GRM Exclusive Reveal: Exocet Spec-A

After I posted the pic of the shift knob last night I went down and took some measurements, I measured from the shift knob to 3 points on the right side of the car (both chassis and subframes) and 3 points on the right side. My left side measurements were all about 1" longer than the right side, which would explain the off centered shifter in the tranny tunnel hole. I loosened up the PPF bolts and used a ratchet strap to align everything then torqued the bolts back down. Everything looks much better now, thanks for the help and sorry for the confusion. -Luke

Warren, can I ask a favor of you now? Been trying to get ahold of Kevin for some time now about confirmation to pick up my chassis (think I'm number 101, the shocker yellow race chassis) next week. Could I trouble you to nudge him my way? I'm sure things are crazy catching up after the holidays but I just need a yay or nay about it being ready.

No worries. The internet can always use another solved and documented solution to help others along the way.

Greg: I'll send him an email, but between holiday travel and recent illness, I haven't had a chance to stop by Exomotive in a while and likely won't see him this week. Taylor should be manning the phones during the workday; I'd say that's your best bet for Exomotive contact.

Okay thanks! Hope you get better!

Kevin got a hold of me earlier and all is well. :)

In the mean time, Warren something has been on my mind which maybe you can answer.

This brace goes under the rear subframe and as I understand, needs to be modified by removing the front legs for the Exocet chassis.

Would there be noticeably more sway in the rear end without it? I have a FM adjustable rear sway bar so there should be more stiffness between the lower arms with that alone.

Or should I just chop it like everyone else?

Sway bars and braces do very different things. I know I can really feel the loss in stiffness when I leave one of those braces off a V8 Miata, but they'll be less critical on a lighter low power car.

In reply to Keith Tanner:

That's what I was kind of hoping. Not only the lightness but also the extra stiffness of the Exocet chassis itself would make up for the loss of the piece.

Then again, 5 min with a portable band saw from work isn't exactly a huge investment either....

Chop it in front of where it crosses over the rearmost square floor tubes, heat it up if possible, crush it flat in a vice, drill holes through it where it hits the rear tube, bolt it through the tube. Added points if you put the bolt thorugh a metal 1" long sleeve in the tube (a half inch bolt in a 3/4" OD sleeve would work well). You don't even have to weld it, but of course that would help a little.

I estimate it would help a little with wheel hop, but I've never driven an Exocet where this has been done, so I'm speculating.

The chassis stiffness of the Exocet isn't really a factor in this brace. Those poor lower control arm mounting points are hanging out there in space on the factory subframe, they don't know about the Exocet.

Good way of putting it, Keith. It's only polite to introduce those lower control arm points to the Exocet, they'll probably make good friends.

Hmm... It may not be difficult at all for me to construct some solid bars from plain ole flat stock. 1/2" is probably more than thick enough. We have all kinds of scrap at work. Gives me something to do this weekend. Report back in a few days.

Yeah, it would be nice to design a factory bolt-on solution, but between the dozen-teen different versions of rear subframes and a zillion exhaust configurations, it's a challenge.

Speaking of factory bolt-on solutions, it's nice to see someone who mounted a Miata dead pedal to the Exocet.

Here is what I did. took the dead pedal and just drilled the two holes through the bulkhead floor. Used 1/4-20 sidewalk bolts from behind with locknuts. You will need to grind down a small about of plastic from the left side of the stock dead pedal there is a small tab that needs to be removed to make it set flat. Hope this helps give you some ideas.

You'd only need to do two rear subframe braces, IIRC. NA and NB. There are a couple of versions of the NB braces but they bolt to the same subframes. The early 1.6 subframes just don't have mounting points, so they'll have to live with that.

Exhaust configs might be more challenging, but you should be able to give as much room as stock. Besides, the custom exhausts are likely built around the frame and braces anyhow.

The dead pedal is a great idea. Just ordered a new one from ebay so I can copy.

Does the new tunnel design give more room for the gas pedal too?

Yup, about 3/4".

This is a section view, sliced right at the back of the throttle pedal (when at 0% throttle).

Grey is old trans cover. Black is new. The gap between tunnel and frame is covered with the new bulkhead panels. V8 builders will be especially happy with the passenger side improvements.

Here's a section view behind the shifter.

And here is a sliced section where the handbrake is. Green represents the new tunnel, here:

Very different shapes.

Love it! Great work!

Just to bring this thread into the conversation too, be careful if you're ordering an APR GTC-200 wing anywhere but directly from Exomotive. The airfoil they sell has a custom mounting width that appears to differ from both the Miata version and the universal version.

Also, Warren, are you fishing for questions with the rendering of the windshield there?

It would seem a modified gauge cluster is needed for the windshield too?

Greg_E wrote: It would seem a modified gauge cluster is needed for the windshield too?

I doubt that. There should be plenty of room from the looks of it. it should be like steadfasts design more or less.

In reply to BTD:

http://www.fibreglast.com/product/ral-gel-coat-color-book-4008/sample-packs

RAL color book, 5 to rent for 30 days

The local Sherwin Williams commercial store let me borrow their RAL color sample "book" over the weekend for free as an alternative to renting one.

Someone is selling their untouched kit: http://mevowners.proboards.com/thread/6335/exocet-sport-sale

Good chance for skipping the wait, and the frame isn't some crazy color, either.

He decided to keep the exocet. I got a response from Kevin today. My chassis (102) is on deck to be built. I am excited. Time to order up some more parts :)

Warren,

Any updates on the windscreen? I see it made an appearance in you diagrams above.