1st kit car Fiorano

25 Nov 2016, 5:07pm Mechanical Overhaul

Thanks, I spoke to a spring manufacturer today, going to go see them on Monday hopefully

4 Dec 2016, 1:24am General Update

I took it down on Wednesday, hopefully pick it up next week - it's anyone's guess if it will work or not - fingers crossed

4 Dec 2016, 10:11am General Update

Cheers

8 Dec 2016, 10:47pm General Update

ok, so a few updates - firstly I've made a small aluminum bracket to allow me to fit the second aeroscreen -

DSC_0053 by paul ward, on Flickr

8 Dec 2016, 10:50pm Mechanical Overhaul

now the suspension saga ....

so I had two of the main spring leaves remade slightly longer to try and compensate for the camber issue but retain the softness in the spring that was achieved by taking one leaf out -
so here in this pic you can see the longer piece - obove the previous shorter one -

DSC_0055 by paul ward, on Flickr

8 Dec 2016, 10:59pm Mechanical Overhaul

Has it solved it - well the camber is still there, but maybe not quite as bad as it was - but the main thing is that the spring is no longer hitting the body of the car - so although it hasn't worked perfectly as far as the camber is concerned, it has raised the body height just enough to make it useable now.

here's the before and after fitting the longer spring -
before -

DSC_0016 by paul ward, on Flickr

after -

DSC_0056 by paul ward, on Flickr

8 Dec 2016, 11:00pm Mechanical Overhaul

next job now is to remake the wheelarch supports

10 Dec 2016, 4:19pm General Update

cheers

10 Dec 2016, 4:33pm General Update

added some shims to the radius arms to try and correct the 'toe in' on the tracking -

DSC_0076 by paul ward, on Flickr

DSC_0077 by paul ward, on Flickr

10 Dec 2016, 4:40pm Chassis and Body

made a aerodynamic mirror cover today, just got to paint it now

DSC_0073 by paul ward, on Flickr

10 Dec 2016, 5:47pm Mechanical Overhaul

the negative camber as it is now is the last two rear end pics above this - still some negative camber - but not that far off what the car was originally before I started messing with the springs. I think the only way to get it any better now would be the camber adjustment kit that you can weld onto the top of the vertical links - and I'm not sure I want that much hassle at the moment.

My guy is hopefully going to rebuild the wheelarch supports next out of solid rod - with any luck it will then be ready to take home again.

10 Dec 2016, 5:51pm General Update

for the mirror cover - I put the mirror on first, then made paper templates to cover each side, held together with masking tape.
then once it was all correct I opened it out and uesed that as a template to cut the aluminium shape from, then just some hammers and pliers to bend and bash it into shape - and hey presto!!
did have 3 attempts though before I was happy

10 Dec 2016, 5:55pm Mechanical Overhaul

original camber on the car when building (before spring mods)

Screenshot_2016-11-22-23-06-38 by paul ward, on Flickr

after taking leaf out -

DSC_0016 by paul ward, on Flickr

now with the longer leaves added -

DSC_0076 by paul ward, on Flickr

10 Dec 2016, 5:56pm General Update

the differance is subtle to look at, but as far as body clearance goes it is enough to have done the trick

17 Dec 2016, 9:41pm Engine Mechanical Overhaul

Finally drove the car back today after the new batch of work including re making the wheel arch supports out of solid bar instead of tube, lowered front springs, AVO adjustable shocks all round and removal of a leaf from the rear spring as well as a slightly lengthened main leaf.
it felt ok, much softer ride than before, the camber still looks way out, but I suppose it will probably corner better if nothing else. and the turning circle has been reduced now due to the lowering of the front (it's missing the holes we cut now)
The only downside I can think of is that the negative camber might wear the tyres on one side quicker, and also it maybe looks a bit odd, but it's better than having to re-weld the arch supports every other time I take it out.

here's some pics - front arch support

DSC_0005 by paul ward, on Flickr

rear arch support

DSC_0006 by paul ward, on Flickr

Front now sits a bit lower which hides the lights a bit - which I like

DSC_0008 by paul ward, on Flickr

Rear negative camber is still there and also sits a bit lower now (I know cos the exhaust scrapes now when I drive up the ramp into the garage)

DSC_0010 by paul ward, on Flickr

Also fitted another aeroscreen for the missus

17 Dec 2016, 9:53pm Chassis and Body

Also made a mirror faring to cover the new wing mirror on the drivers side

DSC_0007 (2) by paul ward, on Flickr

18 Dec 2016, 9:38am General Update

Cheers

20 Apr 2017, 8:45am Mechanical Overhaul

So I'm hoping to get the car to Stoneleigh this year (weather permitting)
The stronger wheel arch mods and softer suspension seem to be working OK so far although I'm still not happy with the huge negative camber on the rear.
Gonna maybe try and get a spring made up at some point that's correct for the cars weight - that's the only think I think might sort it once and for all

Not sure where I'm gonna park at Stoneleigh though as I'm all on my lonesome