neilg

Thanks guys for all your advice. I am indeed going to send all the parts to Arch and let them do it all. They have all the requisite equipment and I know a quality job. Spoke to them this morning and Phil informs me they do it all the time. Will save many expletives and accidental chips I suspect. Cheers Neil

I'm refreshing my car and to that end have taken all the front suspension and rear Watts linkage and A frame off the car. I will then remove all the old bushes. My question is do you then get all the bush orifices powder coated and then push new bushes in or do you somehow block off the holes so they aren't powdercoated. Or do you get the wishbones etc powdercoated and then remove powdercoating where the bushes reside before pressing new ones in? or get the whole thing powdercoated , leave the orifice powdercoated and press new bushes in. Not done this before so sorry if this is a stupid question. Is powder coating all the same or are there different types or thickness?? Any advice appreciated as are any other tips re refreshing all these parts. Finally standard Caterham bushes or fancy Poly bushes ?? Best regards Neil

Hi, after left and right sidescreen for S3 imperial chassis in decent condition please if anyone has a pair sitting around. Thanks Neil

Hi, I'm altering my S3 Blackbird to accept Windscreen and as such i need :- 1. Windscreen Black 2. Black Stantions 3. Complete windscreen wiper assembly and wipers . 4. Washer assembly. 5. Doors Thanks Neil

Still for sale ?? ta Neil

Hi Clive, I've messaged you but if its for sale and fits a imperial S3 chassis from 2000 ( Blackbird ) de dion i'll have it. I've just removed an old tall roadsport cage so my has all the bosses and brackets I believe. See message. Many thanks Neil

Another one gone sausage side. I'll have the only Blackbird left in the country at this rate!!! Cheers Neil

[ Edited by - neilg on 19 Jun 2014 00:12:21

Katie, you may have to look at that price I'm afraid.

Don't worry about minute differences in rake here , camber there, blah blah. just bolt em on and go like hell. Unless you're at and over the limit all the time steering on the throttle and generally pretty good all round on a circuit you're unlikely to need to bugger around too much. Ive got all sorts of tyres and wheel combinations and never bother too much faffing around for a track day. The biggest difference is that slicks are: 1. Cheap....i've got a second hand set that cost £50-00 for four and have done over eight trackdays with them. 2. Progressive once warm....so you can slide them with more confidence. 3. Very good on a damp track....once heat into them. 4. Braking is far better . 5. Look cooler...and that's important 😬 😬 Obviously if you're racing all of the above out of the window in the search for a few tenths here and there but for a trackday just bolt them on and go play. You'll love them.

Hi there, I've got standard blackbird set up. It's true that there is a slight misalignment in the system. I haven't found it a problem though . I presume you have the rubber doughnut Cush drive unit between engine output and first props haft with three bolts in each It is a general motors unit , off a senator I think. It does deteriate with age but I've only changed mine once in four years. What problem are you having once it is all bolted up? If you like you can contact me direct on blatmail . Cheers Neil

I've got one of the original Jordan Blackbirds and now in Buzzin Hornet livery as apposed to Benson and Hedges! In four years and many many trackdays i've come to learn how to drive it to minimise gearbox issues. I've got a couple of engines and a Nova gearbox although the present gearbox is standard. Brilliant fun , great noise, just different to the car engine cars and you just adapt driving style, particularly the downshifts to be sympathetic to the fact that the dogs are as big as your front teeth. Cheers

Thanks for all your input guys, sorry I haven't replied sooner. What I am experiencing is that when really tanking on the suspension feels under damped and not under as much control as I would like. The suspension is undergoing full travel and the odd bottoming out. I think I may try a tad harder spring . One things for sure on m1's it felt too hard and not compliant enough. It may be that adjustable dampers are the way to go but I want to try some springs first as they are cheap and see how we go. Thanks for all your replies. Cheers Neil

Now following our trip to cadwell and then the TT i have got to know my car a bit better after changing my Blackbird from M1 dampers and standard springs on the front , M1 dampers and green springs on back to standard M0 dampers and springs all round. The reason i changed was because it was far too hard on the road and the car was jumping around all over the place. Now with standard set up it is much improved on the road in general driving and pootling . BUT once tanking on , and the Isle of Man highlighted it perfectly , it all gets a bit limited with not as much control as i would like. SO..seeing that the M1's were too hard should i go up a spring rate with the standard dampers, and if so what is next up the hardness rating? I also have an orange ARB which i believe is the slimmest. Any thoughts? I know i would like super dooper Nitrons or Ohlins but ££££££'S Cheers Neil

Hi , like you I'm having no joy on the farm, bloody weather, so spent the morning fiddling with the caterham. Are you going to get that car on track now? No excuse. Cadwell in May perhaps?? cheers Neil