I Recently purchased a 96 fd3s since buying it i have removed the cat and upgraded the rear box for a custom built 3" unit.
I keep comming up against a 94 lotus esprit s3 and seem unable to shake him off, he definately has superier cornering ability, but whats the next stage (on a very tight budget) to increase bhp as he is curently replacing his exhaust and insists my defeat is iminent, pride is at stake.

 

You may want to get an aftermarket intake as the next step. You'll probably want to get an aftermarket ECU to go with that so you don't run lean. Since you removed your cat, I assume that you have an aftermarket catback.

Do you have a strut tower brace? If not, a Cusco one is nice and pretty cheap. If you aren't getting good traction on launch and cornering, you may want to upgrade a new set of tires.

I don't think the Espirit is too much faster than an FD. In cornering, the FD should do much better bc of its stiffer chasis and suspension setup.

 

Is this the turbocharged V8 version?

 

Here are your options

1. Call your local religious order and ask for a excorsism...
2. Purchase a large boat anchor and throw it out window at him...
3. Purchase large parachute and tie it to back of his car when he is at a light...
4. B4 light changes tell him "Look at that hot chich 3 cars over!!!"

 

damn you and your nice aft 95 FD :-D
I don't see too many on the forums. Too bad

 

Check out http://www.rx7turboturbo.com/robrobi...od_pro_con.htm . The Lotus only makes about 350 HP stock, but he could be running higher than stock boost.

 

You forgot:
5. Buy a twin-barreled shawed-off and blow the **** out of his tires

I bet that if you go with No.5 he wont be able to launch properly

 

Chris,
I cant imagine what you are doing wrong. I regularly do track evnts with a 93 Esprit and a 2001 V8 esprit and i plain and simply whup *** on both of them. I trounce the 93 by 10sec. a lap and the V8 by 4 to 5 sec a lap. We have similar power and all of us use R compound tires so i dont know what the big advantage I have over them is. Just stick with it , maybe ya just need more seat time.
good luck 1R1

 

I don't know how the Lotus or RX7 are geared in England, but I have a friend with a Lotus S4 and he can't hang with even my Honda friends. The guy you know must have done lots to the engine. They only put out ~265 HP stock, which is very close to the FD RX7. I almost beat his best 1/4 mile time with a blown engine in my TII. Of course his Esprit is stock(but my TII only has downpipe and cat-back).

 

THE ESPRIT IS A 300BHP S3 VERSION, AGAINST MY FAIRLY STOCK JAPANESE IMPORTED 96 SPEC FD3S
WHITH AN UPRATED 3" REAR SILENCER AND STRAIGHT THROUGH FRONT AND CENTRE SECTION, WHAT SORT OF BHP WOULD I BE RUNNING, ON A STOCK ECU?
WHAT BHP INCREASE WOULD YOU EXPECT WITH THE ADDITIONAL AIR INTAKE UPGRADE?

 

It's time to get a boost gauge on your car, because you should be pulling away from him or be right next to him while racing. However, he might have some mods that you don't know about. As for an intake you can get about 10-20 hp. Also, don't use your caps, it's really annoying.

Here is a link for you that compare the FD with a Lotus.
http://216.66.74.145/Comp?sourceList...pList=927-1067

 

Actually, you're absolutely right, that car should hang with you by any means.

Let's see, Lotus S3

Inline trubo 4
2174 cc / 132.7 cu in

1315 kg / 2899 lbs
223.7 kw / 300.0 bhp @ 6400 rpm
375.6 nm / 277.0 ft lbs @ 4100 rpm
0.91g skidpad

So he's running a little more power than you, even though you've got a couple goodies, and he's got A LOT more torque.....but the most important, his weight is very similar.

This will be a tough car to lose, especially when he gets an exhaust. After he gets the exhaust, I think you'd need full exhaust(motor back) and a computer upgrade to be able to pull on him.

 

Didn't the J-spec rx-7's have 274 HP compared to the U.S. 255 HP version?

 

i thought a bunch had 265hp from 96-97 or 98
and 98 or 99-current had 274 or 280 or whatever it is

 

1.Please correct me if I am wrong, but the 96-98/99 jap specfd's were 260hp unless they were the top of the range RS version which was 280hp
The American spec had a an extra cat instead of the front pipe on the jap version which reduced perfomance to 255.

2.I am also experiencing boost cut in fourth and fifth gear which is not conjusive with seeing off the competition, I guess i'm in need of a computer upgrade.

3.Am I likely to have problems with boost creep with an upgrade such as power fc, and if so why and how do I prevent this.

 

What is a rear box that you put in your first post?

You don't have too many mods to be experiencing a boost cut. However, it is still possible. The Power FC and Commander is a great mod and will eliminate the boost cut. It's one of the best mod I have ever done, I strongly recommend the Power FC. It's extremely easy to use and I'm sure you will love it. Also, make sure to change your fuel filter, and spark plugs.

 

If I'm not mistaken (wouldn't be the first time) isn't hp, ps, and bhp all different measurement standards? They are similar, but still different if hairs are being split over power ratings.

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