astra track car

[schnappi]

so are you using the 8v or 16 v engine? im confused,

And how it went from a H-reg in the first photo to a G-reg later on. Not that it matters, impressive build mate.

 

[ben8vgte]

Thanks lol, this one has always been a G reg (except for 3miles the day I brought it home) My old one was a H plate with T&T, I'll say no more on that...

Even though it's a 16v head it still has the original 8v block, just different rods and pistons ect to suit. The later ecotec 16v engines are almost the same as the 8v's, most parts are interchangable eg the 8v flat flywheel bolts straight on ect.

 

[caveman]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wherearethedoors/7322371310/

love the toilet roll holder

 

[ben8vgte]

So after getting out of hibernation time for a update...

Redid my 'gunmetal' wheels into Veyron orange, has a lot of gold pearl in just does not show up on the shonky phone camera.. Just need a set of wet track tyres for them, hopeing for some Michelin P2G


More orannngeeee by ben a.k.a me, on Flickr

Then onto the making a corner weight gauge as I wanted to use the tig for somthing other than welding scrap together for a change. I had a cheap digital 50kg luggage scale of ebay and with a 10-1 leverage ratio should be more than enough.

So hammered in some round bar well into the box section, it was held lightly in the vice to stop it falling over and rested on the floor.

Corner weight gauge by ben a.k.a me, on Flickr

Corner weight gauge by ben a.k.a me, on Flickr

Had to use a 10lb sledge, it felt like it was going in well but....

Corner weight gauge by ben a.k.a me, on Flickr
It went into the floor well instead lol, so que a large block of oak and 10mm plate steel on top. The it went in well

Bit of choping, drilling and grinding and we have a hook to tuck into the wheel center, the bolt goes into the round bar as well for added strength.


Corner weight gauge by ben a.k.a me, on Flickr


Corner weight gauge by ben a.k.a me, on Flickr

Then all you do is zero the scale lifting the dead weight of the bar (1.1kg) setup it so it angels up a little, then lift the car by pushing down on the scale till the bar is level. You hold it still for a few seconds till it beeps then it has stored the weight so you can read it off, then times by 10.

Corner weight gauge by ben a.k.a me, on Flickr

With a first go 330kg nsf 175kg nsr so that sounds about correct, just need to sort out a couple of leveled planks and load the car up to the live weight. But first need to make a camber gauge pendulum scale and dig out the string lines ect.

Then thats all the kit sorted to adjust the car up, I'll need to move the rear axle inline with the front by a little and get the front settings sorted again after the fitting the rose joints to the front wishbone. Then the joy of filing the rear stub axle spacer plates to adjust the camber and toe, but I have a surface plate now to do that on with the dti and a plan!

 

[pedrobedro]

Had to use a 10lb sledge, it felt like it was going in well but....

Sorry but I need to see pictures of you using the 10lb sledge hammer. It's making my hernia ache just thinking about it, we used to use a 14 lb at the foundry to break core irons and you just used to lift it and let it drop.

 

[ben8vgte]

Mine is for breaking concreate slabs, really should of remembered that before using it for the task in hand

I used to use a 14lb one at where I worked for knocking out hgv king pins, had to give that a proper swing as well. Never again lol...

 

[ben8vgte]

So todays project was a camber gauge, can be used for castor as well with a little maths and a way of measuring the steering lock angle. Next project will be some turnplates then

Fairly simple, 10mm polycarb and angle iron from a 1970's bed frame, that was turned into a roof rack for my old van and now this

Goes upto 17" wheels so more than enough for me and clears the rear arches..

Camber gauge by ben a.k.a me, on Flickr

Marked up with one and half degree points.

Camber gauge by ben a.k.a me, on Flickr

With the stringlines as well, I think thats everything..

Astra GTE by ben a.k.a me, on Flickr

Just need some warm weather now..

 

[_Jake]

LOVE me a mk2 gte! best colour too! May i ask why you went for a XEV instead of the traditional XE?

 

[Wallace]

Good effort Ben! I remember one of the neighbours laughing at my Father setting the tracking on his car with two square alloy tubes, a couple of blocks and a pair of bungee straps.

 

[ben8vgte]

LOVE me a mk2 gte! best colour too! May i ask why you went for a XEV instead of the traditional XE?

Thanks, I went for a xev as it's a improvement over the 8v and it's easy to get a good one for not too much. Most XE's are very tired now, at least a good condition head for the xev is only 30 quid or so.

Good effort Ben! I remember one of the neighbours laughing at my Father setting the tracking on his car with two square alloy tubes, a couple of blocks and a pair of bungee straps.

Cheers, the easy bit is measuring the car. Adjusting a mostly non-adjustable car with shims and machining ect is not so But it's fun and has a lot more castor than standard now!

 

[ben8vgte]

Ok so where to carry on, been lay and not touched it much!

First up made this, as I've been meaning to for ages..

pressed (4) by ben a.k.a me, on Flickr

Finished up my megasquirt ecu, cleaned off the flux and protected the pcb..


astra GTE by ben a.k.a me, on Flickr
Drove the car outside and sat in the sun drinking tea..

Astra GTE by ben a.k.a me, on Flickr

Then made some where level to measure and adjust the car on.. Out of some 8x2


Astra GTE by ben a.k.a me, on Flickr

Measured the ride height, corner weights, camber ect with the car unloaded. Then loaded it up to where it should be and did the same again..

Astra GTE by ben a.k.a me, on Flickr

Astra GTE by ben a.k.a me, on Flickr

So with that done got the front end camber and castor set, castor is the same at 4.5' and camber was set to -1.8. Might seem low, but with the mods I've done to wishbone it does gain a lot in roll and steer
Got the string lines on and measured the rear end..

Astra GTE by ben a.k.a me, on Flickr

Then popped out the axle spacer plate, I have made the rear 20mm wider in total and added rosejointed brace bars to the axle..

Astra GTE by ben a.k.a me, on Flickr

Marked up around the outside edge by 20mm and dished them out on oneside..

Astra GTE by ben a.k.a me, on Flickr

Then with much more tea, a calculator yet more tea and some trigonometry, worked out how much to file off to adjust the rear toe and camber.. Then used a dti and surface plate to check the progress.

Astra GTE by ben a.k.a me, on Flickr

Went from 2mm and 1mm in both sides to 1mm out both sides, camber stayed a -1.7 oneside and the other has been moved out to meet that

A good place to start testing, just need to adjust the front toe. Still a few bits to finish up and map the engine, then MOT!

 

[bump]

Ben you didn't used to frequent the Nova forums did you?

 

[ben8vgte]

Nope, I've always had mk2 astra's

Your not thinking of a Benn, with the 2 nn's ?

 

[bump]

Could be. It has been a while since I was in that world.

Don't blame you for sticking with astra's!