astraboy

Hi people, This has been bugging me for a while.
I run an ex concours 3-door cossie. I bought it from a bloke in the surrey RSOC about a year ago.
The problem is that I rag it everywhere I go. I have also finlly learned to donut her properly, but even this has problems as I am donutting her at every cruise I go to now.
What I am worried about is the fact I maybe killing her. Both mechanically and financially. I took her to Power Engineering to have her dyno'd and Merv said I had to drive it harder to keep her healthy, but I am worried that the abuse I'm givving her is devaluing her. I have heard conflicting advice ranging from "you'll blow the diff" to "Thats what is was built for"
The main problem is that I just have to give her a wash and she looks just like she did when I bought her, and the only thing I have had give up on me is the rocker cover gasket.
Anyone offer a definitive opinion? am I destroying her or not?

imatrukahs

Depends what power mate,if standard then i wouldnt worry,if modded things could get expensive!Never liked the thought of spinning round and round though!!I never do fast starts in my 300+cossie cause of the old wallet!Just replaced a knackered diff and engine as the previous owner drove like you!!!

Shaun

Astraboy,

It's not just the diff you have to worry about!! You will be putting wear on the bushes, wheel bearings, hubs and gearbox.

The rear diff you have on your car is the 7 1/2" (I assume), which is reportadley very strong (they recommend changing to this on a 4x4, when you move to a 420bhp conversion). But at the end of the day acts like this can only be classed as abuse. If the forementioned items can fail in normal driving conditions, what hope have you got when you are doing doughnuts???

Anyone that says "You have to drive it hard" to keep it in good shape..........IMHO is suspect.

For all tense and purposes the running gear on Cossies is very robust............but it can only take so much!

astraboy

Cheers chaps, for your info, She is stage 1 tuned and was last dyno'd at 260bhp. She has got 69k on the clock and is in very good condition.
About the donutting, I only do so in the wet to reduce the wear on the drivetrain, I always hold it at 4000 rpm during the donut and never just lift, always give it opposite lock and wait till she is straight before lifting.
Lastly, my mate has given me a pair of "donut compound" 14" xr41 wheels so I dont kill me tyres anymore. Will they fit onto the rear hubs with no problems? She has the standard cossie discs.
astraboy.

dazc2

erm that comment is a bit dodgy!

driving a car gently cannot do it harm. it would be better off slowing down and opening it up once in a while.



[Edited by dazc2 - 10/21/2001 6:21:02 PM]

ANDY330

"Depends what power mate,if standard then i wouldnt worry" Ima you really need to think before you type!

Astraboy, doing anything like donuts is not good, and when speaking to Mark Shead at MADevelopments about this, he mentioned that the heat build up in the engine and turbo is immense!!!! Not good for the engine and turbo and not good for diff and tyres. Remember why you are doing this, its not the same as revving the engine, but you are actually boosting the turbo yet have no air to cool the intercooler

[Edited by ANDY330 - 10/24/2001 10:42:03 AM]

Shaun

Andy,

Good point!!

Never thought about the lack of air flow.

Cooksville

imatrukahs

Good point Andy.
I will scecond the above comment.

Paulo P

iTrader: (42)

Dont worry about it mate its not like you abuse it too much. I give my sierra way more abuse than anyone can think possible in the dry. About the boost issue it's not like like you are doing it for more than 30 seconds so I don't see this as a problem. Keep up the good work and I hope my wheels fit.
See ya soon

astraboy

Geezer, nice one mate, speak soon.
astraboy.