Falcon XT Errors
Re your Ford Falcon BA XT test - Falcon BA XT.
You mentioned in this article that "whenever you push the lever across to change
to manual mode, the trans downchanges a gear". The mode selected at this point
isn't manual mode as suggested, but a performance setting similar to the
Power/Economy on older trannies. When put into this mode the trans drops out of
top gear (overdrive?) ready for action. Manual mode is not entered until a
down/upshift input is received from the driver.
Did the test car really have "30,0000km on the odometer"? Fair bit for a
rental. Maybe it’s a minor typo?
Andrew Vandreike
Australia
Thanks for that – you’re right re the
transmission mode. And, yes, the number of kilometres quoted was a typo...
AFR Tuning
With the imminent release of the “air fuel adjuster” it occurred to me I'm
not terribly well educated on altering air-fuel ratios, how to use (or even get
to use) a dynamometer and so on. So my question is this: will the adjuster be
tuneable by a regular performance workshop with a dyno? I think I'd rather trust
someone with a reputation and experience with tuning it.
Sebastian
Australia
The DFA is very simple to adjust but
if you’re not confident any performance workshop should be able to help
you out. Look for a workshop with experience tuning a wide range of programmable
ECUs and interceptors.
High Comp Surprise
Recently a friend of mine who owns a Holden VL turbo, after fitting
intercooler, head work, decompression and boost increase managed to burn the
side out of a piston on an extremely cold night testing just how much boost it
could take – oops! As we were heading to Winton Motor Raceway for the sprints a
week later he decided to slap all his turbo gear on a NA engine. The results
where simply amazing - less lag, much stronger mid-range and the ability to out
perform the turbo bottom-end at the track due to mid-corner response. All round
for a cheap (AUD$200) I would strongly recommend this from now on as an upgrade
path for those that only want a mild performance increase (eg intercooler first
then NA bottom-end to create a nice street package. Of course, it would need to
be treated with respect.
Vincent Whitehead
Australia
Interesting stuff – thank for that.
The high comp NA won’t tolerate the same amount of boost as the turbo-spec
engine but there shouldn’t be any probs if mixtures and detonation are monitored.
There’s a lot to be said for relatively high-comp turbo engines!
Super Stunner?
Re: Super Turbo Stunner article Super Turbo Stunner.
Yeah, all very well and nice to have a fun cheap 'hot' hatch but you're
really getting carried away with your descriptions of a car that you claim will
easily do high 7s to 100 km/h. I offer my daily driver, completely stock (apart
from later model 205 x 15 rims and tyres) VN Commodore manual wagon as an
example. Fact: 300,000km, untouched and stock. Quarter mile in 16 sec flat at
drags and 0-60 MPH in 7.4 sec on my G-Tech. Now I'm not saying these times are
impressive or even feel fast, so I wonder why you get excited about even slower
times? Without having driven a March I'm betting the Commode will be more
comfortable, is more spacious and cheap as chips to run and repair. It's also
got the world’s roughest motor (Hilux diesel excepted...). Don't get me wrong, I
don't particularly care for my Commode, but the point is that it's an old piece
of poo and is still faster that a car you’re getting all wound up about! Just a
bit of perspective is all I ask for...
Keep up the good work!
Julian O'Hara
Australia
Low 7s for a stock VN 5 speed is
pretty impressive – contemporary road tests list a VN manual sedan with 8.0 flat
0 - 100! The high 7 sec time in the March Super
Turbo was achieved without a particularly hard launch and with two people
on board – that’s why we called in an “easy” time. We can’t think of an
affordable ‘80s hatch that can come close to matching that performance.
Reading the VY
I've been reading your article 'Reading Your Car's Brain' (Reading Your Car's Brain - Part 1)
and was wondering if the VY Holden Commodore was OBDII compliant? I know it has
a 16 pin plug but I'm still not sure. I would really like to use the Auterra
Dyno-Scan for Palm tool like you did on the Holden Astra, would this be alright
for the Commodore too?
Alan Lowing
Australia
Yes, the VY Commodore is OBDII
compliant. The Auterra reader will interpret the OBD data format used. Grab a
Palm and you’re away!
Immobiliser Help
I was looking at your article on the D.I.Y. Immobilizer for your car and went
out to buy the parts. Well, there were so many of each part I didn't know which
one to get. For the heavy-duty relay, there were SPST, DPDT, etc. Could you give
me the specs of all the parts? Like the LED I’m assuming has to be 12V (or 3V
with a resistor), but I’m not sure on the relays and magnetic switch. Also, is
the push button a normally closed type? I was doing some research but just
making sure. Here's the link to your article: The World's Best DIY Immobiliser
Bao Tran
USA
A DPDT relay is required (DPDT =
Double Pole Double Throw). The flashing LED should be rated at 12V (these are
often sold as fake car alarm LEDs). The relay that cuts the starting circuit can
be the same as used in high-current spotlight fitments. The reed switch can be
the same sort as used in home alarm systems (usually fitted to door frames). And, yes, the push button must be a
normally-closed type.
If you are not confident,
an electronics enthusiast should be able to get the project up and running for
you.
|