Thinking of a few upgrades...

[stiggy]

As an ex serial TVR owner, I'm pretty conversant with the usual upgrade paths and what they entail...... I know guys that have spent £1000's as opposed to my £100's and I still wiped the floor with them on track days and sprints....

I did have the fastest TVR sprint time at Curbourough many years ago

So what am I trying to achieve??..... I suppose a slight improvement in performance would be nice, and obviously asthetics also comes into it

Since putting the car through its paces a week or so ago, it became quite clear, that it was relatively easy, to unsettle the car in fast corners, so I'd like to improve that..
To be honest, the front end felt good, but I did detect a bit to much body roll when trying hard.

On the asthetics side, a small drop in ride height would help that, but if done correctly should also firm things up a little...
I would also like a little more rubber, and I'm looking at a different wheel set up...

I'm not into just chucking loads of money at things, and fitting stuff just because it's available, or because that's what everyone else is doing...
Small but perceptible improvements is the order of the day.

I'm mindful of how good the car is as stock, I'm not going to be doing track days or racing, but I will be doing lots of European, alpine type trips, and this is where I think the car will show its weaknesses, and I'd like to reduce or eliminate a few of them to take full advantage of the GT nature of the car...:cheers:

Ironically, if you intend to tour with it, you may be better off leaving it as it is! It's setup as a GT car afterall, capable of longer trips in comfort, with the occasional blat.

But if you want to mod, you could argue that the best first change would be tyres (that said as the summer comes, the Pirellis won't seem quite so bad) - but if you're going to look at wheels too, that's a fair amount of wedge, so could be done further down the line.

However, if you want to tighten things up a tad, I think first order should be (as you originally posted), taking some of the vagueness out of the bushes. If the video is to be believed (and I see no reason not to), the BMR cradle lockout seems to have the most dramatic effect and is relatively inexpensive. The diff bush inserts will improve feel during acceleration and are probably a good idea to do at the same time as the energy that was being absorbed by the cradle now has to go somewhere and you don't want the diff bush to wear prematurely (if you have had a Griff, you'll know this well - clunk, clunk ;) )

Next up, it's a toss up between uprated ARBs and new rubber (or both). The more the tyres are made to work with stiffer ARBs, the more their shortcomings will become apparent.

After that, springs and dampers - or maybe even coilovers.

Last up would be things like strut/body braces. In my experience the impact of these mods are negligable to the mere mortal driver and you really have to be pushing on to feel their effect.

Maybe best to set a budget and prioritise from there

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[stiggy]

@Enoch next time you're at Curborough give me a bell, it's round the corner from me! I'll show you how to do the slowest time possible around the track :lol: .

Yeah if you mod smart you can get more out of a car than someone who mods based on price point of an item. It's kind of like those that spend thousands on a MacBook VS those that custom build a PC. Equally, modding can quickly add up a hefty bill as I'm sure gibbo, mac, SteveC, Centurion, and 666tiles would agree with (They're the most modded S550s I can think of at the moment)!

In terms of performance driving, the best and most effective mod (and probably the cheapest) you will ever make is in honing your own abilities.

Fact

 

[stiggy]

I've had my fill of track days and re-maps etc in the search for more power, 400 odd HP is enough for my needs.

Wise words! Having had very track focussed cars with 630hp, I've had just as much fun in stuff with 70bhp!

More 'powa' is great for pub (forum) bragging, but there are few who can really exploit it - especially on the road - and you end up with headaches in terms of cooling, braking, mechanical failures etc.etc.

Traction/braking first (one thing that is sorted from stock with the Brembos on the GT), handling second, power last.

 

[Enoch]

Stiggy I had 4 Griffs

1992 4.0
1992 4.3 BV
1994 5.0
1993 6.0 LS

Loved em all.....

 

[Centurion07]

Ironically, if you intend to tour with it, you may be better off leaving it as it is! It's setup as a GT car afterall, capable of longer trips in comfort, with the occasional blat.

Speaking from my own experience, the mods I've made have had no impact on ride comfort/quality. All they've done is make the car far better in the corners and much more stable under braking and acceleration which, as I too will be driving round europe for a few MotoGP races this summer, along with doing the NC500, is absolutely perfect.

Anyone concerned about modifying their suspension and the effect it will have on ride quality: don't be. Unless you go for actual race stuff you're pretty much guaranteed to be fine.

 

[stiggy]

Stiggy I had 4 Griffs

1992 4.0
1992 4.3 BV
1994 5.0
1993 6.0 LS

Loved em all.....

Top man!

I had a 390SE, '93 500 Griff, then another wedge, but with a John Eales big valve 4.6 in it (460SE). All great fun, if requiring regular TLC ;)

The LS engined car sounds mental! Had smallblocks in my Ultimas, but always wanted to try an LS7 as I got fedup with eyes watering from unburnt hydrocarbons

 

[Gibbo205]

LOL! You don't know instructors mate - they'll tell you anything if they think there's a sniff of more work and few quid in it. Note how he made a point of telling you how he was 'training some guys from London', bait our, then wait for the 'billy' to bite ;)

They're a breed apart (mostly trying to fund race careers, or are washed up from them)

That's not to say the mods you've made haven't changed the cars dynamics, I'd just advise caution to people who are less well informed who take the 'improvements' to be gospel

Unfortunately, mods aren't really something you can try before you buy!

I did not know this instructor but I'm a reasonable good judge of character and he was genuinely pretty excited and positive guy as he was young. He also never tried to sell any services he only mentioned upon me praising his driving.

Out of all the instructors I've driven with none have ever tried to do as you say and we're talking a couple hundred instructors and a few of my mates also are instructors. All I will say is I've come across some pretty miserable instructors haha but have also met some top guys and now also famous guys too. Don't tar them all with the same brush that is very unfair thing to do.

Back to the thread I documented the effect parts had on my car and I chose those parts from doing research before I got the car. They were not the most expensive and I've not done everything, mine now handles how I want it and it's a tad firmer at low speeds and rides better at high speeds. Aesthetically much better which was my primary aim looks. If I wanted ability and I'd have just got another Porsche or a Lotus.

Tyres I've not done but as Stiggy says tyres will give the best improvement on this car both subjectively and grip wise, particular in wet.

Performance wise you can do some boltons for some gains and improved drive ability but you lose warranty. Though saying that as I said since day one Ford will not deny warranty on a modded car if the mod is not related to ththe fault. My car is clearly modified and I had warranty work carried out this week without issue.

 

[stiggy]

Out of all the instructors I've driven with none have ever tried to do as you say and we're talking a couple hundred instructors and a few of my mates also are instructors. All I will say is I've come across some pretty miserable instructors haha but have also met some top guys and now also famous guys too. Don't tar them all with the same brush that is very unfair thing to do.

LOL!!! You're honestly trying to tell me you've driven with a couple of hundred instructors?!?! Just how bad is your driving!! ;)

For your reference chap, I regularly employ pro-drivers (and quite a lot of household name racing drivers) in the course of my business and have done for many, many years. In all that time, I've not managed to get through 'hundreds' of them!

I'd happily make the same comments to them direct and ,to a man/woman, I'd bet 99.99999% would laugh about it and agree. The other 0.000001% would be the miserable bunch who always lament not getting their 'big break'.

I'd wind your neck in a bit if I were you mate. Banter, as you say.

No-one's trying to knock what you've done, but the mods won't suit everyone and there are a lot of - shall we say - novices, on here that will just take it as gospel which could adversely cost them (or worse).

PS.Would this be a good time to tell you I know the drive team who did the Ford day at Silverstone?

 

[Enoch]

Guys.... I've been doing research on this since I placed my order, but it's only now, after having owned the car for only a month, that I understand some of its shortfalls, and some of the things I feel I can get more to my liking...

One of the reasons I didn't just jump in with both feet, and buy a load of stuff before the car arrived, was that until I drove it, I'd never know what those areas in need of improvement are....

I've already made a small, albeit easily rectified mistake by buying the Ford Borla Touring..... I bought it because it was one of the mildest options, but now it's on the car I've decided it's to loud and raspy at higher RPM's..... The new Borla resonator should rectify this.....

I think my thinking is on similar lines to Lone Survivor, I'm looking to sharpen things up a tad, but without spoiling the GT aspect......

But again the look is also important.... Subtle, and tasteful is the order of the day....

To that end.... I've decided that for now, I'm probably going to go with the following

BMR cradle lockout
Ford racing springs 1" drop all around.. This is as much for asthetics, as performance
Ford racing bump stops
Ford racing F&R ARB's...... To reduce body roll.
Steeda Diff bush inserts..

Then later in the year or early next year it'll be new 19" but wider wheels....

That's how it'll stand for now:hail:

 

[Centurion07]

PS.Would this be a good time to tell you I know the drive team who did the Ford day at Silverstone?

Yes it would! IIRC my instructor was called Julian. He was a dead ringer for Doogie Howser! :lol: Any idea on which one that was and what his CV is as I was too busy concentrating on what I was doing to ask. He said he was on the Mustang launch in Saudi.

 

[Manders Mustang]

Yes it would! IIRC my instructor was called Julian. He was a dead ringer for Doogie Howser! :lol: Any idea on which one that was and what his CV is as I was too busy concentrating on what I was doing to ask. He said he was on the Mustang launch in Saudi.

Also who was the older guy who'd just got back from a few months on skiing holiday, thank him for me on the basis in a short amount of time he's taught me how to drive, I assume, without what he'd told me, and the drive at Silverstone with him making me push the car, I'd probably be in a pole by now. :hail:.

If it makes him easier to identify the first lap he spent texting his daughter who was about to have her driving test :lol:!


Back on topic @Enoch Mods are your own literally F**k what anyone else thinks, you're the one driving it, same goes for everyone else with mods. As long as the mods do what you want them to do then all is good in the world !

Fyi I'm having a gigantic big pink mustang stamped on mine.. chrome pink. Please respect my decision too....

(Last line is a joke !)

 

[stiggy]

Back on topic @Enoch Mods are your own literally F**k what anyone else thinks, you're the one driving it, same goes for everyone else with mods. As long as the mods do what you want them to do then all is good in the world !

Fyi I'm having a gigantic big pink mustang stamped on mine.. chrome pink. Please respect my decision too....

(Last line is a joke !)

Agreed. But you misspelt the word 'pen1s' by putting 'mustang' ;)

Have asked my drive manager who was there on the day - will try to pass your thanks on and to identify Doogie Howser (aka Julian) for Centurion.

 

[Manders Mustang]

Agreed. But you misspelt the word 'pen1s' by putting 'mustang' ;)

Have asked my drive manager who was there on the day - will try to pass your thanks on and to identify Doogie Howser (aka Julian) for Centurion.

No the P3nis is going to replace the rear decklid...

Cheers, think I've already said my thanks to ford for the day, would recommend most new owners who've never had rwd of that performance/size or a performance car in general to do something like that... well worth it!

 

[McXtravert]

made a comment to the Mrs last night that she dare not go into the attic else she will see all the mods that i've hidden away (i was joking).

The look I got... ooft. could have burnt through steal.

Watching all these mod idea threads with interest for when the time comes (honest dear - incase you are snooping!)

 

[Manders Mustang]

made a comment to the Mrs last night that she dare not go into the attic else she will see all the mods that i've hidden away (i was joking).

The look I got... ooft. could have burnt through steal.

Watching all these mod idea threads with interest for when the time comes (honest dear - incase you are snooping!)

Begin slow, DRLs, Interior trim, Air panel filters, Exhaust.... THEN GO BIG.

Alloys, wheels, exterior modifications, brakes, suspension, THEN THE WHIPPLE.

Gotta just build it up slowly, weasel your way into the modding world :first:

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