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Formula 3

Started by JOHN PAGE , Jan 04 2008 11:20

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13 replies to this topic

#1 JOHN PAGE

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Posted 04 January 2008 - 11:20

I have a 1988 Formula 3 Ralt but the only "set-up" data I have shows a ride height of 1.5 cm at the front!
I know that in the 1988 season there was an edict that the cars should run with 4cm ground clearance BUT was it ever imposed?
Does anyone have any useful set up information-----------I am using the car for hill-climbing on closed public roads in France and ran my previous car higher and softer.
JOHN PAGE

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#2 jeremy durward

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Posted 04 January 2008 - 11:38

while i have no direct experience a friend of mine is running a f3000 type car here in australia, actually formula holden built by the local college. he got the car for hillclimbing and the first thing he did was raise the car and soften it as this is what everyone said to do.

the car was slow and only picked up time when he stiffened and lowered the car. moral of the story is try the original setup in compatition before going off in different directions that may or may not work

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#3 JOHN PAGE

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Posted 04 January 2008 - 11:51

Good man! Thanks!

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#4 NRoshier

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Posted 04 January 2008 - 11:54

Ron Tauranac is still able to give advice on the RALT cars.

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#5 JOHN PAGE

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Posted 04 January 2008 - 12:43

That is a very ambitious thought but many thanks------------I do know someone who is in contact with him and so will give it a go!
Many thanks

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#6 LMP900

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Posted 04 January 2008 - 12:53

Originally posted by JOHN PAGE
I have a 1988 Formula 3 Ralt but the only "set-up" data I have shows a ride height of 1.5 cm at the front!
I know that in the 1988 season there was an edict that the cars should run with 4cm ground clearance BUT was it ever imposed?
Does anyone have any useful set up information-----------I am using the car for hill-climbing on closed public roads in France and ran my previous car higher and softer.
JOHN PAGE

The trick here was that the 4cm minimum was in the RAC Blue Book, but actually F3 was run under FIA regulations, and they had no minimum ride height. We spotted this in 1985, the first year of flat-bottom F3, and the difference was so big that we were suspected of cheating until other teams cottoned on to it. If you're running to RAC rules, you may have to comply with the 4cm rule.

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#7 JOHN PAGE

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Posted 04 January 2008 - 14:14

Many thanks LMP900!
My car is the Gary Brabham RT32(the Bowman car).
I suspect that it always ran low!
JOHN

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#8 Pat Clarke

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Posted 05 January 2008 - 00:50

John,
Private message or email me with the setup deytails you require. I will be talking with RT as soon as he gets back from vacation with his family.
Pat

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#9 NRoshier

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Posted 05 January 2008 - 07:44

That sounds like a good plan. Ron continues to be a very capable engineer with very good knowledge of his cars.

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#10 LMP900

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Posted 05 January 2008 - 12:28

Originally posted by JOHN PAGE
Many thanks LMP900!
My car is the Gary Brabham RT32(the Bowman car).
I suspect that it always ran low!
JOHN

It certainly did - Bruce Carey was the engineer. Bruce made the first low-line engine installation for the Ralt. A great hands-on engineer, and a great loss when he died a little while ago.

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#11 cheapracer

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Posted 05 January 2008 - 17:02

Originally posted by LMP900
. Bruce made the first low-line engine installation for the Ralt.

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#12 LMP900

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Posted 06 January 2008 - 00:34

Bruce made a shallower sump (can't remember if they were using VW or Toyota at that time - VW I think) which allowed him to lower the engine, together with all the associated changes to suspension pick-ups etc. After that, the F3 engine builders began to take installation issues a bit more seriously.

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#13 Pat Clarke

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Posted 21 January 2008 - 09:57

John, Ron T now has our email corespondence and we have discussed it. You will get a response direct from Ron in due course,
Cheers
Pat

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#14 jebracing

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Posted 23 January 2008 - 06:00

This looks a little bit low. My factory documents for the RT34 show a ride height of 20mm in the front and 45 at the rear. The setup works well for my RT33. Send me your email and I'll send you the sheet.