Although the oil cooling was much better, I have decided that I want to be able to control the temperature and be able to run tape over the cooler! This means that I need a CTR Developments oil cooler! We make these ourselves but do take quite a time, 5-6 weeks, but there is nothing better. However I needed to make a drawing for the cooler, hence the scribbles on the bodywork! Hopefully I will have it ready in time for the first race…
After the mods to the cooling etc, it was time to try a different suspension setup. After the first test a few things came to light so we have changed pretty much everything. Thats not to say what we had before was wrong, but we think we can make it better, well you have to try! This ranges from new springs, camber and heights. Luckily we have some MEGA laser tracking gauges which come is useful for low cars as out ‘DUNLOP’ style ones cant be viewed under the low splitters!
Another item that fell out of the first test was a slight oil temp problem. The water was fine, but the oil wasn’t! I knew when I made the original ducts that I may have been pushing things a little, but thought it was worth a go. So much so that I already had a plan B mocked up in my head. The revised duct takes all the air from the wheel arch and front diffuser and directs it towards the cooler. Hopefully this will work.
Whilst driving round I had absolutely no idea of the next problemette! But it quickly became apparent when we took the rear body section off!!!! Basically one of the driveshafts had thrown a LOAD of horrible nasty CV grease all over the place!
After the successful first outing the plan now is to continually modify/adjust/tweak etc in an attempt to either improve reliability or speed or BOTH!
One item that was highlighted at Snetterton was the flexing of the rear hubs. This would show its head as slightly erratic handling of the car under power. Obviously I could just draw up some much larger uprights, and I may still have to do this, but I dont really want to as it will cost some cash and take some time, so I have put some effort into modifying the original uprights to stiffen them up. This has been successful and the uprights are MUCH stiffer now, but only another test will prove if they are stiff enough!
Below you can see the original setup. What I have not done is to use much larger bolts with 15mm hollow dowel pins to hold the steering arm in place. The raised section on the arm has been removed to allow for a larger diameter steel spacer to be used, obviously I have put back on the length removed to maintain the geometry! I have then made up a supporting arm that bolt to the lower lug on the upright. Please excuse the dirt, but it was chucking it down at Snetterton and I didnt see the point in cleaning the uprights before machining them!
