Im hoping thats my car in plastic with lights & wheels inside there

I just found out my corporate outing is Karting on June 20/21 in the Bay. It would be so cool to have Exocet wearing plates to take some of my HP execs out in it. The body is looking so sweet. Hint hint... Nod nod...

Seriously though great work.

Warren,

I sent an email via the exomotive website last Friday or Saturday and still have not received a response. I have a ton of questions I would like to ask about the Exocet if you don't mind. (I would call if I could, but I am in the military currently deployed with no phone access to the US). I also tried to send you a message on here, but admin still has not approved my profile so I am unable to send PMs right now.

If you could let me know if you received my inquiry last Friday or Saturday, that would be great! If you did not, please let me know so I can send another. Thank you.

Black Knight, if you're having trouble reaching Exomotive, I'd be happy to answer any questions. Flyin' Miata is a dealer and I know them fairly well.
keith@flyinmiata.com

or better yet post them here so we can all learn. The more frustrated I get with my current project the more tempted i am to dump it and get an exocet.

In reply to Black_Knight:

No need for approval to send PM's, just click on Warren's avatar and select "contact" and it will send an email to the address he used when he signed up to the site. PM's = obfuscated email's :)

I hope you get your questions answered and thank you for your service.

Black_Knight wrote: Warren, I sent an email via the exomotive website last Friday or Saturday and still have not received a response. I have a ton of questions I would like to ask about the Exocet if you don't mind. (I would call if I could, but I am in the military currently deployed with no phone access to the US). I also tried to send you a message on here, but admin still has not approved my profile so I am unable to send PMs right now. If you could let me know if you received my inquiry last Friday or Saturday, that would be great! If you did not, please let me know so I can send another. Thank you.

Hey Black_Knight. I'm not one of the guys servicing the Info@Exomotive.com email account, so I can't tell you if it went through. Kevin would give me a death stare if I asked if he got an emails on Friday/Saturday (he gets dozens a day). I'm just the engineer that can't stop talking about it online.

Soulution: you can ask away here! If the Mitty was any indication, this thread has many, many lurkers, and I'm sure someone has at least one of the same questions. I can't tell you how many times everyone with an Exomotive shirt in the booth was asked "Are you Warren from the GRM forums?".

First off, Warren thanks for posting everything here for us and answering questions.

However, I still have a few questions about completing my order. I have tried calling a bunch of times over the last 2 days but nobody answers.

I have a week off at the end of May that I will no longer be going to the beach, so I can drive out to ATL and pick it up at the latest on the 27th. Which from what you posted mine should be done around then at your current production rate. Otherwise I won't have a stretch long enought to get out there and back for at least a month or two.

And before I toss this cash at my student loans I want to be sure I can pay the balance on my credit card to float it for a month, otherwise I can keep it and just pay the minimum this month.

Build thread will come once we get going on this - but it looks as if the rear V8 positioning is still quite plausible. I have to make small adjustments to two tubes to clear the bellhousing, but nothing too significant.

These frames are prettier without powdercoat. For a while, anyhow I can see a real improvement since ours was built.

In reply to Keith Tanner:

Now first off, my plan is to build the Exocet just to see if I am able to do so(i haven't really done anything like this before, and i have only swapped out an engine and transmission in 2 different miatas, and got them running again might i add.... win! haha) and if I do get it running and driving, it will mainly be used as a toy to drive around with in the nice summer atlanta days(I am from Atlanta and will be moving back in February when my enlistment is up). I have never raced, tracked, or auto crossed before, and I am wanting to eventually give it a shot in my future Exocet someday on road Atlanta.

Alright so here are my questions. stupid ones that have probably been answered, but i just feel safer getting a direct answer to mine to ensure i see everything clearly, and do not make any mistakes when I start my build.

1. What wheel size and tire size is best for those of us that want to run the fenders? I've read about people being able to run 15x8 0 offset without, but I haven't been able to locate direct sizes for those that want the fenders. Will those 15x8 work with the fenders, and if so, what would be the best tire that'll fit in the fenders without issue?

2. Just to clarify, are both the front and rear wing mounts removable? What wings are used for them, and where can they be located? (I plan on getting them for when I start tracking)

3. What is the usual equation you guys use to figure out the cost of powder coating the frame? I know it is usually $600-$900, but within those prices, what all can be done?For example, a top and bottom coat? I am thinking of a custom color such as a super chrome with a blue or orange top coat, or something of that nature. Hell, maybe even super chrome with a green metallic topcoat and a glow in the dark clear coat just for fun.

4. My duty station is in California, however I am moving back to Georgia in February. Is there any chance I am able get out of the GA taxes? Basically what I am planning on doing is putting in my order sometime in November in hopes the frame will be done in late feb or early march. All of my info will say California until I move back. So would I be able to pay for it and then pick it up in GA tax free since I paid while in California with California information?

5. I've seen several pictures of your Exocet in Georgia, how did you guys go about registering it? Did you keep it as a miata, or did you register it as a kit car? If you did it as a kit car, what all needs to be done for it to be Georgia legal? Just trying to see what I should do when it comes for my time.

6. I see that you guys have headlights on your store website, what about taillights? Will they be be available as well and will they be integrated into the back panel like the renders show? And will you guys be offering any other options for the Exocets like seats or anything else?

Sorry for all the questions, i am just trying to get prepared for my future project to the best of my ability, and try to get a ballpark cost while I can. So far that is all I can think of right now. I may have more questions in the future, but for now those are the only ones that really stuck out in my mind.

Thank you very much!

I'll let Warren handle most of these - but about the lights, we'll have some options available as soon as we can confirm fitment on the new bodywork. Also, we supply quite a range of aftermarket Miata parts such as seats that are compatible with the Exocet. So if Exomotive can't supply what you need, we probably can.

Awesome thank you Keith! Are there any other options flyin miata plans to produce for the Exocets?

1. I recommend a 205/50-15 on 15x8s, zero offset. You don't need spacers for the fenders, but I would recommend a 4mm spacer in the rear to give a little more clearance. It's a light stretch, which should give you a bit more sidewall stiffness while retaining impact compliance. You can fit 225s in the fenders, but unless you're pushing 300+ whp, the car will not be as much fun and could even have less grip due to temperature, unsprung mass, and camber gain considerations.

2. The front and rear wing mounts are removable, they bolt on. The current pattern is for the NASCAR COT wings, which admittedly have gotten difficult to find. We may have a different option in the future, so you can just get the rear mounts installed in your frame. The front mounts don't require anything special.

3. We charge what the powdercoat job costs us, which is why it's variable. Multi-coats increase the cost, and powder itself can range in price by around $400. When you place a deposit, we submit a quote for the particular color to our powdercoaters. We could charge $900 to cover multi-coats and whatnot, but it saves you money to go through the quoting process. We do the same thing with shipping.

4. You're always responsible for paying sales tax. We only collect when required, but it is actually your responsibility to report any unpaid sales tax each year. Take that answer as you will, but I'm not going to advocate tax evasion on a public forum.

5. Disclaimer: it is the customer's responsibility to research their registration process, as we cannot hope to cover every situation. That said, it is generally straightforward to register a car in the South. We issue Manufacturer Certificates (Statement) of Origin, which greatly ease the process of getting these registered in most states. Our cars are registered in GA using the dune buggy law, where you surrender the Miata VIN and our MSO and the state gives you a new VIN plate. The car is recorded as a current year Exomotive Exocet. In emissions counties, a waiver process is available. For what it's worth, we have customers in California that have sailed through the SB100 registration process. http://www.mevowners.proboards.com/thread/4507/steadfasts-california-exocet?page=8 http://www.bipac.net/page.asp?content=tag_title_toolbox&g=SEMAGA

6. The rear tail light mounting area is completely flat, which means you can use just about any rear light you can find with a DOT marking. Flyin' Miata is working on something if you want a complete solution. We currently do not offer seat packages, but the Kirkey 47500 16" is my favorite (6'2", 240lbs). Just like the Miata, you want a seat that is not very wide in the upper ribs. The Corbeau Forza and its derivatives are a common favorite. The Sparco Sprint should fit pretty well, too.

Ballpart cost? Most customers end up between $10-14k all-in, including their donor. $12k seems to be thrown around a lot, and that usually includes nice seats, new wheels and tires, and a bunch of maintenance that you would do to an old Miata if you were restoring it. We did a basic build (XP-2) for $8k all-in, including the donor, registration, and insurance for a year. We re-used the Miata seats with new upholstery. Kevin pays something around $250 per year for the car he personally registered. Collector car insurance is awesome!

Awesome, thank you very much warren. That clears everything up for now!

Black_Knight wrote: Awesome thank you Keith! Are there any other options flyin miata plans to produce for the Exocets?

Yes. We have a fuel completion kit that makes fuel plumbing a bolt-together setup - Exomotive offers something similar. We also have some radiator brackets that make the radiator install a snap. As we come across anything else required, we'll make it happen. Plus, of course, the majority of our Miata parts will fit an Exocet. One of my personal favorites is the Little Big Brake Kit, which has been proven to haul down an Exocet very nicely and uses stock size rotors. It's what Exomotive has on XP4.

We used Sparco Sprints in our own car. They worked nicely. There's actually more room for seats in the Exocet than in the Miata, so you've got a wide range of options.

Awesome! Hopefully they will be available by the time I submit my order! I am wanting to get everything together so that when I do manage to get my frame, it'll be fairly easy since I will have all the parts ready!

Thank you gentlemen!

Warren, Posting this question here since you're the engineer and probably the right person to aim it at, and this might be of interest to other Exocet builds. I'm interested in swapping motors after the build is complete. Somebody on the Exomotive forums suggested that this would be easier if the bulkhead and trans tunnel were rivnutted in so they're removable. Do you see any problems with this - would it compromise the tube strength? Can you suggest a rivnut size? Finally what is the tube wall thickness?

Keith i would really like to know more about what you guys have coming down the pipe line for tail lights. My kit is hopefully on a truck or pallet waiting for a truck. I ordered headlights and just came back from an automotive tradeshow where 1 out of 5 booths was led lights but nothing quite like I wanted. KC was very very close with its new 2" which are way cool, way bright and mount with a zues or one small bolt, but ONLY 2 WIRES.

http://www.kchilites.com/lights/cyclone.html

I had pretty much decided to morph their great design with something else I found, but would rather work on the wrecked lotus in the garage than fabbing lights (tig versus soldering iron and carving plastic).

http://www.ledsdirect.com/circuitboards2.htm

If I am forced to build my own I was thinking using solid works or cad to build a housing similar to KCs version and have a 3D printer make it. I already ordered a pair of KCs just to use for mock up or as a dome light on the dash of the Exocet.

You have my email if you want to share with me privately and convince me to not order the curcuit board project. I'm guessing my body is 4 to 8 weeks away, but that is just a guess not any promises that have been made. I'm probably 4 weeks away from driving Exocet once it arrives with my busy personal and work schedule anyways.

Here's our tail solution. The inner circle is white when it's not lit, but lights up red. They are astoundingly bright. LED of course. Sealed, no assembly required, long life construction as they're aimed at over-the-road truckers. We've got the wiring to convert the Miata to two-filament operation as well.

Obviously, they're just zip tied to the back of the frame here.

For reverse, I've got some ideas but I really need to wait for the bodywork to confirm. Probably nothing too exotic.

Personally, I don't see any problem with rivnutting the trans tunnel. It's not structural. I don't see making the bulkhead removable being a big help.

In reply to jwagner:

I'm not a big fan of rivnuts, they're heavy, not as stiff as rivets, don't fit flush, and add complexity. The tubes are certainly strong enough to support them, however. The thinnest tube you'll run into down there is 0.049", and most of them are 0.065".

6 sheet metal screws work just fine for the trans cover. XP-3 actually has #6 screws and cosmetic screw caps holding all the aluminum panels on for this exact purpose (future swaps and development). I have noticed no rattles or looseness.

Well.

I think I just found an undocumented formatting feature.

heh.

lets see side view & powered off.

holy font batman!

Carry on.

mrvwcastner wrote: lets see side view & powered off.

I'll post that tomorrow. They're nearly flush, so the side view is not exciting.

Any chance there will be different wing options in the future? This CoT wing seems near impossible to locate. Sucks to offer wing mounts for something that is not easily accessible. :(