OBDII Compliant VL Commodore?
I was reading the article titled
Reading Your Car's Brain - Part 1
and it was very interesting. One question though - will one of the readers plug
into a Holden VL Commodore?
Alan Lowing
Australia
The VL Commodore is
not OBDII compliant. Cars in the US (or intended for the US market) since 1996
have OBDII ports while other cars with the same sort of socket (as
illustrated here) are likely to be compliant.
Falling Boost
I have recently installed a boost control system pretty much
identical to the Audi Do-It-Yourself Boost Control system The Audi's DIY Boost Control - Part 1.
It is fantastic. It killed the nasty spike that occurred after any spool and the
relief valve has transformed the car - it now produces gear tooth stripping
torque.
However, one characteristic of my old bleeder set-up has
remained. In proportion to engine rpm, the boost drops off irrespective of
throttle position. It will fall from the set pressure of 12 psi all the way down
to 7 or 8 psi by about 6000 rpm. The airflow meter has only a 40mm or so
internal diameter orifice. Is it realistic to think that the airflow meter could
be the cause of the boost fall off? Could it possibly pose such a restriction
that the turbo only produces 7 or 8 psi at high rpm? The car has the usual
'negative boosts' removed, exhaust modifications and a larger turbocharger and
intercooler than stock. In stock form the car - a 1988 Bluebird ATTESA CA18DET -
produces 130kW at 6500 rpm and boost is 7 psi.
Another possibility could be a broken actuator - a crack or
something? I would expect it to overboost at lower rpm in this case.
Andrew Mckenzie
New Zealand
Short of using a closed-loop boost control system, the
drop-off at higher rpm is almost impossible to avoid in some turbo systems. A
lot depends on the size of the wastegate, the flow capacity of the turbo,
etc. If you use the techniques covered in our Negative Boost series you should be able to measure precisely how restrictive the airflow meter is.
It's a Sportscar!
I just read your road test on the Nissan 350Z New Car Test - Nissan 350Z Track
and I must say that I was disappointed. Over here the car is pretty much
universally loved and is a screaming bargain to boot. Not enough storage room?
What's next? Not enough cup holders? Ride is too rough? It's a SPORTS CAR!
Thomas Currie
Canada
Personal Import 4 Me?
I am really confused. Some
people say it is not possible to import a car
from NZ to Australia for personal use - is that true?
For example, would it be possible to import a 1995 Honda Saber?
Nat
Australia
A vehicle can be imported privately from NZ but there are
conditions. Access to these details can be gained through www.dotars.gov.au
Hooked a Snapper?
A question about handling in a Subaru Liberty (Legacy) RS...
I've been in a discussion about snap oversteer in RS and Liberties that I and
others seem to get on braking, lift off and hard turn-in. As you have history
with these little beasties, I was wondering if you could tell me what you did
with your Liberty RS to get it to handle right. Ref this thread:
www.rslibertyclub.orgforums/viewtopic.php?p=30624#30624
Paul Meeson
Australia
Having covered more than 150,000 km in a Liberty RS we only
ever encountered a snap oversteer once - while showing off... As per usual, the
occurrence of this depends largely on the driver's technique and the conditions
- we expect you would encounter oversteer more at a racetrack, where there is
more space to push the limits. On the street - where you've got to drive to
accommodate what might be around the next corner, etc -
the Liberty is generally an understeerer. The RS we once owned wound up fitted
with an anti-lift kit, STi struts and 16-inch rims with 215/55
tyres.
Bigger = Better?
I recently replaced the brake pads on my Mazda 323 turbo and
remembered reading *somewhere* that in some cases larger pads would fit,
providing an increase in performance. I managed to stumble across your Padding Up
article today and it finally clicked... When choosing a pad I tried to find out
if there was an equivalent upgrade for my car - with little luck... In the end I
emailed a few brake pad suppliers in Australia and received one reply that
dismissed the idea. They suggested that increased surface area = decreased
pressure = decreased performance. Their analogy was "why put on slippers when
stilettos apply more pressure". What is your take on this two years on? Not
attacking your article, just interested in your perspective.
Dan Boman
Australia
We have heard the same theory as well. At the end of the
day, we were told by an engineer in the brake industry (and as quoted in
the article) "the larger friction area gives you improved braking efficiency
(power), plus more stable temperatures and improved durability." Our demo VL
T also showed an improvement in braking efficiency with the larger pads.
Have any readers done any testing in similar
conversions?
2JZ Hilux 'Box
I have a 2JZ-GE 3.0-litre Supra engine and I would like to know
what gearboxes will bolt straight up to this engine. It is to go into my
two-wheel-drive off-roader Toyota Hilux.
Darrin Thomason
New Zealand
A 2JZ
Hilux?! Try Dellow Automotive www.dellowauto.com.au and Castlemaine
Rod Shop
http://www.rodshop.com.au/transmissions.htm
HSV Hype?
The HSV Story The Spin Circuit
was a great insight into the goings on of a press day. I have been a fan of the
HSV marque since they first began producing cars. They build great cars and, as
the advertisement said, "you just want one"... But after living in Europe for a
couple of years it has become obvious to me that the HSV product is not all that
the marketing teams talk them up to be - its just good marketing.
As was pointed out in the article, a car worth under $35,000 is
better equipped than what is sold by HSV for a lot more money; it does make you
want to ask why. It's also sad to see that some people who are highly respected
have become puppets unable to give an honest opinion or answer to a question
instead of what you can read in a pamphlet. And I'm not referring to the colour
options... But, saying that, there were some people that gave you (and us) a real
insight into HSV and what the real story is. I won't start on the LS1 oil
problems - and not because there aren't any.
Congratulations on great story and, from what history tells us,
this will probably be the last story you do on a brand new HSV... If that does
happen, it proves the ignorance and guilt of a manufacturer - if they don't like
what you say about them, they don't let you back in to their club. That seems to
be little childish to me. Never mind what it says about how they feel about the
people putting down their hard-earned cash for the privilege of owning one of
these cars. Maybe other journos look at press days as a couple of days away from
the wife/out of the office...
Daniel Cagney
Australia
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