Kangoo Compact (aka Racevan3)

[Brigsy]

CSF update.

Csf done and pretty successfull overall, the stars finally aligned. 600 miles on the trip, 3x tanks of fuel and 4x track sessions on the pm.

Sat ready to go with the Extra.





I was anticipating a 2 lap wonder and something to go wrong so had datalogger in initially for first few laps. Checked logs, coolant temps were very good 87deg, Iat great 5deg above ambient, no timing pull or noticeable overboost issues.

I thought id broke it with vibration on certain parts of the circuit but was due to the epic amounts of rubber on the circuit.


Full send after i got used to driving it. Its quite hard to pedal, suspension needs dialling in better and you have to feed the power in on corner exit as its pretty lairy. Can rotate the back end nice with trail braking on the tighter corners. Its planted at speed on the throttle and when cornering but its a bit twitchy on high speed braking 100mph + but controllable.




Finally works. Pizza on the evening to celebrate success.


Spotted on the way back on a55 iirc?


Back at van HQ safe and sound.


24mpg overall, not too bad. It was drinking it on track so assume it levelled out on steady return journey.


Give it a once over and all seems to be good. Have refitted the white mo's with the cup2s as more road friendly.

Thanks for reading!!

 

[andybond]

£22 is savage!

What’s the symptoms when pressing on suspension wise that make it laity?

 

[Brigsy]

Its a bit understeery and soft which makes it hard to get the power down on corner exit in comparison to a megane, however its not a meg so maybe i need to accept it wont ever be one.

Ive not wound up the rebound on the shocks yet and should have done it on Sat but never bothered. Winding rebound up is sometimes not the best route though. I reckon 80nm springs all round instead of the 70s might be the way forward, or rears only however i dont want it too snappy!

 

[andybond]

Could even be too stiff if it’s under steeering as it’s skipping over the tarmac.

Have you any adjustable ARB?

 

[Brigsy]

Id say its a little soft but no expert tbh.



Front is stock r26 arb. I have plans for a thicker one. Rear no arb, i have plans for rear. Need to be a little bit careful as i dont want it too snappy on the rear or lairy at higher speed corners. Its easy to currently trail brake into a tight corner and rotate the back to point it in the right direction.

I like safe though. Need a suspension guru to work their magic.

 

[andybond]

Front is stock r26 arb. I have plans for a thicker one.

If you are getting understeer you really dont need a thicker ARB. You need some body roll to put weight on the outside wheel to give grip. If its too firm it will skip over the tarmac. I have adjustable on the exige and run it ( circuit dependant ) full hard if bone dry and back it right off in the rain.

If its controllable its all good

 

[Brigsy]

In comparison to megane on cooksport springs its got a fair bit of bodyroll. I guess first option is to wind up the rebound a little and see what happens.

 

[andybond]

Body roll isn’t always a bad thing dude. Visually it looks a bit duff but with logging lap times it’s pointless changing things as you cannot quantity if it’s “worked” or not

 

[Brigsy]

Logging lap times. Gtf out of here im having fun this is not a racecar

Id like more traction on corner exit and i feel its lifting a wheel quite often. Plate diff would sort this 100%.

Trophy in comparison corners flat as fook and the traction is very good exiting a corner. Same for megane.

 

[andybond]

It’s all about balance and compromise.

Too much roll = bad
Too little = bad.

A better diff will help for sure.

My point about timing was how can you quantify you are moving in the right direction? You have no metric other than feel.

 

[Aldo]

From seeing it on track, I see what you're saying. I noticed on turn 3, the slight right hander before the long run up the hill, there was quite a buck forwards from the rear, as you lifted the throttle for the bend.

Strong performance from the pair of vans at CSF though a credit to the build.

 

[Brigsy]

It’s all about balance and compromise.

Too much roll = bad
Too little = bad.

A better diff will help for sure.

My point about timing was how can you quantify you are moving in the right direction? You have no metric other than feel.

Im fully with you regarding you need some body roll, as none would be equally as bad. It depends what rubber your running really as slicks would be different.

Ill quantify improvements with being able to use more than 1/4 throttle on corner exit over lap times im not in it for pushing like mad to set lap records. Its a constant battle of progressive throttle vs wheelspin, ive got some incar footage that ill edit in the next few days.

I do wonder if the diff is working right. It works OK when fucking about on roundabouts but not conclusive. Its more or less wait until its straigh ish and feed the power in. Torque is not ridiculous, meg in comparison will hook up and fook off.

From seeing it on track, I see what you're saying. I noticed on turn 3, the slight right hander before the long run up the hill, there was quite a buck forwards from the rear, as you lifted the throttle for the bend.

Strong performance from the pair of vans at CSF though a credit to the build.

Cheers mate. Had mega fun in both! Driving was a bit rusty initially but got into it by the end of the day.

I reckon the rear needs looking at, the inboard coilover setup is not perfect and downside is 70nm is less than it should be. Will seek some pro advice as the swb and hard rear might not end well

 

[andybond]

I do wonder if the diff is working right. It works OK when fucking about on roundabouts but not conclusive. Its more or less wait until its straigh ish and feed the power in. Torque is not ridiculous, meg in comparison will hook up and fook off.

Hmm, that doesn’t sound right as you said.

 

[Brigsy]

Hmm, that doesn’t sound right as you said.

Something is on the piss with the oem gkn lsd i reckon, i know its got a bit of a knock when off the deck/slog. You know how good these hook up with only 300ft/lb and this is the opposite.

I guess a plate diff and box rebuild is on the menu at some point to hurt the bank balance furthur

 

[Brigsy]

Long time no update!

A couple of vids i forgot to add from CSF. The exhaust is loud as feck for a meg engine on driveby!





@MarkCup 's awesome footage.



Ive not really used it much since Anglesey sadly. I did take it out for a hoon one night and my mate confirmed it puts large flames out the exhaust at night after a long pull in 5th gear! also ridiculously low mpg 15-20 from memory:LOL:

Motivation has been low for car washing or detailing recently and not cleaned it since before Anglesey. Wheels were black with brake dust and rubber marks all over and loads of bugs all over the front. A good hour later and its back to clean.

Will see how weather fairs and might sorn it at the end of the month if it turns.

Thanks for reading!!

 

[Brigsy]

2024 update.

After coming off the road in October last year the Kangoo is taxed and back on the road.

Started straight up no hesitation today first crank. Jacked it up and changed wheels for the white compomotives. Whilst wheels were off checked everything over for mot, all looks OK.

I had coated all suspension and alloy underbonnet components in xcp rust block before winter hit so no changes really. Even give the discs a good coat of xcp to keep them right and there was only a slight bit of surface rust on them, so worth doing if your laying a car up outside to save the thick rust forming that takes ages to clean off.

I did however suspect the rear calipers were binding a little before i took it off the road as it hardly moved after CSF, so whilst rear wheels were off i give them a once over. The pistons were slightly tight winding back initially - worked piston in and out a couple of times with some red rubber grease to lube and they seem fine. Cleaned up pads, sliders etc whilst there and refitted.

Taxed and drove it to tesco for some fresh momentum 99 and a 30 mile trip to makro.

Dinky


Nothing to report really all good. Forgot how quick it is - squats and goes!

Small list of bits to do.

Oil & filter change - was done before Anglesey so not ages ago but needs doing.

Whistle from exhaust manifold area when cold - assume very minor blow which shuts up when engine is hot. Noticed this last year will do some investigation soon.


Thanks for reading!!

 

[Duncan Grier]

All your proper maintenance paying off @Brigsy

 

[MartijnTrophy]

Still love how weird the short Kangoo looks. Glad it's still working as it should!

 

[Brigsy]

Updates.

Passed mot. Oil and filter changed for fresh 10/50 millers cfs nt+. Old stuff was still pretty clean as had only done Anglesey and road miles, around 1200 in total. Examined it and no chunks or any other shite so that will do me.

Ive had what sounds like an intermittent exhaust blow for a little while and nothing immediately obvious when looking. To do some diagnosis - bought a smoke tester. Uses Johnsons pink label baby oil to make the smoke :ROFLMAO:

Its acutually a fantastic bit of kit. I stuck the inflatable bung in the tailpipe and smoked the exhaust out. Looks like a minor leak on the decat where it was welded up at the support bracket and the wastegate pin leaks as expected - they all do that. I think its one of the stainless gaskets causing an intermittent whistle noise from cold so will continue to use until it rears its head.

Smokin



Inlet/boost cct check.


As above - fantastic bit of kit for turbo cars. Id have bought one years ago if id have realised how easy it is to leak find over high pressure test. Still - both tests have their place so will continue to do both where necessary especially on boost circuit - as any leak will cost you power.

Apart from that its business as usual. Feels rapid for what it is and due to swb/power you need to keep tight hold of the steering wheel on boost. The bangs on the upshift and downshifts are insane and the way it revs for a hybrid 20t turbo is mad - still makes solid power at 7400rpm where your average meg on stock cams with a hybrid is on its arse around 65-7000rpm.

This highlights the need for good brakes as the speedo goes round quite fast. Need to get another set of ferodo ds1.11 pads for the front as currently on stock brembo pads - they are nowhere near adequate on this. So they will be next purchase as ive fitted the set i was using in it to the yellow r26 for Croft in 2 weeks..

Also used it for an oil disposal trip - had around 75ltrs id accumulated over a short period.

It has its uses - albeit small loads



Thanks for reading!!

 

[Adey]

ooo that smoke tester looks the business