Michigan Turbocharged Lotus

[Confidential]

Where in Michigan are you? I'd drive back from Chicago to take you up on that offer!

[turbophil]

Glad she's up and running sir!

Congrats

[Bender Rodríguez]

Originally Posted by turbophil

Glad she's up and running sir!

Congrats

Yeah thanks again for your help!

Originally Posted by Confidential

Where in Michigan are you? I'd drive back from Chicago to take you up on that offer!

I'm in rochester, it's north of Detroit by like an hour



Also it's way off topic (it's my thread I can do that) but I bought myself a super geeky present. I'm all pumped on nerdness

[...m...]

...off-topic wow!..

[Bender Rodríguez]

Originally Posted by ...m...

...off-topic wow!..

I know it's not related at all

On another note I did mean to post this up here is a pic of the 1/4 fasteners receptacles I'm using for an undertray (Thanks Fzust!)

To get them on the body did required some drill taping welding ect. but now both undertrays come down in a few seconds. If anyone local is interested in this mod I have a great fabricator that can do the work for you. I know we ordered extra to keep in stock.

[kestrel74]

I drove Benders car today..... it's crazy-fast and once he gets it sorted out, it'll be like driving a street funny car !

[...m...]

...looking at your intercooler mounted less-than-optimally like that has me thinking: since the triple-pass radiator has enough cooling capacity for both the motor and oil, why not repurpose the original oil coolers to serve an air/water intercooler instead?..

...certainly it could fit in the elise engine bay much more elegantly...

[perryeyges]

I like Bender, he is obviously a mad scientist and not afraid to take chances

[Bender Rodríguez]

Originally Posted by ...m...

...looking at your intercooler mounted less-than-optimally like that has me thinking: since the triple-pass radiator has enough cooling capacity for both the motor and oil, why not repurpose the original oil coolers to serve an air/water intercooler instead?..

...certainly it could fit in the elise engine bay much more elegantly...

Liquid to air cooled is a great idea, I'm just really trying to keep the weight down. With pumps, reservoir, I/C itself, and fluid it adds up. Still I'm sure it makes allot of power which will more than compensate you for all that’s added. I saw post what’s Hass's intake temps were and with a bigger core plus ducting if I can even equal those claims it was enough for me. I intend to start hacking the area around it and duct it plus put a fan.

Originally Posted by perryeyges

I like Bender, he is obviously a mad scientist and not afraid to take chances

Thanks! I can't wait to get the car weighted it won't compete with yours but I'm sure I'm less than stock even with all the adds I've done.

Originally Posted by kestrel74

I drove Benders car today..... it's crazy-fast and once he gets it sorted out, it'll be like driving a street funny car !

Thanks again for driving, that helped allot! I've almost got everything up to 10psi perfect. Since the boost controller was dead last night I went to the hardware store and just made my own (I'm impatient) We'll see how it works.

[Bender Rodríguez]

Well small update from today. I got the starting issue worked out, and the idle surge fixed. It's real smooth now. The Hydras a little complicated but if you really spend some time you can tune the car to start better than the factory settings. There are still allot of other fine tune/ quality issues to fix (Like the horn, tach, turn signals, and broken shifter cable) but its getting there I'm making progress daily. With any luck there is an open dyno appointment on Friday this week.

[Bender Rodríguez]

Also finally got around to polishing the wastegate dump tube. I used the Task Force polishing bars level 2, then followed up with level 5 I'm real happy with the results.

[shadowhusky]

Bender, It was good to finally meet you. I might have a few hours free this Saturday around 1:00. I will know for sure later in the week. Maybe we can get together and get that car tuned... as long as the weather cooperates.

[Lotus F1]

Anyway I could purchase that same intake ?

[Bender Rodríguez]

Originally Posted by Lotus F1

Anyway I could purchase that same intake ?

I've talked to my fabricator and he doesn't mind making more. I tried to send you a PM but your box is full. When it clears up send me a PM and I'll give you my number to talk about it.

Originally Posted by shadowhusky

Bender, It was good to finally meet you. I might have a few hours free this Saturday around 1:00. I will know for sure later in the week. Maybe we can get together and get that car tuned... as long as the weather cooperates.

Yea its cool to hang out with another Lotus guy. Come by anytime, even since you’ve left I’ve already fixed the starting issue (which was really an issue were the standalone wasn’t compensating for the engine being cold and not reading the coolant temp sensor), so with luck fix the last couple issues and she should become real easy to drive.

[dereklburt]

I got a chance to meet Bender and take a ride the other day. He did an excellent job on keeping the engine compartment neat and it looks great. Once the car is sorted out, it will be very fast as well. It was difficult to compare as his shifter cable was broken but it definitely has very good power. I like his set up but I just can't live without a trunk. He is definitely going all out for performance.

Anyway, he hooked me up with his fabricator and I now also have the quick release fasteners on the undertray as well as a quick release for my clam shell.
THANKS BENDER..... It was great hanging out with you and I really appreciate all of the help. Now I just need to take some time and clean up my engine compartment as well.

The fabricator at thompson racing fabrication did a great job and I would highly recommend him. Next year we will be looking at an intercooler upgrade (along with the piping) and possibly a trick battery bracket to mount a small lightweight battery up near the firewall. It should save me about 15-20lbs and move the weight towards the center of the car. We may also place some remote terminals in the trunk for easy access but since the clam is now easily removable (probably within 5-10 minutes) it will not be an issue.

[andy7777]

By the way, those black/silver wheels look fantastic. Can I ask who did them for you? I'm also in Michigan and would love to get mine done that way.

Andy

[Tang0_au]

which bride seat is that ???

great work as well - out of the box thinking is what everyone needs more of !

[Bender Rodríguez]

Originally Posted by andy7777

By the way, those black/silver wheels look fantastic. Can I ask who did them for you? I'm also in Michigan and would love to get mine done that way.

Andy

Those are the TR1's, they came looking like that you don't have to do anything to them. I think I got mine from tirerack

Originally Posted by Tang0_au

which bride seat is that ???

great work as well - out of the box thinking is what everyone needs more of !

Thanks, appreciate the complement.

As far as the seat I'm not sure which Bride that is I've had it for a while and the fit isn't quite what you want in a lotus. I had to make some adaptor brackets and because of the thickness of the seat it takes up some room.

[Bender Rodríguez]

Originally Posted by dereklburt

I got a chance to meet Bender and take a ride the other day. He did an excellent job on keeping the engine compartment neat and it looks great. Once the car is sorted out, it will be very fast as well. It was difficult to compare as his shifter cable was broken but it definitely has very good power. I like his set up but I just can't live without a trunk. He is definitely going all out for performance.

Anyway, he hooked me up with his fabricator and I now also have the quick release fasteners on the undertray as well as a quick release for my clam shell.
THANKS BENDER..... It was great hanging out with you and I really appreciate all of the help. Now I just need to take some time and clean up my engine compartment as well.

The fabricator at thompson racing fabrication did a great job and I would highly recommend him. Next year we will be looking at an intercooler upgrade (along with the piping) and possibly a trick battery bracket to mount a small lightweight battery up near the firewall. It should save me about 15-20lbs and move the weight towards the center of the car. We may also place some remote terminals in the trunk for easy access but since the clam is now easily removable (probably within 5-10 minutes) it will not be an issue.

Hey no problem. I'm glad you like Ryan’s work, and let me know when you want to stop by and do some work on your car.

[Bender Rodríguez]

So I weighed the car today. Overall I'm good with the results, I was hoping it would come in real light but considering the added weight of the trans, axles and beefed up motor mounts + turbo system it makes sense. I'm defiantly lighter than stock and considering everything added that’s not bad. the distribution seems off, I'm guessing my friends driveway is not perfectly level, but the total should be accurate.