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Post by miatagr on Jun 21, 2016 10:10:39 GMT
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Post by miatagr on Jun 21, 2016 10:12:31 GMT
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Post by miatagr on Jun 21, 2016 10:13:54 GMT
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Post by miatagr on Jun 21, 2016 10:15:11 GMT
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Post by miatagr on Jun 21, 2016 10:16:18 GMT
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Post by miatagr on Jun 21, 2016 10:18:21 GMT
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Post by miatagr on Jun 21, 2016 10:21:39 GMT
Decided I would try and show a couple changes I've made to my car. In the past two years, it's been a ball. Many auto crosses and track days and i've loaned it to many friends to co drive with me and all love it. After letting a couple friends girlfriends drive it, I got a call the next day. When so you want to sell it?.... My local Porsche club puts on track days and I'm an instructor. They require fenders so I've tried to use the ones Rick bought and first the P clips would break. So i welded bars on the supports and the supports would break at the mounting point. I'm no expert but the metal looks like it was crystalized when it was originally welded. At the last event three out of the four broke so I'm planning to not use the Exo for those events but will use it for others that don't require fenders.
After letting a couple friends drive it that are faster than me, they love the handling but its like hitting a wall at 100-110 because of the lack of aero. So time to dig out the hood. I was determined to make it a two piece and after getting advice from others, it looked like cutting it straight across rather than following the lines would be the best. By leaving a space, it would bring in cool air right by the air filter. Haven't tried it yet.
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Post by miatagr on Jun 21, 2016 10:23:28 GMT
Forgot... My side panels broke so used this mesh from Lowes. I like it. As you can see, I used the mini Quik Latches. When I found that they were 1/4 X 20 thread size, I was happy because I have rivnuts in that size and proceeded to put them in the upright by the radiator facing out. Unfortunately, because of the slope of the cowl they wouldn't snap and that's why the upper hole is there with nothing in it. I fashioned a brace for the lower hole and put in a Dzus (quarter turn) fastener there and I also built a brace in the center that fastens with a Dzus and goes under the radiator to keep the bottom of the nose from lifting. I think it's a little overkill but if I go to a supercharger in the future?  I also may need to put the wing back on when that happens. Random thought. The fuel cell has foam in it and a sump area that sticks down below the bottom. Because of that, I mounted it where I did for the time being but my goal is to eventually move the battery somewhere else and put the tank behind the passengers seat for better weight distribution. Before anyone expresses concern, all of my formula cars use the gas tank as your seat back. The cell also came with a built in rollover valve built in so all I had to do was vent it. I've been using a featherweight lithium battery in my STU race car and it works well. These batteries are 6" long, 2 1/2" wide, and 4" tall. WWW.wps-inc.com Part # 490-2507, 190CCA 12V/36WH |
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Post by miatagr on Jun 21, 2016 10:25:16 GMT
To mount the hood, I used the ATV clamps that hold my windscreens on and that Rick from Vegas uses as well. I drilled out their hole and put a 1/4 - 20 rivnut in them. I was concerned that the back of the hood had too much play in it so I put in another rivnut and got a bolt the right length and put a piece of rubber tubing over it to put a little upward pressure on the hood. That also makes it easier to take off because the hood doesn't fall back on the quik fasteners. The fuel cell was only $155 from Jegs. The pump was $165 and I already had the regulator from when I tried, on a friends advice, to go to E85 and lunched an engine. What a pain in the ..... that was.
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Post by beardy on Jun 22, 2016 3:37:31 GMT
Putting the fuel behind the passenger seems entirely reasoned:
You want the people in the safest part of the car and probably want the fuel tank in a similarly safe place. It makes sense to me.
Ideally for best weight distribution and lowest impact on dynamics of a varying fuel load you need it just in front of the rear axle line and as low as possible -see the Elise.
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Post by miatagr on Jun 22, 2016 14:38:59 GMT
It's that one-two inch sump drop that held me back. I'm such a lousy welder that I'm hesitant to try to weld in some supports to raise it up. I may need to buy a more expensive one with a flat bottom with baffles. I'd also like one with a bladder for additional safety. More research needed. I'm 74 and still racing so I hate sitting in front of the computer. I need the exercise of getting out in the garage every day. With this being our "winter" months, it's going to be September before I can even try what I've got. I got severely hit in the rear in my STU car at Willow Springs back in Feb and it got me to thinking about the exposed gas tank on the Exo. Luckily the car is so well designed that I wasn't close to being in danger from fire. Rear end collisions are common on city streets and with all the Exos being built for street use? ?? Stay alert and safe out there my brothers and sisters. |
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Post by beardy on Jun 22, 2016 14:47:46 GMT
I share your concerns and was also looking to put two smaller wedge shaped tanks behind the seats. Two because I wanted a bit of range for a road car. But it doubles up on tanks and pipe and basically makes things more expensive, time consuming and complex.
I am going to use an 8gall fuel cell on the back deck and build a smaller crash structure behind it - think roll hoop facing backwards with the two stays heading forwards onto the major transverse bar.
Given its a road car I may even stick a Miata spare wheel vertically right at the back, but I'm going to see how it drives before looking at this additional/optional weight. Its not optimal, but its a pragmatic solution that should be OK.
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Post by miatagr on Jun 23, 2016 16:00:25 GMT
Beardy..... after taking some measurements this morning, I see that my current tank will not fit behind the rear seats. The tie down straps are too long for the tapered area behind the seats. I would have to find a different shaped cell so until I have a chance to drive this setup for a while, I'm giving up on that move....
A friend pointed out that the APR wing may not be an optimal choice for the Exo. The raised center section is designed to work on a car with a roof and the air flowing over that roof. I thought I saw in one of the posts that I read that Atlanta is now offering a different, non curved wing for sale but I haven't seen it yet. Time for a search to see what others may know. Thanks for your responses.
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Post by miatagr on Jun 23, 2016 16:12:52 GMT
OOPs.... Did my search and found an original thread I started two years ago.... When fall arrives, may be time to try the suggested experiment...
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I also may need to put the wing back on when that happens. 