Ask a Shiter

[MrDuke]

So when I take a shallow corner at speed, the tyres have no trouble holding on, and the body roll isn't that bad, but when I hit the slightest ripple in the road surface the car shivers like a bitch and instantly drops about 5mph, along with epic loss of steering. I know, generally, why this is (it's an ancient front-end design, executed poorly), but my stupid question is:

Would springs with a higher spring rate improve things? Or are the dampers to blame? Or should I just stop taking corners at a respectable speed?

 

That's actually 3 questions, but meh.

[scaryoldcortina]

sounds a lot like dead front shocks to me.

[The Moog]

 

Are you sure it wasn't an early mg/vdp 1.6 maestro with the infamous talking dash?

 

No was definitely a 1.6 Laser in white (remember I wanted a flash car like that when I grew up) I must have made it extra special in my head

[M'coli]

Indeed, the shocks sound like they're past their best. IIRC there's a lot to dismantle to replace them, so why not add a shim or 2 to alter the camber while you're at it?

[MrDuke]

Indeed, the shocks sound like they're past their best. IIRC there's a lot to dismantle to replace them, so why not add a shim or 2 to alter the camber while you're at it?

 

Hmmm, fair do's. How would altering the camber help though?

[Station]

No was definitely a 1.6 Laser in white (remember I wanted a flash car like that when I grew up) I must have made it extra special in my head

 

Are you sure it wasn't the teacher telling you?

[dollywobbler]

A touch of negative camber lets the tyre grip much more than positive camber. If you think about it, positive camber means that when the car leans, the tyre is 'falling over' onto the sidewall too easily. Negative camber keeps the tyre flat to the ground even when pushing on a bit. Well, that's my theory on the matter!

[The Moog]

Are you sure it wasn't the teacher telling you?

 

It might have been. He always was a flash git and this was the era of KITT ...

[M'coli]

A touch of negative camber lets the tyre grip much more than positive camber. If you think about it, positive camber means that when the car leans, the tyre is 'falling over' onto the sidewall too easily. Negative camber keeps the tyre flat to the ground even when pushing on a bit. Well, that's my theory on the matter!

Indeed. A touch more negative camber (or a touch less positive) would make it understeer less.

[warren t claim]

Question 1. How is this wonderful website funded? It must cost a few quid and we don't seem to have any advertising.

 

Question 2. What was the last mass produced car available for sale in the UK that was fitted with a vinyl roof as standard?

 

[CIH]

A touch of negative camber lets the tyre grip much more than positive camber. If you think about it, positive camber means that when the car leans, the tyre is 'falling over' onto the sidewall too easily. Negative camber keeps the tyre flat to the ground even when pushing on a bit. Well, that's my theory on the matter!

 

Spot on Dolly. Not so much with moderns & indipendent suspension as they're designed to fight the tendency but in general the wheel will roll in line with body roll, taking the wheel toward positive camber and a drastic reduction in grip, usually sudden and without warning.

 

There's a picture of the fuzz razzing a mk2 cortina panda-car, posted on here I think, that shows the effect brilliantly but I can't recall which thread.

[Wilko220]

Question 2. What was the last mass produced car available for sale in the UK that was fitted with a vinyl roof as standard?

 

 

FX4 taxi? If that counts of course.

Otherwise, Skoda Estelle?

[Guest]

If I put rusty metal into Warren's minge machine, does it come clean and sparkling, like gash Calgon?

 

Discuss, compare and contrast. Involve theorists if you like, but they cannot eat it. Any of it. No flange for the academics.

[steve austin]

Is the moon really made of cheese? Answers only from people who have set foot there!

[loserone]

Sorry, can't speak from experience, but here's the moon on a stick for you:

 

That any help?

[trigger]

I've just been watching a episode of Minder and saw this silver car in the background, any idea what it is?, It look american to me.

 

[Guest]

Trig, it's a 1970-71 Mercury Comet sedan. Possibly like the one driven (or not driven) by Randall Adams in The Thin Blue Line.

[trigger]

Cheers Wat, I spend a short while afterwards googling it to no avail, I though it was pretty snazzy looking motor, I think it was on a 'H' plate but it was hard to tell due to Daleys Hat.

[Cavcraft]

Hey, if I get waste veg oil and half-arsedly run it through a fine micron filter then lob some new veg oil and/or a bit of diesel into it will it be o.k to use? I sort of hope the filter would get the shit out of the spent veg oil but is there likely to be some water content and how would I get it out if so please?

 

Ta muchly.

[Negative Creep]

Here's one for you...............did car makers ever agree on universal symbols at some point? For example, dipped beam, battery, oil, rear fogs etc are the same design and colour on every car. Was there an agreement or did it just become accepted in the way something like pedal order has? My mk.4 Cortina had different oil and battery symbols but i can't remember another car I've been in that had anything else

[CreepingJesus]

^No, they didn't. The reason it's become common since the time of 'Tinas and so on, to have similar symbols, is the focus group. Once these started to appear, many things in life drifted towards standardisation - simply because the manufacturers didn't think it worth the risk to do otherwise. People, when asked, will tend to favour the common identity for such things.

There's aspects of psychology, and comfort in familiarity in this; both for the buyers and the designers. (I did an essay on a case study of an Indesit focus group, when I was doing mechatronic eng., some years ago. I thought it would be a drag, but the subject is quite interesting, really!)

[Richard]

I was following a Golf the other day that was badged GTITDI. Did VW really make a model that said "G TIT" on the back?

[Cavcraft]

No, it must have been the owner pointing out the obvious about himself.

[ashmicro]

Might have been GTTDi. My pal has one.

[meggersdog]

re OMG VEG OIL QUESTION.

Waste oil needs to be heated to 100 degrees to evaporate the water before filtering.Even after filtering you will need some sort of tank and in-line heater to stop it clogging the injectors and solidifying in the pump when cold.

A little light reading here http://www.shortcircuit.com.au/warfa/paper/paper.htm

 

Mixing it with diesel or kerosene (parafin) should be ok in summer months just open the water trap at the bottom of your filter once a week.

[Cavcraft]

Cheers Meggers, sounds like too much mither to save a few pence here and there. Diesel or new veg oil it is then!

[messerschmitt owner]

Cav

 

new veg oil will not clog the filter.

 

no matter how much you filter it, the waste stuff will (quickly).

[Cavcraft]

£1.00 per litre tastic

[dollywobbler]

Cav

 

new veg oil will not clog the filter.

 

no matter how much you filter it, the waste stuff will (quickly).

 

Not sure I agree. If you start running any diesel on veg or bio, it tends to clean out the fuel lines of gunk and the filter will need changing a fair few times in the first 1000 miles. Not a massive job, but when the power starts reducing, time for a new'un!

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

re OMG VEG OIL QUESTION.

Waste oil needs to be heated to 100 degrees to evaporate the water before filtering.Even after filtering you will need some sort of tank and in-line heater to stop it clogging the injectors and solidifying in the pump when cold.

 

Incorrect. Outside when it's a bit milder (10C+) or in your garage loft the waters and fats will settle to the bottom naturally.

A heated fuel filter definitely helps though, as it melts any fats that escape through your first filter.

 

Not sure I agree. If you start running any diesel on veg or bio, it tends to clean out the fuel lines of gunk and the filter will need changing a fair few times in the first 1000 miles. Not a massive job, but when the power starts reducing, time for a new'un!

 

This is 'armchair knowledge' too, I've never had to do this after running several cars on new vegetable oil.