Roxanne - budget milano/75 track car - Page 7

**AR4me** · #91 (**permalink**) 07-31-2006, 11:21 PM

So, in preparation for shedding some weight from the front bumper I took it off tonight. The US milano front bumper is rumored to be very heavy. I have previously had the upper part of it on a scale (when we did the 3.7). However, this is the first time I weighed it complete, with valence, fog-lights, turn-signals, and side-markers. It comes in at a healthy 42 lbs... Gentlemen, start your drills!

Jes

Grant · #92 (**permalink**) 08-01-2006, 04:55 AM

OK, this is sort of on topic..but today I had a couple of bad incidents on a fast drive with VERY tight turns (many hairpins). My Verde has ABS but the ABS function isn't working...which I'm in no rush to fix. The problem is, the front wheels lock up really quickly and makes trail braking nearly impossible. It seems that with Koniy Yellows and Shankle SS rear springs, less weight transfers to the front of the car, causing the front wheels to lock up prematurely. I can only see this problem getting worse as I'm ordering 27mm torsion bars tomorrow--which should cause less weight to transfer to the front tires under heavy braking. O, and I understand the concept of thresh-hold braking.. before anyone suggests that as a quick fix.

I've seen many cars with Wilwood or w/e brand brake bias valves fitted to their cars and that's the path I think I want to go on. The thing is, I'm not sure how the 3 Channel ABS system works entirely and I don't want to screw things up if I want to get ABS working for the rainy season. I also was told by a member of our race team at Cal Poly that putting a brake bias valve can cause premature fading as the valve creates a low pressure sytem after the valve, which allows the brake fluid to boil at a lower temperature.

I was wondering if AR4me or any other forum members have done this to their street or track cars and if there's anything i'm going to need to know? I want to get the brakes sorted before the driving school in September.

Thanks in advance.

**AR4me** · #93 (**permalink**) 08-01-2006, 08:15 AM

Well, I suppose you can replace the existing brake bias valve with an adjustable brake bias valve. Though, be careful not to move too much bias to the rear. It is generally safer to have the front lock up before the rear - at least you will stay front forward.

The 3.7 has adjustable brake bias.
Jes

**nizam** · #94 (**permalink**) 08-01-2006, 10:29 AM

Grant - I didn't want to hijack Jes' build thread. So I PM'ed you.

**AR4me** · #95 (**permalink**) 08-01-2006, 11:10 PM

Ok, I spent part of the evening taking the front bumper apart and drilling it. After taking off the weather-strip the top cover comes off. Then drilling the two rivets between each of the 2 groups of 3 studs (for mounting on the bumper shocks) will allow you to pry off the back cover - see pics. The back cover is about 7 lbs by itself. I intend to re-stall the front bumper without the back cover. I then started drilling out the remaining bumper from the back and prying out the matrial - a foam filled plastic structure. I got quite a bit done, but am still curious as to where the main weight of the bumper sits. Currently, the bumper is down to 29 lbs (from 42 lbs) in the form I intend to remount it in. I plan to fire up the angle grinder and make the cut straight and then re-drill deeper to get more weight off. Though, I have to be careful not to drill through...
Jes

**AR4me** · #96 (**permalink**) 08-01-2006, 11:13 PM

Some more pics as the drilling progressed...

Mezevenf · #97 (**permalink**) 08-02-2006, 02:05 AM

Damn those bumpers are chunky as! I had no idea what was behind them until now, I've only dealt with the euro ones...

inhistoryclass · #98 (**permalink**) 08-02-2006, 08:20 PM

hey jess

are you gonna get a sound system?

i just got one, it sounds really nice. Oh and i cant say i dont love my air conditioning with this hot weather.

are yout taking this to the school? ill post pictures of my milano soon, i just got it back from the body shop not too long ago.

**AR4me** · #99 (**permalink**) 08-02-2006, 10:09 PM

Quote:

are yout taking this to the school?

inhistoryclass · #**100** (**permalink**) 08-03-2006, 09:07 PM

cool. how hard was it to take all of the carpeting out?

**AR4me** · #**101** (**permalink**) 08-03-2006, 10:59 PM

Taking the carpet out is pretty straightforward - doesn't take long, particular if you don't worry about getting it out in one piece.

Anyways, some more progress on the bumper - got the angle grinder out. I cut back the upper and lower part of the bumper and hollowed it out completely. With the top cover in place the gutting will not be visible. It is down to 23.5 lbs. This includes taking out turn signal (I will use the triangular lights for that, like on European models) and the fog lights. Below some pics, 1: Hollow bumper, 2. Cut back upper and lower part, 3. Close-up of cut back, 4. With top cover on.

I'm considering various options for further weight saving on the bumper. Though, those are likely to leave a visual difference once back on. The bumper gutting up until now will not be visible.

Jes

jessbat · #**102** (**permalink**) 08-04-2006, 02:50 AM

What is that brown stuff that was in there? some kind of impact foam or something?

**AR4me** · #**103** (**permalink**) 08-04-2006, 08:11 AM

Yup, foam.
Jes

junglejustice · #**104** (**permalink**) 08-04-2006, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jessbat

What is that brown stuff that was in there? some kind of impact foam or something?

**sidewaysalfa** · #**105** (**permalink**) 08-04-2006, 04:35 PM

I just got this picture of Jes' car at School. Flying around the track with his "modified" bumpers fluttering in the breeze.

"Hey, don't lean on the bumpers!! You will dent them!!"

See you at School.