GRM Exclusive Reveal: Exocet Spec-A

In reply to Warren v:

I am impressed, it performed that well. When I try it looks a lot more comical.

How to you tighten the bolts for the seat bracket enough without crushing the tubes?

Drill the holes larger and put bushings in there

BTD wrote:

Warren v wrote:

This picture makes me wish I HAD ordered the 1" taller roll hoop. Oops. If I can't get my tall butt low enough, maybe I'll just drop the floor... Out of curiosity, how tall is this fine individual? Also, I'll second the request for updates on spacers/windshield!

I'm 6'3"; these seats were really narrow (15's, maybe even smaller?...) and I could not get my frame and shoulders in them. They were installed for the sake of keeping on schedule to debut for the Fabtech show. I seamed to fit just fine in the 17's ran in XP3. Will probably go with those once I find a seat that suits me best. Plus, I'll also delete the sliders out and bolt the seat directly to the frame and gain at least another inch or more.
Knowing this was an initial shakedown run being done during the warm up session and would be taken really slow, I was fairly relaxed (but WAAAAYY EXCITED). Thus the arm resting on the main swept frame tubes. Once the pace starts to pick up, arm restraints will be used. If track days start to get really serious, I'll probably swap a race cage in, but this is fairly far off in the future.

I also jumped into XP5 when we rolled it onto the scales and with my big ole frame and full gear, we came to a final and fully wet curb weight of 1980lbs and a 56-44 FR weight distribution. Some (if not many) will deride this as poor weight distribution and could never be as 'fast' as other track oriented vehicles with rear weight bias yadaya.... But the way I see it, this is not a 1% car or even a .1% car, and by that I do not mean a car only meant for individuals with very deep pockets (which yes just so happens to also be the case). This car is meant for the 99% of the drivers out there who can swallow their pride and acknowledge that they could probably never drive your typically referenced track oriented cars to their ultimate limits without wrecking them. The biggest surprise I had with the brief time with the exocet was how communicative the chassis was despite having what is considered to be a bonkers amount of power. I could easily feel the upper limits of traction on the cold and brand new tires and felt wholly confident that the chassis won't give me any surprises when things will ultimately start picking up pace.
One final tidbit; the last time I was on a track was Roebling Halloween 5 years ago on a fairly modified 1098S Ducati where I basically decided to 'retire' from 2 wheels after wrecking. I've always missed the rush but recognized that my 2 wheel days are pretty much over. With basically as much power to weight as my old 1098, I can not believe I have come across something that I will enjoy even more and actually be able to get close to the upper limits of the vehicle. To me that is a huge win in my book.

And final final tidbit, IT IS SO MUCH FREAKING FUN!!!

Are there any pics with an APR wing aside from the one on the bare chassis in the web store?

lhintze wrote: Drill the holes larger and put bushings in there

Please elaborate.

This is what I was thinking...

[URL=http://s1123.photobucket.com/user/06rrrider/media/IMG_2013.jpg.html][/URL]

ashneyder wrote:

lhintze wrote: Drill the holes larger and put bushings in there

Please elaborate.

The safe way to run a bolt through a tube is to drill the hole over sized and pass a sleeve through it, weld the ends of the sleeve to the tube, and pass the bolt through the sleeve. This way and "crush" takes place on the end of the sleeve not the diameter of the tube.

Have any customers with US build Exocets mounted fenders / fender stays yet? I am wondering if the brake dust shields need to be removed to allow mounting of the fender stays, or if they can remain in place. Also wondering if there are any other "pro's" to removing the dust shields even if they can stay in place w/fender stays mounted.

I think you get better brake cooling without the shields. Never instrumented it, though.

BAR complete without fenders!! I am done with everything, now to take all my paperwork to the DMV to get my plates!

Congrats, looks awesome!

BTD wrote: This picture makes me wish I HAD ordered the 1" taller roll hoop. Oops. If I can't get my tall butt low enough, maybe I'll just drop the floor...

Where did you hear about this mythical 1" taller rollbar? I am not aware of such a beast.

It's the 8th configuration down in your solidworks frame subassembly.

In reply to Warren v:

He might be referring to the 6th through 8th posts in the tread below.

http://mevowners.proboards.com/thread/6029/btds-exocet-build-colorado

Well, if Kevin sold someone a taller roll bar, I am not aware of it. I certainly have not designed one or sent it off to manufacturing. it would require a significant amount of work, including new check fixtures.

In reply to Warren v:

Those were the posts I was referencing - just internet rumors it seems. No worries, I spoke with Kevin today and he talked me through some options should I run into clearance problems. Worst case dropping the floor ~1" looks simple enough from a fab standpoint but I don't think it will come to that.

Being 6'5" has it's disadvantages!

SteadFast wrote: BAR complete without fenders!! I am done with everything, now to take all my paperwork to the DMV to get my plates!

Awesome SteadFast, Congrats! I just found this forum recently and I am looking to do what you are doing!

I noticed you are in San Jose as well, how hard has it been to get it registered for the street out here? I am local as well and if you are up for it, ill need to pick your brain about the process! My last car was a 2002 Miata with an LS2 swap that I almost got through BAR but they argued about a few things that werent correctable and I had to sell it. This may be my best shot for this go-around!

Droop adapter progress tonight:

Talking to the Idaho DMV right now, looking a bit trickier than I thought. A question for the Exomotive guys from them:

"Does the MSO you get with the short VIN state the vehicle is FMVSS compliant or that it’s a kit?"

My gut feeling is no FMVSS compliance but I have to check.

Rosaki wrote:

SteadFast wrote: BAR complete without fenders!! I am done with everything, now to take all my paperwork to the DMV to get my plates!

Awesome SteadFast, Congrats! I just found this forum recently and I am looking to do what you are doing! I noticed you are in San Jose as well, how hard has it been to get it registered for the street out here? I am local as well and if you are up for it, ill need to pick your brain about the process! My last car was a 2002 Miata with an LS2 swap that I almost got through BAR but they argued about a few things that werent correctable and I had to sell it. This may be my best shot for this go-around!

I'd be more than happy to help. Feel free to reach out to me geoffimlach@gmail.com.

Dumb question, but what are the drop adapters for? Is it to use NA suspension on a NB or something?

My understanding: The original design intent of the Exocet was to build a fun sports car out of a rusted out UK hulk. Thanks to bad rust problems and yearly safety checks, early MX5s are basically free. The designer imagined builders using the stock suspension. In order to keep the ride height the same, the upper shock mounting points were moved up substantially.

In the US, we're taking the Exocet a different way. They're built for performance, as track weapons, and almost all of them are running upgraded coilover suspension. Thanks to those high upper shock points, you end up having to run the suspension high to get a reasonable ride height. This can cause real problems with available droop travel, with some short body shocks being maxed out. The adapters move the mounting points down to a point closer or matching the Miata location.

So are the adapters being included in all kits, or are they an add-on?

In reply to lhintze:

The Exocet shock mounts are taller than a Miata, 1.8" in the front and 1.2" in the rear. As Keith said those of us with short shocks don't have enough droop travel when the shock shafts are extended that much more. Your particular shock will dictate if droop adaptors or needed. For example I suspect Koni Sports will need droop adaptors in the front but can get away with stock mounts in the rear. Koni race will need adaptors both front and rear.

Thanks for the explanation guys.

Keith, will the FM Vmaxx Classics require them?