Dico's project

[lotusgirlmarie]

....and what would the Gents from across the pond wish to be taught? Assuming I make it through training here in Salt Lake City I'll make it a point to educate those in need

[Dico]

I have found that once you have driven a powerful car for a while you crave more power. And yet having had several months brake from the Elan it really took me by suprise at just how quick it was (I knew it would,just not to this extent).
I've been limited to 90kmh (56mph) in the truck, and the Discovery hasn't much more power really.
But I know that sometime soon that feeling of wanting more oomph (particularly in 3rd and 4th gears) will return.
I like what you have done Marie, and would be interested to see if you go down the remapping of the ecu route. As Philbo has stated, this is where the big money comes in, especialy in the UK for some reason.
I can honestly understand that too much power can ruin the car and make it undriveable. I struggle to get traction in 2nd gear, even with the quaife instaled, and have to try 'feathering' the accelerator, which isn't easy on a turbo'd car! But like I said, its the middle range were more poke would be apreceiated.
I've been out on track with Monty several times and can see its frustrating having VX turbo's pulling away from you on the straights, or anything for that matter!
I'm hoping to do my 1st trackday soon, and if I get the bug (which I surely will) maybe even buy a dedicated trackcar (just don't tell Mrs Dico yet ).

Blimey thats some ramble

To answer your question -

....and what would the Gents from across the pond wish to be taught?

Please teach me where I can purchase your turbo 'kit' ( ).

I like the idea of a more modern turbo, not just for the better power delivery etc, but also for its efficiency and reliability. After all, as already has been stated, the oe turbo design is probably 20 years old now.
Plus sometime down the future we would have the option of the ecu remap (once the mortgage has been paid off).

I know for some folk the Elan with just a little tweaking is plenty quick enough....... but not for me!


heah, its 7am, with only me online. whats a guy supposed to do?

[John_W]

stuff above...

OK, I've just read all of that, and it's a nicely-considered and well-constructed analysis and argument which provides the background and leads up to a polite and reasonable request to Marie for her help, and contains no typos or spelling mistakes.

Who are you and what have you done with Dico?

John

[Dico]

Who are you and what have you done with Dico?

Actualy there were two mistakes, but I edited them out
My problem is I tend to rely on Mrs Dico, but had to use my own skills as she was still in bed
Makes me wonder if I could also do the turbo upgrade on my own......
hmm, maybe not

[Paul.P]

stuff above...

Quite amazing

You & Smurph, good cop, bad cop

[lotusgirlmarie]

You guys crack me up

Dico, the turbo adapter plate was purchased from Cranbury. I will be making an additional downpipe for the upgrade to use as a template for future projects. Whe I get back to San Francisco I"ll have a better idea about timelines. Right now I'm in Salt lake City Utah.... a different timzone than my car and my workshop. I can also make up any oil and water lines that you will need for the upgrade making the whole project a near bolt on procedure.

[Dico]

Oooooh baby!




Anyone know if Cranbury still has any adaptor plates left? Is he from isuzu zone?

[tigerdog]

Dico, the turbo adapter plate was purchased from Cranbury... I can also make up any oil and water lines that you will need for the upgrade making the whole project a near bolt on procedure.

LGM's setup seems to be nearly identical to that which Houdini installed in Smaug. I wonder if the bolt-on nature of the kit could be furthered by working with ESM to build a special chip which would allow the stock ECU to work with the Garrett turbo, 550cc injectors and 3bar map sensor for a complete bolt-on package.

Or are you of the opinion that tuning like this would need to be done on a per-car basis?

[ailwyn]

I wonder if the bolt-on nature of the kit could be furthered by working with ESM to build a special chip which would allow the stock ECU to work with the Garrett turbo, 550cc injectors and 3bar map sensor for a complete bolt-on package.

I have got a haltech, which I hope works but still to acquire the 550cc injectors and 3 bar map, once I get around to sorting these bits I will be willing to road tune a set of maps...but for the moment don't hold your breath

[Doug]

I've been out on track with Monty several times and can see its frustrating having VX turbo's pulling away from you on the straights, or anything for that matter!

time for the 50-shot nitrous to cure that !!

[dapinky]

You guys crack me up
I will be making an additional downpipe for the upgrade to use as a template for future projects.

Yes please, Miss!

1) Grey Fox (It ain't 'Silver' )
2) Pinky

[Monty]

1) Grey Fox (It ain't 'Silver' )
2) Monty
3) Pinky

[Paul.P]

1) Paul ( flipper feet ) P
2) Grey Fox (It ain't 'Silver' ), Oh yes it is
3) Monty
4) Pinky

[dapinky]

Oi !

Once *MAY* be considered a 'bit of a giggle'.

Twice is a typographical errror

BUT.....

.....if it happens again, I'll get very upset and sulk

1) Dico
2) Pinky
3) Murph (Monty)
4) ClownFeet (Paul.P)

[Paul.P]

Oi !

Once *MAY* be considered a 'bit of a giggle'.

Twice is a typographical errror

BUT.....

.....if it happens again, I'll get very upset and sulk

1) Dico
2) Pinky
3) Murph (Monty)
4) ClownFeet (Paul.P)

Ok Pinks, ain't a prob to me, i was putting names down in age related order & now i'm the youngest

[ailwyn]

1) Dico
2) Pinky
3) Murph (Monty)
4) ClownFeet (Paul.P)
5) Ailwyn

[abmunro]

I would certainly be interested in Turbo Upgrade, injectors MAF etc.

My only concern is I did all this on my GTiR. The Nissan went from standard 225 BHP up to 340 BHP. I have heard other Nissan than have ran for 2 years on standard internals ( with perfect fueling).

What will the stock internals withstand whilst still keeping some reliability.

I will start a new thread.

[tigerdog]

What will the stock internals withstand whilst still keeping some reliability.

We can gain some insights from the experiences of Nitroman and the Sh4rk project; both of these cars are running 300+ HP. A more modest 225-250 target (and a light left foot in normal driving) should extend engine life. After all, the engine only makes max power when you tell it to...

[nitroman]

My biggest longevity tip: Don't get T-boned by a 2-ton American saloon traveling on the Interstate (i.e., A-road).

Bill's IsuzuPerformance claimed the stock Elan engine was good for 400HP without internal mods. Don't know if he meant a track-car or a daily road car though.

Power is addictive. Perhaps what saved me in 3-years of nitrous use was that I actually had to arm the system (turn on switches) before the big-power came online. That limited the addict in me. Interesting to note that I did lose turbo-boost during that time; perhaps .2-bar on the top-end. When I took apart the old-turbo to convert it to a "T-Bird", I found some of the compressor-blades where slightly bent, even though there were no signs of hard-object-ingestion as I'd seen on one of my Maserati's turbos'. It seems just spinning the little turbo at 1.3 bar might have provided more air-pressure than the little compressor-wheel was up-to.

[Dico]

Gave the Elan a spring clean and a general once over ready for Donny in 3 weeks.
Monty came round and did the paperclip test, which diagnosed an overboost fault from earlier in the week, tested the fans and pump motor, WD'd the door hinges and petrol flap/hod release cables, and then scarpered when I mentioned I was going to tighten the slipping power steering belt. I can see why now Got there in the end with persistence , and then noticed the alternator belt was a little slack (left that for now ), I even gave the wheels a polish, checked the tyre pressure and topped up the windscreen wash bottle!
Just need to give the Wilwood pistons a quick clean up.
See you at Donny!