Cobra Imola S seats and ACT Manifolds fitted

[longbow]

After a fairly length stint off the road (again!) the Cerb is back better than ever. While I was busy with setting the tappets and doing the cam timing I also fitted ACT manifolds and shoehorned in a pair of Cobra seats. Pics are from http://rides.webshots.com/photo/217569711006117098... for those interested.

As far as power goes, I will shortly be getting it remapped at TCS prior to FT, although driving it home it felt very potent indeed. I also am getting much more snap crackle and pop on the overrun..... which is nice!

The seats were a pig to fit - the standard mounting kit offered by Cobra for the Tuscan/T350 does not work unfortunately so I had to make my own mounts. The seats aren't what I would call comfortable, but the support is excellent.

Edited by longbow on Sunday 27th July 19:20

[caduceus]

Great to hear you finally got those manifolds Wins. How much easier were they to fit than the OE items? I assume the concerns ACT had regarding clearance are now resolved...

Any difference in the tone of the exhaust note?

[darreni]

Windsor, i've been viewing the rebuild pics, you are a nutter.
I'm glad she has ended up in good hands, great job mate!

[HarryW]

Blimey, you've even covered the nice shiny manifolds in heat wrap too. I'd be interested in your results as yours wan't too shabby a 4.2 on the power stakes before.

[Raw Cerb]

great album. Looks the dogs danglies

[TT Tim]

longbow said:

The seats were a pig to fit - the standard mounting kit offered by Cobra for the Tuscan/T350 does not work unfortunately so I had to make my own mounts. The seats aren't what I would call comfortable, but the support is excellent.

Glad you're doing the research for me Windsor.

So, any pics of the seat mounts and what about the eyes for the seat belts, I have 4-point harness and long eyelets for them, but I get a lot of twist in the belt, so much so that I wear them crossed when I race, as they feel like they're going to come off otherwise, what are the Sparco belt fittings like, any chance of a pic or two? I assume the Sparco are FIA approved?

Thanks

Tim

[markh1]

I have ACT manifolds too. They are great, clight increase in noise and an increase in power/torque. They definately allow it rev easier too.

[TT Tim]

markh1 said:

I have ACT manifolds too. They are great, clight increase in noise and an increase in power/torque. They definately allow it rev easier too.

Let's see a before and after plot, would be very interested to see if they're worth the money. Am always keen to squeeze the last bit of power out.

Tim

[Omerta]

Windsor, How 'uncomfortable' are they? I'm considering these for my Cerb in NZ but don't want to fit anything I wouldn't be happy to drive in all day. Would you have bought them if you'd known the suppied seat brackets don't fit the Cerb?

Cheers

[longbow]

Only the standard Imola S seat will fit in the Cerb, even though a GT (extra width) is available, it won't fit. When I placed the order with Cobra I was told they weren't sure if they would fit, afterall they had only been installed in a Tuscan and T350. In order to fit them into the T350/Tuscan the seat moldings need to be modified - in fact they are shaved where the thigh supports meet the transmission tunnel at the forward end. I had to modify them further to fit them to the Cerb - I had to shave even more off the seat at that point plus trim the outer 'winglets' that support the shoulders on the outer side as they fouled the door trim at first. This meant stripping back the seat trim to expose the GRP frame, which was harder than it sounds. On one seat the tension spring snapped whilst refitting etc etc. The mounts I made myself using angle steel strips rivetted together to form 'C' sections, to provide the strength. Limited adjustability is provided by being able to slide the two angle sections relative to one another, although I have subsequently rivetted them together for strength.

Now the hard work is done, I like them. The harnesses are also very nice, but getting in/out is a protracted affair, although it does add to the Cerbera's inherent road/race car feel. I'm 5'10 and around 14.5 stone and its very snug, any bigger/taller and I would say it wouldn't work. Also I needed to buy Leven long reach adjustable pedals in order to get the reach on the pedals just right - without them full throttle required a determined stretch!

Edited by longbow on Wednesday 6th August 09:49

[HarryW]

Winds' did you get it mapped with the new manifolds on yet , do tell

[longbow]

Harry, I'm off to TCS on Friday for some remapping. Last dyno was 372bhp / 315lbft, so if we do a baseline with the ACT manifolds on, then another post remap it should be definitive info for how a stock 4.2 responds to such tweaks. It's gonna be an exciting weekend for sure!! BTW are you entered on Sunday?

[HarryW]

longbow said:

Harry, I'm off to TCS on Friday for some remapping. Last dyno was 372bhp / 315lbft, so if we do a baseline with the ACT manifolds on, then another post remap it should be definitive info for how a stock 4.2 responds to such tweaks. It's gonna be an exciting weekend for sure!! BTW are you entered on Sunday?

Haven't actually paid yet , I keep meaning to ring Colin, problem is the car is in the garage at the mo and hope to have it back tomorrow (MOT/fuel pump/map) so trying to hedge the paying but can't make it stakes . Also a bit concerned about noise limits . That all said I'll come eitherway just need to set off by about 5am though .

[Byker28i]

How much lighter were the new seats? Significantly I'd guess.

[longbow]

Yes, I'd guess at an overall 15kg weight saving if you add the weight of the mounts and harnesses to the seats. Not a lot in isolation, but I've also dropped the aircon inclusive of aircon rad, condenser and pump which is probably another 20kg or so. But the weight saving wasn't the reason for the swap, just a handy by-product.

[HarryW]

HarryW said:

longbow said:

Harry....
BTW are you entered on Sunday?

Haven't actually paid yet , I keep meaning to ring Colin, problem is the car is in the garage at the mo and hope to have it back tomorrow (MOT/fuel pump/map) so trying to hedge the paying but can't make it stakes . Also a bit concerned about noise limits . That all said I'll come eitherway just need to set off by about 5am though .

My gut reaction was right the car is still not right, although all seems well on the map, compression, cam timing etc the peak torque is seriously wrong and up at around 6k8rpm however peak power is up to 7k2rpm now which is good but down in level. Either the car has got something strange going on or the rolling road is not right . Tried to get the car on Charlies RR tomorrow but he's busy and he doesn't have a slot until Monday to verify either way. I don't want to risk the car on high speed runs until I know for definite. Talk about disappointed , best of luck with the mapping and sunday.

Edited by HarryW on Thursday 7th August 17:09

[longbow]

Cheers Harry. Thats a shame, but FT seems to have that effect on cars, especially the fettled ones. The two most powerful cars due to attend for demonstration purposes (800hp Cossie, 1200hp Skyline) have both popped their engines in the last two weeks!!

[trackcar]

If you fancy a long drive north Harry i'd be happy to run it on the dyno here, but if Surrey have a slot on monday and youre not going to FT anyway then that sounds the easier option.