The ultimate SVX?

Ok, so the board's got a bit lively discussing how fast (Sonar) their cars can go...

I was wondering (assuming money was literally no object) what kind of mods from the ones available, (and or any that could be realistically developed), people would do to make the ultimate SVX...

So for a start, the obvious one (for me) would be some form of turbocharging, either twin parallel or sequential turbos developing, somewhere around the 400 bhp mark, yes, that would be adequate. I think I'd probably be a bit contentous and stick with an auto 'box and use the tiptronic unit out of the Blitzen 6.

Better lights, Blitzen wheels (anthracite grey with rubber band P-Zeros) and a very subtle body kit... For starters...

Any ideas...

Jason
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[Nobody]

Hi Jason, as for me I am fully satisfied with SVX just at it is. I bought it as a "hobby" and I am trying to get it in shape like it was when new. For me, any "power up" modifications are out of my interest. I like it with original wheels, color because it is pure beauty. The only modification I did is tranny cooler and I put down registration plate holder from front bumper and replaced reg. plate with sticker with reg. number in the lower part of bumper/spoiler (no problem with police yet, they stopped me three times and just admired car:-)). No modification inside.
For me if I would like to spend money on mods I would bought Toyota Supra Twin Turbo, who knows this car will probably agree with me, that it is just number 1 for mods and you can gain with not so much investments 400 - 500HP. Or Imreza STI no doubt.
My Subaru dealer have lent me a new Legacy 3.0R for one day. I am very impressed by it. I have very similar feeling driving it, it behaves like a SVX and has very very good brakes. It is very comfort, powerful car (240HP), for me I would done only 2 mods, seats are to high for sport ride and also chassis is more comfort thant sport (seems 18" rims will do the best job). I recommend to test drive it definitely.
Peter

[svxistentialist]

If you talk in superlatives, and money no object, then different folks will travel different paths down the upgrades road, because they want different things.

Like Peter, I am a big fan of the current shape and "envelope" of the car, and I would do little to change it.

However, it could do with more power, better lights and better brakes. And a gearbox that did not keep breaking down.

I would want to keep the car as a long-distance comfortable high speed coupe, so that limits suspension mods for a start. Liquorice strip rubber would be a no-no, too much bumpthump and broken rims, only suitable for track use or showing off.

Of your options Jason, twin sequential turbo would appeal, it would retain low rev torque and acceleration. I would rather do a supercharger, as I feel the space is bad for a twin turbo set-up. In turn, this will mean bad under-bonnet ventilation, and really high temperatures directly from the turbos and generated by the additional horsepower. So for me a smallish modern supercharger feeding the current inlet tract, and adding about 100hp.

This would probably work with the current high compression ratio, but it would be better to put in a set of lower crown ceramic coated pistons, and add a thicker head gasket to each head. This would reduce the C/R sufficiently to run ordinary unleaded, and help the engine internals to cope with the greater amounts of heat generated.

The engine would also need higher flow injectors, pretty sure the ones from a Nissan Skyline fit and do the job. A separate fuel flow CU would also be needed.

Transmission would need beefing up. Level 10 in US can rebuild the 4EAT to cope with 500hp, this is an option, and does not need TCU and rewiring specialists to intervene. Having lost faith in the tranny, if spending this sort of money I would probably source a tiptronic also, probably from the Audi S8, but the one in the new Bentley Coupe looks a gem. Needless to say, stronger back axle and diff required.

Last, but most important, the brakes would need to be bigger, and this means the standard rims would not fit. Todd in the US is fitting lightweight callipers to his from a Beemer 5 series, great plan.

I almost forgot, different exhaust to flow the extra gases. Sonar SuperSonic seems to have a real good one on his. As I don't like noisy cars, I would be hoping to get a system that would flow enough at the correct pressures without being louder. Impossible dream? Don't know.

That about does it, but I would use better bulbs in the lights, and I am trying to think of a discreet and watertight way to replace the foglights with HID units for long range high speed safety.

That's my wish list.

Joe

[Nobody]

Hi Joe, reading about your mods wishes I am smiling. You would end up with very different car, not SVX :-). If you imagine how much these all mods would costed...
I would rather dreamed about some other car, Supra, Skyline or some Honda Type R etc.
SVX will NEVER be a sport car, let it be as a good GT with all its good and bad sides. That is why we all love it and do also minor mods to keep it alive as much long as it can.
When you mentioned Audi S8 I recalled my visits at my tranny mechanic. I was there 5 times and saw every time different Audi with broken tranny. These cars were maximum 3 yrs old, all models from A4 to Allroad. I would never bought Audi with AT.
And my wishes? Jaguar XJ220 or the greatest, Aston Martin DB9 :-)
Peter,

lights lights lights - really weak area. I've tried Philips Vision Plus which are Ok and next I'll try Osram Silverstar, which are supposed to be better, but they are all pretty drab on 'dip', so I drive with one hand on the Beam Leveller switch on the console. My UK cars have the innermost fog positions blanked off inside nad with plain back covers. so I cooked the assemblies in the oven like Peter suggested , and have currently wired in two LED mini floor uplighters - 8 LEDs each - and drilled them into the back covers. They look fab, compliment the central bone lens LED unit, but do b***** all for elk illuminating. However I've just come across page 151 of the 'Demon Tweeks' brochure (www.demon-tweeks.co.uk) which has a range of rally bulbs that produce up to 135w, some of which are low draw current jobs. Somethings going to give - no more dark and dangerous by-ways.

Originally posted by m.messenger
lights lights lights - really weak area. I've tried Philips Vision Plus which are Ok and next I'll try Osram Silverstar, which are supposed to be better, but they are all pretty drab on 'dip', so I drive with one hand on the Beam Leveller switch on the console. My UK cars have the innermost fog positions blanked off inside nad with plain back covers. so I cooked the assemblies in the oven like Peter suggested , and have currently wired in two LED mini floor uplighters - 8 LEDs each - and drilled them into the back covers. They look fab, compliment the central bone lens LED unit, but do b***** all for elk illuminating. However I've just come across page 151 of the 'Demon Tweeks' brochure (www.demon-tweeks.co.uk) which has a range of rally bulbs that produce up to 135w, some of which are low draw current jobs. Somethings going to give - no more dark and dangerous by-ways.

Oh, and of course I removed the blanking plates -sort of chromy plastic reflectors, before fitting the LEDs, but would really like to fit proper bulb holders for H1s or H3s.

[seasvx]

Originally posted by Nobody
as for me I am fully satisfied with SVX just at it is.

...i guess i need to bring my svx to Europe to find owners who also appreciate the car in factory original trim! i find myself outnumbered here by owners of svxi that have been either slightly or highly modified. i get blank stares when i tell svx drivers that i removed the aftermarket wheels that came with the car when i bought it 3 years ago and refitted original equipment svx wheels (after chrome plating them, a small mod, i suppose). the OE wheel and tire combination seem to suit the car perfectly.

...and as for the Aston Martin DB9, yeah, given unlimited bags of money, i'll be right there with you! cheers!

[Nobody]

Hi seasvx, happy to hear am not alone. As for original wheels, as you know, FHI grew up on aircraft industry. I read somehere about designing wheels for SVX. There were mention, that these wheels were designed by aircrat engineers and main purpose was to create shape which will guide air directly to brakes and cool them down. So I think other than original wheels will cause brakes to overheat (which is common problem with aftermarket rotors) and maybe demage them...
Peter

[svxistentialist]

Yes Peter,

I love the original rims. I am having mine trued up, and resprayed in original colour. If it was possible to get a 17" or 18" version, that's the way to go. They are light for their size, and pretty strong, or at least not a brittle shatter-prone alloy.

However, it would be worth changing to bigger rims to accommodate lightweight larger rotors and callipers.

Our friends in the US are always wanting to shave a second or two off the standing quarter mile time. Here in Europe, we rate a car's zippiness by quoting the 0-60 time, or the 0-100kph time. Me, I am a big big fan of 0-100-0 [mph]. Cars that can do this in 10 or 12 seconds impress me deeply. Demonstrates ability and dynamic safety I would say.

If only for that reason alone, the brakes gotta grow.

Joe

[KennEls]

Originally posted by Nobody
Hi Joe, reading about your mods wishes I am smiling. You would end up with very different car, not SVX :-). If you imagine how much these all mods would costed...
I would rather dreamed about some other car, Supra, Skyline or some Honda Type R etc.
SVX will NEVER be a sport car, let it be as a good GT with all its good and bad sides. That is why we all love it and do also minor mods to keep it alive as much long as it can.
When you mentioned Audi S8 I recalled my visits at my tranny mechanic. I was there 5 times and saw every time different Audi with broken tranny. These cars were maximum 3 yrs old, all models from A4 to Allroad. I would never bought Audi with AT.
And my wishes? Jaguar XJ220 or the greatest, Aston Martin DB9 :-)
Peter,

I agree with you Peter, I love the car as it is, right from the "odd windows" done the "plain stock rims"

The only extra I think that would suit me is a mattress in the back seat, and no, not for that reason, just so that when Mrs KennEls is on her daily rampage, I would then have a better option than the doghouse.

Kenn

[lee]

Originally posted by m.messenger
lights lights lights - really weak area. I've tried Philips Vision Plus which are Ok and next I'll try Osram Silverstar, which are supposed to be better, ...snip...

The Phillips bulbs aren't available in the US (at least the same as the Euro version - although some motorcyclists have imported them here). I was under the impression that they were brighter than the Osram (Sylvania to US readers). Anyway, do the UK versions use the 9005/9006 series bulbs? If yes, have you seen the thread about modifying the high beam bulb for use in the low beam position (just cut away the two inner tabs)? You get a few more watts for light output but also a shorter MBTF expectancy - no such thing as a free lunch (does that translate?).

[The Monzta]

First thing I would do is get rid of the standard rims. I think they are the weakest point on the car and really upset the asthetics of what is quite a striking looking machine.

Originally posted by lee


The Phillips bulbs aren't available in the US (at least the same as the Euro version - although some motorcyclists have imported them here). I was under the impression that they were brighter than the Osram (Sylvania to US readers). Anyway, do the UK versions use the 9005/9006 series bulbs? If yes, have you seen the thread about modifying the high beam bulb for use in the low beam position (just cut away the two inner tabs)? You get a few more watts for light output but also a shorter MBTF expectancy - no such thing as a free lunch (does that translate?).

UK cars, without the beam angle gauge, -as far as I know- use H1 (not 9006 or HB4) outer headlight and H3 (not 9005 or HB3) inner ,and the foglight is H3 (if you have them)

Originally posted by The Monzta
First thing I would do is get rid of the standard rims. I think they are the weakest point on the car and really upset the asthetics of what is quite a striking looking machine.

Here here - that's why I turned mine round to 'roll' forward and painted them black. Did the same paint job on the Monza wheels but leaving a polished rim line. I'm sure it's true about the propellor styling airflowing the brakes, just like some Porsches, the Probe, and even the Daewoo Matiz, but I'd rather brake sooner and softer.

[wawazat??]

Originally posted by svxistentialist
Todd in the US is fitting lightweight callipers to his from a Beemer 5 series, great plan.

Joe

Actuallt they're from a 911 Joe

Todd