CP

Hi,

Reading various Cayman forums, I have seen 4 tuning shops (thus far) doing the 3.8L motor transplants:

RUF ($40,000, Texas), FVD (Florida), Farnbacher Loles (Florida) and Orton Performance ($22,900, Georgia).

I have not seen pricing for FVD or FL. If anyone knows what they are, please share. Also, is there someone else out there doing the 3.8L motor transplants? I have to think that with time, the competition on this mod will get pretty intense.

Thanks for the education.

CP

mooty

as of now FL is not doing 3.8L conversions per se. they are doing GTR (the package) at 118k. when they sold all 20 of them, they may then start doing conversions, i can't be sure.

are you going insane CP ;-)
you must tell me when your 3.8 arrives.

mooty

btw, i can get you a car at 2k over invoice if you want it NOW. otherwise, i may end up with it.

38D

They are located in Danbury, CT.

CP

John,

I won't be buying a car this year, but thanks. In fact, on Saturday, I plan to go test drive the base Cayman versus the Cayman S. Then I'll decide which way to go.

As for the 3.8L mod. I will only consider it when my motor wears out. It's good to know that there is a Plan B though.

CP

mooty

bring you car over, i can wear it out in no time.
i have already blown several motors.
cayman is at the doc getting suspension fixed.
i might pick up an exige while the fix the damn car.

CP

John,

Blown motors....any Cayman S amongst those?

CP

mooty

no, my skill level only allows me to blow up miata and m3 motors.

cgomez

Mooty, another common trait. M3 engine is also in my dead count...

Also saw some posts about Mountain Bikes... me too, but Santa Cruz is my thing... Can't get away from those VPP frames...
Blur LT and now a 6.5" travel Nomad. I alternate weekends between track events and MTB racing...

+ I'm also looking for an Exige (Track PAck + LSD) to trade in my 05 Elise...

CP

Errr...Mooty and cgomez, twins separated at birth?

CP

mooty

loss of oil pressure, then #6 bearing? (i even had baffled oil pan).


SC are well make frames. and once you dialed in the VPP, i know they are good. i am just way too lazy to fiddle with it. my maverick need air pressue adj about every 6 months, that's it. they dont lose pressure. so i just hop on and ride. but mav are note nearly as plush as VPP's.



send me a pm. why the change? i dont think exige is much faster, if at all, than elise. i mean if you dont have an elise, get the exige, as it's only 5k more if optioned similarly. but why take the loss on liz to get exige? is there something i am missing? i can't make up my mind about exige. i hear things both ways, ugh.

what i like about the loti is the "claimed" low op cost.

mooty

i hope for his sake, no.
one martian (me) on earth is probabaly enough trouble for the rest of the world

cgomez

Yep Con Rod, going up the Essses at Watkins Glen...

Yes it is true, the op costs are very low. Track pads last more than 1 season, and tires at least 2-3X more than in any other car (depends on tire brand and heat cycles)

The Exige is not faster at all. Maybe just a fraction in high speed corners.My reasons:

- I always wanted the Exige as it is the intended track car (Much better looking too) and is a coupe not a Conv/Targa. But, I couldn't wait for one last year when I bought the Elise

- I want/need the Track Pack (not only b/c of shocks, but b/c of chassis brace) and an OEM LSD which at the time Lotus hasn't figured out how to sell it as aftermarket without having to replace the whole transmission

So with the $ needed for the above is worth considering the trade-up, but obviously I prefer to buy a 1 year old Exige to minimmize the depreciation hit.

stockboost

FarnbacherLoles Motorsports has an installation in Riviera Beach, Florida and another installation is coming to Sonoma, CA.

Mojimbo

What i would like to know is whether any of these guys are doing any changes to the engines or if they are standard X51s. I was helping a bud shop a transplant for his boxster last year and 9ff had their 3.8L sports engine

Back then we thought that $35k was kinda rich for us. However, in light of all the other guys offering std X51 engines...that $35 seems like a bargain for all that you get at least.


Anybody know if there are any other tuned 3.8L engines available??