clubstylus

I'm sure I'll get a good answer from Rob, but I thought I'd post it here for other input as well

Anyway - I will be setting up the car soon, and want to know a good start point. I realise I will make adjustments once I start doing a bit of testing on some airfield track days, but want a place to start from.

So what are the best setting for camber, castor, ride height front and back (and measured from where), spring rates (don't know what's on my car as it's come part build from SSC and was originally designed for a Zetec though I can take a look and see if it's marked on the ends - the Nissan engine must be a bit heavier), and anything else I should be doing.

I'll be ordering an anti-roll bar from Tim as well so it would be good to know the best way to set this up too.

And yes, I know I'll need to take into account my humongus back wheels

From a set-up novice
Jasper

Nissanman wrote:I'm sure I'll get a good answer from Rob, but I thought I'd post it here for other input as well

Anyway - I will be setting up the car soon, and want to know a good start point. I realise I will make adjustments once I start doing a bit of testing on some airfield track days, but want a place to start from.

So what are the best setting for camber, castor, ride height front and back (and measured from where), spring rates (don't know what's on my car as it's come part build from SSC and was originally designed for a Zetec though I can take a look and see if it's marked on the ends - the Nissan engine must be a bit heavier), and anything else I should be doing.

I'll be ordering an anti-roll bar from Tim as well so it would be good to know the best way to set this up too.

And yes, I know I'll need to take into account my humongus back wheels

From a set-up novice
Jasper

Well your ride height will be governed by your wheel arches to a degree . If your main interest is endurance rallies ride height could do with being a touch high , say 150 to 160 mm then normally I'd say 20mm up on that for the rear .(170 to 180 mm) That will give you a balanced car , leaning towards oversteer. BUT with rallies , LUGGAGE will play a large part plus passenger/navigator so I'd opt' for 225 lbs rear springs then 250 lbs springs up front plus an anti roll bar set at the weakest hole. With the Nissan you'd need 275 to 300 front springs to stop rear diagonal lift on cornering IF YOU HAD NO ANTIROLLBAR It would be twitchy in the wet with those .
As for measuring , I've covered this before on a topic here Anyway measure the front ride height under the lowest chassis rail --- the shocks mount onto it The rear ---- measure where the alluminium floor sheet meets the steel seatpan(they're rivetted)under the drivers door. The car should be driven / pushed about / bounced a little , after you've jacked and let it down , otherwise it will be high. Do this each time you adjust.
Camber -- start with 1 to 1.5 neg. Toe -- straight ahead or just in. Castor -- unless you have adjustment it will be 3.5 degrees. You could shave a mm or so off the front end of the bush , push the wishbone forward then washer behind it to get some more castor. Otherwise it's new wishbones plus rod ends.
Basically what I'm saying is that you need a slightly higher and compliant set up for your favourite persuit
Then there's tyre pressures ---- you'll have to experiment because those huge tyres out back wont behave as most of our cars do. I'd guess at 18psi all round normally but with rallying/weight/high mileage , probably 20 front 22 rear would be a good start. Having done all this you'll then have to drive it with passenger/weight quite vigourously and observe via your rear end what the car is doing --- hopefully it will speak to you ------ then adjust to taste -- bit like cooking really

Good luck . Rob.

Thanks Rob - I knew I could rely on you

I've had to pull out of the Rally this year - the Stylus is just costing so much to finish it was going to be Rally or family holiday - and the family holiday was the only reasonable option!

Right - I'll print all this off and get to work.

Thanks again Rob - your help has been invaluable.....

Jasp