Dave H

I use Southern Carburetters - 01293 529502 - they are in Crawley, West Sussex

I change my Goodyears for Yoko's some years ago, and have tried A008's, A021's and A032's in various combinations, currently wearing out the last of the A008's on the front with A032's on the back. Mild understeer in the dry, total oversteer in the wet, but I wouldn't go back to anything bigger. The sump has taken some damage - only holed once, and I use it down some real rural type roads - single track. 13 inch wheels 185/60's...magic combination.

Chris, If you leave the dirt on it protects the paint from fading in the sun...

I've only replaced mine once on my Crossflow - at about 55,000 miles - mainly 'cos of the muck that had managed to get into it and stopped it moving freely.

I've just had my Xflow sump welded up after (finally) grinding a hole in it. the guy who fixed it has added a lump of checker plate underneath to make it last a bit longer. Sleeping policemen can be negotiated with less sump damage by driving overthem diagonally, one wheel at a time, so the front doesn't drop so quick and you don't bounce the suspension (even a little). As for those damn speedbumps in Smallfield - drive down the middel of the road if pooible - get the sump to go between them & you don't have to slow down at all smile.gif Edited by - Dave h on 30 Jun 2000 13:04:31

From what Mike is saying it sounds like what is needed is a way of continually monitoring all 4 tyre temperatures and continually adjusting the pressures...

Increasing the front tyre pressures will, up to a point, reduce the tyre wall flex which leads to understeer. Beyond that certain point, which you will have to find, the increased pressure will distort the tyre and reduce the grip, leading to ...understeer. Of course,playing with the rear pressures to increase/reduce the oversteer tendencies at the same time can lead to many happy hours of throwing the car round a set of bends again and again and again...

Chris, Shazza don't play 'cos it's MY car and I've wife proofed it, otherwise I'd never get out to play...smile.gif As for insects, get rid of that great plate of glass and you can see again!!!

As a long time crossflow driver (I've had mine 10 years) all I can say is, yes, they are noisy, induction and exhaust, the thing runs in and out of tune all the time. I have tried a number of things over the years and some work some don't. Slick 50, the oil additive made some difference, as does checking the tappets from time to time. make sure the alternator bolts are all present and correct, the lower front one seems to dislike being on the car and escapes at every opportunity. Apart form that, regular oil changes and top ups and it should last for a few tens of thousands of miles. The main thing to not worry about it too much, and enjoy driving. like Brent I enjoy changing down to get the full impact of the sound in a tunnel - but be careful, the sudden increase in noise can scare the c*** out of anyone else around, especially cyclists and pedestrians...smile.gif

You don't need a full face helmet with aero screens - except when it rains, hails, snows (yes I have driven with aeros in snow and "extremely interesting" it was too). A decent pair of glasses and be prepared for hard hitting insects should see you OK. I've done about the last 10K with the aeros, over 50% without the full face (including a Le Mans trip), and wouldn't want to go back to the full screen.

Another reason for a horrible noise from the back end is if the spring is rubbing on the shock. Makes a graunching noise, but can be quietened by greasing the spring/shock contact points.

Setting he ride hieght is something you do deliberately when you build the car, after that is changes with wheels, tyres, suspension setup. The most important factor is to ensure that the sump is higher above the ground than the large lump you will drive over when you are furthest away from any source of help.

I've used Astonish on mine to good effect. It's available from Rayburn/Aga dealers for cleaning the enamel. It shifts the tarnish and doesn't seem to hurt the paintwork if you get over enthusiastic with it.

Paul, My elderly 1700 x-flow certainly doesn't have liners, and the literature I've seen makes little mention of them, so I think the answer to your questions are No, No, and Probably, as in your case it looks like someone tried. Give one of the experts a ring -James Whiting or Roger King have forgotten more about these things than most of us will ever know...and are happy to talk about them

Chris, buy a couple of king Size cotton sheets and get Suzie to sew them together...Cheaper than a car cover - and who would see them in the garage?cool.gif

Thinking of putting one in your 1.4 then Chris? Don't think it will go any better than it does nowsmile.gif

Like the new forum, takes a bit of getting used to, but it works for me. smile.gif

I know the syndrome - I quite often use a full tank just going to the garage to fill up with fuel...

1986 1700 Super Sprint - live axle 4 speed box. On the road:- With wife aboard on a long run - about 30 mpg "Normal" driving 20 to 25 mpg Worst (Most fun) - 9 mpg Edited by - dave h on 5 Apr 2000 13:34:59

You just keep playing with the settings until YOU feel happy them. Then you'll realise that everytime you check the tyres you need to reset them, and when the weather changes, and after a long journey. What ever you do you'll want to change, so leave them alone for a while and get used to the feel of the car. Then adjust and give it another couple of weeks. You soon get somewhere near what you find acceptable.

2 options. Learn to drive properly, IAM, RoSPA or if you've got loadsa money HPC will all help. Or drive something REALLY big and solid (try Beryl), then flatten the blind b****ds. They'll only do it the once then.

Be warned, Mr Winterburg will have you donating them to Nuke the Luke if you arn't very careful...

Sell Beryl??? Sell BERYL?!?!?! You can't do that.... My little lad would be devastated if the Club got rid of Beryl. He ENJOYS going in Bery, even when she's standing still. And I like Beryl, driving her is something else....