Couple of BDR questions... - Page 2

SP01715 · #21 (**permalink**) 05-04-2010, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimbocobra

Seems to me the BDR guys are much more accepting of other makes, unlike our other South African originated siblings.

Your crazy. Start a SPF or Roush thread, and you will get all kinds of opinions.

RodKnock · #22 (**permalink**) 05-04-2010, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SP01715

Your crazy. Start a SPF or Roush thread, and you will get all kinds of opinions.

Ain't that the truth.

Hey, Ernie is slowly getting better and I think he's turned the corner now. He just bought a TKO600 to replace that old tired Toploader and I believe he said he'll be financing an alloy block on his credit card very soon so he can replace that tired old cast iron FE.

EDI: Oops, I forgot to write "KMP owners need only reply."

Rwillia4 · #23 (**permalink**) 05-04-2010, 04:52 PM

1. To each his own on the ride height BUT I tried to get mine as low as possible the issue is you can only get so low before the camber is effected. The limit is about two fingers of clearence between the tire and fender.

2. For handling and getting weight F/R ratios you will want to push the engine as far back as possible.

Excaliber · #24 (**permalink**) 05-04-2010, 05:20 PM

Quote:

My clearance issue was the bottom of the bell housing/scatter shield. About 4-5 inches. Watch those speed bumps.

Thats a problem on a lot of replica's, the bell housing being the lowest point. Many guys, myself included, simply cut off an inch or so of the bell housing. Before I did that I hit a speed bump and tore the trans mount in half!

Hitch · #25 (**permalink**) 05-04-2010, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Excaliber

Thats a problem on a lot of replica's, the bell housing being the lowest point. Many guys, myself included, simply cut off an inch or so of the bell housing. Before I did that I hit a speed bump and tore the trans mount in half!

Yeah and for those that have scatter shield the ground clearance is even worse. I have to lay boards in at the curb to be able to get in and out of my driveway to avoid dragging the scatter shield...

Also as it is for the stance of the car mine is low.. I can only slide a finger between the tire and the fender.

Dave

Jimbocobra · #26 (**permalink**) 05-04-2010, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SP01715

Your crazy. Start a SPF or Roush thread, and you will get all kinds of opinions.

Your delusional, hear's a quote from Panavia (an SPF owner) on the last SPF vs. BDR thread:

"Superformance over Backdraft -- the backdraft cars are scary underneath" I could fill page after page with derogatory comments from SPF owners toward the BDR's such as: "you get what you pay for" ... I could go on and on. Maybe you should read a little bit about what your boys are saying about BDR's before you make ill informed comments. Pretty sure Roush and BDR have a pretty good relationship.

To answer the original question, feel free to call a BDR Dealer and only a BDR Dealer (just kidding - feel free to call an SPF dealer too) who has experience with different set ups, they will be glad to talk to you about what they have seen work for different race or street applications or other issues like high curbs... Or you could post a thread, have a knucklehead hijack your post ranting about BDR owners.

Cashburn · #27 (**permalink**) 05-04-2010, 09:04 PM

Jimbo,
Don't let it get you. Watch this and enjoy:

Excaliber · #28 (**permalink**) 05-04-2010, 09:19 PM

Quote:

feel free to call a BDR Dealer...

Yeah, please do that, because if you ask that question here on Club Cobra, don't be a snob and insist only BDR's owners are capable of answering a FUNDAMENTAL question. Which Purple Venom did not insist on, thank you.

Now the answer for ride height, based on BDR owner response here, seems to be, "the number of fingers you can put between the top of the tire and the wheel lip opening."

Seriously???

I don't own a BDR but I know for sure that is the wrong answer!

Cashburn · #29 (**permalink**) 05-04-2010, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Excaliber

Yeah, please do that, because if you ask that question here on Club Cobra, don't be a snob and insist only BDR's owners are capable of answering a FUNDAMENTAL question. Which Purple Venom did not insist on, thank you.

Now the answer for ride height, based on BDR owner response here, seems to be, "the number of fingers you can put between the top of the tire and the wheel lip opening."

Seriously???

I don't own a BDR but I know for sure that is the wrong answer!

As opposed to offering a "right" answer that is a heck of a post.

and circa 2005 Quick Time BHs came to market, imagine not having to trim your bell and compromise its rating. Give 5th gear a shot sometime

RodKnock · #30 (**permalink**) 05-04-2010, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cashburn

Jimbo,
Don't let it get you. Watch this and enjoy:

Well that's patently unfair. We all know that GT40's painted with Gulf colors are slower.

I think that was due to "driver input" error.

Excaliber · #31 (**permalink**) 05-04-2010, 10:29 PM

Yeah, we all know BDR's are faster on the track than a GT-40 with Gulf colors, sheeshhh.

Ride height: I posted the right answer way back toward the beginning of this thread, 5 inches is a basic industry standard, go from there. That will clear most of the obstacles you encounter on the road. Measured from the FRAME. Why the frame? Because cars, ALL cars, are notorious for having uneven wheel lip clearance as measured from a flat surface and left to right side. Therefore, wheel lip clearance or tire height clearance is a "ball park" at best with way to many variables to even seriously consider. Not to mention different people run different tires, a whole nother can of worms.

Want to go racing? You would be well advised to check with the TRACK first to see what THEIR minimum ride height requirement is. The track will specifiy it, not BDR, not SPF, not Street Beasts. Typically it is four inches, some tracks don't care, some drive ways don't care, then set it as low as you can and still maintain decent suspension geometry. Can't do that? Then start buying parts, to modify the suspension to get it to work. Like everybody else on the planet does when they lower their car to go racing... Don't forget the extra cool ricer wings for the front and the rear, I won't laugh, promise (NOT).

Ron61 · #32 (**permalink**) 05-05-2010, 04:03 AM

As for the neutral safety switch, I had mine hooked to the tranny and it would only start with the car in neutral. Even pushing the clutch pedal in with it in gear I couldn't start the car. That is a personal thing I guess as I have seen them wired various ways, but I liked it that way.

Ron

JKleiner · #33 (**permalink**) 05-05-2010, 04:38 AM

Hey Tim,
Why don't you and/or your friend join http://www.backdraftboys.com and ask your questions there. You'll probably get real answers rather than a pissing contest.

Cheers,
Jeff

Cashburn · #34 (**permalink**) 05-05-2010, 06:44 AM

FYI the video is from last weekend at the Mitty in the HSR series. BDR cup car took first in a pretty nice field. Note lack of "wings"...

Ron61 · #35 (**permalink**) 05-05-2010, 07:06 AM

Nice pictures. Thanks for posting them.

Ron

cbreez · #36 (**permalink**) 05-05-2010, 07:08 AM

The B/D Manual

offers no input for ride height adjustment, but it does say it should be done before an alignment...:

The car appears to have light rate springs probably because of the vehicle weight, so if the driver is a real HEAVYWEIGHT

, you will have to compensate for that. Most cars are as low as possible to the point where the tires don't hit the body. It would depend on your local roads also, whether you drive through a lot of rough patches.

For what it's worth, the top of my rear tires are about level with the wheel well opening (flare) and the front has about maybe 3/4 - 1 inch clearance. Good Luck.

I weigh 220...no bottoming out for me on bumpy roads.

edd · #37 (**permalink**) 05-05-2010, 07:40 AM

I'm new to these forums and up till now I've just been asking a lot of questions. Just a thought about the driveway clearance, you could get some bags of blacktop at Home Depot, at about 5 bucks a bag and raise the paving up to the curb.
Ed

Jimbocobra · #38 (**permalink**) 05-05-2010, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cashburn

Jimbo,
Don't let it get you.

Get to me - no way. It is actually kind of fun to see a guy who thinks he knows everything about everything. From now on, no one should call the dealers or manufacturers, they don't know anything anyway. Call the guy in this post with all the answers.

By the way, here's another ERA owner, patrickt, who, in Nov 2009 gave the fair, objective and factual response: "Both SPF and BDR are basically crap." Another pearl of wisdom from those ERA owners who are above-the-fray. Sure, it is just the BDR guys who are elitist...

patrickt · #39 (**permalink**) 05-05-2010, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimbocobra

By the way, here's another ERA owner, patrickt, who in Nov 2009 gave the fair, objective and factual response: "Both SPF and BDR are basically crap." Another pearl of wisdom from those ERA owners who are above-the-fray. Sure, it is just the BDR guys who are elitist...

Ahh, you can't believe anything that jerk says anyway....

Excaliber · #40 (**permalink**) 05-05-2010, 10:15 AM

Quote:

...a guy who thinks he knows everything

You get what you pay for seems to fit. Of all the BDR owners, sales reps or other interested BDR types on this thread not a single one has offered a definitive answer to the question of ride height.

Look, I made a simple observation about questions concerning BDR's in various threads. That's all it was, an observation that the majority of BDR owners look to other owners or factory rep's as their primary source of information. The tendancy is to reject any information coming for a source other than a BDR owner/rep. This is not a reflection of the car itself, it IS a reflection on the demographics of the typical BDR owner/rep.

As THIS thread illustrates, the answer has not been found among that small close group seeking only information among themselves. You guys, BDR owners/reps would be well advised to consider opinions outside of your closed group attitude.

No skin off my back if you only want information from a single source, even if they can't provide an answer, knock yourself out.