111RS SPYDER BUILD: PART 3

We started work on the body to create something unique yet would meet my demands for performance. This car is getting an Elise rear clam with rear fender flares and a modified rear wing. I had been calling it a Ducktail but truthfully, it will be more of a Longtail.

The rear flares will allow us to run our ETHOS 17x9 rims with either 235, 245, or 255 tires. The car is expected to make 300hp so a bit more meat on the rear will be welcome. Additionally, we won’t be running a larger rear wing. This car will have our Exige race front clam plus canards. The additional downforce at the front should be balanced with the wider tires and long-tail wing.

ReVerie rear flares add some real width and bulk - we decided a bit too much.

Ultimately we have decided to cut down the flares a bit to remove the bulk. We’ve borrowed a look from our friends in the JDM world but it will have our twist on it.

Long Tail not Duck Tail

Initially, my plan was to create a Ducktail spoiler but as we began laying up the wing, we decided a Longtail would look cleaner and fit with our style. Many of you know that I am quite particular about how things look on these cars and have innovated many aesthetic changes that were controversial when I first showed them. The image above shows how we have extended the existing wing angle. We cannibalized a wing from a junked rear clam to help up create this custom wing and clam. A few other detail changes include shaving off the rear fake vents that were outboard of the taillights.

I am excited that these changes will be unique and not overly cartoonish. We want to grab attention without looking like some of those Bosozoku cars from Japan….

Suspension Rebuild Frequency

Recently we have had a few cars coming in for service with blown shocks. Most had aftermarket shocks but one had factory shocks as well. The rebuild frequency depends on how you use your car but without fail, all suspensions do need a rebuild at some point. We have sold 100s of Nitrons over the years yet we have rebuilt only a couple dozen as most people don’t realize that their shocks are in need of a rebuild. The degradation happens slowly and we adjust our driving style to accommodate.

Many of us have upgraded our factory suspensions with adjustable systems from Nitron, Ohlins, Racetech, Penske, etc. These shocks all need rebuilds at intervals that are based on your driving style/mileage. Factory shocks typically need to be rebuilt after 50k miles but we are seeing them aging out as well on the Elise. Aftermarket shocks typically should be rebuilt every 3-4 years for most of us. If you are racing for checkered flags, we would recommend a yearly rebuild. This will ensure your shocks are in proper condition to maximize your car's potential.

Why do these shocks need to be rebuilt sooner than OE shocks? Seals, oils, and gas charges all will degrade with use or even time. Cars that are driven hard on track will also heat up the internals and oil to the point of needing a rebuild. If you are one of the fast guys and love to bang your car off the curbing you should consider even more frequent rebuilds.

What are indications that your shocks are blown? One obvious issue is leaking shocks. When the oil starts to leak, it will make a mess. You will have dirt collecting all over the suspension area. Another indication is ride height that has sagged. Sometimes all shocks will start to sag, other times one shock will degrade faster. Having your alignment checked yearly is one way to check this.

Rebuild cost is not something many of us consider when we buy aftermarket shocks. But this additional cost is the price we pay for more adjustability and hopefully superior handling.

111RS Spyder Build: Part 2

We have been working on our project car - even with the big move into our new shop. Progress is slow but sure. We decided to disassemble the suspension, brakes, and power train to assess the condition of all the parts and chassis. We knew that much of these parts would be either upgraded or rebuilt.

Delivered with a smile from TX

Some of the wishbones had been replaced by the previous owner as this car was driven off the trailer. Of course, we had to take it around the block - just because we are nuts like that.

We confirmed that the chassis was undamaged after the engine/trans were removed. The roll hoop was toast and a couple of engine mounts were tweaked but amazingly the chassis and subframes were all in good shape and undamaged. Whew! Taking on projects like this can be fraught with real risk and we certainly did not dodge every bullet.

Yanking the powertrain

We installed one of our Rebuilt Gearboxes with CF Synchros and stronger 3rd/4th gears. We also installed our TRACKmounts as the client wanted more isolation and was willing to deal with a bit more NVH (Noise, Vibration, Harshness). This car will never be confused for a pedestrian Lotus so we threw comfort out the window. As a matter of fact, we will also throw out the windows….

Time to refresh these tired-looking wishbones…

We decided to strip the wishbones and have them plated. We pushed out the bushes and ball joints. Our local plater does an amazing job and they came back shinier than new with a nickel finish. We installed our MONOballs along with fresh hardware and ball joints from our Suspension Refresh kit.

Shiny, shiny, shiny…

We decided to install the Racetech 46mm Triples on this car as we wanted to showcase our locally produced shocks. We will also be installing the DNA Rear Swaybar so that we can run soft springs. My Elise is running this kit so we will have a nice baseline as we tune the handling to ensure this is the ultimate canyon carver.

The chassis got a good cleaning after we pulled all the suspension bits off…