Another visit to HT

[CalaisRider]

:)

Well my baby heads down to Hi Torque again tomorrow.

My front shocks are totally shot and clunking badly (car has been a tad unstable and understeer for a whilse now). I'm putting on a new set of Bilsteins and some new urethane bushes.

I'm into preventative/precautions rather than power adding atm, so am fitting up PWRs biggst Trans Cooler = 32 row (my current one is 8 row). Also want to fit their bigest model engine oil cooler as well but not sure where it will locate when the trans cooler goes in (oh well I have bought it in readiness sometime).

Has anyone tried Federal 595 Drift Comp tyres? I need a couple of front tyres soon as the buggered shocks have resulted in some weired wear pattern and really rapid wear rate on the front.

The Harrop Tru Trac LSD has been schweet as to date, and is something I would certainly recomend for VE, I do need to get the diff checked as a precautionary measure. Got some heavy duty skidpan coming up at Gympie next mth.

The sorst was welded and patched up once more yesterday - bloody SS cracks. Cats are looking decidedly flat rather than round on the bottom though. :o This and the new shocks should fix the clunking and rattling noises I was getting nervous about.

:)

[Carbon]

Good luck with it Pete. Corey has Federals on his but I am not sure which 'model'. He did have some issues which he will be more than happy to share

[CalaisRider]

Good luck with it Pete. Corey has Federals on his but I am not sure which 'model'. He did have some issues which he will be more than happy to share

:)

Ta mate. I have settled into Falken 452s for the past two sets as value for money and superb grip in wet and dry. Just checking what in the semi-comp range available in 20's are in preparation for my next changeover.

To date and 95,000k, the tyres I've had are:


Bridgy x 2 sets of 4 road tyres - 20"; plus 1 set of track tyres 18" = 3 complete sets of four tyres. Yeh, the street tyres are ok but you pay for the Name, and not as good as those below. The RE55S semi Comps are very good for circuit though.
Toyo x 1 set (RA1 are exceptionally good but way spensive - close on $2,700 for four at the time - sticky, but fast wear rate)
Falken x 3 sets (the two sets of 452s I've had are their flagship and very good, plus a comparatively long wear rate) - I would happily recomend these to anyone into performance tyres or riding on the edge...


28 brand new Tyres in total that have been destroyed!!! and now up for a couple more = 30 tyres that I've had in a tad over three years since the car was new in Oct 2006 :eek: T'was fun times though...

Hmm, looking at this, I just realised that I could have almost bought a supercharger or even another car for the $$ I have spent on tyres :o

:)

[CalaisRider]

:)
;)

Thursday 4th March 2010. Well it was another long day at Hi Torque and quite a deal of work and repair done. I got them to dismantle and check just about everything possible, and as usual they were quite willing to do so at nutso short notice. The "CAN DO" attitude seems to be a trademark from what I have experienced.


By way of just "one" element of the plethora of stuff dismantled, checked, changed or added throughout the day, the below outcome was achieved:

Auto Trans

Historically and using the Engineering mode of the Calais various computers has indicated that the "coolant" temp is around 95-100 degrees (M1 Highway running)

Similarly the "Trans Sump" temp generally hovered in the 80 – 90 degree range (M1 highway running). With a bit harder running the transmission temp “used” to rise to 95-100 degrees C quite quickly. This was with the previous cooler configurations in place - that was - the standard "through" the radiator trans cooler, then routed out to an in -line additional cooler mounted at the front of the radiator.

At Hi Torque yesterday we dropped in a "third trans cooler and a dedicated fan" (PWR) into the A6 fluid cycle.

On the way home from the Hi Torque work I was bedazzled to see the trans temp drop to 58 degrees, then 56 degrees and settled at very cool 54 degrees with the occasional drop to 53 Celsius for the majority of the trip home along the M1 at 110kph. I gave it a few blats for a whiles and the temp rose to a mere 56 degrees.


Given that the previous setup on highway temp was 95 – 100 degrees plus, but is now running at 54 degrees, its obvious that the “improvement” is a full 40 degrees cooler in the Transmission . over and above what the previous added coolers could achieve - That’s friggen amazing. Reality is that its not much warmer than a summer’s day out a Thargomindah and western areas of Qld (and humans live and survive in that temp).

I did do some round town running and stop lights ect around Brisbane just to test trans temp in stop start situations, but couldn’t get it over 57 degrees regardless – that’s incredibly cool and leaves me quite a large margin to do track amd motorsport play. A by-product of a cool A6 that I did notice is a very, very nice and responsive shift change and launch power. Yeh I did what I do with launches in short bursts and still couldn’t manage 60 degrees sump temp – that’s nutso good!!!
__________________________________________________ _______________-

Additionally on the day Hi Torque undertook the following:

Pulled the drive shaft out and checked bolts and donuts, same with sorst; and with a few changes its all good now, and same with the diff and Tru Trac etc, etc.

The front suspension and ancillary components were totally shattered and spewed ball bearings across the shop floor when unbolted.

The front Sway Bar had come adrift and unbolted. I haven’t had the opportunity to test the new suspension/changes other than to say that the ride is quite nice. But regardless, it’s oh so refreshing not to have the clanging and banging happening in the front end that I have for the past couple of mths.

Brake Lines have been thoroughly flushed and re-set.

Wheel alignment specified on the day resulted in it now being back to basic track settings, so the Luxo should handle ok.

Additionally - Yay thanks to Ash, I now have 6,800rpm shift points relative to the 7,000rpm limiter and some more tightening of the shift pressures undertaken. This fits far better with my Isky cam power band. Manual Mode will hit the 7k limiter as per original tune specs.


Oh and my bumper Bar is now not just held on by Race Tape. Ewwe, someone previously put the clips and bolts in "upside down", no wonder it fell apart. Well done nameless... :rolleyes: :eek: :rolleyes:


Brenton at Hi Torque did a superb job on my car in every way; and his attention to detail, thoroughness and problem solving abilities is beyond reproach; all of which are a very rare commodity today.I was very, very impressed.


Thank you Kent and the Hi Torque Team, I now like my car again. :D:D :) :D:D


EDIT
Just for info. Did some tests on cooler trans today - Saturday 6th March 2010. See below:

Idle (15 minutes) = 45 - 47 degrees Trans. Coolant 92 - 95 degrees

Around town Brisbane Traffic 52 - 56 degrees Trans. Coolant 95 -98 degrees

Highway running and a bit of mountains = 55- 65 degrees Trans. Coolant 96 - 101 degrees.

I'm very happy with that. :) Now I just need get the engine side equally right. A colder thermostat, lower the thermo fans kick in temp (via tune) and add the very large PWR engine oil cooler with dedicated fan I previously bought. Then all should be as I would like to run motorsport and daily drive without fear of heat contributing to killing things. Oh, and I already have a substantial Power Steering cooler mounted which works well.

Pete

[PROPSI]

Shit Pete, been busy;)

[CalaisRider]

Shit Pete, been busy;)

Yeh Paul, but as usual mate - nowhere near the explosive power of yours. I'm just testing what I can do to promote longevity. Very happy with yesterdays results.

Main bit is I literally "hated" the car across the past two mths, but now feeling quite comfortable and proud of it once again. Sheesh who knows, I may actually polish it and detail for your cruise this coming Sunday (haven't done that for ages).

Truth is that HT have now pulled the Caialis-V into what I expect of it. Safe, stable, comfortable and quick - but not a drags car...

I have 3.7 diff gears atm up from 2.89 stock. but rekken 3.9 is the holy grail in an A6 with stock stallie!!! Just for info and consideration.

I got dumped by Western Suburbs Diferentials at Sumner Park today. Honestly, I dunno what I have done wrong by Ray. All I wanted was a second "opinion". Oh well penty other options out there and I will move on...

:)

[newsyk06vr2.0]

i wouldnt go with the 20" semi comps pete. stay with the 245 45 18"

u need the side wall flex to help the tyre work better around the corners.

and there are 2 federal 595's 1 is a high performance tyre and the 595R is the semi comp.

id have them one my cars.

[blown vess]

Im with you pete nothing but good words for guys at ht and yeah ray wont even going therel

[pvk308]

Pete would have been the ideal time to go coilovers in the front that way you have the best of all three worlds drag, motorkhana and daily but i know dollars is the key and as you have said you've thrown enough at the girl already. Im surprised you have had issues with that diff shop the guys i have spoken to cant speak highly of him ah well things never seem clear cut do they these days whats great for one can be horrible for aother

[Northy]

Hey Pete,

I have been running the 595 EVO's and I am on my 2nd set. Both sets have split the full width of the tread. When i spoke to federal about this they said I didn't have any grounds for a warranty claim because i went to the track, if you look these up on the federal site they are in their motorsport section, was quite disapointed with their attitude. After alot of back and forth they agreed to pro rata the warranty, As i had used 40% of the tread in 12months (as you can see im pretty easy on the tyres) they gave me the option to pay 40% of a new set, I did this only to find out the 2nd set has also had the same issues.

They are great tyres but they have left me a little disapointed. I also notice that Federal now have the 595RS-R Semi slick ( http://www.federaltyres.com.au/ss595rsr ) Id be keen to give these a shot or hear from sobody who has, Bonus for me as they make them in a 275/30/20 which is hard to find in a semi slick.
http://dev.cnorth.com.au/temp/tyre01.jpg
http://dev.cnorth.com.au/temp/tyre02.jpg

[CalaisRider]

:o
Whoopsies, maybe a re-think is in order for me on the Federals.

Hmm these RS-R are what I was originally contemplating but I couldn't find 245 or 255 in 20s; hence mulled over the Evos. According to the Federal Tyres site the EVOs are "jointless". It certainly looks like your tyres separated at a "joint".

As a comparo, for the price of one top end Toyo that I had on a whise ago I could have bought 3 Federal EVOs.

I looked at Khumo but their top end track type tyres (KU36) don't seem to come in 20" either.

[CalaisRider]

Pete would have been the ideal time to go coilovers in the front that way you have the best of all three worlds drag, motorkhana and daily but i know dollars is the key and as you have said you've thrown enough at the girl already. Im surprised you have had issues with that diff shop the guys i have spoken to cant speak highly of him ah well things never seem clear cut do they these days whats great for one can be horrible for aother

:)

Yuppers Steve I have now gone Coilovers in the front. Not to the spec of my dream of Drummond Motorsport (DMS) or Bilstein Coilovers but $4,500 for the fronts alone is really hard to scrape the money for and justify.


Yeh I have "always" spoken very highly of the Western Suburbs diff shop and Ray across the past three years too. I dunno what happened or what I have done, but it wasn't a nice experience just asking for a second opinion I can assure you. Suppose shit happens and people throwing mud at me in the background and within the "Performance Shop Groupy" scene can sometimes stick. Not to worry, its a minor thing in the scheme of life's journey. The beauty is that in a city the size of Brisbane and spanning to the Goldie Coast there are a plethora of quality shops to choose from and spend your $$ to get things done to a personally desired outcome.

I'm totally over that diff aspect now. It was just a shock and came unexpectedly at the time. Today I have found a solid alternative to that diff shop and am quite excited at trying somewhere new. Thanks for the thoughts and advice though.

Pete

[CalaisRider]

I dunno how to reply to the CalaisRider VISITOR messages but:

pvk308 - Thanks Steve. Bottom line, in the wet and riding half assed bald tyres across a 400k trip into the Sunny Coast hinterland it was good but I am considering a heavier "rebound" rate change on the damper side - compression rate is nice. I will give it 6mths of testing to see if I need to up the Spring Rates. The circuit is the only way I will really be able to compare though.

I have a Skidpan day to attend at Gympie next Saturday, so that will give another aspect to handling and traction comparo. I use skidpan as a learning experience.

The combo of suspension/steering mods has created a quite rigid chasis, then the Tru Trac helps fill the deficit of my ol fart reflexes as well lol.

Ordered some new tyres for rear fitment this coming Thursday. From then on I rekken a QR or Lakeside circuit play may be in order to test the luxo in "daily drive" and K Mart machine mode to test the suspension changes.

Steve I dunno why you can't post in my thread, its only here for other members info and consideration for VE mods. Certainly not the gospel of what should be done.

From a Power Perspective there are numerous cars on BCC with twice the power of mine. But I'm now happy with what the luxo now achieves as an all rounder.

Pete