21 replies to this topic

[Cooperman]

For a road car there really is little point in changing for the as-designed sub-frames and suspension system. You have an old and slow classic car, so saving a little weight will advantage an owner very little and will not really be noticed in normal driving. For competition where tenths-of-a-second per are are important it is, of course, a different matter, but that can never apply on the road.

[Icey]

For a road car there really is little point in changing for the as-designed sub-frames and suspension system. You have an old and slow classic car, so saving a little weight will advantage an owner very little and will not really be noticed in normal driving. For competition where tenths-of-a-second per are are important it is, of course, a different matter, but that can never apply on the road.

Probably one of the few things we agree on!

Bolting on parts designed for track use doesn't make a road car faster. When it comes to road holding I've found that it's quite the opposite. From suspension changes (we were coil-overs all round, now cones) to brakes (I've just started tearing down to replace vented disks with solid) - sometimes less is more for a road car.

[nicklouse]

 

For a road car there really is little point in changing for the as-designed sub-frames and suspension system. You have an old and slow classic car, so saving a little weight will advantage an owner very little and will not really be noticed in normal driving. For competition where tenths-of-a-second per are are important it is, of course, a different matter, but that can never apply on the road.

Probably one of the few things we agree on!

Bolting on parts designed for track use doesn't make a road car faster. When it comes to road holding I've found that it's quite the opposite. From suspension changes (we were coil-overs all round, now cones) to brakes (I've just started tearing down to replace vented disks with solid) - sometimes less is more for a road car.

 

unfortunately us that have been there done that get poo pooed by the ones that have just splashed their cash on the useless stuff.

[Cooperman]

One of the causes is the c**p often printed on the two 'comics' which makes owners think that spending a lot of cash on 'special bits' will somehow improve our little classic cars.

 

Not many owners use their cars for out-and-out competition on the track and will get absolutely no benefits at all, rather they will make their cars less nice to drive.

 

Rear beams, vented discs, coil springs, roll cages, etc. are all typical of competition parts which make no improvement on the road. I do know that my very 'full-on' FIA compliant Cooper 'S' in nowhere near as pleasant to drive on public roads as the standard Innocenti Cooper 1300 Export which I had a while back (it has won a lot of historic rallies though).

 

A rear beam lightens the rear, but means the less good coils springs have to be fitted and the rear has less crash protection with probably reduced road-holding. Carrying rear-seat passengers may also be a problem. Vented discs mean the brakes may run at too low a temperature in road use (good for long-distance racing) whilst roll cages raise the C of G, add weight, add risk for the driver & passenger and make the car effectively a 2-seater. 

[splintercat]

One of the causes is the c**p often printed on the two 'comics' which makes owners think that spending a lot of cash on 'special bits' will somehow improve our little classic cars.

 

Not many owners use their cars for out-and-out competition on the track and will get absolutely no benefits at all, rather they will make their cars less nice to drive.

 

Rear beams, vented discs, coil springs, roll cages, etc. are all typical of competition parts which make no improvement on the road. I do know that my very 'full-on' FIA compliant Cooper 'S' in nowhere near as pleasant to drive on public roads as the standard Innocenti Cooper 1300 Export which I had a while back (it has won a lot of historic rallies though).

 

A rear beam lightens the rear, but means the less good coils springs have to be fitted and the rear has less crash protection with probably reduced road-holding. Carrying rear-seat passengers may also be a problem. Vented discs mean the brakes may run at too low a temperature in road use (good for long-distance racing) whilst roll cages raise the C of G, add weight, add risk for the driver & passenger and make the car effectively a 2-seater. 

 

1. I don't really get your inference about the two "comics" out there?  But  to be 100% honest ...which one of us here hasn't been tempted by articles and advertising to shell some frogskins here and there for a promise of perhaps and extra 1 or 2 extra bhp ?

 

  There again I do wear Jimmy Choo Yeang Keat  shoes on special occasions so can't say I'm completely innocent.

Edited by splintercat, 29 November 2017 - 06:47 PM.

[mini-mad-mark]

Metro radius arms?

[nicklouse]

Metro radius arms?

mine yes.