|
|
Post by jeff on Apr 28, 2023 20:33:46 GMT
The 8mm E10 compliant fuel hose arrived today and that's now fitted with a pre- pump inline filter.
Also, I fitted all new lucas ignition parts including a new Remax coil, all courtesy of Tony Wood, our spares Guru.
I went for a trial blast in the evening sunshine, all running sweet.
Maybe it's me getting old and driving VW's with electric
speed sensitive powered steering but oh my word,parking in Tesco's car park, and shunting around the mess of Swish fibre roadworks by my house, the Landcrab steering felt incredibly heavy at low speed. All fine on the run.
Tyre pressures are as per handbook but of course they are radials. Is this normal or do I need to join the gym?
|
|
|
|
Post by Penguin45 on Apr 28, 2023 23:10:58 GMT
Yes, they're heavy at very low speeds. If you've used the handbook settings, you're driving a stodgy pudding. Try taking the fronts up to 30psi and the rears to 26psi. You will be surprised at the large sporting car you are now driving.
Chris.
|
|
|
|
Post by dave1800 on Apr 29, 2023 1:18:36 GMT
Steering at low speeds is made noticeably heavier by the front suspension height being lower than specified, wear in the lower arm bushes, wear in ball joints and lower profile tyres than the original. As Chris said bump the pressures up to 30/26 as used on Mk11/111 cars. Worth checking the tie rod mountings under the "torpedo" as the rubbers can deteriorate and lead to potentially catastrophic suspension failures. They set the castor angles which also strongly influence steering weight. Mk1 car were always a bit bouncy on certain surfaces which is why they modified the suspension but I imagine that as you say the rubber flap dampers valves inside the displacers are getting weak. An alternative is to fit small shocks on the front as used on some rally cars. David Yes, they're heavy at very low speeds. If you've used the handbook settings, you're driving a stodgy pudding. Try taking the fronts up to 30psi and the rears to 26psi. You will be surprised at the large sporting car you are now driving. Chris. |
|
|
|
Post by andrewa on Apr 29, 2023 7:32:55 GMT
Mine was a non power steering car and bumping up the tyre pressures makes a huge difference.
I also ended up replacing all the bushes and just about everything else in the front suspension! Which made an enormous difference…much more than you’d think. All the parts were fine for MOT purposes but I guess some were 50 years old and just tired.
I did finally go with electric power steering which was excellent but as Penguin says a few extra pounds will make all the difference. For normal running around I also used 30 up the front, rears 26.
|
|
|
|
Post by jeff on Apr 29, 2023 14:22:14 GMT
Thanks for all of that lads.
I did notice in the wm, that later cars on radials, had increased tyre pressures. I will attend to that pronto.
All of the suspension was fully rebuilt last year, including tie bar bushes and upper arm taper bearings, ball joints, (shimmed),lower arm bushes, etc. I even managed to get hold of a couple of springs that were missing from the displacer tubes where the upper arms locate. So I'm happy with the mechanicals.
Thought I'd better check tho' before bumping up the pressures.
Jeff.
|
|
|
|
Post by jeff on Apr 29, 2023 14:26:29 GMT
I like the idea of electric power steering.
How is that achieved??
Jeff
|
|
|
|
Post by andrewa on Apr 29, 2023 17:42:08 GMT
en-gb.facebook.com/electricpowersteering/These are the people I used. It’s basically a unit that’s part of steering column. It’s not speed sensitive so you have a little dial so you can turn assistance up and down. Took the opportunity to do away the rubber thing with holes in at bottom of column and have a rose joint - from memory- no noticeable increase in harshness or anything. if you go on the Facebook thing above, my old car is somewhere around June 2017. The guy is worth a chat with and is happy to supply the kit if you want to do it yourself. This is the fellow unwinding!
|
|
|
|
Post by jeff on Apr 29, 2023 18:35:04 GMT
Andrewa,
That's a fantastic development.
When I watched the video I saw in the distance the car snaking down the track. Then I thought that can't be a Landcrab and it wasn't phew!
Is the car still steerable in the event of failure or flat battery?
Thats a cracking idea, and I will definitely look into it.
Jeff
|
|
|
|
Post by andrewa on Apr 29, 2023 19:00:18 GMT
Yes that’s what I liked, if it goes wrong or flat battery it’s just back to how you are at the moment!
It does transform the experience…and it’s nice and simple.
The chap is a perfectionist so I had him supply and fit.
It was about £1200 but that was 6 years ago…although he did do some other work tidying up bits and bobs whilst he was in there.
It also encouraged others in the family to drive it more as it was easier to manoeuvre when parking in particular.
|
|
|
|
Post by jeff on Apr 29, 2023 20:51:44 GMT
Andrewa
I'm really interested in this.
My wife, Yvon is a fit lass for her age and although, she's a regular gym goer she'll happily ride shotgun but shys away from driving my Landcrab.
I don't know why because she used my last one as her daily driver. But that was 20 years ago. I think she's watched me grunting and groaning when parking it.
My step daughter is a different soul altogether..always pestering me to have a go.
But for now I'll pump the tyres up a bit more while I ponder power steering.
Jeff
|
|
|
|
Post by dave1800 on Apr 30, 2023 0:36:24 GMT
Hi Jeff All the UK cars were in fact fitted with radial tyres from day 1, 175x13 profile Dunlop SP41 if I recall correctly then SP68 and the pressures were 26/22. They were one of the first UK cars to be fitted with radial tyres with an instruction not to replace them with cross plies as the suspension geometry had been designed for radials. Mk11/111 cars were originally fitted with 165x14 and pressures of 30/26. I always ran my Mk1 with 30/26 to improve the handling. David Thanks for all of that lads. I did notice in the wm, that later cars on radials, had increased tyre pressures. I will attend to that pronto. All of the suspension was fully rebuilt last year, including tie bar bushes and upper arm taper bearings, ball joints, (shimmed),lower arm bushes, etc. I even managed to get hold of a couple of springs that were missing from the displacer tubes where the upper arms locate. So I'm happy with the mechanicals. Thought I'd better check tho' before bumping up the pressures. Jeff. |
|
|
|
Post by dave1800 on Apr 30, 2023 0:39:35 GMT
Andrew Did you (need to) fit an alternator to handle the additional electrical load? David Yes that’s what I liked, if it goes wrong or flat battery it’s just back to how you are at the moment! It does transform the experience…and it’s nice and simple. The chap is a perfectionist so I had him supply and fit. It was about £1200 but that was 6 years ago…although he did do some other work tidying up bits and bobs whilst he was in there. It also encouraged others in the family to drive it more as it was easier to manoeuvre when parking in particular. |
|
|
|
Post by jeff on Apr 30, 2023 19:03:02 GMT
By chance I got to see the device today at the huge VW bash at Stanford Hall, Leicestershire.
A chap was selling a modern camper van and we were chewing the cud.
The subject of After market power steering came up and he took the trouble to show me what he'd fitted..a similar looking kit to Andrews.
Unfortunately, it was quite high up on the Column and in full view. But he did recommend it highly.
|
|
|
|
Post by andrewa on Apr 30, 2023 21:21:53 GMT
I’d already done the alternator conversion so don’t know!
re the install of power steering on mine it was under the parcel shelf.
It was noticeable but in reality I was the only one that remarked on it.
Everyone else looks out of the window!
|
|
