Got brakes, now for suspension, and ECU!

[TVR653X]

I got some brakes off Hans, they look to be in very good condition, and the price was also very good! Gotta fit them which may take me some time to figure out, but I'll get round to it. However, I want to uprate the suspension to something a little firmer. The current stuff is a little....'wollowy'. Bit slack for my liking. So, I want something a bit firmer, but with the possibility of slackening it off for rough B road driving. Suggestions please?

Second, I want to remap the engine, and have a programmable ECU. Does anybody know what ECUs are available for the 2.9 V6 EFI?

Cheers.

[GreenV8S]

I suppose any of the aftermarket ECUs would be capable - it's unlikely that there are shrink-wrapped replacements though, it would need installing and setting up. Any particular reason for wanting to ditch the standard EFI setup? Are you planning drastic engine mods?

[Gerald-TVR]

Talk to Derek http://www.absolutelyshocks.com/ about suspension

[Jed-S]

First thing, if it is going to take you some time to figure out how to fit the brakes then maybe you should consider getting a mechanic to fit them. The potential problem might arise when you decide to fit braided hoses and then you discover that there is a mix of imperial and metric in the same line. Better off making your own hoses unless you can be 100% certain that the ones you buy will fit.

Regards the suspension and your B road comments. I fitted some new shocks last year and the supplier advised 375lb front and 300lb rear springs. It felt really smooth on the lumpy roads but when driven with enthusiasm it would bottom out all the time. To cure this you increase the damping until it hardly ever bottoms out and then the ride is really harsh. In my opinion the 375/300 springs are too soft so I fitted 450/375 which allowed me to back off the damping a bit and gave a better ride. I'd like to try a 425lb front spring as I'm feeling that the 450 may be a tad too hard for road use. One thing I have noticed is that the shocks need their damping levels increased every so often as they seem to lose the rebound damping ability. If I was buying some shocks again I would definitely look elsewhere - probably at the Protech ones.

GreenV8S said:

Are you planning drastic engine mods?

Have you not seen the threads about building a 500bhp S with the 2.9 12v engine?

[GreenV8S]

Jed-S said:

Have you not seen the threads about building a 500bhp S with the 2.9 12v engine?

No somehow I missed that. So we're talking forged internals and lots of forced induction? In that case you'll end up changing everything - and the person designing it should already know how the engine management is going to be done.

[sighck]

I'm going for a MS.

http://www.megamanual.com/mtabcon.htm

http://www.extraefi.co.uk/

[TVR653X]

Cheers for the replies guys. As for the modding of the engine, it's a possiblity, but for now I'm settling for a full remap, but I feel a new ECU may be better for this purpose. However, if the current ECU is up to the job, then I'll keep it (but from what I've been told the standard ECU is fairly primitive and I'd get more power with a better ECU?).

As for the brakes, I will have a mechanic helping me, the car is going to be use as subject in a lesson on a Motorsport Engineering course, which will see it have the brakes changed over for free.

As for the brake hoses, Hans has supplied some brake hoses, so I'm hoping they're the right ones (he did say they should be fine).

[GreenV8S]

TVR653X said:

(but from what I've been told the standard ECU is fairly primitive and I'd get more power with a better ECU?).

Who told you that? Did they tell you how much power to expect, and how much it would cost?

[TVR653X]

GreenV8S said:

TVR653X said:

(but from what I've been told the standard ECU is fairly primitive and I'd get more power with a better ECU?).

Who told you that? Did they tell you how much power to expect, and how much it would cost?

Well let's say my current engine has 160bhp (2.9 V6). I expect a decent remap can yield perhaps 180bhp. If I do a bit to the engine (new air filters, exhaust, etc etc), I was hoping to get 200. Is that possible?

[thegamekeeper]

Expecting a lot from air filters and standard exhaust fine with those bhp figures, think you need to be talking cams and cylinder heads, only my opinion, may be wrong.

[Jed-S]

TVR653X said:

GreenV8S said:

TVR653X said:

(but from what I've been told the standard ECU is fairly primitive and I'd get more power with a better ECU?).

Who told you that? Did they tell you how much power to expect, and how much it would cost?

Well let's say my current engine has 160bhp (2.9 V6). I expect a decent remap can yield perhaps 180bhp. If I do a bit to the engine (new air filters, exhaust, etc etc), I was hoping to get 200. Is that possible?

Putting this politely - you need to start being realistic. If 200bhp was that simple we'd all have a 200bhp S by now. The stock engine was approx 150bhp in a Sierra or Granada. We already have a replacement filter in the shape of the Pipercross one. Likewise the exhaust is better than the Ford one and that is part of the reason why it was quoted at 168bhp - that is 18bhp up on stock. The upgrades you're proposing have been done so that only leaves the remap and then major engine upgrades.

If you are going to go for the FI high bhp route then don't waste money on a piggy back ECU remap. You would be better off buying a 3rd part ECU that supports what you're dreaming of and having that fitted and mapped in the interim. Then when you come to upgrade you don't have to throw away 400 quids worth of remapped ECU.

If you want to stick with the 12v then I'd suggest a cam upgrade first as that does make the car a bit more responsive and quicker on paper. Note that I say "quicker on paper" - when translated into the real world there is not much difference between a S3 that does 0-60 in 6.8 and one that does it in 5.7.

The sun is out so must go for a quick blast now.

[TVR653X]

Jed-S said:

TVR653X said:

GreenV8S said:

TVR653X said:

(but from what I've been told the standard ECU is fairly primitive and I'd get more power with a better ECU?).

Who told you that? Did they tell you how much power to expect, and how much it would cost?

Well let's say my current engine has 160bhp (2.9 V6). I expect a decent remap can yield perhaps 180bhp. If I do a bit to the engine (new air filters, exhaust, etc etc), I was hoping to get 200. Is that possible?

Putting this politely - you need to start being realistic. If 200bhp was that simple we'd all have a 200bhp S by now. The stock engine was approx 150bhp in a Sierra or Granada. We already have a replacement filter in the shape of the Pipercross one. Likewise the exhaust is better than the Ford one and that is part of the reason why it was quoted at 168bhp - that is 18bhp up on stock. The upgrades you're proposing have been done so that only leaves the remap and then major engine upgrades.

If you are going to go for the FI high bhp route then don't waste money on a piggy back ECU remap. You would be better off buying a 3rd part ECU that supports what you're dreaming of and having that fitted and mapped in the interim. Then when you come to upgrade you don't have to throw away 400 quids worth of remapped ECU.

If you want to stick with the 12v then I'd suggest a cam upgrade first as that does make the car a bit more responsive and quicker on paper. Note that I say "quicker on paper" - when translated into the real world there is not much difference between a S3 that does 0-60 in 6.8 and one that does it in 5.7.

The sun is out so must go for a quick blast now.

So what you're saying is to buy a decent ECU that can be remapped at a later date if I want to go BIG power?

And then upgrade the cams? How much does that cost?

Edited by TVR653X on Monday 16th November 12:06

[Jed-S]

TVR653X said:

So what you're saying is to buy a decent ECU that can be remapped at a later date if I want to go BIG power?

Yes

TVR653X said:

And then upgrade the cams? How much does that cost?

Have a look on the web for prices. Then add on a full top end gasket set, timing cover gasket, seals, head bolts etc. Then if you're still on the stock ECU you might need to increase the fueling but that depends on what your engine is setup for. The engines used in the S came from various sources and the spare one I have was out of a truck.


The thing I don't get is that you're a student in motorsport engineering and you work part time for a motorsport company. Surely you should be reading as much as you can and researching this before asking these questions. If you want 500bhp (or even 300) then speak to Boosted LS1 who could sort something for you but be prepared to pay. Power doesn't come cheap.

One other thing - how do you find the 168bhp in the car at the moment? Any issues with traction in the wet weather?

Jed

[TVR653X]

Jed-S said:

TVR653X said:

So what you're saying is to buy a decent ECU that can be remapped at a later date if I want to go BIG power?

Yes

TVR653X said:

And then upgrade the cams? How much does that cost?

Have a look on the web for prices. Then add on a full top end gasket set, timing cover gasket, seals, head bolts etc. Then if you're still on the stock ECU you might need to increase the fueling but that depends on what your engine is setup for. The engines used in the S came from various sources and the spare one I have was out of a truck.


The thing I don't get is that you're a student in motorsport engineering and you work part time for a motorsport company. Surely you should be reading as much as you can and researching this before asking these questions. If you want 500bhp (or even 300) then speak to Boosted LS1 who could sort something for you but be prepared to pay. Power doesn't come cheap.

One other thing - how do you find the 168bhp in the car at the moment? Any issues with traction in the wet weather?

Jed

I was on a motorsport engineering course, but I've been asked to pay 4 grand a year. Second, where am I supposed to start looking? The internet has so much BS I just thought 'why bother, when I can ask on PH and get a proper answer quickly'. I'm also not sure what I've supposed to have researched? Prices? That's another reason I came on here, get pointed in the right direction.

I don't drive the car yet; I'm looking to take it racing, that's why I'm asking.

[thegamekeeper]

PH is on the internet and is not immune from BS, just sometimes its quicker BS

Edited by thegamekeeper on Monday 16th November 15:04

[TVR653X]

Seems the general opinion is an Emerald may be the best bet?

[thegamekeeper]

I cant be bothered read all the above posts but scanned quickly through them, cant see any mention of Emerald ECU. You didn,t get that from the internet did you, it could be BS

[TVR653X]

thegamekeeper said:

I cant be bothered read all the above posts but scanned quickly through them, cant see any mention of Emerald ECU. You didn,t get that from the internet did you, it could be BS

No, I got it from some TVR Challenge racers.

[GreenV8S]

TVR653X said:

I don't drive the car yet; I'm looking to take it racing, that's why I'm asking.

That's a completely different kettle of fish. In that case you need to be clear what formula you're going to compete in, and understand the tech regs. If the regs allow substantial modifications then you will be hopelessly outclassed with a standard engine and you might want to hand your wallet over to Burton Power or somebody like that. I'm not sure an 'S' would make a particularly suitable racer though. It's quite difficult to reshell if when you have a shunt, so you might find it has a rather limited life. And of course it would be a great shame to see a very rare car taken off the road. My advice would be to enjoy it as a sports car with moderately good performance and handling and reasonable running costs, if you want and can afford to go racing aim for a mass produced saloon formula or locaterfields.

[TVR653X]

GreenV8S said:

TVR653X said:

I don't drive the car yet; I'm looking to take it racing, that's why I'm asking.

That's a completely different kettle of fish. In that case you need to be clear what formula you're going to compete in, and understand the tech regs. If the regs allow substantial modifications then you will be hopelessly outclassed with a standard engine and you might want to hand your wallet over to Burton Power or somebody like that. I'm not sure an 'S' would make a particularly suitable racer though. It's quite difficult to reshell if when you have a shunt, so you might find it has a rather limited life. And of course it would be a great shame to see a very rare car taken off the road. My advice would be to enjoy it as a sports car with moderately good performance and handling and reasonable running costs, if you want and can afford to go racing aim for a mass produced saloon formula or locaterfields.

I guess you may be right. I'd still like 200bhp....then I will SLAY the pesky BMW Z4 a friend has.