

[Athboy501]

Can the PK6 be improved? I know Spike was contemplating this conundrum...[/quote]

I'm it sure can. Maybe we should make a new thread out of this. What are the main weaknesses of it?

 

[tarmac terrorist]

From first guess, the syncros are dogshit. Not sure without FE but I'm guessing the casing flexes like a bitch allowing bearings to take undue radial load.
Have you not got any PK6 data in-house?
Whatever the case, short of either getting someone like Xtrac to do a shaft and ratio kit, assuming the case is up to anything, it's all going to be a costly world of pain.
Old-skools method is the more robust approach imho. Forgetting the DSG part.
Maybe the D5 volvo box, I believe that is the basis of the Focus RS, though that is purely speculative.

 

[Brett]

Maybe the D5 volvo box, I believe that is the basis of the Focus RS, though that is purely speculative.

I've already looked at this route a couple of years back. I wouldn't spend a penny on trying to improve the reno lump. The volvo route is a good one. Baring in mind both T5 and D5 'boxes are pretty much the same id leave the oil burners. The ratio's would be pretty shite for a n/a car. The M56 petrol would be more than up to the job, would have more appropriate gearing and again, a plated diff is available for it too. To be honest, looking at the Volvo bell housing and output shaft and recently the VAG setup, the German route would be better in my opinion. The Volvo box isn't the slickest to use either as I recall from my S70.

One I haven't looked at is the RS Megane gearbox. This maybe a direct fit and I'm not sure what sort of torque ratings they have. They come with LSD's as standard too.

 

[Athboy501]

From first guess, the syncros are dogshit. Not sure without FE but I'm guessing the casing flexes like a bitch allowing bearings to take undue radial load.
Have you not got any PK6 data in-house?
Whatever the case, short of either getting someone like Xtrac to do a shaft and ratio kit, assuming the case is up to anything, it's all going to be a costly world of pain.
Old-skools method is the more robust approach imho. Forgetting the DSG part.
Maybe the D5 volvo box, I believe that is the basis of the Focus RS, though that is purely speculative.

I don't have any data on it I'm afraid, just got the one in the back of the V. Is there a durability problem with the synchros? In terms of feel, mine feel adequate (impulse isn't too high). There are things you can do with synchros too... Re-coating etc. Does anyone know what friction material they use? (brass, carbon, are they molybdenum sprayed?) I wouldn't jump to Xtrac for parts. You'd get fleeced and the quality may be questionable (you certainly wouldn't get the heat treat and material you asked for!)... Bearing misalignment as a result of inadequate casing stiffness would be a new casting which I agree would be a bit of a none starter, If its simply a case of bearing capacity though, within reason and the design of the casing (of course) there are usually a couple of bearing options.
I think a donor box and adaptor sounds like a pretty good idea though! (That's the cheapest way though)

However if someone does genuinely want to have a look at doing it 'OEM' style feel free to get in touch. I've many years designing gears and transmissions for OEM's, and would be quite interested in sharing the cost of getting some parts made. I'm sure I could get someone here at Drive System Design to do the design work for free/in spare time (probably me) an I've got lots of contacts to get parts made. I'll be at Carfest North if anyone wants to talk cogs, and I'll be happy to be educated on the inadequacy of the PK6 box and give my opinion- for what it's worth.

 

[EEE007]

The only info I know is that the bearings seem to. Wear first, causing movrment which in turn apparently wears synchros , eventually bearings give way . I would have thought a good upgrade set of bearings would sort the box for a standard car.