Set me straight please part 2.

With the new adjustable camber bolts from Eurosport UK installed I booked BART back into Blackboots (Chesham) for a follow up alignment session.

Having fitted the new electronic points the day before it was a good opportunity to see how BART ran.  I have to say that it was nothing short of a revelation, BART actually has some torque now!  He can now pull uphill in 4th where before I felt I needed to drop down to 3rd as the engine struggled.  The engine seems to be much more free reving the tacho needle spins around to 6K with ease and there is real urgency higher up the rev range as the second choke opens up.  Sure, its still no tarmac shredder(!) but it feels so much closer to my 1500 X1/9 now in terms of top end performance that I don’t miss the extra power of the 1500.  The difference it makes to the driving experience is a real plus and I’m finding myself seeking out the upper reaches of the rev range much more, it’s way more pleasurable and satisfying than before.  A great result.

At Blackboots the guys set about connecting all the gear to BART and noted the newly installed camber bolts...they obviously needed adjustment and with a bit of faffing and effort as the bottom strut bolts where amazingly tight they got the camber more or less spot on.

Then they adjusted the rear toe in which was left alone in the first session and as a result this put the front toe out of spec.  Getting the rear toe set correctly is paramount before the front can be adjusted.  The rear toe sets an imaginary line down the centre of the car, if the toe is out and not equal this imaginary line won't be exactly in the centre and the front toe won't be able to be set correctly in relation to the rear.

Unfortunately these adjustments put the offside front camber out by 1deg.  Not having any more camber bolts of the correct size they managed to dial out the majority of the error by moving the front hub in relation to the strut and retightening the hub to strut bolts, there being just enough play in the bolt holes.

All in the guys took nearly two hours to get everything set just so and they even fixed the blowing exhaust joint!  Top work guys!

The journey back was even better than the drive out, the car didn't feel that much different to before as they had corrected the major alignment faults on the first visit but there was something just a bit more stable and secure about the handling than previously.  That, coupled with the improved engine performance resulted in a very pleasurable blast down some twisty country lanes.  Fantastic!