Setup tips - for mid/rear engined rear wheel drive cars

[ravenmorpheus2k]

Just realised that I know very little about setting up a mid/rear engined rear wheel drive car in GTL in terms of achieving a base setup, despite my favourite being the Pantera...

...the basic principles I usually use for GTL cars that have the engine in the front and are driven by the rear wheels are - hard front to compensate for the weight of the engine, soft rear to allow the rear wheels to get traction.

Would that be the opposite in a mid/rear engined rear wheel drive car as all of the weight is over the rear?

[Pizzaman]

Nope, main thing is to:
- soft springs, tough shocks so it doesn't bounce!
- so put as much height in as you can (if it bottoms out you're dead);
- and as much negative camber as you can (more grip).
...and whatever you do, never release throttle in a corner...

Usually I set them up soft as possible.
But then again, I do front engined cars different as well.
I suppose the game controller has something to do with it.

[David Wright]

Another aspect to look at is the limited slip diff. Porsche for example used 50% locking for both power and coast in the early 60s moving to 80%/80% fairly soon. The high coast side locking helps tame lift off oversteer.

[Pizzaman]

Yes, but too much coast lock turns it into a load of understeer.

[rci808]

dont forget,

the floor has drag, so, you want the floor of car to squat level under highest aero load. *usually found at end of longest straight.

[Romano]

I am new to GTL and really am enjoying it........one car that I was very excited to spend some time with was the 914-6, I have been a bit disappointed with the severe understeer modelled for the car. I drove a 914 for about four years and it stuck like glue to almost everything you threw it into. The balancing on the car is supposed to 49/51 which makes for a very great handling car.....in the game the front end turns to mush at the slightest sign of a corner, and tying to fix this problem by letting up on the throttle or even squeezing on a little brake to try and get the weight on the front wheels has little or no effect as it should????
Can anyone give me a few hints on how to this little rocket acting like it should......
Cheers
Romano

[Pizzaman]

1. increase steering lock (default is 15 degrees at the car wheels);
2. add caster and camber, LOTS of it;
3. put brake balance forward to ~75%;
4 do not set the suspension too low and/or too hard;
5. warm up tyres properly.

I drove a 914/4 a few times, a 914/6 too. I own a Fiat X1/9 (with Lancia engine).
The Fiat is a bit more 'terror' than the 914. Bit more weight in the rear (42/58).
Yes you can go very fast through a corner but when it lets go, start praying!

The 914 is the same, check the speedo.
In a sim it is very easy to forget how fast you are going.
Even if it can take corners faster than any other car,
2x 50 km/h would be impossible... still they're good.

[grojosan]

@Romano

I assume, as you are new to GTL, that you haven't done much on the setup. There are threads with setup guides here on NoGrip, which will help you to improve the handling of the cars very much.

Pizzaman has already named many important things. Here are two additional hints:

1. Most important: Get the tire pressure right. Values should be a little higher on the rear tires. Read the setup guides on tire pressure, they describe how to setup your tires properly.

2. Set the coast side of the diff to values beyond 50%. I usually set it to 80%, but sometimes i even use up to 100%. For the power side i use about 20 to 30% depending on the track.

[Romano]

Hey guys
Thanks for taking the time to respond to my question. I have noticed that being a simulator can definately have an impact on your perceived speed which can get you into a whole lotta trouble........quickly.
I have not spent anytime adjusting the setup of any cars but I will be sure to see if I can the front wheels to stick a bit better in the 914 with your suggestions.

On another note, I also used to own a 924, so I tried to D/L the 944 from the GTL download section.......it doesnt seem to want to work, in the read me it says something about needing talent.GTR and TEX.GTR.........so does this mean that without GTR I cant run this mod that is supposed to be for GTL??

[Petrolmania]

I'll tell you a trick to use as usually it's asking to use those two files from GTR2 to make it work. The truth is it's jusy laziness on the part of the person who converted it as he either should have made the mod to WORK or supply the files with it.

Anyways, I don't know how well you know about opening files but try this:

Open the gamedata folder and go to Gamedata/Teams/GTC TC 676/Porsche 944

Now look in the 944 folder for the file named: Porsche_944.cas

Open this file using notepad.

You will see near the top a section that says:

MASFile=Porsche_944_TEX.GTL
MASFile=Porsche_944_OBJ.GTL
MASFile=Porsche_944_WHEEL.GTL
MASFile=Porsche_944_CPIT.GTL
MASFile=TALENT.GTR
MASFile=stex.gtr

Change this to:

MASFile=Porsche_944_TEX.GTL
MASFile=Porsche_944_OBJ.GTL
MASFile=Porsche_944_WHEEL.GTL
MASFile=Porsche_944_CPIT.GTL
MASFile=talent.gtl
MASFile=stex.gtl

It should work. If not let me know and i'll install the mod and take a look.

Cheers.
Den.

[Romano]

Hey Den Thanks

However.........no joy, started to load and CTD

[Petrolmania]

Okay, give me a minute..

Reinstall the way it is and I'll send you the 2 files.

[Pizzaman]

The reason it doesn't work is in the materials.
GTR uses some cube maps that are named differently in GTL.
They are in the STEX.GTR file.

[Petrolmania]

Originally Posted by Pizzaman

The reason it doesn't work is in the materials.
GTR uses some cube maps that are named differently in GTL.
They are in the STEX.GTR file.

Yup, ask the pros. I'm out of my element with these guys!!! I can offer suggestions, but they offer answers!!

Thanks Pizzaman!! hope all is well.

Den.

[ramduck]

interesting lads like to add my thanks too

[Pizzaman]

You can put the STEX.gtr in either the shared folder or the specific car (check the searchpath in the file).
Or grab the necessary cube-map,or change the reference.
It is why GTR2 cars look slightly different from GTL cars.

BTW busy as ever, of course.