14 Aug 2006, 00:18
Hi All
I've been debating about posting this to the DeLorean forum because I guess there're a few out there who've "heard it all before" but here goes...
Through the time and experimentation that went in on the twin turbo DeLorean, I got to learn a particular aftermarket ECU that is known in the Renault Alpine community over here. It's particular ability to read a stock Renault 66/3 flywheel makes it the obvious choice to run a Renault EFI engine (like the TT DeLorean). Not long after getting the DeLorean running, I was approached by an Alpine owner who's had a tough time getting someone to set up his engine. It's probably the most well known Alpine GTA in the country, and here's why...
Three years ago, the owner decided to pension off the original 2458cc turbo engine and invest in a brand new 3 litre lump direct from Renault. To this end, he bought a Hartge tuned Renault Safrane BiTurbo crate engine. What arrived was the short block, and with the addition of an A610 intake manifold, all his original GTA stuff bolted right up. He also invested nearly £1000 in a custom made T38 Turbo - T3 turbine, T4 compressor. The intercooler was jacketed and water piped to a pre-rad at the front. And then got stuck wien it came to the ECU. That's when I got the call.
Last week with a very basic map based on the TT DeLorean. we were able to take the car out on the road for the first time. The GTA has the same weight, the same clutch and the same ratios until 4th (4th and 5th are fractionally taller) as the DeLorean. Wow! I came back from the first run thinking "If we can get any DeLorean to go like that, it'll blow your socks off!". A few days later we got to the rolling road for a proper mapping session. It was running only 8psi of boost and generating 160hp at the wheels. Easy to forget how utterly torquey these 3 litre engines are!!!
After a few hours of work, a blown turbo pipe and serious trouble getting the car to stop spinning its wheels (275/45-17 racing slicks no less), we were running off the top of the scale at 240hp at the wheels at 5000rpm at 15psi of boost. The rest had to be done on the road and some 20% was gained in the 5000-6000 rpm. The Renault boys reckon on 60hp loss in the transmission, so we were already over the 300 barrier on the rollers. 20% on top of that??? AND only at a bar of boost?
http://www.delorean.co.uk/DSCN2452.JPG
http://www.delorean.co.uk/DSCN2453.JPG
http://www.alpinerenaultrestoration.co. ... mepage.jpg
What can I say? Out on the road, I was in my element.... I've driven Marc's Nissan engined DeLorean and I'm sorry to say mate that it wouldn't have a prayer against this GTA. The owner also has an R32 Skyline modified for 400hp, and even he said the GTA felt faster. The PRV was tuned for torque and the way it pulls through the gears is more than enough to implant a surgical smile on your face.
I've got two of these engines on the shelf just waiting for the money to be put into installing one in a DeLorean. Nearly there!
Martin
I've been debating about posting this to the DeLorean forum because I guess there're a few out there who've "heard it all before" but here goes...
Through the time and experimentation that went in on the twin turbo DeLorean, I got to learn a particular aftermarket ECU that is known in the Renault Alpine community over here. It's particular ability to read a stock Renault 66/3 flywheel makes it the obvious choice to run a Renault EFI engine (like the TT DeLorean). Not long after getting the DeLorean running, I was approached by an Alpine owner who's had a tough time getting someone to set up his engine. It's probably the most well known Alpine GTA in the country, and here's why...
Three years ago, the owner decided to pension off the original 2458cc turbo engine and invest in a brand new 3 litre lump direct from Renault. To this end, he bought a Hartge tuned Renault Safrane BiTurbo crate engine. What arrived was the short block, and with the addition of an A610 intake manifold, all his original GTA stuff bolted right up. He also invested nearly £1000 in a custom made T38 Turbo - T3 turbine, T4 compressor. The intercooler was jacketed and water piped to a pre-rad at the front. And then got stuck wien it came to the ECU. That's when I got the call.
Last week with a very basic map based on the TT DeLorean. we were able to take the car out on the road for the first time. The GTA has the same weight, the same clutch and the same ratios until 4th (4th and 5th are fractionally taller) as the DeLorean. Wow! I came back from the first run thinking "If we can get any DeLorean to go like that, it'll blow your socks off!". A few days later we got to the rolling road for a proper mapping session. It was running only 8psi of boost and generating 160hp at the wheels. Easy to forget how utterly torquey these 3 litre engines are!!!
After a few hours of work, a blown turbo pipe and serious trouble getting the car to stop spinning its wheels (275/45-17 racing slicks no less), we were running off the top of the scale at 240hp at the wheels at 5000rpm at 15psi of boost. The rest had to be done on the road and some 20% was gained in the 5000-6000 rpm. The Renault boys reckon on 60hp loss in the transmission, so we were already over the 300 barrier on the rollers. 20% on top of that??? AND only at a bar of boost?
http://www.delorean.co.uk/DSCN2452.JPG
http://www.delorean.co.uk/DSCN2453.JPG
http://www.alpinerenaultrestoration.co. ... mepage.jpg
What can I say? Out on the road, I was in my element.... I've driven Marc's Nissan engined DeLorean and I'm sorry to say mate that it wouldn't have a prayer against this GTA. The owner also has an R32 Skyline modified for 400hp, and even he said the GTA felt faster. The PRV was tuned for torque and the way it pulls through the gears is more than enough to implant a surgical smile on your face.
I've got two of these engines on the shelf just waiting for the money to be put into installing one in a DeLorean. Nearly there!
Martin