scoobyis2cool
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| posted on 15/2/07 at 04:53 PM |
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What's your car like to drive?
Hey everyone. As you may know, I built, drove and sold my car a while ago now so this may seem like a bit of an odd question, but...
What's your car (Indy or otherwise) like to drive? When I had mine I loved it but it never felt as easy to drive as normal road cars.
Specifically I mean the steering wheel was very hard to turn (worse than a normal car without power steering, lots of self-centre), and I found it
quite hard to drive smoothly (when I came off the accelerator the car would slow down very suddenly).
I was wondering if these are common issues or if I just didn't spend enough time setting mine up properly?
The reason I ask is I'm getting an itchy trigger foot and am tempted to maybe consider possibly building a bike engined car... potentially...
some time in the future 
Any help greatly appreciated
Pete
It's not that I'm lazy, it's that I just don't care...
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DIY Si
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| posted on 15/2/07 at 04:56 PM |
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My steering is so light I can drive with just 1 hand if I feel brave! I certainly do if I'm cruising/only pushing on a bit. The engine braking
will be much more effective than your used to due to the light weight of the car compared to the donor, mine is, and I have a bike engine.
“Let your plans be dark and as impenetratable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.”
Sun Tzu, The Art of War
My new blog: http://spritecave.blogspot.co.uk/
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MkIndy7
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| posted on 15/2/07 at 05:03 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by scoobyis2cool
Specifically I mean the steering wheel was very hard to turn (worse than a normal car without power steering, lots of self-centre)
I was wondering if these are common issues or if I just didn't spend enough time setting mine up properly?
I think you might have answered your own question a bit there.. To get the car to self centre for the SVA you have to use excessive toe in/out thus
making the steering heavy.
Ous SVA was in Beverly.. prob 50 miles away at a guess and you could see how it had worn the sides of the tyres by the time we got back!
We put ours to practically a neutral toe and its got very good feel to the steering.. possibly lighter than a manual steer car.
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scoobyis2cool
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| posted on 15/2/07 at 05:04 PM |
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Yeah I pretty much expected that to be the case with the engine braking. After a bit of practice I got used to it but the steering thing was something
I never liked. Interesting that your steering is so light, sounds like I probably just needed to do some more setup on the suspension, but by that
time I'd done so much work on it I just wanted to drive it!
Out of interest, what size tyres are you using?
Pete
It's not that I'm lazy, it's that I just don't care...
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JAG
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| posted on 15/2/07 at 05:05 PM |
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Mine shows the same tendancies as your car.
Steering is heavier than a tintop but then I don't have power steering and the wheel is 260mm diameter 
The car slows very quickly with just engine braking and catches some tintop drivers out 
Also the car will "kangaroo" down the road if power isn't applied very smoothly. I think this is partially because of the very light
pedal return spring I have fitted.
Justin
Who is this super hero? Sarge? ...No.
Rosemary, the telephone operator? ...No.
Penry, the mild-mannered janitor? ...Could be!
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scoobyis2cool
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| posted on 15/2/07 at 05:06 PM |
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Hmm another person with light steering, maybe I was the exception! I can't remember now what I set my toe to, I did change it after the SVA but
I don't think I set it to zero. I also seem to remember I adjusted the caster quite a bit for the SVA.
In a way I'm disappointed because now I'm going to have to find another 6 grand from somewhere, and persuade my Dad to give me the garage
again!
Pete
It's not that I'm lazy, it's that I just don't care...
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 15/2/07 at 05:10 PM |
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My steering is heavy when stationary or going very slow - once I'm past 10 mph it's just right for me. Not feather-light, but certainly
not heavy. The questions I would ask are: did you have big tyres? was the wheel offset correct? were the basic settings correct (toe-in, castor,
camber)?
As for slowing down when the throttle is lifted - engine braking has much more effect due to the low weight of the car, but nothing that causes me any
grief or problems.
David
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MkIndy7
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| posted on 15/2/07 at 05:13 PM |
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Our wheels are Sierra fitment, and 195/50/15's
Maybe it isin't quite Zero Toe but its certainly getting that way!
As mentioned elsewhere it is pretty heavy when Stationery but thats to be expected with such a small steering wheel, but certainly no complaints when
moving.
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DIY Si
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| posted on 15/2/07 at 05:36 PM |
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Sierra fitment wheel here too. I have quite a large steering wheel for a seven, but I prefer it that way as I don't have to concentrate so hard
when playing as I find it easier to control, as a slight turn is just that. Others prefer small wheels for precisely the opposite reason.
“Let your plans be dark and as impenetratable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.”
Sun Tzu, The Art of War
My new blog: http://spritecave.blogspot.co.uk/
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nitram38
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| posted on 15/2/07 at 06:07 PM |
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Sorted my castor angles out, so no problems here
I bought a 2nd hand 5 wheel hpa tracking machine, so I know it drives straight aswell.
Most problems are caused by the castor centering bodges. There should be a "sticky" at the start of the forum because this comes up too
often and normally when peoples cars are ready for sva!
As for Toe in, almost all rwd cars need it.
0.25-0.5 degrees per side.
When a car is powered from the rear, the front tyres splay outwards slightly causing lack of grip and higher tyre wear. If you toe your wheels
inwards to start with, then this splaying brings the wheels to straight ahead under power.......make sense?
[Edited on 15/2/2007 by nitram38]
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asn163
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| posted on 15/2/07 at 06:17 PM |
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Hi,
Steering on ours is reasonably light.
As others have said, engine braking is fairly pronounced, I have found that just lifting off the throttle usally slows you enough and that you only
really work the brakes when you are pressing on.
Simon
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zxrlocost
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| posted on 15/2/07 at 06:22 PM |
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steering was light on my r1 indy and it never slowed down quick
on the next one get it set up
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Peteff
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| posted on 15/2/07 at 06:23 PM |
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My mate was disappointed with his kit after he drove my Locost. Mine is light and has a degree of self centre and you can slide the back out and bring
it back in line easily. He complained of the weight of his steering but he stuck 205s on the front so what does he expect. I set my camber to zero and
toe in with two pieces of angle iron on the wheel studs 3mm less at 1metre down the angle iron, not sure of the degrees but it works for me.
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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scoobyis2cool
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| posted on 15/2/07 at 07:28 PM |
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I had 195s with 50 profile on mine which isn't excessive but if I did it again I think I'd be tempted to go for some narrower ones with a
higher profile. I chose them originally because I wanted to get as much dry grip as I could but now I think I'd probably have more fun with a
touch less grip and a more gentle breakaway because I could slide it around a bit easier.
Also I think I'd definitely need to spend more time setting it up, I did have a go at it last time so it wasn't ignored completely but
next time I'll have to be a bit more rigorous.
I always thought these cars were probably capable of much nicer handling than mine, glad to see it's been confirmed, now I just have to find the
funds for another!
Pete
It's not that I'm lazy, it's that I just don't care...
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snapper
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| posted on 15/2/07 at 08:58 PM |
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Interesting observations in a Lotus Seven book i was given for my birthday, it concludes that most people prefered (they tried each others cars) 185
60 13 in the lighter cars, i am looking at 6x14's and no more than 195-60's.
I eat to survive
I drink to forget
I breath to pi55 my ex wife off (and now my ex partner)
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 15/2/07 at 09:39 PM |
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I've got very old-fashioned 185/70 x 13" on mine - the higher profile helps the suspension absorb bumps, and they are very predictable.
My favourite game is hanging the tail out on a couple of local roundabouts - easy to bring it back in line when I've finished.
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flak monkey
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| posted on 15/2/07 at 09:47 PM |
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I read this with interest...having not yet driven mine yet, only up and down the drive!
Sera
http://www.motosera.com
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OX
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| posted on 15/2/07 at 10:52 PM |
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handles like a big gokart,iv set the suspension quite hard and used an inch shorter springs front and back.the rides a little hard for our roads but
great on the track.
found my limit before iv found the cars 
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Chippy
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| posted on 15/2/07 at 11:10 PM |
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My steering is light, with toe set at 2mm, I expected when I changed to 205 x 40 x 17's that it would make it heavy, but absolutely no change.
The only thing it has done is increase the self centering a little. One thing I have to be a bit careful about is changing down, especialy in the wet,
when doing any sort of speed, as it will skid the back wheels, ( makes for some interesting driving). Regards, Ray
To make a car go faster, just add lightness. Colin Chapman - OR - fit a bigger engine. Chippy
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Simon
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| posted on 15/2/07 at 11:14 PM |
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Never did get my tracking done (professionally, though I did try with a laser pointer and some timber). Think I may still have a little toe out at
front so very responsive (read twitchy on straight roads!!). Steering quite heavy at low speeds, but with my engine and wheel/tyre combo
couldn't expect anything else.
Engine is as smooth as you like. Pull away in 2nd or 3rd depending how lazy you're feeling, into 5th at 20, and it just pulls Is very
undergeared with 3.92 diff though.
Quite pleased with first effort at building car, just looking forward to getting turbo's and 2.88 diff on (and tracking done) then back on road
in next month or so
ATB
Simon
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Browser
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| posted on 22/2/07 at 03:00 PM |
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I'm just making a statement here alright, so please don't flame me, but Cateringvan don't put very big wheel/tyre combos on their
cars, neither did Sylva with the striker. I think the temptation to follow tintop fashion and put ever bigger wheels/lower profile tyres is one to
avoid as you will tend to get heavier steering.
As for the engine braking issue, get used to it and revel in it! My 'family car' is a Citroen Xsara Picasso and it drives me mad as the
ECU is programmed for anti-stall and keeps the revs up, only letting them drop slowly. Result? Hardly any engine braking
Oh, and yes, you will have to build another one
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greggors84
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| posted on 22/2/07 at 03:28 PM |
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Going to get mine set up around spring time, so its ready for the good weather. At the moment it handles well, but its not exactly confidence
inspiring. Went out the other day and had a bit of a moment mid corner when I was pressing on and went over a bump. It was very greasy on the roads
though.
I think a corner weight and tracking session will improve it no end, hoping anyway!
Also going to go for a quicker rack, almost put my shoulder out a few times correcting slides, need a smaller wheel too.
Chris
The Magnificent 7!
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