Fiat Coupe, Lexus V8 and a Mazda MX5
Discussion
Exactly, I didn't want to labour the point lol.
Part of the joy of having a strangely mounted turbo(s) is the sheer spectacle of noise.
This thing sounds spectacular!
I know it's a stroked and cammed old school LS1 but that turbo!
While it puts out 600bhp in this video it's only running 8psi
Enjoy
https://youtu.be/RGjooaGtaqU
Part of the joy of having a strangely mounted turbo(s) is the sheer spectacle of noise.
This thing sounds spectacular!
I know it's a stroked and cammed old school LS1 but that turbo!
While it puts out 600bhp in this video it's only running 8psi
Enjoy
https://youtu.be/RGjooaGtaqU
So, the transmission.
It's a 4 speed auto, I'll admit to knowing nothing about automatic transmission simply because I've always considered it beneath me and therefore pointless in a fast car.
Whenever I've seen a nice car and had a closer look and spotted an auto stick in there I'd always walk away disappointed.
After all no serious race car sported an auto, except maybe drag racers (I never got that either)
But since owning thie Lexus I've generally been quite impressed with it. I always though you just it in D and that was it. I thought that if you shifted down it would have some sort of fluid fit and die within seconds.
I was naive.
It was the sense of no control when lifting off or wanting to drop a cog, getting the weight where you wanted it and powering out. I thought there was none of that with an auto.
Well the Lexus proved me wrong, after a few weeks of disdain it grew on me, then I started playing with it.
Then I discovered it was the same gearbox as the auto supra tt.
When I drove one of those later on it felt super responsive compared to my slushy Lexus.
I assumed it was in the computer that controlled it.
Forever to be a slushy slow changer. Again I was wrong.
With a little tuning of the kick down cable I was able to transform the slush box into a rally spec shift monster, so much so I feared the engine mounts would get torn off.
So with some adjustment and tweaking I've got it shifting much faster and with far more vigor than it has a right to.
Perfect for not dropping boost while in go mode.
Included in the turbo budget is an oil cooler, unions and piping and a full fluid flush and change. Apparently the filter is a steel gauze type and best left alone.
The current gearbox oil is still looking nice and red and was done two years ago according to the history.
Obviously in the V8 coupe I'd like to fit a manual box. The supra R154 is the box of choice for me and buying one and the kit needed to mate it to the engine is getting on for £3k
The Auto will do for a year or two, but I'll fit a clutch pedal assembly in the coupe (minus the actual pedal) so it's there ready for when the time comes.
It's a 4 speed auto, I'll admit to knowing nothing about automatic transmission simply because I've always considered it beneath me and therefore pointless in a fast car.
Whenever I've seen a nice car and had a closer look and spotted an auto stick in there I'd always walk away disappointed.
After all no serious race car sported an auto, except maybe drag racers (I never got that either)
But since owning thie Lexus I've generally been quite impressed with it. I always though you just it in D and that was it. I thought that if you shifted down it would have some sort of fluid fit and die within seconds.
I was naive.
It was the sense of no control when lifting off or wanting to drop a cog, getting the weight where you wanted it and powering out. I thought there was none of that with an auto.
Well the Lexus proved me wrong, after a few weeks of disdain it grew on me, then I started playing with it.
Then I discovered it was the same gearbox as the auto supra tt.
When I drove one of those later on it felt super responsive compared to my slushy Lexus.
I assumed it was in the computer that controlled it.
Forever to be a slushy slow changer. Again I was wrong.
With a little tuning of the kick down cable I was able to transform the slush box into a rally spec shift monster, so much so I feared the engine mounts would get torn off.
So with some adjustment and tweaking I've got it shifting much faster and with far more vigor than it has a right to.
Perfect for not dropping boost while in go mode.
Included in the turbo budget is an oil cooler, unions and piping and a full fluid flush and change. Apparently the filter is a steel gauze type and best left alone.
The current gearbox oil is still looking nice and red and was done two years ago according to the history.
Obviously in the V8 coupe I'd like to fit a manual box. The supra R154 is the box of choice for me and buying one and the kit needed to mate it to the engine is getting on for £3k
The Auto will do for a year or two, but I'll fit a clutch pedal assembly in the coupe (minus the actual pedal) so it's there ready for when the time comes.
Edited by Steve20vt on Wednesday 31st August 09:18
When they work, they do work fantastically well as a package. The coupe is a brilliant car, that's why I have another that's going to be pretty much standard.
I love it, since the first time I saw one in a fiat dealer.
At the time I worked for Mercedes commercial (badge snobbery with trucks lol) and was looking after a fleet of Fiat ambulances.
I just thought it looked great, I think it still does.
But after a few years of big power Japanese rwd machines, the fwd fiat just didn't cut it for me as good a car the coupe is.
There's a nice coupe on YouTube rocking a turbo charged bmw engine, I think the fiat would have won more hearts over if it had been rwd.
I love it, since the first time I saw one in a fiat dealer.
At the time I worked for Mercedes commercial (badge snobbery with trucks lol) and was looking after a fleet of Fiat ambulances.
I just thought it looked great, I think it still does.
But after a few years of big power Japanese rwd machines, the fwd fiat just didn't cut it for me as good a car the coupe is.
There's a nice coupe on YouTube rocking a turbo charged bmw engine, I think the fiat would have won more hearts over if it had been rwd.
I thought I best make sure the stock ignition system doesn't cause an issue running low boost.
So £170 later on distributor caps, rotor arms, plug leads and plugs the V8 is sounding lovely and smooth.
On a private airfield she whipped straight up to 150mph on the GPS.
For such a heavy car it does accelerate well after 70mph.
60 comes up a little sluggish but you can't have everything with 1700kg to lug about and long legs.
I'm sure the turbo will improve things further and in the coupe with hopefully nigh on half a tonne less it should be rather sprightly!
I'm currently doing a lot of motorway miles in it and generally hooning around having fun, but things are getting done.
A gearbox oil cooler is the next addition to go on next week along with a fluid change.
Also I've laid my hands on some mazda rx7 front hubs that need fettling to fit the mx5 spindles. Then some brackets need making up to allow fitment of the lexus 4 pot calipers.
So £170 later on distributor caps, rotor arms, plug leads and plugs the V8 is sounding lovely and smooth.
On a private airfield she whipped straight up to 150mph on the GPS.
For such a heavy car it does accelerate well after 70mph.
60 comes up a little sluggish but you can't have everything with 1700kg to lug about and long legs.
I'm sure the turbo will improve things further and in the coupe with hopefully nigh on half a tonne less it should be rather sprightly!
I'm currently doing a lot of motorway miles in it and generally hooning around having fun, but things are getting done.
A gearbox oil cooler is the next addition to go on next week along with a fluid change.
Also I've laid my hands on some mazda rx7 front hubs that need fettling to fit the mx5 spindles. Then some brackets need making up to allow fitment of the lexus 4 pot calipers.
Yesterday's mission was to put the transmission oil cooler on. I dropped the oil from the sump while I was at it. I've heard horror stories about flushing these so I figured I'd just replace the 1.8 litres the sump holds and run it a couple of weeks before doing it again and so on do I'll eventually get it all replaced.
Even after a few minutes of just running the engine the cooler felt hot.
These jobs are the kind of expense you feel absolutely no difference in doing but will make a big difference in longevity
Due to abuse from several Fiat pages on Facebook,I've been banned from cutting up my Fiat Marea.
According to how many left.com there's only 11 left on the road in the UK.
I've been in the position before where I've broken a car only for it to become collectable in ten years time.
So for now the Marea is probably going to get put through another mot and be used as an when fuel becomes an issue for the lexus.
Plus it might spur me to actually get on with the project in hand.
I still won't pull the lexus apart till its out of test in July next year. But it means I'll have to start chopping up the coupe bulkhead sooner rather than later.
According to how many left.com there's only 11 left on the road in the UK.
I've been in the position before where I've broken a car only for it to become collectable in ten years time.
So for now the Marea is probably going to get put through another mot and be used as an when fuel becomes an issue for the lexus.
Plus it might spur me to actually get on with the project in hand.
I still won't pull the lexus apart till its out of test in July next year. But it means I'll have to start chopping up the coupe bulkhead sooner rather than later.
I've had two, a marea 1.6 saloon. Which was very s
t.
And the current 2.4jtd 130 HLX. It does go quite well, it's got quite a few coupe parts on it steering and suspension wise.
One could argue the montego was a terrible car but try finding one for sale.
I do have offers coming in on it. But space isn't an issue and it was incredibly cheap bangernomic motoring.
I it sits another couple of years it's no bother to me.
By then there probably won't be any left on the road
t. And the current 2.4jtd 130 HLX. It does go quite well, it's got quite a few coupe parts on it steering and suspension wise.
One could argue the montego was a terrible car but try finding one for sale.
I do have offers coming in on it. But space isn't an issue and it was incredibly cheap bangernomic motoring.
I it sits another couple of years it's no bother to me.
By then there probably won't be any left on the road
Sorry just nipped out for some bits....
So I'm back again, its only been, what four years?
Anyhow. You'll be pleased to know the Lexus is still in one piece and now wears its rear mount turbo with pride and is a whole load of fun!
I had somewhat of a sabbatical and I will be updating this thread with all the latest info.
Fiat Coupe RWD project is continuing albeit minus the MX5 connection and in a much simpler fashion.
My biggest problem was overthinking and inventing over complex ideas.
What I should have done more of is actually trying the engine in the bay and see how it sits.
But no i got hung up on millimetre this and degrees that....
I should have just thrown it in there and see where the chips lay so to speak.
The lovely old Marea is still in the fleet and is now even more rare with it now being only one of six left!
I'll get some pics up of how everything is right now🙂
So I'm back again, its only been, what four years?
Anyhow. You'll be pleased to know the Lexus is still in one piece and now wears its rear mount turbo with pride and is a whole load of fun!
I had somewhat of a sabbatical and I will be updating this thread with all the latest info.
Fiat Coupe RWD project is continuing albeit minus the MX5 connection and in a much simpler fashion.
My biggest problem was overthinking and inventing over complex ideas.
What I should have done more of is actually trying the engine in the bay and see how it sits.
But no i got hung up on millimetre this and degrees that....
I should have just thrown it in there and see where the chips lay so to speak.
The lovely old Marea is still in the fleet and is now even more rare with it now being only one of six left!
I'll get some pics up of how everything is right now🙂
|https://thumbsnap.com/B7xu1XgX[/url]I had it on the dyno after it was serviced and it made 218bhp at the wheels.
Had a few problems with the standalone turbo oil feed which I'm still ironing out so I've not had it back on the dyno, this size turbo and running the same 7psi should be somewhere between 320 and 350bhp.
I was running very low boost initially and was suitably impressed with the response despite 18ft of charge piping.
The turbo spools up really well. Only recently I've increased the boost as the 7 pound spring in the external wastegate was being pushed open by the exhaust pressure.
So a 1 bar spring now gets me 9psi, which is too high for the stock fuelling.
I'll post up some videos in it's own thread when I have some more time.
Had a few problems with the standalone turbo oil feed which I'm still ironing out so I've not had it back on the dyno, this size turbo and running the same 7psi should be somewhere between 320 and 350bhp.
I was running very low boost initially and was suitably impressed with the response despite 18ft of charge piping.
The turbo spools up really well. Only recently I've increased the boost as the 7 pound spring in the external wastegate was being pushed open by the exhaust pressure.
So a 1 bar spring now gets me 9psi, which is too high for the stock fuelling.
I'll post up some videos in it's own thread when I have some more time.
RoverP6B said:
Why rear mount other than because cool? Pretty sure there are LSs about with twins up front.
There is that, and people do. But, I couldn't fabricate manifolds at the time, often people sacrifice air con to get a turbo in and have to relocate the battery. Then they get excess heat problems.
The engine bays don't have a lot of free space.
At the time rear mounts were not so common, and I figured I'd be scrapping the shell within a year so I wasn't fussed about having the boot floor out.
With it running now, the engine bay looks pretty much stock, I don't have any hot running or excess engine bay heat.
The other good thing is that I can have it running N/A in ten mins if need be.
I made a link pipe so if the cheap turbo craps out I can be back on my way. Plus it sounds cool and is a great talking point when people are looking in the engine bay trying to figure out where the turbo is.
RoverP6B said:
Fair enough... so what are you doing with the Fiat now you've ditched the idea of using MX5 axles?
The front will use the Fiat set up, albeit some remodeling of the front crossmember, initially I just cut the middle out of the front subframe just so I could sit the engine and box in and work out what can fit where. Ive now got the engine sitting somewhere acceptable which means I'll not need to cut up the bottom. Of the subframe, just cut away the top part and build up the lower part.
Obviously then I have to use a different steering rack which sits low down and in front of the subframe.
Perhaps something like a Sierra or maybe BMW, just depends on the measurements yet.
I'll add more pics shortly.
As for the rear, I'm now figuring out some measurements from BMW E82 & Nissan 350z. I've preliminary ruled out the RX8 rear end due to concerns about the torque the diff can take.
So here's the first chop, I wasn't worried about making a mess of this as I have another one that will be the "proper" one
So here's the first chop, I wasn't worried about making a mess of this as I have another one that will be the "proper" one
Edited by Steve20vt on Thursday 18th June 18:35
Now that I butchered the front subframe, I was able to attack the firewall to make a start on the transmission tunnel so I could finally try the engine AND gearbox in the hole.
The first try was successful and I was quite pleased with the room I had available.
I think Nigel O had commented about interference with seat mountings but as you can see here the gearbox is still a fair distance I'm front of the seat mounting points.
I will have to "adjust" the crosmember for the tunnel, but I plan to reinforce the crossmember directly underneath.
These cars are not the most rigid in standard form and with the subframe chipped and a big chunk out of the firewall I was pleasantly surprised that so far without any extra bracing the doors still open and shut fine!!
Anyone who's jacked up one corner of a FIAT coupe will know that the door catches hit the striker differently!
When I'd taken the sound deadening out, I found the strengthening panels were not as secure as they could be. Twenty years of twisting forces had really taken their toll.
I'll stitch weld these when I've finished trimming and making the tunnel.
It's now getting to the point where I'll make some extra temporary bracing to hold the car together while I cut more of the shell up.
The first try was successful and I was quite pleased with the room I had available.
I think Nigel O had commented about interference with seat mountings but as you can see here the gearbox is still a fair distance I'm front of the seat mounting points.
I will have to "adjust" the crosmember for the tunnel, but I plan to reinforce the crossmember directly underneath.
These cars are not the most rigid in standard form and with the subframe chipped and a big chunk out of the firewall I was pleasantly surprised that so far without any extra bracing the doors still open and shut fine!!
Anyone who's jacked up one corner of a FIAT coupe will know that the door catches hit the striker differently!
When I'd taken the sound deadening out, I found the strengthening panels were not as secure as they could be. Twenty years of twisting forces had really taken their toll.
I'll stitch weld these when I've finished trimming and making the tunnel.
It's now getting to the point where I'll make some extra temporary bracing to hold the car together while I cut more of the shell up.
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