Exige FF275

[markr]

I mentioned to Supervixen that I would start a thread detailing my Lotus project so here it is. I got confirmation last week that the kit shipped so it should be here any day. That said, we are planning for the car to go in this week and are allowing for 3-4 weeks installation and tuning time. It's not thought that it is going to take that long but the guys want to allow for a buffer for any possible issues that may arise. After the install they have booked the dyno for the day to do all the fine tuning. Finally, I have a Lotus only track day on May 12/13 and they are going to be at the track that day for any tuning as we are planning on running the car fairly hard those two days as a test. The upgrades consist of the FF275bhp kit, stand alone ECU, upgraded clutch, Accusump oiling kit, and couple of other tasty bits. Hopefully in three weeks it comes back ready to go and good as new.

Parting shot . . .
http://www.mrobonline.com/DSC00585%20(2).JPG

[pdisme]

What kind of HP will it end up with Mark? Are you doing any suspension upgrades? What's the Exige weigh?

[markr]

What kind of HP will it end up with Mark? Are you doing any suspension upgrades? What's the Exige weigh?

Past installations have all used a piggyback ECU made by Unichip and they were aprox. 275bhp. Another member on ET did the upgrade not too long ago and his gains were 163rwhp/115.96lb-ft stock to 236.57rwhp/171.26lb-ft. Now, I have spoken with Forcedfed on a few different ocassions and with the added tunability they feel they are getting a true 300bhp at the crank with the stage 3 upgrade, which consist of the stand alone ECU. The piggyback is considered stage 2. That would put you right about the 250rwhp mark.

The Exige weights just about 2012lbs with about 8 gallons of fuel. The suspension I am running now is the track suspension which consists 10 position adjustable Bilstein dampers with remote front reservoirs as well as anti-roll bars. Brakes are AP racing up front and Brembo at the rear.

[Mike S]

Nice! I hope we will see of build photo's! What is all this going to cost?

[markr]

Nice! I hope we will see of build photo's! What is all this going to cost?

Yes, we plan on getting some pictures of the install and build. I won't be there everyday but I will get as many as I can. I am hoping the shop takes some as well.

The stage 3 is just over 11k. Then of course you have the other odd and ends and the installation. In the end probably a bit more than I would have wanted to spend but FF does make a lot of these kits when compared to other aftermarket kits so pricing is a bit higher.

[Mike S]

11k is not bad at all! I've seen some of their work and for the quality of worksmanship I'd say it's worth it!

[pdisme]

Yep, that sounds pretty reasonable. I spent about $16k for Kleemann pully, headers, cats, throttle body, ECU and a water pump/thermostat for the g-wagen.

[markr]

Yes, they do good quality work. I had their headers originally. I never acutally put them on as it was on my list of things to do after I finished my garage. I ended up selling them for almost the same I bought them for. They were really a work of art. Very impressive.

pdisme, ironically the shop doing the install is a Radical dealership and a Kleeman authorized installer!:headbang:

[pdisme]

I wish there were more Radical dealers so more people would get into the cars; I've heard that the Radical ownership are assholes on the business side of things and that's why more racing groups and dealers aren't signing on to sell and promote the cars here in the US.

[markr]

I wish there were more Radical dealers so more people would get into the cars; I've heard that the Radical ownership are assholes on the business side of things and that's why more racing groups and dealers aren't signing on to sell and promote the cars here in the US.

I have been eyeing one for quite sometime. Hopefully with my new found relationship with the shop I can come across a well taken care of used one in the next year or so. The shop owner just got back from down you way racing as well. I believe he is down south a few times a year running races in his SR3. He was also on hand at the SR9 break in for Van Der Stuer Racing last September which was done locally.

[pdisme]

Oh, what does his car look like? He was probably racing at the Radical Cup at Barber week before last when I was there; I may even have a pic of his car.

They're pretty solid cars, you end up rebuilding the engine every 30 to 60 hours depending on how you drive it anyway so even a used one isn't that bad of a prospect. Just FYI, Shuey2k here on the forum has a place in the states that will do the rebuild for $2k or less vs Powertec's price of $4k+ thanks to the exchange rate.

[markr]

This was the car he was running last year and I imagine that he is running this year. There is always one or two in the shop for rebuild but I never paid attention whether it was his or a customer car.

http://www.funktionauto.com/images/Pic_Gallery/MARRS4/MARRS4_008.jpg

[pdisme]

Hmm, didn't see that one. I saw at least five or six red cars, two blacks, mine is raw carbon fiber, a white one that burnt up on its first time out and I think two other colors but I don't remember a yellow.

[SuperVixen]

Hmm, didn't see that one. I saw at least five or six red cars, two blacks, mine is raw carbon fiber, a white one that burnt up on its first time out and I think two other colors but I don't remember a yellow.

Burnt up?!?!?:eek:

[pdisme]

Yeah, I didn't have my camera with me at the time but it was brand new and something went seriously wrong; they pulled the fire pin and it put everything out but the bodywork was toasty above the engine and I'm sure whatever is left under there is not in good shape.

[markr]

Yeah, I didn't have my camera with me at the time but it was brand new and something went seriously wrong; they pulled the fire pin and it put everything out but the bodywork was toasty above the engine and I'm sure whatever is left under there is not in good shape.

Man, that sucks.

[markr]

Quick video for you. The camera car is a FF275 running a piggyback ECU. Dyno'd at 236rwhp. He is taking it pretty easy through the video though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7kq1PVuYlc

The video picks up here in the other (the blue Elise) car . . .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vidNhiik3KY

[markr]

Either because I have been too lazy or too busy (I will let you guys/gals pick) I owe you an update. So this is where we are currently.

Nothing like porn . . .

http://www.mrobonline.com/IMG_0239.jpg

http://www.mrobonline.com/Pic%20013%20(2).jpg

http://www.mrobonline.com/Pic%20025%20(2).jpg

They did the baseline dyno on the car this morning so that they can start the full install on Monday.

163 rwhp at 7500rpm
118 lbs/ft at 6800rpm

Here it is . . .

http://www.mrobonline.com/Lotus%20Exige%201st%20Run%20Dyno%20chart%20-%20Base%20line_small.JPG

The numbers were very, very close to other cars around the country which tells us the dyno is accurate and the end numbers should also be a very good measure of gains.

With the baseline out of the way, the guys were able to really start digging into the car. The Accusump was still being shipped but in finally came as they started on the clutch.

http://www.mrobonline.com/DSC02350%20(2).JPG

http://www.mrobonline.com/DSC02351%20(2).JPG

The clutch install took nearly 10 hours itself.

http://www.mrobonline.com/DSC_0861_resized.JPG

That is the stock clutch laying on the floor. So now it is on to the fun things like the turbo, plumbing and Accumsump. A few more misc pics of the car in pieces to get to the clutch.

http://www.mrobonline.com/DSC_0859_resized.JPG

http://www.mrobonline.com/DSC_0862_resized.JPG

http://www.mrobonline.com/DSC_0864_resized.JPG

Today I dropped a new set of tires at the shop as they are going to do new tires and pads while they have it apart.

More to come next week.

[pdisme]

Very clean looking shop; your car is at the stage now where I'd be wondering what these extra screws and bolts are for, and where'd that other piece go that went here. :lol2:

[markr]

Very clean looking shop; your car is at the stage now where I'd be wondering what these extra screws and bolts are for, and where'd that other piece go that went here. :lol2:

Yes the keep it in order . . . and that is why I am not doing the install myself.:grinning-smiley-003

By the way pdisme, the Radical was in the shop today along with a single seater that looked like a Radical. It was also powered by a 'busa motor. I can't recall the name though.

[pdisme]

Another popular motorcycle-powered car is the West WR1000:

http://www.pvmracing.com/images/forsale/100_0387.jpg

[markr]

That look like it. Very cool.

[pdisme]

I believe that's a pretty competitive car in the IMSA Lites series.

[markr]

Well everything is in the car except the gauges. We have those on hand as well as this to install this week and then it is off to the dyno for tuning.

http://www.zeitronix.com/theone4.jpg

[markr]

I finally got my car back last week and have been driving if for a few day. We are still working out some minor issue such as a fairly up and down idle due to the DBW throttle. We have some options but it will take sometime to get it sorted. Otherwise, the car runs pretty damn good. The torque that it was missing is now there so the car is much easier to drive. We will continue to get it sorted over the next few months while decide when to address the DBW issues. It looks like I did the upgrade just in time too. My friend decide to get "blown" as well. he dropped his Murcielago for something a little more "daily".

http://www.mrobonline.com/DSC02506%20(2).JPG

http://www.mrobonline.com/DSC02509%20(2).JPG

[pdisme]

Time for some vids so we can hear it! :)

[markr]

Time for some vids so we can hear it! :)

Video may take me awhile. It has a Magna Flow exahust, it actually sounds similar to a flat four now rather than an inline since it is so much lower than before tone wise. We are going to the dyno tomorrow so I will have numbers tomorrow for you.:headbang: