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-   -   Scary handelling (https://madabout-kitcars.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4390)

Brandon 23rd June 2013 15:54

Scary handelling
 
hello everyone I have just bought a 5exi I believe it was a factory race car it has a rover 1.6 engine and gearbox I took the car to Malory recently to a track day
Whilst I found the cars handelling round corners great apart from a half spin in the wet at the hairpin my fault
It feels very nervous at speed and when lifting at the bottom of the straight for Gerard's the car had a mind of its own I would like to upgrade the engine for mor power but untill the this handelling issue is resolved it would be pointless
Any help would be much apriciated
On another note has any one fitted a bike engine to a marlin thanks Brandon

alackofspeed 23rd June 2013 16:54

Mine was as you described when first built, hence I did this:

http://madabout-kitcars.com/forum/sh...=handling+woes

Now much better. I've driven Mallory once, and the car was fine there - braking from circa 130mph into Gerard's with no issue.

Hard to know what your car is currently like - if it's a race car it's presumably been produced differently to the road cars.

Brandon 23rd June 2013 17:55

Thanks for the reply looks like I need to ring track developments
Dare I ask how much it cost and do you have a contact number thanks

limpabit 23rd June 2013 18:35

Hi Brandon.

Do you have any pictures of the car at all? Is it the 1.6 k Series? Blue by any chance?

Reason I ask, is wondering if it's Dylan's original car on the original mk1 suspension set up.

If it is, let me know. Had mine done that was on mk1 suspension by TD. Now goes like it's on rails/go kart like and pushing 300 bhp.

alackofspeed 23rd June 2013 18:43

http://www.trackdevelopments.co.uk/

My car was very much a development mule, so the price I paid is no longer valid.

Limpabit's car is the better reference.

Brandon 23rd June 2013 18:54

Yes it's a 1.6 k series on twin webbers it's green now I'll try and post a picture up not very good at things like that
It's a lovely car just doesn't inspire confidence at speed

limpabit 23rd June 2013 18:57

Ah ok. It's not Dylan's.b How long ago did you buy the parts? Wondering if you have the updated rear suspension.

Where are you located?

Bet that's a nice sound on twin webbers

Brandon 23rd June 2013 19:00

Bought the car a few weeks ago from Canterbury it was on piston heads I think it was built by marlin as a race come demo car in 2002 I spoke to marlin they seemed to think it was black origanly and that he had raced it for a season

limpabit 23rd June 2013 19:07

If you look at your rear suspension. Is the two ball joints the different sizes on the hub? Or do they look like this:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...t/DSCF0763.jpg

Might well have the old mk1 original suspension

Brandon 23rd June 2013 19:19

No it's not like that is their an upgrade available from marlin I spoke to the but he didn't mention any thing
That looks a lot better set up than mine

Brandon 23rd June 2013 19:21

How do you post pictures
Thanks for the replies I thought I was on my own with this one
If I can sort the handelling it would be fantastic

limpabit 23rd June 2013 19:28

Join up for free with someone like photo bucket.com
Upload photos
Copy the link for the uploaded photo. It will have a link with IMg at each end of the line.
Post it in the box where you type on here.

It's easier to do than it sounds with these instructions!

Mk1 had different sized two top ball joints
Mk2 is in my photo above supplied by Marlin.

Where are you located? Someone might be near you to have a look.

Not on you own. Great bunch on here to help you out:)

Brandon 23rd June 2013 19:38

Yes it has different sized top ball joints
I'm in Oswestry Shropshire
Do you think it could be as simple as replacing the top wishbones
Apart from the lift of wobble the car was great well balanced no under steer I would like to upgrade the engine to a vvc which I have throttle bodies cams ect
200 bhp ish and lighten it a bit I've sorted the brakes out which were awfull
And I think it will be good fun I do hillclimbs and sprints and a few track days

limpabit 23rd June 2013 19:45

You have a number of options. Minimum would be rear top and bottom wish bones and hubs. At the time I upgraded with Marlin, bottom wish bones were optional.

You could give Marlin a ring. Or give Dave at TD a ring for options and prices. Then get the geometry setup etc.

Brandon 23rd June 2013 19:51

Thanks I'll ring them both tomorrow

alackofspeed 23rd June 2013 22:16

Dave would be the better person to call in my opinion.

MadDogMoggy 24th June 2013 17:02

Not had much driving experience, but apparently tyre pressure can also make a a huge difference to how the car handles.

alackofspeed 24th June 2013 18:25

I've played with pressures on track, and other than raising or lowering grip, it didn't make too great a difference to the fundamental feel of the car.

After the suspension was changed on my car the biggest differences came from stiffening the rails (replacing removable lateral brace), bracing the rack O/S mount, and stiffening the front toe arms.

Brandon 24th June 2013 21:18

I don't think tyre pressures would make any difference
Spoke to dave and marlin today time to have a think
Could turn into a winter progect and involve fitting a bike engine
And try and make a very light weight marlin with a six speed paddle shift gear box 200 hp and 500kg is the plan I think less weight in the back would make a massive difference

Brandon 24th June 2013 21:37

On another note has any one checked the castor angle mine has 2 degrees with I think is ok for a race car but if I was using it on the road I think it could do with more which would proberbly counter out the rear wheel steering I think westfields run about 6 or 7 degrees so their would be be more self centring on the steering and a lot less nervous just a thought


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