73T - First Drive in a year after refurb with 2.7RS power

[Highfield]

Well it finally happened, I picked the car up from Tuthills on Friday 13th November and drove it home in pouring rain :-(

However, even on this slow paced and dark night drive of just 25 miles, I can feel the car is just so much better than when I last drove it a year ago plus in September 2008.

I have replaced and upgraded most of the suspension and brakes, and had a 1975 2.7 Euro 210bhp Carrera engine and gearbox swapped in, so you would expect it to be different :-)

I did then get to give it a dry run on Sunday, but had my wife with me so nothing too fast. The suspension works a dream, and soaks up the bumps and potholes of UK minor roads a real treat - a total transformation.

The Carrera engine is much more torquey than I had imagined, with a good spread of power and torque across the revs in all gears - the overtaking torque in fourth gear from say 60mph is great. I am no expert, but the car is now a really tight and pleasent drive, with the only disappointing thing being the engine sounds just like my 2.4T on webers - I have a new standard Dansk exhaust so that probably expalins it.

Overall I am delighted, and whilst I still have lots of little things I would like to do to the car, as these things are never finished, I can almost feel the itch for a new project :-)

As an aside, I have also sold the 1975 Euro Carrera chassis (the engine is in my 73T) to someone that is going to restore it, so that is also good news.

I need to get out and bed in the brakes properly, and get to know the handling, so will look to do a track day in early 2010 - before then it will go to Bob Watson for a good MFI setup and dyno report run.

I really need an expert to drive the car to give constructive feedback, as I have never driven an RS or similar so cannot really compare the car to another, but I like it very much.

Ian

[Tom F.]

Ian,

I would like to hear what you did about the suspension. We have some pretty rough roads here in NEW England, too, and my California transplant car is a little too jouncy for our winter battered Massachusetts roads. It is lowered, with Konis, 26mm rear torsion bars and poly bushings on the rear spring plates.

Tom

[Highfield]

Tom

Do a search on my username (Highfield) over on Pelican and DDK and there are tonnes of posts and pictures :-)

Tuthill specification re-valved bilsteins
Rear Bilstein Sprints
26mm rear T-Bars
SAW spring plates
ER polybronze all round.

Feels great

Ian

[joetiii]

Ian,

sound similar to my setup except for the revalved bilsteins. stock hds for me. what size/style rubber?

[Highfield]

Joe

I have 6X15 Fuchs all round with Vredestein 205/60 X 15 rubber.

Would like to go 7R in the rear, but $$$$ for me.

Ian