Winter re-spec

[taipan]

I have my old ph1 box, which is obv now surplus to requirements. Half tempted to give it to Quaife or the like and get them to look and see where improvements can be made (probably everywhere!!).

A rebuilt and strengthened box with the ph2 ratios could be good thing to have in the garage! Hmmm...

 

[Brett]

I have my old ph1 box, which is obv now surplus to requirements. Half tempted to give it to Quaife or the like and get them to look and see where improvements can be made (probably everywhere!!).

A rebuilt and strengthened box with the ph2 ratios could be good thing to have in the garage! Hmmm...

It would be nice if there was a way of making the box bombproof along with a different gearset. I'd personaly ditch both ph1 and 2 ratio's and get something much closer and shorter. I'd love to see what Quaife would do. Pound for pound though it will always be a waste of time.

 

[taipan]

Completely agree. The money needed to get the issues sorted would be the problem. It would make more sense if I could find some very experienced old timer that works out of his shed or something to have an initial strip down and identify the weaknesses. Then again even the money spent on that would probably be better spent modyfying the car to accept a transplant box that's nails straight from the factory!!

The older these cars get the more people are prepared to tinker with them and the more they tinker the more they realise actually there are some fairly fundamental ways to get more power/torque from the lazy lump. The transmission components then become the weakest link though...

Knowing me I'll probably want to go for boost or a big n/a build in the future, and remembering all the hassle/expense this box breaking has caused me I'd defo want a transplant box in there. To be honest even with the torque levels I'll be running after this round of tinkering a solid box would be a nice thing. The damm thing struggles with OEM torque!!

 

[Brett]

Honestly, bellhousing adaptors are piss easy to make and there are counltess ammounts off decent driveshaft specialists to choose from. The other thing good about the engine being mid mounted is that the powered wheels do no steering so if the box is quite wide/long it doesn't really matter.

 

[taipan]

Progress!!

 

[Lankan]

Great stuff, look forward to seeing the finished article.

 

[taipan]

Not updated here for a while, as I've been pampering my other 'V6' so YAY's not had much of a look-in! Had a good catch-up with Scott the other day though and things are coming along nicely.

Ph2 engine is fully assembled and only the modified ph1 loom has to be connected before he can swap it in with the gearbox.

Will be popping down to Scott's at some point before Christmas so I'll take a load of photos, as they've been few and far between of late!

 

[taipan]

Big hole!

 

[Matt]

Good stuff Jon. :approve:

 

[taipan]

Shiny, shiny

New clutch with lightweight flywheel

Plenum spacer and full manifold back exhaust

Ph2 engine ready to fill big hole!

 

[Duncan]

:approve: I wondered who was having the TTV flywheel fitted after seeing a tweet from Scott!!

 

[taipan]

Every little helps! :approve:

 

[Lankan]

Looking good Jon.

Would be very interested in your feedback on the lightweight flywheel, especially with regards to any cabin noise.

I feel the OEM item makes the Vee feel rather disengaging to drive - having improved response will certainly make things better. My cam belt is due in 2013 so would be a good oppotunity to get this done as well, and possibly an LSD.

What sized Plenum Spacer did you go for?

 

[Matt]

Looking good mate. :approve:

 

[taipan]

Cheers guys, real labour of love, but we're clawing our way to the finish line now!

Would be very interested in your feedback on the lightweight flywheel, especially with regards to any cabin noise.

The lightweight flywheel was a bit of a no-brainer really. Standard vee item doesn't do the car any favours imo. I'm expecting more cabin 'chatter' but with a full decat I think the flywheel noises wil be the least of my worries!

...and possibly an LSD.

I was all set to get a LSD, but Quaife had sold out of current stock at the time I wanted one (June) and weren't making any more until November. Not sure if they did go ahead and make more in November though. It's something I'll definitely consider in the future but for now I'm going to get the coilovers set up properly and see how well we can get the fat girl handling.

What sized Plenum Spacer did you go for?

It's 16mm. 10mm saw good gains at the top end of the rev range on Tim and Ray's cars so 6mm extra should be plenty. In conjunction with the plenum polish, airflow into the engine should be vastly improved over standard.

 

[taipan]

Now we're cooking on gas. Vee needs a shake down and an MOT and we're there.

Must say I hadn't really missed the car that much (RS4's fault) but after seeing Paul O's Ph1 sat there menacingly in the early morning gloom, lit up only by the overhead lights of a petrol station, the juices started well and truly flowing again! As an aside I don't know what it is about petrol station lights but, strangely, they have a unique way of making cars look fantastic. Anyhow enough rambling; pics.

Certainly looks more appealing than a ph1 engine.

Going to be a wee bit loud I think!!

Fully adjustable BC Racing coilovers.

Haven't got a collection date from Scott yet, but I hope it'll be before the end of the month :approve:

 

[Mr Tim]

Bet you can't wait to get it back. Looks like a great job - I'm sure the drive will be fantastic now. :race:

I'm liking the sound of the lightened flywheel. :approve:

 

[Brembov6]

Great work mate, looks great.

I agree with the lights from petrol stations :approve:

 

[Duncan]

[smilie=yay.gif] going to be a very special one this!! Cant wait to hear & see more!!

 

[taipan]

Bet you can't wait to get it back. Looks like a great job - I'm sure the drive will be fantastic now. :race:

I'm liking the sound of the lightened flywheel. :approve:

Cheers Tim. I can't wait to get my grubby mits back on it tbh. Haven't seen it since June 2012 and haven't driven it since September 2011. [smilie=icon_eek.gif]

Lightweight flywheel was a no brainer really and fairly cost effective in the position I found myself in - the box was already out so it was only parts rather than parts and labour. It'll be interesting to see how different the car feels to drive but, as others have said, I think there was definitely scope for improvement with the standard set-up.

Great work mate, looks great.

I agree with the lights from petrol stations :approve:

Cheers Ben.

It something about the shade and positioning of the lights in petrol stations that just seems to work. There's a particular Shell station just off junction 21a of the M25 that is used by a local Ferrari/Maserati garage. Never forget seeing my first (and to date only) Granturismo Stradale MC there. Unbelievable.

[smilie=yay.gif] going to be a very special one this!! Cant wait to hear & see more!!

Cheers Duncan.

You probably don't remember this but it was between yours and Ed's Ph1 when I was buying in late 2009. I opted for Ed's in the end but the mods you had done to yours always stuck with me and with that the ph2 drivetrain---> ph1 seeds were planted. So it's all your fault basically. lol