Loltus Exige

[andybond]

Avid readers of this thread may recall that I had noted that my droplinks were on position 4 of 5

Not any more!



I ordered my droplinks from SeriouslyLotus late on a weekday and had them on my desk next day. Really cannot complain about the service from SL.

I has set aside this afternoon for the fitting of the new drop links.

I had prepared the liberator ( hammer ) , and liberators friend ( angle grinder ) for the job. They were needed. Near side lower link undid but then stuck, fast. Even with the inner part clamp solid I couldn’t undo the nut.

Cue angle grinder. Then hammer to push out the old drop link thread.

Top one undid pretty easily.

Opposite on the offside.

Couple of hours later , 2 cups of tea and 4 custard cremes and the job was done



More shiny bits on the rusty bits. I’ll get the other parts sorted when I feel it’s required. I’ll replace all bearings, bushes at the same time.

Spring rate pic for my archive. Front.



I have been out on a 20mi jaunt cross country. Quite possibly placebo but the front end feels to corner flatter, and feel stiffer. Needs track really though to say for sure.

 

[andybond]

Little and large at the petrol station

 

[andybond]

I took the car out a few days back to a local car event ( no pics, sorry! ) but I noted that the idle was getting "stuck" at 1500rpm and then a tap on the throttle reduced it to normal. It sometimes appeared to hunt as well.

I thought it was about time I learnt a bit more about my map, so I broke out this



In a hybrid of Rob Dahm ( minus hair ) and page up from the mighty car mods I set about my tweaking



I saved the map pre page up/down and post. I now have it idling without hunting. Quite happy with that. If it all goes wrong Ill revert to the previous map.

Whilst I was in the boot of the car I couldnt see the illumination of the wideband controller. Curious as to why I discovered that the data cable had unclipped itself and the actual unit was lose in the boot. Now, I am at an early stage of mapping but I know thats not a good thing.

One cable reattached and the display unit velcro'd to the boot space and we are back in business

 

[Adey]

what changed which caused the hunting and increased idle? sticky throttle or has it always been like it?

 

[andybond]

what changed which caused the hunting and increased idle? sticky throttle or has it always been like it?

Me! I cleaned out the TB.

 

[andybond]

Tonight I have had the alignment checked and adjusted so car is now ready for Blyton

 

[andybond]

My car coped well with the heat at Blyton. Never saw more than 101 deg C on oil and 98 deg C on water.

I managed 60 laps in the afternoon session as well, consuming just under 3/4 tank of fuel.

Really gelling with the car and use Blyton as my benchmark. The adjustment to the front ARB has 100% helped the cornering ability.

I think Dave was impressed.

 

[DaveL485]

Can confirm. It's on a totally different level. Staggering grip all around but the brakes were out of this world.

 

[andybond]

A few words about my trackday at Blyton. Whilst I appreciate its old ground for me having been there perhaps 8 or 9 times now its also a very familiar test track. I do tend to take the exige on the road but I would never dream of cornering on a B road like I do on track.

For those at the back who havent been following my thread ( shame on you ) I have mad a modification to the adjustable ARB and gone full hard. Thats 5/5 setting.

I have certainly noted a firmer bite on turn in, however dont forget I have the near mythical AD052 tyres on. Could it have been that as well? Either way I am delighted with the car setup, but as ever always wondering what more could be done. I note the roll on the pictures seems to have been reduced but not removed. I am torn here because in theory a stiffer spring might stop the compression but I am curious if it could introduce understeer as the firmer spring would force the tyre to skip , rather than grip? Answers on a postcard or even this thread, please

My new exhaust sounded erm. I dont really know! I have a new lid as well and that basically renders most external noises null and void so I cannot tell. I am awaiting some videos of other track goers to get a better impression.

All in all, I am most pleased with the pace of the car and the confidence it inspires in me pressing on.

Some pictures of the car now. I am sure you have all seen a s2 exige before but tough ...

 

[Renny 5]

Was fast and sounded amazing! Also all the photos that photographer took are amazing!!

 

[andybond]

I genuinely have not got a clue what it sounds like! @DeanGT5 sent me two videos but would be great to hear more!

 

[Renny 5]

I’ve actually just got a external Rode microphone for my GoPro and I’m gunna make afew videos of the 5 on full chat. Can definitely do some videos of anyones car once I’ve sorted out afew issues from the last video I recorded

 

[Mark_L]

All you can do is try things and see how it feels, this is what we would on test days. Adjust suspension, tyre pressures etc whilst at a Goodwood test my boss had had enough couldn’t get the times he wanted ready to leave. Dropped the tyre pressures and he found 2 seconds. Don’t forget too stiff isn’t always the way to go. We get cars in that have no suspension at all. They have not enough shock travel, riding on bump stops etc just no good. Maybe try going up to the next lb springs from what you have and go from there.

 

[Big Steve - Raider]

Imagine what it would be like with Air Conditioning!?

 

[andybond]

All you can do is try things and see how it feels, this is what we would on test days. Adjust suspension, tyre pressures etc whilst at a Goodwood test my boss had had enough couldn’t get the times he wanted ready to leave. Dropped the tyre pressures and he found 2 seconds. Don’t forget too stiff isn’t always the way to go. We get cars in that have no suspension at all. They have not enough shock travel, riding on bump stops etc just no good. Maybe try going up to the next lb springs from what you have and go from there.

Hi Mark,

Agree on the too stiff thing. Especially in the wet!

I think I have the tyre pressures nailed on now. It’s the spring rate i think need to adjust!

 

[andybond]

Imagine what it would be like with Air Conditioning!?

Heavier.

 

[DaveL485]

It’s the spring rate i think need to adjust!

I was too busy hanging on for dear life to think about how your spring rate settings were lol

 

[andybond]

It has been suggested that the ARB that I have on the car really isnt that great and that a pilbeam ARB might be where I want to be.

Assuming I move house Ill get one ordered in a few months. If I dont move house ( dont ask! ) Ill get one ordered next week ...

 

[Spooky]

New exhaust sounds

 

[andybond]

Video courtesy of @Spooky




First time I have heard my car with the new exhaust and I really do quite like it!