Question about Gotham 265 ECU and reliability ??

[Westrock]

Originally Posted by charliex

If you need that old tune updated let me know (presuming the car lives that is)

If it lives, I'll be getting the Katana kit

Thanks for the offer though

[95Jersey]

[quote=Westrock;820940]
With that in mind, Lotus has been selling the Cup cars with similar hardware setups and similar power output for a couple years now, so I don't doubt that the engine will take it in stride.QUOTE]

But doesn't the cup car come with NO factory warranty?

[coulthard fan]

Originally Posted by StallionX

265 hp for the exige S is where the car should be anyway.. I would buy a preowned exige S over a new 240hp exige S and just gotham it.. cheaper and FASTER..

On a racetrack, does anyone know if the above "faster" statement is actually true? The main difference I see between the above two alternatives (besides price) is the adjustable traction control on the 240hp Exige S from the 2-11 car. Anyone know what impact this has on lap times, perhaps with or without a LSD?

p.s. I wonder if 240hp is as conservative a number as the 220hp was. I.e. does the car actually make closer to 250hp in ideal conditions.

[Jack]

Originally Posted by coulthard fan

On a racetrack, does anyone know if the above "faster" statement is actually true? The main difference I see between the above two alternatives (besides price) is the adjustable traction control on the 240hp Exige S from the 2-11 car. Anyone know what impact this has on lap times, perhaps with or without a LSD?

p.s. I wonder if 240hp is as conservative a number as the 220hp was. I.e. does the car actually make closer to 250hp in ideal conditions.

The difference, if any, will not be noticeable on track (or the street for that matter ) and the 240 is as conservative a number as the 220 HP rating.

[charliex]

I'm working on adjustable traction and launch control !

I've got the first part , working on the second

Launch control will make a difference off line, but you'd need the updated clutch from the 211 if you're going to do it often

[Westrock]

[quote=95Jersey;828360]

Originally Posted by Westrock

With that in mind, Lotus has been selling the Cup cars with similar hardware setups and similar power output for a couple years now, so I don't doubt that the engine will take it in stride.QUOTE]

But doesn't the cup car come with NO factory warranty?

Well because they shouldn't have to be responsibe for you beating on the car all day long. However if they put out a product that couldn't adequetly live up to its family heritage that would look very bad on Lotus.


Its not "we wont warranty because it sucks".....its "we wont warranty because we know your going to be replacing everything anyways"

[Jack]

Originally Posted by charliex

Launch control will make a difference off line, but you'd need the updated clutch from the 211 if you're going to do it often

Charlie,

I had launch control on my Challenge Stradale and NEVER used it -- I don't abuse my cars. Just because a computer did the clutch dump in my F-car, it didn't avoid all the drive train trauma it caused. Same went for my M3-SMG -- I had no desire to use L/C. And, it won't make a difference for traditional track work, time trials, HPDE, etc. -- it's a marketing gimmick when offered on street cars, IMHO.

[charliex]

Thats not what i'm hearing from other sources, with the computer handling the rpm, and traction it should help unless you're already doing it as well as it can be done?

for street use, yes its gimmicky, but then you can say that about the cars too.


we can chat about it wednesday, always interesed in your views as usual !

Also of course, these things are just primarily engineering exercises for me, to see if it can be done.

[djo715]

Sorry to jump into this late, but am curious as to whether the Gotham 265 results in the car overheating significantly faster at the track? When I took the Lotus "Advanced" 2 day school at Spring Mountain in Nevada, one of the instructors mentioned there was a 300hp Exige/Elise that could do about 2 hot laps before it overheated.

Obviously, that was not the same as the Gotham, but am curious if the car does overheat sooner with the Gotham flash.

Cheers,
-Darryl

[charliex]

More power, more heat, so yes it does, there is a temperature sensor that will retard the timing if it gets too hot, so it'll stay cooler.

I wouldn't say its significant though, it could be in the order of minutes, and you can always drop in more efficient cooling system if you're worried about it.

I live near that track and spend a lot of time in 120F heat, and i have not noticed any significant temperature changes.

[Jack]

Originally Posted by charliex

Thats not what i'm hearing from other sources, with the computer handling the rpm, and traction it should help unless you're already doing it as well as it can be done?

Sir Charles,

I agree -- if one's desire is to dump the clutch (with all the abuse that entails) on a regular basis, a launch control system can do it better (or at least better on a consistent basis) than most humans. That's why F1 has had it....it's an advantage for a standing start in a race context. Something very few of us mortals will be doing or have the racing budget ($$) so we can afford to do it. Replacing trannys and related parts can get expensive real fast.

Intellectually, I can understand your desire to make/design your own LC system....but I already consider you a genius....

Look forward to seeing you on Wednesday.

[shay2nak]

Originally Posted by Jack

...That's why F1 has had it....it's an advantage for a standing start in a race context. Something very few of us mortals will be doing or have the racing budget ($$) so we can afford to do it.

apparently it didn't work for Hamilton, because he kept getting smoked by Kimi off the line. LOL

[J. Salmon]

I'm off topic a bit...

But no traction control allowed on the start in F1. It's mano-a-mano off the line.

[Jack]

Originally Posted by djo715

Sorry to jump into this late, but am curious as to whether the Gotham 265 results in the car overheating significantly faster at the track? When I took the Lotus "Advanced" 2 day school at Spring Mountain in Nevada, one of the instructors mentioned there was a 300hp Exige/Elise that could do about 2 hot laps before it overheated.

Obviously, that was not the same as the Gotham, but am curious if the car does overheat sooner with the Gotham flash.

Cheers,
-Darryl

Don't know which car the SM instructor was referring to -- was it a super-charged or turbo modded Elise?

The one 300 RWHP car of which I have knowledge (the Ronin mobile) can run on the hottest days w/o overheating. I guess it all depends on how well the "HP package" is engineered.

More HP will produce more heat, but I doubt the Gotham 265 will result in the car overheating.

[djo715]

Originally Posted by Jack

Don't know which car the SM instructor was referring to -- was it a super-charged or turbo modded Elise?

The one 300 RWHP car of which I have knowledge (the Ronin mobile) can run on the hottest days w/o overheating. I guess it all depends on how well the "HP package" is engineered.

More HP will produce more heat, but I doubt the Gotham 265 will result in the car overheating.

Beats me - I was somewhat new to the aftermarket power packages at the time, and didn't pay too much attention. But thanks, Jack & Charlie for your responses... I see a Gotham in my near future...

Cheers,
-Darryl

[charliex]

My bet is that he's talking about jplotus's old FF car, whether or not its valid or not i dunno, but i'll betcha a doughnut its that car hes talking about.

[95Jersey]

Originally Posted by Jack

Don't know which car the SM instructor was referring to -- was it a super-charged or turbo modded Elise?

The one 300 RWHP car of which I have knowledge (the Ronin mobile) can run on the hottest days w/o overheating. I guess it all depends on how well the "HP package" is engineered.

More HP will produce more heat, but I doubt the Gotham 265 will result in the car overheating.

To me it's not necessarily the water temperature I would be worried about, but the oil temperature. I finally test drove an Elise yesterday to find it had no oil temp gauge. For such a purpose built car, I found that to be a little concerning. It's not necessary for street use, but for track duty that is a MUST have guage. The reason I state this is because on my NA Z06 with oil cooler, trans cooler, diff cooler, my water temps stay within reason 195-205F, but my oil temps often hit 260F. My previous car without an oil cooler, my water temps would still be relatively low 210F, while my oil temps For a supercharger motor this will compound this issue and get you to those temps twice as fast.

There HAS to be a reason Lotus deemed it necessary to add an intercooler and my thought is to aviod detonation in such a scenario. I am seriously thinking about an Elise, but only if I can add cheap HP that is safe. I am not getting the comfort level that anyone on this forum has seriously tracked a Katana under advanced level run groups all day long. I get the feeling most are street/canyon carvers, which is a totally differnt ball of wax from advanced level HPDE. I am talking about hitting redline over and over again for 30 minutes strait 5 sessions throughout the day.

I plan to call Sector 111 to hear their opinion. If I obtain any revealing information, I will post.

[shay2nak]

don't think this was asked, but does anyone who has gotham installed have stalling issues (still)?? If no, did you have stalling problems with the stock ECU?

thanks

[Jack]

Originally Posted by 95Jersey

To me it's not necessarily the water temperature I would be worried about, but the oil temperature. I finally test drove an Elise yesterday to find it had no oil temp gauge. For such a purpose built car, I found that to be a little concerning. It's not necessary for street use, but for track duty that is a MUST have guage. The reason I state this is because on my NA Z06 with oil cooler, trans cooler, diff cooler, my water temps stay within reason 195-205F, but my oil temps often hit 260F. My previous car without an oil cooler, my water temps would still be relatively low 210F, while my oil temps For a supercharger motor this will compound this issue and get you to those temps twice as fast.

There HAS to be a reason Lotus deemed it necessary to add an intercooler and my thought is to aviod detonation in such a scenario. I am seriously thinking about an Elise, but only if I can add cheap HP that is safe. I am not getting the comfort level that anyone on this forum has seriously tracked a Katana under advanced level run groups all day long. I get the feeling most are street/canyon carvers, which is a totally differnt ball of wax from advanced level HPDE. I am talking about hitting redline over and over again for 30 minutes strait 5 sessions throughout the day.

I plan to call Sector 111 to hear their opinion. If I obtain any revealing information, I will post.

I agree both water and oil temps are important...oil pressure too. Several of us have added appropriate gauges.

Just for the record -- the dual oil cooler Loti run very low oil temps...the total opposite of the Z06. In fact, I need to make sure my oil temp gets up to a reasonable operating temp before I run it hard on track...and that can take a good 10-15 minutes after the water temp is in the normal range. On track during 107 degree ambient temp days -- my oil temp gets no higher than 215-220. Yesterday, during an 80 degree day -- oil temps were about 190-195.

I also agree that running on track is significantly harder on a car than street/canyon driving no matter how hard one thinks they run on their car on the street. Taking precautions is always wise.

[maz]

you lose the drivetrain warranty, AND the federal emissions warranty which is something like seven years. there will be no argument that you can use which will get you off the hook.