XKR manual conversion..
Discussion
Just let us say that the manual XKR Plus (correct name)was very close to me; so perhaps we can kill some misinformation.
The vehicle was, along with its sister car, not just a manual supercharger. The suspension, steering, brakes, LSD, ECM, cooling, intercooling, exhaust, air intake systems and chassis were unique as was of course the interior and seating.
I recall all of the team members, but there seem to be more now than then!
Contrary to one comment, the car DID work incedibly well, especially on the two occasions that myself and a colleague took it to, and demonstrated it with Top Gear.
The DB7 GT was never a consideration, it was purely financial - despite the tremendous support that the vehicle had both from within and without the company. One man offered a blank cheque.
As a post script, a better (improved) vehicle was made afterwards - but that is another story.
The vehicle was, along with its sister car, not just a manual supercharger. The suspension, steering, brakes, LSD, ECM, cooling, intercooling, exhaust, air intake systems and chassis were unique as was of course the interior and seating.
I recall all of the team members, but there seem to be more now than then!
Contrary to one comment, the car DID work incedibly well, especially on the two occasions that myself and a colleague took it to, and demonstrated it with Top Gear.
The DB7 GT was never a consideration, it was purely financial - despite the tremendous support that the vehicle had both from within and without the company. One man offered a blank cheque.
As a post script, a better (improved) vehicle was made afterwards - but that is another story.
brakedust300 said:
well iv just spoken to paragom performance and they are doing a manual conversion soon with a dodge viper 6 speed box on a modified bell housing, ill keep people posted as I should be getting a call soon with regards to a ball park price figure!
Will they put the Viper lump in, too?brakedust300 said:
well iv just spoken to paragom performance and they are doing a manual conversion soon with a dodge viper 6 speed box on a modified bell housing, ill keep people posted as I should be getting a call soon with regards to a ball park price figure!
I think they are going to be agents, the same as Elite Performance who are saying they well be doing a conversion, for TheDrivenMan.com in the USA who are working with Keisler Engineering.
I started talking to TDM over a year ago regarding this conversion, the problem still is the gearbox ECU talking to the engine ECU.
I know the XKRR did work on the Top Gear Show but that is different to every day driving when far more items have to be taken into consideration.
Paragon will use the same transmission, a Tremec T56. I seem to remember some 'fishing' at the time!
But, there is far more to it than an off the shelf trans and modified clutch housing.
The XKR Plus was an absolute pussy cat in everyday driving conditions, so much so, that it was perferable to many people over the standard car. Compare a standard Carrera to a GT3 perhaps.
The other car? Sadly now broken up (disposed of) but with a genuine (and this is the trick) consistent 450 hp and ZF six speed transmission; a much better unit with more appropriate ratios and superior shift quality.
Both versions would pull 900 rev/min in 6th, pull away without protest to the 7500 limit - on a suitable track of course.
But, there is far more to it than an off the shelf trans and modified clutch housing.
The XKR Plus was an absolute pussy cat in everyday driving conditions, so much so, that it was perferable to many people over the standard car. Compare a standard Carrera to a GT3 perhaps.
The other car? Sadly now broken up (disposed of) but with a genuine (and this is the trick) consistent 450 hp and ZF six speed transmission; a much better unit with more appropriate ratios and superior shift quality.
Both versions would pull 900 rev/min in 6th, pull away without protest to the 7500 limit - on a suitable track of course.
well iv spoken to paragon today and it looks like they are quite a way from having a running/working car. mainly (as people have said) due to the ecu problems, but they now have a pigyback ecu to sort this, but none of the clocks will work as they get there reading from the auto box! and at the moment there is no idea of price, but I'm guessing a viper gearbox isn't going to be cheap! so it looks like the racing green triptronic is the best option for the time being! if anyone has this.... can you hit the rev-limiter? or will it change up at a certain rpm, and how responsive is the change? I had an FTO years ago & that was crap!
if someone has this fitted, and its not to much trouble could they give me a bell on 07901768837 , iv spoken to racing green but I would like to talk to some with it fitted, cheers!
if someone has this fitted, and its not to much trouble could they give me a bell on 07901768837 , iv spoken to racing green but I would like to talk to some with it fitted, cheers!
brakedust300 said:
well iv spoken to paragon today and it looks like they are quite a way from having a running/working car. mainly (as people have said) due to the ecu problems, but they now have a pigyback ecu to sort this, but none of the clocks will work as they get there reading from the auto box! and at the moment there is no idea of price, but I'm guessing a viper gearbox isn't going to be cheap! so it looks like the racing green triptronic is the best option for the time being! if anyone has this.... can you hit the rev-limiter? or will it change up at a certain rpm, and how responsive is the change? I had an FTO years ago & that was crap!
if someone has this fitted, and its not to much trouble could they give me a bell on 07901768837 , iv spoken to racing green but I would like to talk to some with it fitted, cheers!
if someone has this fitted, and its not to much trouble could they give me a bell on 07901768837 , iv spoken to racing green but I would like to talk to some with it fitted, cheers!
The standard box in the XK is already supposed to change gear faster than the BMW "sequential" box.
This sounds like an attempt to spend a huge amount of money to achieve nothing. Its not like the old days when you used to pull out the ghastly old GM slushbox and put in some fantastic ZF or Getrag manual box. The new Jag automatics are so sophisticated and intrinsic to the electronic management of everything that you really are throwing the baby out with the bathwater. The XKR is also, I think, a Grand Tourer and not an upmarket TVR Cerbera so I really question the sanity of this 
just personal preference, I like to be in control of the gears, the racing green mod costs £1300. some people like manual, some auto. Iv never been a fan of auto's, even if the car is quicker with an auto box, I'd still go manual, sounds stupid I know, but I like to feel the direct connection with the gearbox, engine, wheels etc and I don't feel that in an auto.
brakedust300 said:
just personal preference, I like to be in control of the gears, the racing green mod costs £1300. some people like manual, some auto. Iv never been a fan of auto's, even if the car is quicker with an auto box, I'd still go manual, sounds stupid I know, but I like to feel the direct connection with the gearbox, engine, wheels etc and I don't feel that in an auto.
As I said before I have Racing Green's convertion. As you say I like to be in control of the gears, up and down. You stay in the gear you choose right up to the rev limiter, just as a manual, you have FULL control. The only time the gearbox will take over is then you come to a stop it will drop to second so you are in a low gear to pull away again if you forget or someone else is driving.
I know I am the other end of the country to you, but if you are down my way J3 of the M3 you are most welcombe to give me a call for a test. Infact I am only a few miles from RGC's, I can introduse you to them.
NormanD said:
As I said before I have Racing Green's convertion. As you say I like to be in control of the gears, up and down. You stay in the gear you choose right up to the rev limiter, just as a manual, you have FULL control. The only time the gearbox will take over is then you come to a stop it will drop to second so you are in a low gear to pull away again if you forget or someone else is driving.
I know I am the other end of the country to you, but if you are down my way J3 of the M3 you are most welcombe to give me a call for a test. Infact I am only a few miles from RGC's, I can introduse you to them.
Cheers for that fella! just what I wanted to know, if I'm back at RAF Odiham sometime ill send you an e-mail.
brakedust300 said:
NormanD said:
As I said before I have Racing Green's convertion. As you say I like to be in control of the gears, up and down. You stay in the gear you choose right up to the rev limiter, just as a manual, you have FULL control. The only time the gearbox will take over is then you come to a stop it will drop to second so you are in a low gear to pull away again if you forget or someone else is driving.
I know I am the other end of the country to you, but if you are down my way J3 of the M3 you are most welcombe to give me a call for a test. Infact I am only a few miles from RGC's, I can introduse you to them.
Cheers for that fella! just what I wanted to know, if I'm back at RAF Odiham sometime ill send you an e-mail.
Great, if you fly down I can collect you from Odiham, just down the M3.
I work as little as pos from home so timing should not be a problem.
PS I better look after you, you might be looking after my sons jet!!
NormanD said:
Great, if you fly down I can collect you from Odiham, just down the M3.
I work as little as pos from home so timing should not be a problem.
PS I better look after you, you might be looking after my sons jet!!
you never know, what SQN is he on? I'm on 111 SQN but fix jets on 43 and 56
brakedust300 said:
NormanD said:
Great, if you fly down I can collect you from Odiham, just down the M3.
I work as little as pos from home so timing should not be a problem.
PS I better look after you, you might be looking after my sons jet!!
you never know, what SQN is he on? I'm on 111 SQN but fix jets on 43 and 56
He was flying Tornados from Kinloss then Marham up to a year ago.
Now based at Valley as an intructor for three years.
Tony Blair asked him to go out and help the Americans,
the thanks we got was they shot one of ours down!
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