24 hours of lemons build and VW VR6 swap.


The throttle cable was adjusted in such a way that we only had 88% throttle. I also set the rev limiter at 5500, 1000 below the true redline for longevity. And our tune is pretty rough.

Could still dust other cars on the straight though.
 
Also, forgot to add: another team brought their scales to the race and we weighed the car with a full tank. It weighed in at 2145 pounds, with 43% front and 57% rear bias. I don't have the weight before the swap, so I'm not sure what the difference is, but it's right around the weight of a stock X. The roll cage adds quite a bit of weight. Also we put the bumpers back on for this race because of the weather.
 
Good moist fun...

Exxe is designed with a rear weight bias, the current ratios of 57% rear, 43% front is close to oem as designed. More important is cross weights, which should be close to equal LH rear to RH front, RH rear to LH front..

Most important, put this exxe on a grand weight reduction diet.. as is this exxe is WAY too heavy...
The rotary exxe is just over 1800 pounds with 1/2 tank of fuel and driver.. Weight reduction is THE best way to improve overall performance..

“Simplify, then add lightness,” was his philosophy, way before minimalism became a high street term. “Adding power makes you faster on the straights, subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere.”

~Colin Chapman..


Bernice
 
we haven't done any serious weight reduction yet. we even put the bumpers back on this race. those are heavy. the cage adds probably 200 pounds. there is also a sturdy cage around the fuel cell which definitely added some weight, but it is part of the regulations.

we could cut out the door and hood reinforcements. popup headlights are already gone. any other low hanging fruit?

1800 pounds would be great, though probably not a realistic goal for us. a rotary engine will always weigh less than a piston engine, but there's the issue of fuel consumption and having to rebuild it frequently.
 
rozap said:
we haven't done any serious weight reduction yet. we even put the bumpers back on this race. those are heavy. the cage adds probably 200 pounds. there is also a sturdy cage around the fuel cell which definitely added some weight, but it is part of the regulations.

we could cut out the door and hood reinforcements. popup headlights are already gone. any other low hanging fruit?

1800 pounds would be great, though probably not a realistic goal for us. a rotary engine will always weigh less than a piston engine, but there's the issue of fuel consumption and having to rebuild it frequently.
Click to expand...
Fiberglass or similar hood, doors, trunk and more.. Everything and anything that is not structural or absolutely essential gets "thinned" or tossed.
Consider plastic or other LeMons acceptable lowest weight materials for weight reduction..

Do ditch the headlight buckets and anything that is absolute useless on a race car.. The goal is a bare shell with a uber strong/safe cage and fire suppression system and all. The Rotary & Hewland might be a bit lower weight than the VW set up, regardless, weight reduce all the low hanging fruit first.. This is zilch about looks, all about weight reduction.

Lowest weight wheels (tires figure into this too) are a significant plus for weight reduction & improved performance.

Apply the weight reduction to the max at LeMons as there is no minimum weight for a LeMons racer...


Porky Pig not gonna go fast,
Bernice
 
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