MLOC Latest Posts

Unit 4 Top Drawer Again

Wed, 22 May 2013 06:12:43 +0000

Dropped the bag of nails off with Gav Saturday morning picked up today with Nitrons fitted, again top job and service.
Acehole

Group Buy - Mangiafuoc Flame Inhibitor

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:07 +0000

Hi All,
I have contacted the directors and have been given permission to run a group buy. However please note that this group buy is not associated with MLOC in any way, I am doing it off my own back.
After seeing a video of a Lamborghini Muira SV catch fire, I thought it prudent to get some kind of extinguisher to keep in my Lotus. The Lambo video is here:
http://www.liveleak....7630&comments=1
After a bit of research, the Mangiafuoco Flame inhibitor Professional 8B seems like a good choice, but they are not readily available in this country (you can however get Sparco Flame Eaters for around �73 - which I am lead to believe are rebranded Mangiafuoco) - So I have decided to see if I can get enough interest to run a "group buy" -
Website here: http://www.mangiafuo...en/prodotti.asp
Technical Data here: http://www.mangiafuo...ECNICA_8BGB.pdf
There are plenty of videos on YouTube if you search.
I am able to get the Mangiafuoco`s in shipment quantities of 12, for a cost of �43 each (that's euro's) so about �37 each. I would then need to post them out at a cost of �5 for next day delivery, so total cost would be �42 each delivered, I could also meet up locally to save postage..
If I get enough interest, I will give out the payment details and get the ball rolling, I will even extend the group buy if enough interest.
I want 2 units for myself - one for the car and one for the house, so that leaves 10 available
Any questions please shout up, Wozza.

Please copy and paste the list into a reply if interested and add your name.
1. Wozza
2. Wozza
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

Nitron 46's What Spring Rates For A S2 Honda?

Tue, 21 May 2013 23:28:21 +0000

This is a copy of my post over on Seloc (Linky) - I've posted it here in the hope it may help others planning something similar (Honda is about 20kg heavier on the back drivers side)

Well this is probably opening up a can of worms, and give more different answers but ....

I feel the need for some 1 Way Nitron 46's for my S2 Honda ( I guess around 810-820 kg) - so what spring rates should I look at?  (Currently on the Bilsteins (200/285?) which I feel are no good and too soft at the back).

Another S2 Honda on here was corner weighted at

F L = 168 kg
F R = 144.5kg

R L = 263 kg
R R = 236 kg

I've spoken to Nitron, both Guy and a girl (who I think has since left) and as per usual - I keep getting different answers.

Hopefully the following will also help anyone else considering 46's.

Nitron said the following
* No need for lock rings - can cause corrosion, use a blob of silicon, or some threadlock.
* No need for Adj eye ends unless its a race car and you want to tune the suspension more so.
* Valving is the same between Fast Road & Track Day, so pretty generic
* S2 2013 spec has helpers on all 4 corners
* Might be an idea to use the Nitron grease and o ring kit

Spring rates: (S2)
Fast Road  = 400 / 475
Track Day  = 450 / 525
Honda add  =25-50/ 75-100 more than these depending on Fast road or Track focused.

Guy suggested 'trying something like' 450 / 525 or maybe a bit higher
Although at the time, I had in my head 475 / 550-575

New springs are £60 a corner with the hassle of refitting and re-geo etc - so I'd like to get this pretty close first time.

What will I use it for?
* I want to do around 8 track days a year,
* Be reasonably comfortable on the road (similar to present),
* Not have problems in the wet, (because its too hard etc - in this country its probably better to factor in its always wettish)
* I will be running 195/205 & 225's tyres (AD08/R888/A048)
* NMB Toelinks
* Want a compromise between Fast road & Track Day, without making it a pain to use on the road (must still be fun on the road and ok in the wet).

So, who has a S2 Honda, preferably with 46's or an S2 with 46's and

1. What spring rates do you run?
2. What ride heights (if you know)?
3. Would you change the rates, given the chance?

Here is a starter of what I've gleaned / been told so far:

S2
Damurphster ...... 400 / 525 – Honda: Guy said 400 / 525 for fast road Honda
Dipper ........... 425 / 550 - Honda: Spot on for road use, no TD yet.

Russelld ......... 450 / 500 - VHPD: Dynamics 2 ways
Guy recommended .. 450 / 525 – Honda: for Fast road/Track still good in the wet
JonnyFox ......... 450 / 550 - Yota: 46 2 way Ohlins. Bump 10 Rebound 18 (wet or dry) 799kg
Muu has .......... 500 / 600 – SC Honda: maybe a touch soft on track might be damping
DR H ............. 500 / 600 – SC Honda: wouldn’t change it - (I'm sure it feels fine in the garage )

S1
MilesH ........... 400 / 475 – Honda: (770kg) much happier, uses road tyres on track
Turnamere ........ 400 / 475 - Rover turbo
SIMT ............. 450 / 525 – Rover: Thinks could have gone higher
Stimpy ........... 500 / 550 - Honda: wants to go firmer 625 or 525 / 650
X27EVE ........... 500 / 650 – 111s: Brilliant ride on road (-2Rear, full soft front)

I'll update the above list as ppl comment

Comments / views / experience of these shocks/settings please ... ta

Trackday At Goodwood

Tue, 21 May 2013 22:31:27 +0000

Did a track day at Goodwood just about a week n half ago.The Elise yet again performed perfectly, i think the only problem was my driving skill, or lack there of. With Goodwood being a very fast circuit it took a while to build my confidence up with breaking so late down the straights. But by the end of the day i had managed to just about to get it spot on, I even managed to get the car to its max speed of 120/125mph down Lavant straight.The Day was a private TD by invite only, and i have to say was possible one of the best days i've done so far. There was around 15/20 cars with 6/7 cars on circuit in roughly 15min sessions, managed to get in 190miles on the track.the car list for the day: Cobra porsche 997 Porsche GT3 997 turbo Lotus Exige S2 Honda Civic Clio cup rs200 430 scuderia M16 Scaglietti 612 1995 Renault Clio Cup Car. BMW M3 Schnitzer. Morgan plus 8 GT3RS 997 GT3RS Bentley Continental Aston Martin V12 Vantage Now for a few pictures of the cars that attended, (didn't get any on track was too busy driving)

Honda Engine Elise Build

Tue, 21 May 2013 21:43:28 +0000

Hello friends, its been a while.

For those of you that don't frequent Seloc, i've got a little build thread going that you might like to have a nosey at so i'll cut and paste the contents here...

After having to put this off for a couple of years I'm thrilled to be back at it now, for those that don't know I'm doing a DIY honda with a set of mounts fabricated up by an engineer local to me (he shares a unit with Clockwise and is converting his own elise).

I've spent a lot of time over there chewing the fat and I was convinced enough to put my money where my mouth was and buy an engine and a kit of parts from him to convert the tidy 111s I've recently bought. Interestingly, my kit includes bespoke drive flanges to suit the lotus hubs and allow me to run honda outer CV joints which I hope will help to alleviate some of the issues there.

My engine is a very low mileage k20z4 from a late model civic type R which means it has a dbw throttle body but also a different gear linkage setup meaning that no additional rockers / linkage is required. Mine will be a direct cable connection to the 111r linkage I require to go in the car.

I have already split the box ready to install an LSD and change the final drive from 5.06 to a 4.7 to provide a few crucial extra mph in the lower gears, i'll be able to pull 60 in 2nd

First things first though, my old shed was rotten and subsequently the contents were going rotten too, so I needed a new workshop. I built this from scratch over a couple of weekends.

It's not completely finished but close enough to get me going.

The box didn't take long to disassemble.

Engine on the stand.

I don't plan on doing a great deal to this engine yet, it does need a shallower sump and different oil pump and also the balance shafts deleted. I'm also in two minds currently over whether to stick with my original plan for an RBC manifold and throttle body or just put individual throttle bodies on it. I know what I'd rather do but the cost may be prohibitive.

Finally, I got home today and decided I wanted a trolley to sit my car on so I can remove all four corners and refurb the suspension. It's a bit rough and ready and needs some bracing before being used (its also larger than it looks) but it should make it very easy to work on the car.

More to come.

Rightio....in order to fit the shallower sump and delete the balance shafts I have to remove the crank cradle and machine part of it down to clear the pump so I've stripped the engine down.

Here's what the inside of your head looks like....

Lovely timing chain, no more cam belt to worry about.

Crank out and cradle ready to machine.

I also picked up a lovely light flywheel from clockwise today, no pics yet but it's very light!

Thing of beauty...

Despite the low miles its evident that some kind of debris has found its way into the oil of my honda engine as one of the mains has a nasty score in it and there is evidence that whatever it was made its way through the other 4 too. So, i'm replacing the mains and the big ends while I have the engine apart.
I've had the cradle machined so I can reassemble the engine once i've plastigauge'd the bearings.
My wavetrac diff has arrived and looks, well...like a big lump of metal, but i'm very much looking forward to seeing how it performs.
I'm dropping my bottom end off for dynamic balancing soon too at Andrews Precision - founded by Trevor Wilkinson formerly of Wilkinson Dynamic Balancing in halesowen. He is one of the best respected balancers out there.

Little bit more progress to report.

I've had the bottom end balanced by Andrews Precision while it was apart, so the crank, flywheel, clutch and damper (and oil pump drive just to be anal).

Its surprising how much material has come off to get it to balance perfectly, but i'm now told I can 'rev it any rpm you like safe in the knowledge there are no forces acting upon it'. Which is nice.

Here's the assembly as I collected it.

Close up of some of the material removed from the crank.

The damper had a chunk missing from the outer ring, the guys balancing it said you'd expect to have to remove some material from the opposite side to get it to balance, but actually this is what was required.

I collected a full set of cosworth bearings on friday too and have now set about plastigauge'ing them to set my clearances.

Nice new bearings.

Crank carefully placed in the block.

And the result after torquing the cradle down and then removing it - the plastigauge is squashed and I can measure the tolerances.

Thats the mains done, next i'll do the big ends. Once they're OK i've got all the bits I need to put the engine back together so i'll be dropping it in the car over christmas.

Sabre Heads Kr1 Plus Newman Phase 2 Cams

Tue, 21 May 2013 20:37:55 +0000

Following on from this post:- http://www.midlandsl...00-hgf-diy-kr1/ and the porting I had done last year by Roger Fabry, a.k.a. kiwirog at Sabre Heads I have now decided to put phase 2 into operation, quite literally.
Last year I opted for Roger’s KR1 upgrade, which modifies a standard non-vvc ‘K’ series head with 2mm larger dia. inlet valves and a load of porting work. The car still maintained its driveability and now revs so much more freely since having it done but, at the back of my mind I always knew I would one day put some different cams in too. That day has now arrived. The other week I went back over to Wisbech to see Roger and picked up some of his Newman Phase 2 cams, vernier pulleys and an adjustable fuel pressure regulator, also referred to as a power boost valve. This combination is a tried and tested route; there are already a number of people on seloc who have had it done with great results:-

The Phase 2 cams are a similar profile to the Piper BP270, a fast road cam, so I’m hoping to gain a bit more performance and still maintain a good degree of its current driveability:-

The verniers that Roger supplies are a very reasonable price compared to others on the market and utilise 6 bolts to secure each pulley to the hub. Roger mentioned that he’d seen other makes, using fewer bolts, which had slipped in use:-

The adjustable fuel pressure regulator is needed to bring the air/fuel ratio back into line. The combination of the KR1 and the cams means the head will flow a lot more air and it reaches a point at higher revs where the ECU can’t provide enough fuel to maintain the correct mixture. I believe the OE regulator maintains a pressure of 3 bar and from other peoples experiences it seems that this needs to be raised to something like 3.2 bar. The other solution to this particular problem would be a programmable ECU but that’s another chunk of money and rolling road time, we’ll see how we go with the regulator for now:-

Prior to all this, a couple of years ago now, we had a MLOC rolling road day at Monster Motorsport in Loughborough and at that time my car gave a best figure of 126 BHP with max torque of 122 lb-ft. That was on a standard engine with standard panel filter, 48mm throttle body, a VVC plenum (more for looks than any performance gain), a Larini 4-2-1 through a standard cat and then a Larini Club Sport exhaust.

I haven’t had my car back on the rollers since fitting the KR1 so to remedy that situation I have now got it booked in at Area 52 for this coming Friday:- http://www.area52aut.../shop/index.php
The KR1 upgrade on its own should be good for an additional 15BHP so in theory, I should expect to see something in the region of 140BHP on Friday, albeit on a different rolling road to before.

Fitting the Newman Phase 2 cams and verniers should then maybe unleash another 15BHP and I’ll hopefully end up with something between 150 and 155BHP. Probably not too dissimilar to what a Sport160 actually puts out…..we shall see.

Get On The Track At Le Mans

Tue, 21 May 2013 14:23:08 +0000

Is anyone planning on attending Le Mans next month? There is an event planned for the Friday where Lotus owners can exhibit their cars on the track between Mulsanne and Indianapolis along with Aston's and Bentley's.

Not sure they'll be any chance to drive it likes it's on the track but should be quite cool non the less.

Happy Birthday Martin R

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:25:29 +0000

Hope you're having a good one

Replacement Mobil Phone

Tue, 21 May 2013 06:41:59 +0000

Which one to go for as its time to change my iPhone 3
Like the HTC one has anybody got one .
www.htc.com/uk/HTC_One

Eddie .

Heater Fan Interfering With Temp Gauge

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:35:30 +0000

Heres a strange one. With the engine fully warmed up and running at the usual 88 degrees, I turn on the heater fan one notch & the engine temp reading jumps instantly to 93, turn it another notch, it jumps to 98. Turn it back one notch it drops instantly to 93 & turn it off again & it returns to 88. The fan runs fine with no strange noises. Any clues? Thanks in advance.

Everyone Needs A Cuddle.....

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:48:35 +0000

i think i need to get out more.. i just called mrs scatty into the kitchen and asked if she wanted a cuddle. shes just smacked me over the head and told me to stop being stupid.....lol....

i blame working with crayons at work all day....

A Day At Unit 4.....

Mon, 20 May 2013 19:04:30 +0000

Took the car to Gav this morning for a few jobs.Plan was to be off by lunchtime. But you know what happens when you plan.....

Everything that could go wrong did go wrong. What should have been a simple change of engine mounts turned into a nightmare.Even though the mounts were supposed to be direct replacements nothing lined up. Then one of the holes on the chassis was too small and had to be drilled out. It took forever!

Second job was new gear cables and a new gear linkage which went quicker but still not without a hitch. I didn't realise that the new gear linkage meant the gear selector mech on the box had to be drilled (to take bigger bolts) - and that's no easy job when it's on the car on to op the gearbox.

So I ended up leaving just before 5pm.

Great service form Gav again, but now i think he's a little bit behind. Sorry to anyone whose car is in for work.

Sky Stoops To A New Low

Mon, 20 May 2013 18:36:32 +0000

First of all it was watching men who are watching football on the tele on a saturday afternoon. Now 30 mins of still pictures set to music from the f1 in spain last weekend. Who watches this stuff? apart from me of course ;-)

Pheasant Damage To Elise

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:12:13 +0000

I have just hit a pheasant and damaged my beloved Elise S2 111S.  I'm seriously cheesed off, although I guess the poor Pheasant has had a worse day.

The poor bugger went straight through the grill.  There is no internal damage but the grill is smashed (I'm guessing this is cheap) and more upsetting the bumper which it attaches to has splintered, see picture below.

Does this mean a new bumper or can it be repaired?  Any idea of prices either way?

I'm taking it into the dealer next week, but would appreciate any views on likely costs in the meantime...

Attached Thumbnails

Vvc Timing Measured, A Little Advice On What To Do

Sat, 18 May 2013 19:05:36 +0000

Evening all,
Measured the tdc lift on my vvc k series today with a piper exhaust cam and got the following

Both front and rear inlet cams around a thou lift at tdc

The exhaust was 63 thou at tdc where piper says it should be 50 thou.

Now a couple of three questions if I may...

1) Should I offset the front of the exhaust cam to bring it nearer 50 and offset the rear the same so it doesn't throw out the rear inlet cam?

2) any ideas of how the lift translates into the required dowel offset?

3) what effect is it going to have just being left as is?

Cheers,

Ollie

Massive Thanks For Martin R

Sat, 18 May 2013 18:13:09 +0000

Well,
Apart from dropping the dti's off at unit 4, martin spent this afternoon helping me measure the timing on my motor at his house.

I didnt realise it was his birthday aswell!

A massive thanks mate, really appreciate today.

Cheers
Ollie

Rockingham Trackday Video

Sat, 18 May 2013 07:46:35 +0000

Had the GoPro in the car and recorded most of the time out on track. Here are some of the clips One thing I learnt on the day - really need some semi slicks. It was very obvious coming out of the corners those with them could put their foot down a lot earlier. Well there's my excuse for my crap driving so enjoy the video

Cci The Against Young People

Fri, 17 May 2013 23:23:54 +0000

After hearing gossip about not being insured on an elise under 40, i emailed them and got this today

Chris,

Unfortunately this is correct.

Due to a very high number of claims made by drivers under 40 on the Lotus Elise Aviva have now put a stop on us insuring these drivers.

You will received notice at least 4 weeks prior to your renewal advising this in writing.

Please accept my apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.

Regards

Jennifer Parry
Competition Car Insurance

Back In The Room!

Fri, 17 May 2013 20:43:30 +0000

I finally have a fully working Elise again!  Yay!

Just collected the car from AM Sports Cars in Redditch (aka Davey Automotive).  Malcolm there has done a great job of sorting it.  Had the clutch release arm replaced which was a gearbox out job so I also had a new clutch at the same time.  Had some of the water coolant pipes replaced with red silicone hoses too and an MOT to finish.

I stall the car all the time now as the clutch bites the instant it comes off the floor, but it's great to be mobile again!

Many thanks to Malcolm, I recommend them to anybody in the area needing a specialist.

Next stop is Ragley Hall classic car show next weekend.  See you there if anybody here is going.

Graham

Hgf?

Fri, 17 May 2013 19:48:55 +0000

I just took the cap off this and there was a white mayo type liquid in the top........