Noble M500 Upgrades & Overhaul

[glen n]

You've been busy! It's been a while since I read your build thread. You will be glad it's ready for Le Mans this year.

[ashley]

You finished yet Peter?

[Peter Gidden]

You finished yet Peter?

Getting there!

Whilst engine was out i had another modification that's been niggling me for years sorted.

Noble's idea of adjusting rear track was simple but a PITA. To adjust tracking, undo wishbone bolt, tap bolt through so rod end can be rotated 180 degrees, tap bolt in, check tracking. WTF?



So, had some turnbuckles machined with RH/LH threads, and some inserts to match. Then off to a race suspension specialist to have track rods shortened and inserts welded in. Note the plug welds in the sides of the rod as well as the end welding. Track rods will be blasted and powder coated next winter when i overhaul rear suspension.



Now rear track can be adjusted like any other car.

Installed fire extinguisher pipes deep into engine bay, and drilled chassis ready for engine cutout module to be fitted at a later date.

Engine fitting next...

[Peter Gidden]

Now if you think an MR2 engine is a tight fit. Think again! Compared to the Noble, an MR2 engine bay is like a wizard's sleeve!

The engine has to be fitted as a bare long block. All ancilleries have to be fitted with engine in situ.

There's around 5-10mm to play with, so it's a slow job lowering and manouvering into place.







Rear manifold and hybrid T28 turbo fitted first. Easy job!



The, stuff at the ends: starter, power steering pump etc. And my custom made gear linkage. Distance between gates and distance in gates fully adjustable:



Wiring plugged in, coolant lines and intercooler fitted. Found a dry wheel bearing that got replaced yesterday, and N/S driveshaft and suspension fitted.



Front turbo is fitted. Exhaust, alternator and O/S driveshaft/hub to go.

Next job is crank engine to build oil pressure, then fit plugs and upper inlet manifold.

Not far to go now!

[SySanguinary]

Not far to go now!

You must be looking at it from a different angle than me!

[Peter Gidden]

Update time.

After 18 months of looking, finally picked up a set of s/h genuine Ferrrari 612 rear lights.



More on that project later in the year.

Also managed to pick up a dash assembly after i was forced into buying Ash's Race Technology dash and data logger.



Unfortunately, the original dash is totally wrong shape for the Dash2:



So, time to start modifying

Stat by filling in the "V" with foam to support the fibreglass "bridge".



Trim with a knife:



Then flat with a coarse sander::



Finish to 3mm below desired final level and flat borders down to bare GRP for new resin to bond to:



Cut matting to shape:



Wet out and leave to cure:



That'll do for time being. Will apply a few layers of tissue later:



Now to the dash face. Wax a sheet of glass, and clamp dash to glass:



GRP from rear of dash:



Looks good to me:



Now for a few evening of surface finishing.

More updates to come.

[pistol pete]

keeping you bust then Peter.. Is it all up and running now?

[gerbil1028]

Did you get a answer on oil pressure.

[Peter Gidden]

Progress on dash:

Flatted off and gloss coated as imperfections in curves easier to see



Modification finished and ready for full prep and repaint when rest of dash is finished.



Race dash test fitted in car to ensure full visibility through steering wheel. Measure once, twice, and a third time before drilling



Fitted.



Now onto rest of dash mods...

[matt-mr2]

That looks great Peter it's really coming on now

[gerbil1028]

See my driveshaft box in one of the pics.

[ashley]

Looking good Peter....any progress on your engine diagnosis yet?

[craig]

Some effort gone in there! Dash looks spot on.

[Peter Gidden]

Looking good Peter....any progress on your engine diagnosis yet?

Well i've confirmed that there is around 1 psi drop in oil pressure between block and rear of head on a good engine.

So now i'll retake the measurements on my engine, and then investigate. I still think i have low oil pressure on the rear inlet cam.

[Peter Gidden]

So, on to the centre dash. My requirements:

• OEM quality and appearance in all respects. I don't want the finished result to look as though it should be in Car of the Month on Locost Cater-Field Kit Car Forum
  
  Fully functional built in sat-nav system. No room for double DIN unit.
  
  All switches to be low profile. No toggles or rockers.
  
  

Watch this space...

[Peter Gidden]

The RT Dash2 has 5 programmable screens for displaying data. Once programmed via a laptop, a simple push button switch is used for scrolling through the pages.

The obvious place to mount the button is on the steering wheel, with a curly lead linking the steering wheel to the dash assembly.

However i didn't want a curly lead dangling down in the footwell.

So in with the imagination...

Bought a wireless keyfob switch and dismantled it. Got my 1mm soldering iron out, and with the help of a magnifying glass and a steady hand, desoldered the SMD switch. I then soldered two flying leads to the contact points on the pcb.



Bought a Sparco steering wheel switch and bracket.



, and soldered flying leads to switch. The transmitter is small enough to live in the steering wheel boss, and easily accessable for battery changing every few years.



So now i can control my Dash2 from the steering wheel with no curly leads.

Anyone with trackday or race cars wanting 1-4 wireless steering switches, either latching (i.e. switching circuits on and off) or momentary e.g. horn, pit lane limiter etc. PM me.

[ashley]

Need to work out what frequency that's on so I can get a garage fob to match, if I did come to LeMans that would provide great entertainment constantly switching your screens for you

Looking good Peter

[Peter Gidden]

Need to work out what frequency that's on so I can get a garage fob to match, if I did come to LeMans that would provide great entertainment constantly switching your screens for you

Ah, well took you (and the others) into account... Rolling code i'm afraid.

[ashley]

[craig]

Pete's dash project incentive: