KATANA Bracket Revision

 We are always looking to make improvements to our parts based on feedback - often times our own techs will develop ideas from installing our parts.  The nose bracket we developed with the KATANA3 has now received some TLC and attention as a result.

We've added an additional notch to the bracket that eases clearance and improves fitment.  A small change but a good one!

RS343, KATANA3 & shiftR111 2.0 Calibrations and Testing

 We've made some good advances recently with product development.  This Blog will discuss a few of them.  The KATANA3 has made more power than we expected, shiftR 2.0 has passed our testing and RS343 have passed an even stricter JWL spec.  Our DOT glass windshield is also moving along nicely.

shiftR111 2.0

We wrapped up approximately 1000 road miles on two shiftR 2.0 prototypes in two different Elises.  We installed a proto onto our ArtCar2 and ran it for 100 miles at Spring Mountain.  See quick videos below and HERE.

The kit is working out well.  We found a couple of issues that we are addressing with some design and build changes.  Failures during testing can be frustrating but help make the product better.  We've kicked off production parts and expect to see them later this Summer.

KATANA3

Brent came in to do some tuning on our KATANA3.  Here's a quick video of him during his last visit: HERE.  On this visit, he was keen to try some new injectors so we tested them out.  They are modified OEM injectors and really delivered a significant improvement.  Brent landed on 233 hp at the wheels.  This is more the 10hp more than we achieved with KATANA2.  See the dyno below.  We will let the car settled in and check it again.  Then we will start the CARB process to see if we can release a truly street-legal solution.

We plan to release our KATANA3 later this Fall.  The windshield tooling investment delayed our ability to get this on the market sooner but we will get there as soon as we can afford to!

RS343: Monolite II

Our new Monolite IIs have passed the latest JWL spec testing.  Our Supplier sent us these pictures of the sample wheels undergoing the various dynamic tests.  We will get the test samples sent to us shortly.  Production parts are in process and expected later this Summer.  

DOT Glass Windshield

We met with our Supplier on a recent visit to Detroit.  They are making good progress on the windshield.  Our DOT glass windshield will be a direct replacement for the OEM.  We're investing in the tooling to encapsulate the glass with a plastic molding that runs along the a-pillar and header (see below).

We are on track for an August delivery.  We will have them in individual packs along with bulk packaging.

One innovation that we are attempting is to add protection to the leading edge of the windshield.  This is a vulnerable portion that can crack - more than one hapless clam removal has resulted in a cracked windshield!

Break-in, Testing & Failure: KATANA3, shiftR 2.0 & More

 

Testing continues with various new parts we plan to introduce.  We had some wins and one failure.  Running parts on our cars first is our mantra so our clients are getting the best experience.  Though this has not been 100% successful, it has kept us in good stead.

Let's start with the failure - new fuel pump.  Last year, we had trouble sourcing a Denso pump that we had been selling for years on cars making 300hp.  We decided to test out a new pump, from another OEM supplier, Delphi.  This pump was fitted to our last Outlaw and run for nearly a year, on the road and track.  It ran in our Outlaw that we ran up Palomar Mtn Hill Climb last year.  We transferred it to our latest 111RS to continue racking up miles.  Unfortunately it failed almost immediately.  But the 'failure' snuck up on us.  The car ran fine under 6000rpms - which is where we were running it for a 100 miles or so while we broke in our newly built Mountune engine.  Once we started dipping into the second cam, the car would hesitate.  We data logged and saw the AFRs going lean.  It took us a bit to get it figured out but swapping in a stock pump solved our problem.  The funny thing is that the Delphi pump is actually made by Denso.

The KATANA3 on our car is running great.  I hammmered the car up and down the mountain and our back canyon roads.  Our Calibrator, Brent, is coming in a couple of weeks to do some final tuning.  We will get it onto a dyno then and see how she is doing.  The engine still has less than 500 miles on it and it would be ideal if she had over 2000 miles before the dyno.  That is not likely this time so we will probably dyno her again later this Summer.

I'm digging the all silver colorway- with the cherry on top!

The shiftR111 2.0 version that has been in my car is doing fine.  We made a couple of tweaks as there was spring related issue that we had noticed and the reverse lock-out.  As it turns out, we were able to sort out the lock-out with shifter cable adjustments.  The spring issue was related to us not torquing the CG mechanism fully.  Sorted.

So far I don't feel any negatives with this kit.  The overall feel is better especially since the reverse lock-out works super smoothly.  This is a HUGE improvement over our previous version but tempered by the fact that you really don't use it that much.  Regardless, it now works better and each time you select Reverse, you will do it smoothly.  Shifting into each of the gears feels as good as with our original, if not marginally better.  The bearing design is technically superior so it should feel better...

Chillin' at the RSF Cars & Coffee

I am running a set of Nitron 46mm Singles on this car with softer springs than we used to run.  The car feels really good but we can make it even better.  I think we will call our man Dave T in for some Ride & Handling work.  Especially with Nitron setting up their North American operations here in town, we will be able to develop a kit suited to our over rough canyons.  

This car is also running the OS Giken LSD.  What an awesome bit of kit!  We introduced these back in 2010 and they have been favored by all the fastest guys.  It still amazes me how it allows you to put the power down sooner - especially on our bumpy roads.  This is really a must have for any pushing their Lotus hard - especially if you are about to get your gearbox rebuilt.

111RS #3 Build: DNA Sway/Engine/Gearbox/KATANA3

We're making steady progress on the 111RS.  The rear of the car is coming together.  We are on track to having it finished by early May.

We decided to paint the rear swaybar mount black.  We peeled the DNA sticker off and revealed the silver powdercoat underneath.  You can see it above.  We left the swaybar itself in silver so it would stand out against the black mount and rear subframe.

 The Mountune-built 2ZZGE engine has been dressed and reassembled with an enhanced alternator that we get locally rebuilt.  We also reinstalled the KATANA3 from our last Outlaw.  We intend to run this kit through CARB so need to get this onto one of our cars.  The rebuilt gearbox was also mated to the engine and is getting a new clutch and flywheel.  

KATANA3 Developments

 We have been running with the KATANA3 kit on our 111RS test mule for the last couple of months.  Brent, our calibrator, has been out for the last couple of weeks fine tuning.  It is running nicely so we decided to run it at the Palomar HillClimb that was organize during this years West Coast Lotus Meet.  

This video is me Running Up That Hill...

We were the headline sponsor of the event and provided support from our team to make the event a great success.  It made for a very long day (starting at 3:30am!) but it was a fun event and the first time it had ever been run.

Cars lined up after running up the Hill

Brent and I paid a visit to SEMA to meet their emissions lab personnel.  We toured their facility and came away fully impressed with their support to the aftermarket.  We have also engaged a small company with engineers who assist companies like ours with the CARB process.  They offer full testing so we are even more committed to chase the EO# that would really help our KATANA3 product.

One thing we learned is that getting a KATANA3 upgrade for K1 or K2 owners is possible in this application.  Based on how well the K3 is running, we are certain several client will want to upgrade.

KATANA3 Testing

 

We've installed our KATANA3 onto our test mule for testing.  This kit features the updated TVS900 blower which is the latest tech that results in less heat build up.  We believe in keeping the car non-intercooled as the simplicity of the system results in a more reliable solution.  

CARB approval is underway as well.  We've begun the paperwork process to get us an Executive Order (EO)# allowing us to offer it for sale for street cars.  EPA and CARB are both getting more strict.  For us, this is the right long-term commitment to supporting the community with the best products to keep their cars on the road and track.  We have attempted this in the past but our tuning capabilities did not allow us to fully achieve full approval.  Now, we have much more control and feel we have a better chance at a full approval.

Our testing so far has resulted in tweaks to the tune.  Brent, our calibrator, has sent us several versions and each has gotten better.  Our AFR logging suggests we are on the right track.  The car is running fantastically so we are very encouraged.  Our next step is dyno time to see what power we are actually making.