A common experience when getting a Mantula over 150 mph is the lift generated by the bonnet. You can make a barn door fly if you take it to a higher enough speed. The top part of the bonnet acts like an aerofoil and creates negative pressure above the bonnet (lift), and the nose under the bonnet provides positive lift. So if you forget to secure your bonnet and take it up to + 140 mph your see it start to open with the aerofoil lift. One solution to fixing it, is to put in a splitter in the front like spyderv8's which is a knife that goes underneath the lowest part of the bonnet. I had one put in two years ago and it does help. But the old girl generates violent air buffeting at 160 mph, enough for me to bottle out. Lets face it, going fast on the ground is great, in the air, not good. The best solution is to do a dparslow and put a full air dam on it, if you have seen the pictures you will see what I mean. Dave, great pics, the hard work has paid off! I have come to the conclusion that these designs were not meant to get up to 200mph and with all their aerodynamic, steering and suspension foibles and its no fun trying to decide at what speed you have to back off to stop going ballistic.
Mantula Modding.
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 PyroJunkie |
Top speed is limited by aerodynamics | #141 | ||
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Posts: 24 Sun, 6-Apr-2008 00:37 |
Last Edited By: PyroJunkie Sun, 6-Apr-2008 00:40.
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martineztop |
#142 | |||
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Posts: 963 Sun, 6-Apr-2008 19:11 Chief mechanic |
so where's the pictures of this splitter then? sounds like we all need one eh, my car goes very light at anything over 90
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Major Bloodnock |
#143 | |||
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Posts: 161 Sun, 6-Apr-2008 19:43 |
Woo hoo, page 8!
Any ways I have been out in the garage again. Its still getting worse. I still reckon the light at the end of the tunnel is that bloke with a torch coming in to give me a cuppa tea. Anyway I have been slaving away over the drawings and the diff mounting. So far so good. Its still early days but the theory seems to be pretty much spot on which is re assuring. The pics can be found here: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/tvmarcos/Q115AANREBUILD06042008/ for this weekends antics. I also laid up the first molding of the sill. I will see what it looks like tomorrow. Going to wash off the grp dust now. More soon.
Si Via Difficilis Sit. Hanc Eligam!
Last Edited By: Major Bloodnock Sun, 6-Apr-2008 19:59.
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Major Bloodnock |
You people take things to seriously and miss the point completely, everytime. | #144 | ||
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Posts: 162 Sun, 6-Apr-2008 19:52 |
PyroJunkie wrote: The maths say its possible, whats possible and whats sensible is two different things.
Si Via Difficilis Sit. Hanc Eligam!
Last Edited By: Major Bloodnock Sun, 6-Apr-2008 19:57.
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PyroJunkie |
splitter on front of mantula | #145 | ||
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Posts: 28 Tue, 8-Apr-2008 07:08 |
Photo as requested, the splitter can be seen coming forward under the rad grill
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spyderv8 |
#146 | |||
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Posts: 1096 Tue, 8-Apr-2008 10:26 Guru mechanic |
Pyro - first time I have seen your car! Nice!!!
Your splitter is slightly different to mine as mine is rounded off at the edges. It came off a Mantoid challenge car and was cut to fit the narrower front of my car. I like your shiny mesh grille too but don't trust the airflow enough to have anything there - I just have bars across it to stop badgers, cats and pikeys going into the radiator. I had the bumpers removed from mine as well - yours look very good though, I may reconsider... Major B - not sure if a Mantula with 450bhp could be a called 'in sheep's clothing'. Maybe a wolf in German Shepherd's clothing? 
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Major Bloodnock |
All I know at the moment | #147 | ||
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Posts: 164 Tue, 8-Apr-2008 15:36 |
spyderv8 wrote: All I know at the moment is, its hard work. I can honestly say, all I wanted was the LS1. Never thought I'd be able to get one. Blow me down with a feather, one turns up. Trust me I will me more
than happy with a standard LS1. 350HP and no trimmings.
Its like all the Rover boys, (and I was one) just trying to be that little bit different, a tweak here and a tweak there.
Perhaps one day, I might pluck up some courage and spend some money sooping up the engine, but hell, what for, I can't imagine. I've done a bit more on the ole girl, so I'll move to the next chapter so to speak.
Si Via Difficilis Sit. Hanc Eligam!
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Major Bloodnock |
PS...... | #148 | ||
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Posts: 165 Tue, 8-Apr-2008 15:39 |
Stop posting pictures of your cars in my blog, thats called teasing and its not fair!
Si Via Difficilis Sit. Hanc Eligam!
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Major Bloodnock |
Today's pictures are up | #149 | ||
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Posts: 166 Tue, 8-Apr-2008 15:48 |
I have been feeling a little beaten up of late. With shifts an all, its just got a bit tough, so when the Marcos project also sticks me with a few hard
problems as well, the going gets slower.
So not being out done and wishing to see something positive happen I set about casting an impression from the sill mold just to see what it looks like. I know I am a long way from fitting it. But it was one of those jobs that can be done seperately from the diff work currently on the go. So for now here are the pictures of the new sill, which will house the side pipes. http://picasaweb.google.com/tvmarcos/Q115AANREBUILD08042008/ I am not very good at creating complex shapes yet, so producing what I have done is a compromise I will have to form the front end so that it falls in with the existiing shape of the front side panels. The very ends are going to have to be made in situ. Thats the bits I could not get my head around when creating the mold. The entire lengths of the sills is going to be 'bolt on' so that I can get at the exhaust pipes if neccesary. But for now, what do you reckon of the sill shape? Regards
Si Via Difficilis Sit. Hanc Eligam!
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jomeo69 |
#150 | |||
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Posts: 18 Sat, 12-Apr-2008 07:41 |
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2649&id=506599535
For another idea on splitters check out this album. these were fitted to our car when we brought it. ok they are quite low and have taken a few blows. See the drivers side one. We have since rebuilt that one and its looking pretty good. Dunno how effective they are at high speed tho never really been that fast in it. Rite off to Detling Kit Car Show Joe |
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jomeo69 |
#151 | |||
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Posts: 19 Sat, 12-Apr-2008 08:05 |
Or simply check out my profile images
Joe |
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Major Bloodnock |
This weekend | #152 | ||
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Posts: 169 Sun, 13-Apr-2008 19:30 |
I have been on a course all weekend, then Saturday evening was Skittles at Maidenhead.
Cheers Gary, it was a great evening yet again. Shame more Local Marcos owners didn't come out and enjoy the evening as well. Anyway, moving swiftly on, this evening I have spent some time, welding up support brackets for the front of the lower diff mounting plate. I have reset the lengths of the original pedals on the original pedalbox that came with Q115AAN. I modified them years ago so that the wife could reach the pedals. She drove it once and that was that. I did find excessive wear on the accelerator pedal, this was due to the fact that the factory used a unf bolt as a shaft for the pedal arm, welded to the pedal assembly frame. Over the years the threads have elongated the swivel hole so the whole thing has to be repaired now. That will be done tomorrow. I have also done a second sill casting this evening. Pictures of the fun and games will be up tomorrow afternoon I guess. Regards
Si Via Difficilis Sit. Hanc Eligam!
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Major Bloodnock |
Three Eureka Moments in one morning! | #153 | ||
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Posts: 170 Mon, 14-Apr-2008 11:49 |
I had the first one whilst chatting to Quiffster on msn first thing. I clear saw how to resolve the issue I had with the suspension of the lower diff mounting
plate, the rear edge was going to be difficult, but now it isn't.
The second came as I was grinding away the chassis for the front lower diff mounting plate. See pictures being uploaded now. http://picasaweb.google.com/tvmarcos/Q115AANREBUILD14042008/ And the third was a contirbution from my daughter regarding the curve I have to make in the sills. I had already slotted them this morning and was pleased they bent as I thought they would. But getting the curve wasn't going to be easy, but a simple observation by daughter means a wooden template is now being made and the sills are sorted. More soon.
Si Via Difficilis Sit. Hanc Eligam!
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PyroJunkie |
http:/jomeo69 | #154 | ||
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Posts: 29 Mon, 14-Apr-2008 22:42 |
Nice pictures Joe, lurve that spoiler at the front and great build, looks like lots of tlc have gone into that.
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Major Bloodnock |
more done today | #155 | ||
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Posts: 171 Tue, 15-Apr-2008 11:24 |
But snapped a pilot drill whilst drilling 13mm of steel. Sheesh took about an hour to drill around the snapped drill enlarge the hole re drill to the size I
wanted after using the first peice as a template to guide the drill then go back at the snapped drill hole with a welder to build up the damage then re drill.
Anyways, with all that done I have got the front lower chassis brackets for the lower diff mounting plate fitted today.
More tomorrow.
Si Via Difficilis Sit. Hanc Eligam!
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Major Bloodnock |
I have just got back from The Royal Berks Hospital | #156 | ||
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Posts: 175 Fri, 18-Apr-2008 11:33 |
After what I have been told, it now seems a certainty that even with a few miracles to hand Q115AAN wont be back on the road for May 2009.
Sometime later this year I have to go and have reconstructive surgery on my wrist to repair damage I did to it about a year ago when I threw myself over the handlebars of my push bike. That mean there will be upto at least twelve weeks with my hand arm in plaster. So until then I will be trying to get as much done as I can, with a view to getting the back end down on two wheels at least. So for now I am going away to brood over the prospects. 
Si Via Difficilis Sit. Hanc Eligam!
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martineztop |
#157 | |||
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Posts: 979 Fri, 18-Apr-2008 20:54 Chief mechanic |
don't give up Major, it's suprising what you can do with one hand (no not that either) just be positive
oh and buy some air tools, it's easier. you could always use the old ploy of throwing a car building party for your mates, just don't let them drink all the beer first |
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Major Bloodnock |
Thanks for the | #158 | ||
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Posts: 176 Sat, 19-Apr-2008 08:06 |
Support.
I would like to say, that I wont be giving up, its just that for at least 8 weeks of the convaless I wont be able to use the right hand at all as it will be in plaster. Then a month after that it will be light duties I try to get some strength back into it. Bodywork, such as rudding down and hole filling can be done left handed, in fact it might improve the finished effort knowing me
But like I said the operation when it happens wont be until late in the year so I got to get out there now and make the most of the good time I got this year. Talking air tools. I have, this week just plumbed in the Shed to the Garage. I mean the big compressor is up the shed, so rather than run hoses down the garden everytime I wanted to use the air, I have piped it into the garage permenantly now. So air tools is not a problem. Say that as soon as the back end is finished I have a load of shot blasting to do. Today however, its more welding. More soon.
Si Via Difficilis Sit. Hanc Eligam!
Last Edited By: Major Bloodnock Sat, 19-Apr-2008 08:08.
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Major Bloodnock |
Todays results just in. | #159 | ||
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Posts: 179 Sun, 20-Apr-2008 20:18 |
I've had a long hard day today, measuring, hacksawing, (that hurts) welding, diff in, diff out, diff in etc measuring adjusting measuring etc.
Getting close to permenantly fixing the top diff frame. I don't want to do that until I am abolutely certain I have got everyting 'true'. If you have nothing better to do, heres a few pictures. http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/tvmarcos/Q115AANREBUILD20042008/
Si Via Difficilis Sit. Hanc Eligam!
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Major Bloodnock |
Starting to Bridge the Gap | #160 | ||
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Posts: 184 Tue, 22-Apr-2008 18:33 |
I've been in the garage again.
Just a few shots showing some development. http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/tvmarcos/Q115AANREBUILD22042008 More soon.
Si Via Difficilis Sit. Hanc Eligam!
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