Awesome!!
holy moly, they’re nice
Indeed they are!!
I’ll even admit to getting them out of their boxes and giving them a fondle and head polish every now and again…
http://www.ohlins.com/test_ny_artikel/Automotive/TTX40-MkII/
damn I want to do a long term project now
[quote=TarmacTerrorist]I’ve got the suspension at home, I’ve actually had it for the last couple of years now, just sitting there looking all lovely and shiny waiting for its day to arrive.
Call it good luck or just a case of being at the right place, at the right time (at the right price), I’ve somehow got my grubby little mits on a set of the TTX40’ as used on the later GT3 cars…
They are stunning just to look at, Im hoping the ride quality is going to even better… (bloody well should be for how much a set would cost new!!) My experience of Ohlins so far tells me they are going to be good!
[/quote]
Properly awesome Gav, I suspected it was going to be something pretty special. Now, where’s the emoticon for jealous git?
ohhhhhhh…wowwww…those ohlins shocks are sooooo nice…i wanted a set of 46mm 2ways myself too since i had so much good memories when i had my ohlins DFV for my s2000
Cheers Steve, i knew you would like them. 
Im in a bit of a dilema though… When i first got them and opened up the box, there was a invoice from Russ inside for a total rebuild on all 4 units that had not long been done, as you see in the pics they are in nigh on perfect condition… Im certain they hadn’t been used since then as the box was still all taped up with ohlins tape… Now when you consider the bill inside was half the price i paid for the dampers, the deal just seemed to be getting better and better…
Problem is they are set up for slicks and are running something like 1000 front and 1100 rear springs on them which for the likes of 48’s or race wets are way, way too much.
Usually people running these sort of dampers will have a big team behind them and are able to adjust and respring them trackside to suit the conditions on the day, i just dont have that luxury unfortunately so will have to make the choice which way to go with them.
It seems a shame (and also costly) to have them set up for 48’s when they are more designed for running slicks and are already setup for it. Not that they cant be set up to run 48’s of coure but they will be wasted somewhat.
Having never run slicks on a elise based chassis before and building the car up for the first time it makes more sense to me to run it up on 48’s (what i know) and prove what i have already put together works before taking the big hurdle over onto slicks and the extra setup it requires. Although that is ultimately where i want to be.
The simple fact is its going to be far cheaper for me if i leave the ttx as they are and use them for slicks and then use the set of the 36mm coilovers you see on the car now for 48’s and race wets and swap the dampers over for the occasion.
Thoughts?
My thoughts are thus.
You are obviously under a lot of stress and I, being the true friend that I am, will take that stress away!
Simply send me the dampers!
Hope that helps.
Sean…
You are a true friend indeed, its a deal provided you take the stress of the missus and the mortgage payments away at the same time…
Life would be perfect except I wouldn’t have a set of ttx!
:youllsoonsendthemback:
Are you going to be racing the car and are you going to be running the same width tyres as the GT3 cars were Gav? Plus how far can you alter the spring rates on those 40s before you have to get them revalved to suit?
You’ve mentioned in the past that you don’t fiddle with damper settings much once you’ve found a good setup (handy as the TTX aren’t exactly easy to adjust on a car with its wheels still on are they!) so maybe like you say, having them just for the ‘ultimate’ setup would be good with a set of S36 etc for other duties.
If you really need some help de-stressing your Mrs, I am sure I can help with that if required! 
Just finishing off the aerocatch post mounts for the rear clam, thats that job pretty much done and the rear clam is all but mounted. I just need to make a couple of small tabs to hold the very lower corners of it to the diffuser. Ive also got to make the fastenings for the engine cover to hold on to.
Had to hand cut these -
Like those Gav, would mind a crack at them myself lol
STEP AWAY FROM THE DREMEL FOXY!!!
There isnt enough vinyl in the world to deal with the hash you would make of fitting aero catches!!!
Is he that bad?? lol
On a standard clam I would probably of had to reinforce the areas around the 2 catches on the inside of the clam with a couple of patches to spread the load out.
As it is, the carbon clam im using has sections of what i can best descibe as corrugated carboard but in carbon fibre which is approx 5mm thick so ive been able to bolt them straight to it. Ill take a pic of the reinforced area inside the clam as ill be putting the wiring in for the rear lights very shortly.
Fingers crossed it should have its engine running by the end of this week and will have its suspension on come the end of next…!!! Evrything is pretty much bolted on now, I just need to go over it all again to check i havent missed anything or left anything loose…
The cage is all back in, seat in, battery in, feul lines done, bodywork all now attached. I have pics but my main pooter is knackered and im waiting for a new one to arrive sometime this week so nothing to see here until I can download them, sorry.
Only thing i can really do now is wait. Well, i say only thing… After 9 months of building the car I think its probably about time I said a few “thank you’s” to everyone who has helped me along the way with it, by no means has it all been me!! (the list is quite long so bear with)
First off to the guys at Lotus Motorsport for supplying me with all of the original Exige GT3 parts they had left lying around at the end of the race program with the 2zz. Without which I simply wouldnt have even thought about doing such a project.
Not only did they supply me all the old race parts they had but have also supplied most of all the new OEM motorsport parts ive used on the build. Perhaps not everyone knows (so excuse me if you already do) but anyone can order race parts from Lotus Motorsport, not only order parts but you can have them fitted in the workshops along with general servicing etc. etc.
Never been to the factory or the motorsport dept? Car needs a service or uprated parts fitting? Why not make a day of it and book in a factory tour while your down there. Contact - Adrian Kent for parts, Rowland Leftley for Workshop and if your feeling flush Russel Gibbons for race car sales…
Next up is Dave from Seriously Lotus. Firstly for supplying me with the chassis on which to bolt all the parts i had (especially considering the first time i ask him if he want to sell it i got the impression he would have rather given his grandmother away…). Dave had done all the hard work in stripping it down to a bare tub which for me was just perfect, i had been looking for a donor car for quite some time but most of the cars that would be suitable where still going for silly money (cat d’s etc) and would still need to be gutted for just the tub. Again thanks Dave I really appeciated it. Dave not only supplied the tub but has also supplied a plethora of other parts he has on the shelf and has generally gone out of his way to help in any way he can, top geezer!
A big thank you to John Shorrocks from JSR (no introductions needed here) and also Anthony and Tom from Datum Motorsport in Stevenage who have had me on the phone at all hours of the day and night asking them all the (stupidest) questions under the sun… Again thanks guys i really appreciate all the input and help you have given me.
For those of you who dont know the Datum lads, you’ll usually find them in the paddock of the EliseTrophy/CupUK races as they run 3-4 cars and have been my race support on the occasions when Lem hasnt been with me.
Away from the paddock they have full facilities on site to do gearbox rebuilds, engine rebuilds and can also rebuild the Eaton superchargers. They are the guys who fitted the quaife atb in this build gearbox and checked over the engine before it went in its hole.
Heaton Park Coachworks for the paint job and use of their workshop while i fitted all the clams and bodywork.
Bill at BettaBlast in Shiremoor, North Tyneside for all the blasting and powder coating. Not only is there a ‘gav’ grey but there is also a ‘gav’ black powercoat lol…
Austin and his Dad, John at Unicorn Sheet Metal in Willington Quay, North Tyneside for the use of their laser cutter and metal workshop.
Jeff at EVAK in Wallsend, North Tynesife for all the bits of Ali i have nicked out of the scrap bin and all of the welding of the ali parts. If you ever need a few thousand parts punched out in any shape or size Jeff’s your man - www.evak.co.uk
Jim at Elliot Engineering, Willington Quay for the use of his lathes and milling mahines.
Stephen at Trackclub in Kimbolton for supplying all the Aerocatches for the bodywork and the HKS airfilter kit as used on the 2-11 GT4 (they are the UK main HKS dealers if you didnt know).
Dave Carr and Phil at Elise Spares in Norwich for all the little bits that i just couldnt justify buying new… Dave has a massive amount of second hand parts on the shelf from bits of trim to whole engines, gearboxes, bodywork, etc its a propa alladins cave!
Junks (havent forgot you) for getting hold of the bits that are are always on back order… How do you do it?? Or is it a case of ask no question get no lies?? LoL
I think thats about it… Im sure i have forgotten someone so please forgive but thank you all the same.
Gav
Lol yea me, just kidding mate looking forward to seeing it. I get to strip my car down next week and crack on…
Sorry John it was very late last night, but your right i owe you thanks for lots of things including the supply of the delicious carbon doors…
Thanks mate!!
[quote=TarmacTerrorist]Sorry John it was very late last night, but your right i owe you thanks for lots of things including the supply of the delicious carbon doors…
Thanks mate!! [/quote]
I’m available on test day at short notice
Edit to say the list of helpers is good info mate cheers.
Come on Gav another update matey…