Premier Power Duratec Throttle bodies upgrade.
Discussion
Partly due to bad timing and the lockdown and partly because I'm an awkward customer, my 360R has been with Stuart at Premier Power since early March. I picked her up yesterday.
Stuart had suffered countless calls and texts from me over many months prior to this, discussing the upgrade route I wanted. I found the power delivery of the standard 360 engine flat and without character; not something I thought was in keeping with the whole point of owning a 7. It certainly was fast enough for me, just lacked that drama I desired. I didn't want something too noisy and unsociable to my neighbours or unusable at low speed and didn't want to worry about noise limits on track.
Stuart was a complete professional with the patience of a saint and put together a bespoke custom upgrade for me.
What Stuart did was a work of art. The Duratec now has uprated high lift cams and springs, uprated con rod bolts, throttle bodies with shaftless profiled butterflies, a unique carbon air box and a re engineered throttle linkage. He had me sold at this point, but then mentioned this is cheaper than the equivalent from CC but also includes a new Unlocked ECU, properly mapped on a rolling road to the car and a new coil cover for added bling.
I went over yesterday to pick it up. Stuart had done a final check drive himself to sign it off and declared that he thought it was " alright" The grin on his face suggested he was more than pleased. He insisted I took it out for 20 mins as a test drive, once he had de- covid all the touch points and keys with a sanitiser, telling me to let her warm up properly before opening her up.
20 mins later I returned with a grin like a loon. It was fantastic! A little while later and another cup of tea and I headed back home, a 60 mile mixed route that may or may not have involved a detour to my favourite road.
So, what's it like? More power and torque than a 420 and better part throttle response certainly makes itself known. At 6k revs it barks and pulls like a train, yet at cruising motorways speed it's quiet enough to hear the indicators. It's smooth on the throttle and a delight to drive. I'm impressed. Very very impressed and it completely hits the brief on the head; all the drama and excitement I wanted with none of the of the pitfalls.
Stuart is a pleasure to deal with and a genuinely decent guy. I can't recommend him, his work or attention to detail enough. If you have a Sigma or Duratec and want more of everything including cash left over, he surely is the go-to-guy. ( other companies are available!)
Mine was a custom job rather than a listed upgrade. All in all it was better value ( unlocked ECU, bespoke mapping session, con rod bolts re engineered throttle linkage and cam cover, none of which comes in the CC upgrade) than going to CC for the 420 cams ECU and RBTB which costs about £4600 plus vat. Great value I thought. Give Stuart at Premier power Engineering a call for a price is the best bet.
I've not driven a 420 on RBTBs. From what I I know the Throtte bodies Stuart use gives better part throttle response and torque than Roller barrels. I'm well impressed.
I've not driven a 420 on RBTBs. From what I I know the Throtte bodies Stuart use gives better part throttle response and torque than Roller barrels. I'm well impressed.
Mossy7 said:
Mine was a custom job rather than a listed upgrade. All in all it was better value ( unlocked ECU, bespoke mapping session, con rod bolts re engineered throttle linkage and cam cover, none of which comes in the CC upgrade) than going to CC for the 420 cams ECU and RBTB which costs about £4600 plus vat. Great value I thought. Give Stuart at Premier power Engineering a call for a price is the best bet.
I've not driven a 420 on RBTBs. From what I I know the Throtte bodies Stuart use gives better part throttle response and torque than Roller barrels. I'm well impressed.
You may be right. I think the 420 does have a lightened flywheel with ARP bolts, plus con-rod ARP bolts, at least that's what I was told.I've not driven a 420 on RBTBs. From what I I know the Throtte bodies Stuart use gives better part throttle response and torque than Roller barrels. I'm well impressed.
There do seem to be some disappointed owners with CC upgrades, though. I did a similar thing to you, though I started with an R400D. Luke Stevens fitted RBTBs and the 2 Steves mapped it. It's220bhp and 173ft lbs and hasn't missed a beat in over 3 years. I can't compare with your type of throttle bodies but I have no concerns about part throttle response, it idles at 850 from start up, will ease away with no throttle and takes off like a scalded cat at anywhere above 2000rpm!
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