Stonleigh Kit Car Show - Page 2

peterux · #21 1st May 2006, 08:15

I'm sorry i didn't go yesterday, great show of cars. Thanks to Patrick for all the nice pictures, lots of inspiration.

Did anyone pick any good tips or solutions from Mark to some of the issues?

regards

Peter

GreatOldOne · #22 2nd May 2006, 09:37

I went on monday, and had a good look round the Show car. It was an M20 / E30 based car, the same as most of are building. It had the marlin exhaust system, and whilst they had the engine bay opened up I noticed one or two things.

The exhaust looks fairly straight forward, but by neccessity they've had to feed one branch under the engine to get the left hand pipe - this runs just forward of the bell housing, behind the sticky down portion of the sump.

They haven't bothered with an oil cooler - they've taken the oil take off plate off and put the olil filter directly onto the engine.

They've installed the rear anti-roll bar, but haven't bothered at the front

They've put a swirl pot on it, and had the fuel pump and the filter mounted on the bulkhead above the brake servo.

They where using a remote brake fluid resevoir

They've installed their air intake in the opposite direction to most of you guys (toward the rear and to the bottom of the car, rather than to the front)

They did indeed have two radiator filling caps as per Patrick's setup - one twist off cap near the radiator itself, and the filling cap on the expansion tank.

I couldn't really see the rear suspension bumpstops (I was getting wierd looks from people at this point), but the springs seemed to line up fine.

I have some photos of what they've done with the car if you want them.

I manged to sit in the thing - The bloke they where building it for (Nice chap called Darmuid - Hi Darmuid!

) let me get behind the wheel, despite all the don't touch signs from marlin. I want one even more than ever now... Especially when Darmuid wanted to hear it running, so they fired her up on the stand. That exhaust sounds great!

Ah well back to grinding crud off my bits...

Patrick · #23 2nd May 2006, 09:44

Thank you for the indepth review

Yes please put the pictures up - or email them to me if you would like me to host them

GreatOldOne · #24 2nd May 2006, 10:43

Patrick - I've sent a zip file over to the email address on your build site.

GreatOldOne · #25 2nd May 2006, 10:54

Ooops. Oh no I haven't. Our crap mail system has kicked it back saying it's too big. I'll send them from home tonight.

GreatOldOne · #26 2nd May 2006, 19:59

They're on their way, Patrick!

GreatOldOne · #27 2nd May 2006, 22:14

Here's those pics, courtesy of PatrickHosting(tm)

MartinClan · #28 3rd May 2006, 07:42

Intresting that Marlin mount the front dampers upsidedown with the adjusters at the top. This is the second car that I have seen them build like this.

Does anyone know why they do this - is it just to make the adjusters easier to get to? I was under the impresion that mounting dampers the wrong way up could have an effect on their performance - can't remember why though - anyone?

Robin

peterux · #29 3rd May 2006, 20:00

Great set of photo's, thanks for posting them for us all to study.

I've been doing a bit studying and also note the following interesting, trivial or useless comments! (in no particular order or significance)

- No BMW rubber connector between the steering shaft and extension rod (is this a safety feature on the original BMW?)
- Lovely red colour and nice dashboard layout
- front indicators look far too low for the SVA?
- Mudguard clamps are welded to the front uprights (I wonder if they shake loose if not welded?)
- no adaptor plate fitted between brake master cylinder and servo? (Is this because of Stuart's pedal travel problem?)
- long Goodridge style flexible brake hoses used throughout (ouch, expensive?)
- the ignition coil is fiited on the nice 'cool' inlet side of the engine bay away from that nasty hot exhaust system (but what is it fixed/mounted on?)
- rear ARB fitted despite Marlin's claims that it is not required?
- Steering column mounted upside down with keys on the nearside (i've done this on mine)
- AFM pointing backwards and down - looks good but what about all the rain and dirt thrown up from the road, could you see the air filter?
- fuel pump and surge tank system all mounted same side as exhaust? I started like this and quickly moved it across to the nearside of the car after I fitted the engine and realised how close it was to the exhaust manifold
- fuel feed is from the top of the surge tank (where any air will collect, unless that connection has a pipe that goes to the bottom of the tank?) my feed is from the bottom connection per the handwritten diagram from Mark
- the surge tank is different design to the one Marlin supplied me and Robin
- there are cut-outs in the bonnet stiffening angle to clear the air intake when the bonnet is shut - must remember that one
- exhaust system looks like a style versus performance compromise?(sorry a bit bitchy that one)
- bottom radiator hose adapted using 32mm plumbing fittings - I wish I had thought of that one
- as Robin noted above - the dampers are upside down - does anybody know why?
- nice rubber boots on the wishbones - anyone recognise what they are?

Well that's all I spotted, otherwise a very standard build!

Anyone seen any more?

hey Robin, get writing that manual.........

regards Peter

Patrick · #30 3rd May 2006, 20:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by peterux

Great set of photo's, thanks for posting them for us all to study.

I've been doing a bit studying and also note the following interesting, trivial or useless comments! (in no particular order or significance)

- No BMW rubber connector between the steering shaft and extension rod (is this a safety feature on the original BMW?)

- not using that mine either should give a more direct feel to the steering but if there is a sudden hole in the ground it will knock your hands i guess.

Quote:

- no adaptor plate fitted between brake master cylinder and servo? (Is this because of Stuart's pedal travel problem?)

- mine like that I bought the new master cylinder from Marlin

Quote:

- rear ARB fitted despite Marlin's claims that it is not required?

- quite! I think I might ask for the brackets

Quote:

- as Robin noted above - the dampers are upside down - does anybody know why?

- only thing I can think of is ease of access to the adjuster.

As for the exhaust I cant see that doing the power output of the engine much good - I was worried about going 6:1 for the design I have in mind. Does look nice but I'm not going to get that one for mine - still looking for a good place to get one made

EDIT: The other thing I noticed was the use of poly bushes on the front wishbones rather than the standard rubber.

EDIT2: it looks like the AFM is mounted to the engine.

Alfie · #31 4th May 2006, 08:52

I remember asking Mark about mounting front shock upside down a long time ago. I know he said it made no difference and I think his reason for doing so was for ease of adjustment but dont quote me on that. I also asked about mounting AFM to engine and was told it was ok but I'm not convinced. Mounting mine to chassis with rubber bushes.

Alfie

GreatOldOne · #32 4th May 2006, 09:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by peterux

- front indicators look far too low for the SVA?

In speaking to Mark about SVA, he did mention that the car in question had not gone through yet, and that he'd have to changes some things. He specifically mentioned the front indicators, and said that to get it through he'd mount them on stalks, and then put them back to where they are later.

Quote:

Originally Posted by peterux

- AFM pointing backwards and down - looks good but what about all the rain and dirt thrown up from the road, could you see the air filter?

Couldn't see the filter, sorry.

MartinClan · #33 4th May 2006, 12:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by peterux

- Steering column mounted upside down with keys on the nearside (i've done this on mine)

I'm intrigued

- what is the reason for mounting the column upside down?

Robin

Patrick · #34 4th May 2006, 12:20

Looking at mine it would seem the keyhole ends up behind the dash?

peterux · #35 4th May 2006, 12:52

Hi Robin and Patrick,
I just found that everything lined up better that way. The pictures on the CD supplied by Marlin showed this, as does their latest example above.
The steering column fixing kit came with long bolts and some steel tubes.
The keys end up as shown in one of the pictures above...

Great Old One,
thanks for the pictures.......
Interesting approach to the SVA. Mount the indicators at the correct height and then move them afterwards. hhmmmmm....

best regards

Peter

Patrick · #36 4th May 2006, 13:06

I had a chat with Terry today on my striker pin problem and also mentioned the rear ARB - they have brackets and shes going to send some to me

peterux · #37 4th May 2006, 17:43

Was she surprised about your missing striker plate?

Patrick · #38 4th May 2006, 19:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by peterux

Was she surprised about your missing striker plate?

Didnt seem like it, she said several chassis were like that. She said they stopped welding these to the chassis as there had sometimes been fitting problems with the doors and the thickness of the fiberglass. So there's a set in the post for me.

Patrick · #39 8th May 2006, 20:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patrick

I had a chat with Terry today on my striker pin problem and also mentioned the rear ARB - they have brackets and shes going to send some to me

I recieved the brackets today complete with a bill for £37!!! Terry included two nylon bushes at 10.48+VAT each - i will be giving her a call tomorrow and returning those. Just a little warning if you decided to order them too. I asked for just the brackets.