Off Road SHO

Automoda, About the ram air effect, your air/fluid dynamics guy was mostly right, no matter how big of a ram air (facing forward) scoop you have, in most cars it doesn't provide a positive benefit until you are into triple digit speeds and then it has less effect than just removing the outside rear view mirrors. However, the rear facing cowl induction hoods found on a lot of GM products, where the opening in near the windshield, does in fact derive some positive air pressure after 35-40 mph is attained. This is because the windshield is sort of acting like an air dam. I did a lot of yarn on a fishing line tests (before someone gave me a nice smoke generator) that helped me understand how fluids flow around stationary objects. Tom

Automoda, I agree with the shroud, except it is getting to 220 degrees before the fan even turns on, which leads me to assume that there is not enough airflow "through" the radiator. (my fan is mounted right to the radiator. I believe that the reason there isn't is due to the difference in air pressure in front of and behind the radiator fins. That is the function of all those plastic pieces you mentioned and that little air dam thingy, it builds up an area of positive air pressure in front of the radiator and a negative area behind the radiator and below the engine. Like in your shroud example, there must be a positive pressure differential front to back. The gaps around the radiator and the (almost) sealed up bottom of the car causes there to be a neutral differential, that is, the pressure right in front of the fins is near equal to the pressure right behind the fins. Whenever the pressures are equal, there is no air movement through the fins, which is of course how a car's radiator works, moving air across moving coolant. There is still plenty of air movement around the radiator though. I have not tried water wetting agents for two reasons: One, a modern day radiator, sized appropriately for the amount of heat that needs to be removed, is way efficient, hence the reasons to have something that keeps the radiator from getting all the coolant that the water pump pumps, the thermostat. Two, water wetting agents were invented to get the absolute most heat transfer ability out of the least amount of coolant and smallest radiator. This saves weight, which in racing is paramount only to HP. If our cars were at that stage, we should all be looking for the absolute lightest wheels, tires, racing suits, and by extrapolation, lunches. I am not anywhere near that level, though I would never presume to deny anyone else that option. When I first got to see this S-1 and it was the first S-1 I had ever seen, the first big red flag that went up in my mind was, "oh boy, I wonder if there will be enough air flow with all that bottom shrouding. We shall see. Tom

I am going to attempt to track down this heating problem in a logical way, by doing one modification at a time. First, close up all the air by-passes around the radiator. Second, remove the hood and go for a drive to see if it needs more exit area. Third, install a 160 thermostat, and fourth install a lower temp fan switch. I will report back at every step. But I will start a new thread. Tom

I'm the new owner of the OTHER S-1 recently bought in northern California, and we too had overheating problems as soon as we got away from the cool San Francisco area or climbed any kind of hill. Same symptoms, overly high temp reading but no boil-over, and eventually quit only to restart and sometimes run fine and sometimes a repeat engine die. Along my trip back to AZ (with SWMBO) it finally became evident that I shouldn't risk getting stranded in an unfamiliar car, especially since I had a flight out of Phoenix scheduled in two days. My car had been serviced just two weeks prior to me picking it up by a Lotus knowledgeable mechanic, who had been doing all of the service work on the car since the previous owner had bought it years ago, so I had a lot of faith in his work. After the first overheating and quitting, we did find the coolant expansion tank a little low, maybe a quart), but filling it up did not cure the problems. Also found an aluminized dryer hose that connects the cool/warm air valve, through some kind of connector with wires attached to it, and then on to the cabin air intake port on the firewall, had become disconnect from that wired coupler at the right front of the engine compartment. At first discovery, I thought that the coupler was the MAF sensor for the engine and that would explain the engine quitting on me. Well that didn't solve the quitting problem so I looked for other reasons. Upon examination of the radiator area, I noticed there was a huge gap between the radiator and the nosecone, which would allow massive amounts of incoming air to NOT go through the radiator, but around it. From my experience in off road vehicles, this is a big no-no and really upsets the airflow-water flow equation. Like Don, I am hoping that the loose fuel pump relay fuse (which was not loose in my car) is the problem, but I am not betting on it. I've been so busy with work that I haven't even had the time to get my car registered in AZ, but as soon as I do, I will hook up my remote temp sensor and start going for short drive to try and determine the cause of our problems. Sorry for the long winded response. Tom

Bwuhahahahaha

Sweet. Hopefully the new owner will chime in here. I finally got my S-1 here and am acclimating it Arizona's "atmosphere". Tom

As a continuation... Once in Payson, set your gps for Heber or Showlow AZ, another great drive, but have a jacket handy. I'm in Payson now and it is quite chilly, at least for this desert dweller. Tom

Make sure your car has outside rear view mirrors on the doors and on the car itself if you take the doors off. Clear and dark safety glasses. Aquick tarp or poncho in case you can't find an overpass in a storm. Foam ear plugs or over the ear headphones for your iPhone. Driving gloves. Coolant, drinking water, cell phone and charger, paper road map. The trip from Clarkdale on the 260 is great once you get out of the low desert. Set your GPS in Clarkdale to steer you towards Payson and you'll be set Tom

Don, My top came in a small bag that took up very little room in the bottom of the trunk. However, the doors were installed on the car and not in the trunk, so that may be a problem. I think if you slide the windows down in the door channels you should be able to fit the doors in the trunk and small bags. If you are traveling alone, the passenger seat and footwell will have all the room you need. If you come through AZ and need help, feel free to call me, 53ATE-256ATE with an area code of 6 oh 2. BTW, be sure to check the front fender mounting bolts for tightness, mine loosened up 300 miles out. I think it is a 13mm. Also, if you fold up the top, place some soft towels over the top's windows to keep them from get all scratched up. Tom

Just picked up my Superformance S-1 and would like to get together with like minded (AKA crazy) individuals. Tom

Don't know yet, I've been too busy working to even look under the hood much. On the first instance I thought the MAF sensor had become disconnected from the intake tract; turns out it was just the heater intake. Then noticed that the cold air induction "hood" was not attached to the underside of the bonnet very well. I propped the intake up against the bonnet with a stick, but by then it was midnight and time to sleep. I DID notice that there is a relatively large space around the radiator that would allow incoming air to bypass going through the radiator. In my neck of the woods (desert actually) that is a big nono, since air will always take the path of least resistance. If you can take 40 to HWay 93 south to Hway 89 North, from Wilhoit to Prescott is a fantastic drive. Stay on 89 through Prescott and jump onto 89A to take you through Jerome and then down the hill to Clarkdale, another fantastic drive. From Clarkdale take Hway 260 East to Hway 87. Take 87 North to Flaggstaff. Good luck and have fun. Tom

I too just got my S-1 home from California, though it was from SF Bay area. Mine started to overheat when we started up the hills in warm weather so I parked it in Lancaster and went and got it with a trailer. Are you coming through Phoenix on I-10 or are you taking the I-10 > I-8 route through Tucson? Tom

Not local to California and would have loved to attend. Unfortunately, the car started to overheat and stall on us as we drove away from the coast (it really has led a spoiled life in the Bay area) and we didn't feel like attempting the mountain passes and the heat, not knowing exactly what the problem was. We have it in a locker in Lancaster and will pick it up with a trailer in a week or two. What a fun car to drive. Very comfortable too; we couldn't believe we didn't have backaches after driving for long periods. What a hoot to drive. Definitely have to plan more time at gas stations though. Tom

Well, All I got to say is this thing is an absolute hoot to drive. Thanks Greg. We've been driving around the Half Moon Bay area, South of San Franscisco, enjoying the cool weather. A few problems but we adapted and overcame them. Can't believe how many people stop, stare and ask what it is. Motorcycle riders do the "Brutha" wave when they pass, old Japanes women say nice car, kids want to sit in it. What a hoot! Tom

HAHAHA, I was sitting in the Dallas Ft Worth airport listening for that whine on my Iphone ear buds. I could make out the whine at the end just barely, but then it got a whole lot louder. Way louder! In fact it got so loud that the whine kept going after the video ended, which I thought was another plus for the I-Phone. Nah, it was just a door alarm going off. For a minute there, I thought you had a really bad alernator. Tom

As the shaft that the spring loaded butterfly valves are attached to rotates in the brass or bronze bushing in the throttle body housing, it tends to wear one side of the bushing out. Tom

Yess!!!

Any other accessories that might come with it? Is there a top? Is it the ZETEC 2.0? Is sure is a beauty.

I have a couple of T-9's out of XR4Ti's sitting out back. I'll take a look and see if there is a serial number on them. Tom

Damn that's a beautiful car. Tom

I just talked to the owner in San Leandro CA and he has decided to keep it. Darn, and it was the lowest priced one. Tom

Bill S., Is this your Birkin that Gary bought? Time to change the sig line if it is. I hope he posts pics too. Tom

My NBC affiliate didn't show it. Dang

Glimpse is definitely the right word. I wonder how fast those guys are traveling there? Tom

By doing a google search on his email address, it looks like he is into bicycle stage racing and found this number you could try; Not needed anymore.