I have to say a huge thank you to Andy and Pat from LVS Racing!!! They both went above and beyond what I expected in therms of customer service and quality of work. To find some where with such a high standard of work but also that will give honest advise and not rip you off is a godsend! Thankfully they're local to me as well which is a bonus.
First up Andy fitted a Blueflame 3"DP he had left over from a previous project. As they had used the sports cat he fabricated a de cat section for me. Originally he planned to remove the flanges and weld V bands in there place. However in case I want to swap the cat back at some point he left the flanges on but added V bands either side of the to make changing to a sports cat nice and easy.
On to the suspension and what a difference it's made. I had the Nuespeed 25mm front ARB, wishbones, steering rack poly bush and new ball joints fitted. Andy then did a fast road alignment set up. He found that with the caster increase bushes fitted he had to remove the tow in that he usually adds as the car was fidgety and followed the camber in the road to much. So at least that means they're doing what they supposed to! He also added 1.1 deg of negative camber to the front.
I haven't driven the car far yet but I went home on the back roads which I know well. The exhaust is louder but doesn't drone and isn't to bad on part throttle. It's made a hell of a difference though. Spool up is much quicker as you'd guess but my car feels a fair bit faster. You can feel it breathing easier.
After his initial test drive Andy asked what map I had on it and was surprised when I told him it was standard. It looks like all my hours of reading and asking stupid question on forums is paying off. I really want a large port head know to get the most of the increased flow!
The bushes in the wishbones that came off where in very poor condition. So there's no surprise that the new wishbones have made quite a difference. With havering so much fitted at once it's difficult to say for sure which parts are doing what. In a straight line and with small steering inputs the steering is nice and weighted. When you turn in its very sharp and caught me out how fast it responds. I'm going to need a big of time in the car to get used to the changes as it feels so different. I was concerned that the front ARB would induce so under steer but not a chance:D!
I'm going to have to find some time this weekend for a long test drive.
On a side not I also had a little drive of the LVSR demo car. It's a Audi 2.0t Quattro with a K04 running REVO stage two. Which was good fun but the VW Racing brakes and SMF paddle clutch took a bit of getting used to. Amongst other projects in the work shop was an old curtesy that's being turned into a track car.
It was a 1.4 know has a forged engine with GT28RS(I think!?), tubular manifold, externally gated, big brake and full cage. Andy plans to add aero as well so I may well have to watch his progress and pick his brains!
Roll on the track day!!!:funk:
