Help in RX2 Search
Re “Chasing an Original RX2” (Response)...
RX-2s in original condition are pretty rare to
come by. We generally specialise in importing newer model cars from Japan.
However, of late we've had an increase in inquiries on cars like the Honda S600,
RA20 and, most interestingly, on RX-2s. We did manage to find one particular
RX-2 in Japan (also known as a Capella) in very good condition - that could be
of interest to your reader. More details on the car can be found at http://www.j-spec.com.au/list/index.php?ID=5147
Shan Moorthy - J-Spec Imports
Australia
More on the Digital Manometer
Re Handheld Digital Manometer ...
I just bought one last month for use in my company
(in Hong Kong) to check vacuum pumps. I spent HK$650 which equals around AUD$110
– so your eBay purchase is not bad at all. Apparently these are made by a
Taiwanese company called AZ Instruments http://www.az-instrument.com.tw/.
The 8230 model measures +/- 30 psi and I saw in the shops a more sensitive model
(the 8215 at +/- 15 psi) and a higher pressure model (the 82100 at +/-100 psi).
I might go back and buy the 82100 later on...
Alwin Ngai
Hong Kong
Re Stability Control and ABS #1
Reading the first Stability Control article (Electronic Stability Control - Part 1 )
prompted me to do a web search on ABS, because I have always read that there has
never been any scientific survey that has found ABS to reduce crashes. This led
me to an NTHSA study which found that, while ABS reduced crashes in wet
conditions, rollovers were increased (presumable as a result of the newly
enhanced swerve-ability LOL) and there was no statistical difference in dry
conditions between ABS cars and non-ABS cars. Another study of Munich taxi
drivers found an increase in accidents for ABS vehicles. The proposition put
forward by several sources is that drivers changed behaviour (ie braked later,
etc) when they had ABS and one source suggests that the presence of ABS in a car
should be hidden from the driver! I am afraid that there still is no scientific
support for the proposition that ABS is a safety feature - so please stop
referring to it as such. I see it merely as a "value" feature. It is now cheap
and the perceived value by buyers is high, so motor manufacturers include it
partly due to pressure from the media. But then you cannot have stability
control or traction control without ABS, so maybe it does have some use...
Philip Armbruster
Australia
Re Stability Control and ABS #2
Re the recent stability control articles - Electronic Stability Control - Part 1 and
Electronic Stability Control - Part 2...
Michael Knowling's enthusiasm for electronic stability control and total
acceptance of ABS is premature. Recent real-world statistics have shown ABS
kills as many people as it saves. There is perhaps some reduction in accidents
on multi-lane segregated highways, but an increase in fatalities on secondary
roads - particularly single vehicle run-off road incidents. Look around
Australia and see how many secondary roads we have.
Michael South
Rockhampton
Re Stability Control and ABS #3
Thank you for the information on stability
controls. In the past I spent some years teaching advanced, defensive, race and
learner driving. Most drivers have an appalling lack of ability in emergency
situations and a stability control system would be a Godsend. Not to mention
where the system can extend the performance envelope of a car when it is needed
most! Which brings me to the interesting point... Which ESP systems make driving
more satisfying? I presume the Mitsubishi Evo system is near the top of that
tree and some, like the Mercedes A Class (due to its wrist-slapping
interventions), near the bottom?
Robert Lawrence
Australia
The Evo doesn’t have a ‘proper’ stability
control system – it doesn’t control individual brakes and reduce engine power.
It does, however, have magnificent handling and stability thanks to its
combination of an anti-yaw control (AYC) rear diff and Active Centre Diff (ACD).
The Pug 206 GTi 180 is a car that uses its stability control well. On the other
hand, some of the Audi models (such as the 2004 S4 - Audi S4 Road Test)
do nothing but understeer when pushed in the dry. The Honda V6 Accord falls into
a similar category.
Twin Charged Grunt!
Great online mag! I have been looking at twin
charging my laggy 2-litre Lancia Turbo for some time with little advice. I know
I want a small supercharger to boost the car until about 3000 rpm when the
GT28RS starts to come in. I know that the Nissan Micra/March Super Turbo, Delta
S4 and new Golf use twin charging systems and I am told the MR2 boys also twin
charge. I am not worried about making the supercharger fit - what I need to know
is how the system should run as I want the supercharger to work as a turbo lag
eliminator. I have seen some cheap Suzuki 660cc superchargers for sale in Japan
- will one of these do? Can you help?
Pietro
UK
The 660cc (Kei class) superchargers may work
given you probably won’t be driving them to generate any more than about 50kW.
On the other hand, the 1-litre Nissan March engine uses a slightly larger
supercharger so, for a 2-litre engine, you’re probably better off with a Toyota
4AGZE or 1GGZE blower. In terms of set-up, it’s probably best to configure the
turbo to blow through the supercharger during low rpm/load operation. Then, at
high rpm/load, disengage the supercharger clutch and re-direct turbo boost
through a supercharger bypass passage. This is the way the Nissan March system
works (as described in Super Turbo Stunner).
Can any readers offer some experience with twin-charger set-ups?
Speed Fix
I have recently fitted a new diff to my car and
have gone from 4.444:1 ratio to 3.9:1. As you would expect, my speedo is now
out. I have been considering the digital speedo corrector sold by Jaycar. My
question is this... I understand this corrector ‘clips’ the signal when trying to
decrease the speedo reading but can it also multiply for people using taller
diffs (I need more pulses not less)? Are there any other solutions? Any help you
can provide will be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Brent Muldoon
Australia
Sounds like the Speedo Corrector is exactly
what you need. Alternatively, a ratio box might be available from your local
automotive instrument specialist. See Needles and Pointers for
a brief summary.
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