2007 Lotus Exige S

[asshanson]

Carbon side scoops too ricey? I kind of like the extra red and black contrast in addition to the black grilles and wheels. Or I could just paint the oem ones black like how they came in 2006.



Stock:

[A//// Guy]

Stock.

[TkrPerformance]

carbon

[turbotalon1g]

stock please

[mdost03]

I say stock.

[Halon]

I like the contrast. And the front lip too. Pretty much just gotta do what you like, everyone will have their own opinion.

[polishmafia]

Why even ask the King of the Ricers this question! I demand CF! I like the contrast.

[asshanson]

Small update for Winter plans, now that the car is parked until March:

Finish carpet install behind seats and on rear bulkhead to further reduce sound
Remove the power locks since they don't work anyway
Fix the rear undertray since it's rattling like crazy on decel
Fix the rattling on the passenger window, probably just something loose
Paint center console and wheels black
Small battery
Headers and exhaust
Intercooler upgrade with improved air ducting
Some gauges
Drop tank and fix fuel level sending unit
Install OEM rear fender liners, currently the tires are open to the engine bay
Delete emissions stuff
Retune in Spring

I weighed the car at a truck stop recently and found it weighs 1920 lbs (+/- 10 lbs, scale only does 20lb increments) with 1/4 tank of gas. The headers, exhaust, small battery, and some other small stuff should net at least a 40lb weight reduction, but the harness & bar will add some back in for track days. It takes less than 10 minutes to install the bar so I probably won't keep it in the car most of the time.

I also decided not to install a radio, speakers, or backup camera. I've gotten used to using only side mirrors and don't have much trouble in parking lots.

[Tachyon]

PPE header, I'd assume?

[asshanson]

Nah, price was about $1000 more for PPE vs this Weapon R header I got for uber cheap:

[turbotalon1g]

Looks nice.

[asshanson]

Exhaust and intercooler removed today. Started by taking the wing and hatch cover off:



Goodbye evap!


Rear panel, undertray, and exhaust removed. Really surprised how clean the engine block is:



Stock exhaust stuff that is crazy heavy for just being a muffler:


After I got the intercooler off, here is how it sits now:


My muffler should get here sometime next week, it's supposed to be pretty quiet at low throttle, combined with the headers I think it will be a nice deep sound but still not drone on the highway.

[Goat Blower]

Wow, progress looks good! Now you need the widebody conversion being done over on MNSC.

[Halon]

Nice bling!

[rose0529]

nice work!

[asshanson]

Got the new rotors and rear wheel arch liners installed today. I really like the rotor design, the veins are pointing the right direction on both sides. Most rotors I've seen before are identical on left and right sides, meaning one of the them will be backwards once installed.
Before:

After:


Also got the passenger window rattle fixed, and hope to have the exhaust installed this weekend.

[PlanoEvo]

Most badass indeed!

[s1ngletracker]

http://blipshift.com/



They brought this one back! thought all the Lotus fans would appreciate it.

[asshanson]

Some good progress this week. Fuel tank and all lines are re-installed, still need to verify this is an inline Walbro 255, but it sure looks like it to me. I couldn't get the foam off without ruining it so I just left it on.


The new intercooler is great, OEM is tube and fin design with 14x6.5x3.5 dimensions, the new RLS intercooler is bar and plate design at 14x7x4.5 inches. So a little big bigger volume plus greater efficiency should net some gains, plus the heat shield will help to block some of the radiant heat from the engine below it:


Heat shield installed:


To further reduce IATs I am adding ducts inside my side scoops and routing that air to the intercooler shroud. I bought some bumper ducts for brake cooling and just cut off the flat mounting point, and then a 10' section of 2.5" silicone hose. Total cost was $100, the RLS company that makes the intercooler offers a complete bolt on air duct kit for $900... so I went the DIY route.


Test fitting the duct inside the side scoop area:


Marking the length of tube I need to cut for each side:


Here is the modified roof scoop shroud with the side inlets. I used some 2.5" aluminum piping Brandon gave me (thanks again!), and then on the inside I expoxied some plastic pieces to direct the flow through the intercooler, to ensure it doesn't go back out the roof scoop or something. Then I painted it black and clearcoated it because it was quite ugly.



Finished product:



Based on real test data from companies that sell these kits, those side pipes will triple the airflow to the intercooler (which makes sense).

Also installed my header, exhaust, and Braille 2015 battery.

Things left to do: Retune, paint wheels, finish interior, and maybe some gauges. Most notably a fuel level gauge (car doesn't have one) and oil temp for the track.

[turbotalon1g]

Fuck that is sick.