g8jka - 2.8 Roadster Progress Journal

[Lee]

He showed me the quoted figures but that was on a standard 2.8, but he did say these were not guaranteed although the car will feel completely different with all the flat spots ironed out and a better throttle response. Standard figures were 193 bhp to 211 bhp and torque 280nm to 310nm. I wanted it dyno'd before the map to see what gains the manifold conversion has made and after to see what happens with a remap as well. Hopefully it's as good as it sounds, car is weighed and all the live stats are done and the map is not a generic one he said it will be built for the car.

Was the 2.8 giving out 199.7 as standard?

Yeah the 199.7bhp is a totally standard engine with 140,000 on the clock. When I get the print out I will do another thread. Then there will be a final thread after the remap, so in all 3 separate rolling roads. Sharpeys 2.8 made 205bhp but that has a cone filter.

 

[g8jka]

Remap done today, I had a road dyno prior to the remap and one after. Dotted lines are prior to the remap and solid lines are after. Remap was a live one built for the car, not a generic one.

Before (M54 manifold fitted and a cone filter)

201 HP @ Flywheel
263 NM of torque

After Remap

220.6 HP @ Flywheel
277.7 NM of torque

The figures suggest almost a 10% gain in HP, which is a lot from a NA engine and he didn't expect this although it is what the figures quote the gains should be. Torque figures were down on standard to start with, maybe because of the manifold conversion but now there is more torque at lower revs and up through the range. I thought the figures would have been higher to start because I have the manifold conversion, others have achieved more with just a filter, but after the remap it shows figures around what people say they should be with the manifold conversion and a remap. I wish I'd had it dyno'd as standard when I got it.

I've only driven it about 15 miles to home so far and it is a lot smoother with the power delivery and seems to have more torque from the off. The flat spots seem to have disappeared also - dotted line shows dips, solid line shows much smoother delivery. I don't know if I can feel much extra power, it felt pretty fast before and it still shifts just as well, if not better now. I need to get it out for a longer run with some different driving to see what the differences are, hopefully a little better fuel economy as well unlike on the way home where it probably didn't reach double figures as my right foot wouldn't shift from the floor.

 

[Lee]

Really nice gains mate. Were at the same stage with our 2.8 single vanos. I'll post it up once it's had a map.

 

[Grumps]

Really nice gains mate. Were at the same stage with our 2.8 single vanos. I'll post it up once it's had a map.

Please do.....i'd like to know how it fairs. Mine is the single vanos.

 

[g8jka]

Really nice gains mate. Were at the same stage with our 2.8 single vanos. I'll post it up once it's had a map.

If you get a 10% gain it will be quicker than a 3.0, which is awesome given the mileage. Must be something to do with the guy that does its maintenance

 

[Lee]

We are up to 220 at the moment had it on the rollers on saturday. But it's not been mapped. We bought one of those new ECU's from ebay so giving it a chance to learn the engine before taking it for a bespoke tune and all with 140,000 on the clock

 

[g8jka]

We are up to 220 at the moment had it on the rollers on saturday. But it's not been mapped. We bought one of those new ECU's from ebay so giving it a chance to learn the engine before taking it for a bespoke tune and all with 140,000 on the clock

I saw that on the other thread, impressive figures from it at the moment and hopefully even better after the remap.

 

[5harp3y]

Watching with LOTS of interest.

My m50 is in the post eeeeeeeeeeeek

 

[g8jka]

I think the single vanos engines with the M50 manifold conversion respond even better than the dual vanos engines with the M54 manifold. My brothers 328 really goes like stink and it hasn't had a proper map yet. You guys have some great figures with only a cone filter fitted, things can only improve.

 

[gookah]

Remap done today, I had a road dyno prior to the remap and one after.

I've had my sat nav remapped..... finds a faster route... does that count?

 

[g8jka]

I've had my sat nav remapped..... finds a faster route... does that count?

Thank God for that, might get to the meets on time in future and not end up down a load of country lanes.

 

[t-tony]

Thank God for that, might get to the meets on time in future and not end up down a load of country lanes.

You might if @Grumps is involved ...........................

Tony.

 

[Grumps]

You might if @Grumps is involved ...........................

Tony.

Oi, don't it involve me pops!

 

[g8jka]

My windscreen washers stopped working recently, just in time for winter when they are needed. The mesh filter at the bottom of the pump was all caked up with crap but after cleaning it all out they still didn't work. Had this trouble on my old zed and it seems once the filter is blocked up enough it eventually damages the non return valves and they need replacing. I got a couple of new ones from Sopers, cleaned everything up and fitted the new valves and all is working properly again.



Another project I've been wanting to do for ages is to make a heat shield to go around the cone filter.Made some templates up from cardboard to start with.



The pipe that goes from the rad to the expansion tank is in the way as it runs up the side of the original air box and I'd need to make a cut out in the shield for it to fit. I thought about one from an ///M as these go around the side of the engine bay but I didn't really fancy spending £130 on a bit of hose so I cable tied it around the side following the loom. It's actually a pretty good fit and doesn't get in the way anymore.



More templates were made before I got a fit I was happy with. Made it in 2 sections one for the bottom and another that wraps round the back and side of the engine.



Getting there





I decided to spray it in matt black so it looks a bit more OEM, might even carbon fibre wrap it eventually. Put some trim around the edges to neaten it up and fixed the bottom part with a couple of self tappers to the chassis rail and riveted the 2 parts together. I used one of the old brackets from the filter to attach to the shield to keep it nice and solid and another one from to keep the filter secure.



On the 2.8TU there is an integrated cold air feed in the headlight housing which directs the air straight to where I have the filter positioned. You can just see it below.





And all finished.





Whether it makes any difference I don't know but it has been going well recently. It certainly picks up and shifts well now. Next maybe a new filter but I'm going to put another cold air feed in from the front grill directly up and through the bottom of the heat shield to the filter.

 

[Sean d]

Cracking job on the heat shield, well done

 

[Slam]

Very neat work

 

[Antm72]

Nice work made one similar on my first zed sealed up against the bonnet and seemed to work well.

 

[g8jka]

I would have gone to the right of the rad hose like yours but the way my filter is I had to leave a cut out for it. I don't know if mine is high enough to sit flush with the bonnet but it can't be far off. It certainly feels cooler in that area so hopefully has made a bit of difference if not it looks a bit smarter. I want to make something that pushes the air from the front grille in the bonnet towards the headlight port as well at some point.

 

[Lee]

That's made it look so clean and tidy. Nice work

 

[5harp3y]

Looks great, top tip on the relocation of the overflow hose too