Well done Rich, would love to see some pictures of the underside of your car with the work done so far.
Bet your really looking forward to seeing if all the research you've done is translated into the results you wanted.
Bet your really looking forward to seeing if all the research you've done is translated into the results you wanted.
Z
zedonist
Guest
Hi Mike, you know it started off as a labour of love, but ended up being a bit underwhelming and a chore, as the new Job has taken a lot of my spare time, the children the rest, as a result, I have spent the last two Saturday's under the car and I have not took a single photo as I just wanted it done...I will try and get a few today, as I turn the garage into a Gym...
Still looking forward to seeing what that flywheel does to the drive ability though...
Still looking forward to seeing what that flywheel does to the drive ability though...
Z
zedonist
Guest
That's the plan Brian, but as you can guess 12 months has taken its toll, the alloys have corroded! Anyway it goes for a Respray and new roof early in the new year so I will get the wheels done then, my plan is very much drive it now, and actually make some meets...
Missed this thread but what a cracking read, like yourself I had to find new pastures for work which was quite stressful. Glad you found work and are snowed under with it. I look forward to your results and a credit to you with the work you have put in.
Z
zedonist
Guest
Drum roll please.....
If there's no video ..................................
Tony.
Tony.
Z
zedonist
Guest
So, I got back from Milan today, and I have to turn my case round for Korea in the morning, but before I do that I have picked the M44 up from the Garage, complete, all mods completed plus a little something else to aid things along.
So I have only had chance to go for a quick 30 minute drive to acclimatise to the new way of driving...Well what can i say, the car is a dream, The clutch is quiet, smooth and very drivable. The engine revs so freely it is amazing, and the one thing i have noticed, i no longer have the M44 lumpy idle, so a bonus. One of my concerns was that it may have been too light and noisy (Gear box chatter), but none of those side effects are apparent, i put that down to the balancing of the complete assembly.
I don't have any performance data for you at the moment, but i will do some testing when i return from Korea in a weeks time, but the car accelerates really well, and the difference is certainly noticeable, watch this space.
So I have only had chance to go for a quick 30 minute drive to acclimatise to the new way of driving...Well what can i say, the car is a dream, The clutch is quiet, smooth and very drivable. The engine revs so freely it is amazing, and the one thing i have noticed, i no longer have the M44 lumpy idle, so a bonus. One of my concerns was that it may have been too light and noisy (Gear box chatter), but none of those side effects are apparent, i put that down to the balancing of the complete assembly.
I don't have any performance data for you at the moment, but i will do some testing when i return from Korea in a weeks time, but the car accelerates really well, and the difference is certainly noticeable, watch this space.
Z
zedonist
Guest
Hi Tony, I literally do not have time, I am drying clothes and ironing as i type, have an early flight in the morning, but a video will be available shortly, more importantly, I will pop down to let you test it out in the near future...If there's no video ..................................
Tony.
Brilliant news to hear that she's back in one piece and running Rich.
I bet Korea will drag this week, safe trip mate.Tony.
Z
zedonist
Guest
Hopefully the good lady will have calmed down by my return at the expense of my little something extra that got added to the bill...
We wait with baited breath !
Tony.
Tony.
Well she's got a week Rich. Perhaps a present from Korea to help calm the waters eh? Great to hear you're back on the road.
Yes, finally you see the results and it's great that the single isn't as noisy as you expected. Can't wait for the surprise!! Travel safe! JIM
Wow Rich! can't wait for the full report and perhaps a chance to see this one day. I'm really impressed that you have in some way achieved the result you had hoped for. This has got to be a thread that will become a must read for tuners of the M44 engine in years to come.
Mike
Mike
M
M666BMG
Guest
It's a good effort by Rich, one day we will finally meet!
Last edited by a moderator:
I agree totally Mike, I've been waiting for this for a long time but I know Rich started the new job so time was a premium. I was concerned about the expected growl with the new set up. But that appears to be a no show! Well done @zedonist can't wait for the next instalment! JIM
Z
zedonist
Guest
Right guys, the missus has calmed down, and i have now had two weeks to live with the car, no telemetry data yet, but just from driving i know it will be a lot different from standard.
Re-cap so what did I set out to do? I wanted a car that was responsive, that when i changed up or down gear the power came on like the opening of a tap, i wanted a smooth fast power delivery, i wanted a country lane barn stormer of my yester year (MK2 Escort, Pug 205 GTI).
So what did i get?
Well, little secret here, i mentioned early on that i also wanted a re-map, so i had that done while it was having the other mods and tweeks completed, heres what I have done:
I also took the time to build the good lady the en-suite of her dreams.
So how does it drive i hear you say?
Well, it exceeded my expectations in all areas except one, come back to the latter.
The car now idles very smoothly, i did not expect this I expected it to be worse, there is no gear box chatter, other than when in neutral and then it is not noticeable.
The car is extremely smooth to drive, i actually manage to drive it better than a car with a DMF. Acceleration in first and second is really awesome, looking forward to the tele data.
The theory suggests that at the current weight of the fly wheel should be putting through to the wheels an extra 30bhp in first and 20 in second. This is not extra power generated, just existing power that no longer goes into turning the heavy DMF. I do not know what the actual figure is, but you can feel it and the power comes through right up to the redline without hesitation.
Driving on the twisties is fantastic, you have engine barking and instant power out of the corners, reminds me of my old MK2 Escort which had a similar setup. I have to say that I now get a smile every time i drive it, where as before it would sometimes leave me feeling a little bit Meh!.
So whats the down side?
The exhaust note has changed, it is fantastic from a standing start, but it now drones on a long 70mph journey and i don't like it, it did not do this before, and i don't understand why, but i will have to get it sorted.
Would i do it again?
If cost was no option the answer would be yes in a heart beat, I think this time it was an itch that needed scratching, it certainly demonstrated that you need a good work shop and tools. I have the tools, but lying on your back for hours with rusty nuts and bolts is not rewarding.
I have discussed this at length with the good lady, and I am in agreement, time to save for that Cobra or Porsche I've always wanted, so I am going to drive it now and enjoy it, it has been off the road for the majority of my 3 year ownership, as i keep scratching those itches, so I need to stop (Fingers Crossed).
I will post the tele data shortly, possibly over the xmas holidays.
Re-cap so what did I set out to do? I wanted a car that was responsive, that when i changed up or down gear the power came on like the opening of a tap, i wanted a smooth fast power delivery, i wanted a country lane barn stormer of my yester year (MK2 Escort, Pug 205 GTI).
So what did i get?
Well, little secret here, i mentioned early on that i also wanted a re-map, so i had that done while it was having the other mods and tweeks completed, heres what I have done:
- Overhauled the rear subframe, Standard beam bushes, powerflex swing arm bushes. painted.
- Overhauled the diff, new Redline 75W90 Hypoid gear oil (Diff whine has gone)
- New rear wheel bearings
- New ABS sensors
- New back plates
- New rear calipers and red stuff pads
- New rear flexi pipes
- New rear hard lines
- Brake fluid change
- New hand brake cables
- New fuel tank straps
- New water pump & thermostat
- New Auxilliary belt, belt tensioner and pulleys
- New HT leads and plugs - NGK BKR6EQUP
- Oil & Filter - Fuchs Titan Super Syn 5W40
- Gear box oil seal and shifter bearing change.
- New Gear Box oil - Red Line D4 ATF/Automatic Transmission Fluid
- Aluminium Lightened and balanced single mass fly wheel, clutch cover and Valeo clutch plate
- New Subwoofer enclosure
- Remap
- MOT - Passed
I also took the time to build the good lady the en-suite of her dreams.
So how does it drive i hear you say?
Well, it exceeded my expectations in all areas except one, come back to the latter.
The car now idles very smoothly, i did not expect this I expected it to be worse, there is no gear box chatter, other than when in neutral and then it is not noticeable.
The car is extremely smooth to drive, i actually manage to drive it better than a car with a DMF. Acceleration in first and second is really awesome, looking forward to the tele data.
The theory suggests that at the current weight of the fly wheel should be putting through to the wheels an extra 30bhp in first and 20 in second. This is not extra power generated, just existing power that no longer goes into turning the heavy DMF. I do not know what the actual figure is, but you can feel it and the power comes through right up to the redline without hesitation.
Driving on the twisties is fantastic, you have engine barking and instant power out of the corners, reminds me of my old MK2 Escort which had a similar setup. I have to say that I now get a smile every time i drive it, where as before it would sometimes leave me feeling a little bit Meh!.
So whats the down side?
The exhaust note has changed, it is fantastic from a standing start, but it now drones on a long 70mph journey and i don't like it, it did not do this before, and i don't understand why, but i will have to get it sorted.
Would i do it again?
If cost was no option the answer would be yes in a heart beat, I think this time it was an itch that needed scratching, it certainly demonstrated that you need a good work shop and tools. I have the tools, but lying on your back for hours with rusty nuts and bolts is not rewarding.
I have discussed this at length with the good lady, and I am in agreement, time to save for that Cobra or Porsche I've always wanted, so I am going to drive it now and enjoy it, it has been off the road for the majority of my 3 year ownership, as i keep scratching those itches, so I need to stop (Fingers Crossed).
I will post the tele data shortly, possibly over the xmas holidays.