Vixen Spring Rates

[Moto]

Anyone able to share their experience with the spring rates suitable for a Vixen?

I believe standard road spec's are 180lb per corner. Most race cars seem to be running around 400lb. I'm really interested to know if anyone has tried anything somewhere in-between these rates and if so what feedback for road or track performance.

Moto

[S1Vixen]

I'm using 200lb per corner on the S1 and it feels like a reasonable compromise between comfort and handling on the road. Will let you know when I get back from Croft!

[timelord]

I'm running 200lb front and twin 100lb on the rear of my S2 Vixen, perfect for our billiard table smooth roads. It's on the firm side for the road but how I like it.

[Moto]

Thx guys.

I'm running 180lb / corner & looking at a slightly stiffer setup to help with the hillclimbs. But I don't want to lose the road setup which I really like as is, so thinking of 200-250max.

On another subject, I was trying to contact you Geoff. I found an old post of yours where you said you're running an 8.5" twin cam clutch on your Crossflow/2000e setup. I want to do the same and looking at the options from Helix & Retro Ford, with a TTV flywheel for the Twincam. However I'd like to know what release arm, bearing & carrier setup you're using to get the right stack height. Any info you could offer on this would be fantastic as I can't find anyone who has any knowledge. You can PM me if you prefer.

Moto

[timelord]

I did this mod on my 1600M some 35 years ago, from what I remember it was the standard clutch fork, cable clutch type, with an rs2000 bearing as the clutch plate had no bearing pad but I could be wrong it was a long time ago

[GeneralBanter]

I ran 360lb springs on the Vixen for a while, didn't know any different at the time.

They were off an Elise, and the Vixen had been used for racing at some stage the front top joint had been extended outward to make the shock more vertical which effectively increases the rate even more.

Bit of a nightmare they were I though all Vixens were like that until A@ showed me the light and I actually looked at them and realised.

[Moto]

timelord said:

I did this mod on my 1600M some 35 years ago, from what I remember it was the standard clutch fork, cable clutch type, with an rs2000 bearing as the clutch plate had no bearing pad but I could be wrong it was a long time ago

Thx Geoff. I'm looking at using the RS2000 arm also, so that sounds like I'm on the right track.

Moto

[Moto]

GeneralBanter said:

I ran 360lb springs on the Vixen for a while, didn't know any different at the time.

They were off an Elise, and the Vixen had been used for racing at some stage the front top joint had been extended outward to make the shock more vertical which effectively increases the rate even more.

Bit of a nightmare they were I though all Vixens were like that until A@ showed me the light and I actually looked at them and realised.

That's good to know as I've been advised by numerous race guys to go with 400lb but it just sounds way too stiff for driving on the road. I still think somewhere around 250lb should be suitable for road and also the few hillclimb events I do.

Moto

[GeneralBanter]

Moto said:

That's good to know as I've been advised by numerous race guys to go with 400lb but it just sounds way too stiff for driving on the road. I still think somewhere around 250lb should be suitable for road and also the few hillclimb events I do.

Moto

I think you’ll find 250 is still too stiff, unless you want to swerve about to avoid every manhole you ever come across or not really ever want to drive it on the road. I would say 200 is plenty stiff enough.

Edited by GeneralBanter on Friday 2nd August 12:07