Q
Dear Sir,
I have a M800 with radials fitted.
If I try to increase the track of my car. ( increase in the width of
the front R and L and the rear R and L wheels)
I believe with my existing radials in standard wheels. I will get
better cornering ability, less skidding, and I do not have to buy
and allow wheel fitted with thicker tyres. Of course I will get a
larger turning radius and maybe suspension complications.
But altogether I will get a new larger car handling and driving
experience closer to a Zen I suppose.
Please tell me how can I modify the front wheel hubs or rear wheel
drums.
Can I get the attachments made in a normal "lathe" workshop? Will I
be able to get the thing done from some rallyist. Whom can I
approach. Do tell me the possible costs.
I have seen one such modification in an 800 and tata estate some red
light but could not ask the person how was it.
My second question is the modern cars like accent and astras have
better in cabin heat and noise insulation. In your experience what
have 800 users done to achieve it if ever they tried.
Tirthankar Basu.
Calcutta.
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A
Dear Tirthankar
Well it looks like Calcutta has another young blooded hot rod type
of person.
Let me tell you 't' (that's your name for now) that in the 70's and
even earlier, some of us , me included had done just what your
thinking about, to our Fiats , i personally had 2 1/2 inch spacers
on my Fiat , and it looked very veerry Raunchy, and she was a
downright devil. i took her everywhere flat out, from the cricket
club to Gariahat on the tram lines you know the dirt bit in the
center of the road, only doing 100kph or so, skid control in the
maidan, on a rainy day, how about skid control on the Lamartiniere
football field when it was raining, backwards through the goal posts
at 40kph with the speedo regestring 60kph in a forward direction How
about 100 kph down Park street wit a Ambi chasing me.
And you thought you were a lunatic with your ideas, Now before i get
carried away let me answer your letter.
Yes if you increase your track the the car will corner better,
because what you are dooing is lowering the center of gravity, but
you also need to improve your suspension, thicker anti roll bars,
possibly out of a fiat, and lowered suspension,
But my dear 'T' you cant have Jam on both sides of your bread, if
you want handling, then you have to sacrifice the ride, go on what
sort of a hot blooded young man are you, the chicks love the look of
the car, Yeah lower it..
Skidding ... well that is another story, if you have good tyres, you
should not let a 800 get away from you, so unless you drive like
Badri Prasad Gwala, dont worry about Skkeedding, as a very well
known rallying personality once gave me advice when i got a rally
car very sideways.......CLUTCH CHAARAE PAIIE BRAAKE......
it does not work i assure you (that is in Bengali).
MR. 'T' now about your heating problem, i would suggest you have
your heating radiator, which sits in your dash looked at, it could
be blocked, Partially or more..!!!!!!!!!!!! is it cold in Cal????,
Your insulation problem, well i would run a three branch exhaust
without a silencer, the pipe would exit near the front door, sounds
like magic at 6000 rpm,, ok ok so its not every ones cup of tea,, so
what you need is some good insulation undre the bonnet and on the
fire wall, if you cant find any insulation cut up an old carpet that
should do.
At the end of the day you can never get the ride and other poofy
feelings that you get in other cars in an 800 the car is much
lighter and will always have a bumpy ride, some of the bigger snobby
types of cars actually put in very big engines, 4 or 5 liter v8s and
then add weight to their cars to give them a good ride.
Dont worry about all that, look at it this way, Shushmita gets to
sit closer to you and yopu can easily slip your arm around her.
Ill tell you what i usedto do while travelling at 130 kph down red
road, with my arm around this lovely lady, and she'd say
"Pllleeeassee use two Hands"
And did say "Love to darling but i need one hand to drive with".
Sorry sorry just got a bit carried away then.
Where can you get these spacers .. i would suggest 'Wheel Works' in
Hindustan Park, the guy to see is Mitil Chakravarty, He is a
C....... but an old friend of mine he also has a machine shop there,
tell him i sent you, and make sure that Asgar gets you a cup of Cha,
something i always got there.
Do remember that when you increase the track you will be putting
more stress on the drive shafts, and the ball joints, so if your
planning to do burn outs at the traffic lights , you may break the
driveshafts. So what go on do it any way.
Send us a picture of your car, when you have done the need full.
Let me know if you need some more encouraging........
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