finally got a good trade offer for my widebody SL55. a 2005 noble m12 gto 3r, chassis #51. have wanted one of these things since i sat in one at a 1g racing display back in 2004. since there is less than 200 in the u.s. it is quite a find and worked out to be a great trade for both of us.
luckily, his car is not stock. the stock 350hp is now at 460hp (390rwhp on dyno jet) and only injectors needed to turn it up to high 500's. he had a motec ecu installed and tuned by john reed, and the m400 turbos installed. a slew of other parts including some dpe wheels with ps2's, and dot autox tires on the stock wheels. i just got my plates an hour ago and am still undergoing my inspection process, so i have yet to even drive it! neither of us even needed to drive the others cars because, well, they are what they are.
for those that have followed some of my other builds, this thing will be nothing short of those, but the end game for this car will put it in the ranks of hyper car killer.
car is 2350lbs and with tire technology in 2004 when tested, hits a 1.2g on skidpad. at 600bhp, it will have pretty insane hp/weight ratio. i will be doing different wheels and adding some width and more rubber to it. amasing to me that it acheives those numbers on 225 front and 265 rear tires stock!
looking forward to this project!
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1997 GTS Venom 650R
Viper Polyurethane Control arm bushings work awesome!!
Very cool cars. I have quite a bit of experience working on and maintaining a previous customers M400. I upgraded the fuel system and turned up the boost a little and it was making just under 500rwhp IIRC. He would track it every weekend, and drop it off sunday nights and I would have until friday to check over things and get it ready to go back.
Aside from how much fun it was... there are a couple points I remember. Having to upgrade to stage8 locking fasteners in a few places, especially everything related to the turbo system. I dont know how or why, but this guy's particular car would constantly work the hardware loose.
Number 2... I wouldnt want to drive behind one in a car with expensive tires... theres gotta be 4000 sheetmetal screws on that car. Stock up on them and oversized ones for when they inevitably strip out from going in and out a few times.
Otherwise, what a really cool car with so much potential. Anyone ever swap V8s into those?
Very cool cars. I have quite a bit of experience working on and maintaining a previous customers M400. I upgraded the fuel system and turned up the boost a little and it was making just under 500rwhp IIRC. He would track it every weekend, and drop it off sunday nights and I would have until friday to check over things and get it ready to go back.
Aside from how much fun it was... there are a couple points I remember. Having to upgrade to stage8 locking fasteners in a few places, especially everything related to the turbo system. I dont know how or why, but this guy's particular car would constantly work the hardware loose.
Number 2... I wouldnt want to drive behind one in a car with expensive tires... theres gotta be 4000 sheetmetal screws on that car. Stock up on them and oversized ones for when they inevitably strip out from going in and out a few times.
Otherwise, what a really cool car with so much potential. Anyone ever swap V8s into those?
funny, i did find a newer taurus v8 that shares the same bellhousing pattern. . nobody i have run across has attempted it though. since it is so light, the upper limits of the trans will be hit before limit of motor. the next and only step to a stronger trans runs about $12,000. not sure it is worth it really.
looking at all of that stuff is part of my inspection. they are brilliantly engineered cars with not a dam thing extra other than the very basic ammenities you would want in a street car. heat and a/c and radio is really all the creature comforts outside of it being a race car with plates. my goal was to hit that 500rwhp with it. sounds like all it needs is bigger injectors and a retune for that. planning on upping wheel sizes 2" all around to get more rubber under car also with some lightweight monoblocks or 3pc wheels. already planning a paint job (doesnt need it, but i have a great idea for one) and will be adding a few things to interior to make it atleast a little more road trip friendly. may do a little sound deadening, but will limit it to 30-40lbs of mat.
i will finally pick up a leather sewing machine and attempt my hands at that to create something a little more interesting when you are inside. all in all, the more i dig into it, the more i am impressed with the very simple yet effective design of the car. it really is aero, suspension, and frame design 101 with this car. nothing fancy, but one purpose, light and effieceint.
dudeee...... i was all over your sl55 build. i have an sl500 im trading up to an sl65 and doing a black series kit. that car was perfection.
enjoy the noble, that thing is a beauty
it actually did take me about a week to finally consent to the deal. he was looking for something more refined, and i have enough daily drivers that the deal worked out great.
the benz really did come out great. will always be one of my favorite cars. it was a garage queen. i could not bare damaging it, so i would very rarely drive it. 2-300 miles in all of 2014! he will use it and look forward to seeing it on the road since the guy only lives 2 miles from me. lol.
Congrats on the purchase! I bought mine a few years ago and I'm loving it. It gets more attention here in Naples Florida than Lambos or Ferraris combined.
Mine is a street mostly version with "only" 410hp at the wheels, but it gets up and goes. I thing MT tested a stock version and payed down a 0 to 60 time of under 3.5 seconds. Don't know that I'm good enough to pull that off myself, but it'll leave damned near anything standing at the line from a start.
Bull Rider, do you have the silver one I see driving around Naples all the time? I drool over it every time I see it. I am thinking of picking one up in a few months.
Congrats on the purchase! I bought mine a few years ago and I'm loving it. It gets more attention here in Naples Florida than Lambos or Ferraris combined.
Mine is a street mostly version with "only" 410hp at the wheels, but it gets up and goes. I thing MT tested a stock version and payed down a 0 to 60 time of under 3.5 seconds. Don't know that I'm good enough to pull that off myself, but it'll leave damned near anything standing at the line from a start.
iirc, the m12 (350hp) did 0-60 in 3.7, the m400 (425hp) did it in 3.3. sounds like we are very similar in hp rating and i am betting it could rip close to 3 flat. mine has the m400 gt28 turbos, larger intercooler, spray bar, methanol injection, and a motec m84. sounds like all i need are larger injectors to hit that 500+rwhp mark. noble adds forged pistons to the motor in either the m12 or m400. not sure if any cam swaps or anything, but i do hear better valve springs is a good idea in the higher boost ranges.
it is kind of funny since i have been looking for parts, there really isn't much better than what comes on the car originally. brakes are already 4 pot ap racing all the way around. wheels have to be custom built. i have not found any coilover kits, though have seen a car with motons. i'm just not sure i am qualified or have the time to test with a coilover manufacturer to set up a good spring/shock combo.
the car is so precise in the building of it that you can only adjust toe front and rear, no camber or caster. i suppose that outside of adding more hp, a better stereo, a touch of sound deadening and maybe some wheels, the motto of this build is don't fix what isn't broken!
Upgrade the pump and injectors, lines and regulator, and tune that sucker for E85! then you can toss that methanol injection in the trash and pick up a ton of HP and rest easier. Man do I love E85. Since you have a Motec in there, get Shane T to tune it for you! You will have a winning setup.
I have never really heard of these cars until this thread and man that is a gorgeous purpose built car. I have been researching them to death now because of this thread lol. Seems like a Lotus with better power.
I have never really heard of these cars until this thread and man that is a gorgeous purpose built car. I have been researching them to death now because of this thread lol. Seems like a Lotus with better power.
Google Rossion too or you probably already figured that out.
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the stock 350hp is now at 460hp (390rwhp on dyno jet) and only injectors needed to turn it up to high 500's. he had a motec ecu installed and tuned by john reed, and the m400 turbos installed. a slew of other parts including some dpe wheels with ps2's, and dot autox tires on the stock wheels. i just got my plates an hour ago and am still undergoing my inspection process, so i have yet to even drive it! neither of us even needed to drive the others cars because, well, they are what they are. 
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