FFR Update #5

[Mechie3]

Check your email. Cool picture at the bottom. :)

[Kalstar]

Got it too.

[rjh2pd]

Can someone post everything as I and I'm sure others are not on the email list?

[longislandwrx]

Nice! I'm assuming the spoiler can now be mounted to the hinged section directly above the uprights which will carry the load to the chassis. Very cool.

Can't believe i'm 4 months away from my kit!

[longislandwrx]

Project 818 Pre-Order Update #5
February 27, 2013 Update.


Project 818 is speeding along at top speed. We've got a full time crew of four engineers and two techs, plus support from the rest of the crew here at FFR as needed.
The bulk of the work we are engaged in, and will be working on for the next month or so, is tooling, jigs and fixtures. The chassis/frame jig and related welding fixtures are being made and finalized, with upgrades and changes made quickly thanks to our new CNC laser-cutting machine. The body molds are now third generation with a lot of confidence on the shapes and tolerances. Jim is making small shape changes for convenience, such as splitting the rear deck from one hatch piece into two, with a hinged deck lid.
We completed two full days of track testing in North Carolina with both the 818S and 818R cars. The lengthy track time was invaluable (we completely wore the race tires down to the cords!) and we are very happy with the cars' performance, durability, and netted some great design review ideas to incorporate pre-launch. The cars were generating very fast lap times with cornering G loads in excess of 1.5G's! Both vehicles were powered by 265 HP WRX engines.
The team is confident that we will meet our production launch targets, and after recent track testing, we all wished we could have had the cars at the recent Hot Rod Magazine/Motor Trend testing. We've posted some short track videos for fun.
Big thanks to customers and development test drivers Wayne Presley, from Verycoolparts.com and John George, NASA National Champion. Wayne and John provided excellent independent feedback to the engineering staff during track/durability testing.
We're getting close to production and the first production kit is slated to go to the good guys at Grassroots Motorsports Magazine for assembly article and evaluation.
Marketing has been a lower priority as all resources are dedicated to engineering and production start-up. Still, Adam Costa from Lone Wolf was here and included a lot of video work for our hugely delayed, but soon-to-be-released new Factory Five DVD. The 818 will be fully covered in this new DVD.
Lastly, we had photographers here from a major magazine here for a few days photographing all the individual parts of the kit. We will be conducting a full road test/magazine evaluation with a major national publication for an article on the new car. Stay tuned on that!
I am happy to report that the 818 continues to progress as planned and is indeed our best work yet!

Dave Smith
President




The engineering team recently changed the rear hatch design for easy access. Functional testing is driving excellent refinement on the 818

15747

George Kennedy from BoldRide.com visit during the Factory Five Winter Open House and reports on Project 818.

http://www.boldride.com/blog/2013/02/factory-five-818-the-future-of-project-cars/24216/

Check out our expanded photo galleries that has new track shots, as well as studio photography of the 818.

https://www.factoryfive.com/galleries/project-818/

[John H]

Hi All-

I haven't run across a 2002 to 2007 WRX (not STI) with 265 hp. Did the WRX engine get tweaked or what.

Still haunting autobidmaster for the perfect donor car.

John in Colorado

[longislandwrx]

265 on an off the shelf stage 2 tune.

[Mechie3]

Can someone post everything as I and I'm sure others are not on the email list?

NO! Members only. (not really, I was on an exercise bike in the gym using my phone, too much work to copy paste). :)


Nice! I'm assuming the spoiler can now be mounted to the hinged section directly above the uprights which will carry the load to the chassis. Very cool.

Can't believe i'm 4 months away from my kit!

I need to see how the 818R mounts it relative to the end of the trunk. Then compare that to the trunk openeing to make sure it doesn't look like you stuck a wing in the middle of the car.

[Xusia]

Hi All-

I haven't run across a 2002 to 2007 WRX (not STI) with 265 hp. Did the WRX engine get tweaked or what.

Still haunting autobidmaster for the perfect donor car.

John in Colorado

Stock HP at the crank for '06-'07 is 265 (approx). The official materials from Subaru do not indicate an increase from the 2.0L engine ('02-'05 use the 2.0L and '06-'07 use the 2.5L) and therefore still list 227, but many people have dyno'd the 2.5L and it is indeed more HP than the 2.0L. 265 is the number that is most commonly used, but each engine will have some slight variance. Hope this helps.

[wleehendrick]

The official materials from Subaru do not indicate an increase from the 2.0L engine.

Actually, the 06-07 WRX motors were spec'd at 230hp, a whopping 3hp gain from 25% more displacement! I'm not a Subaru guy (still learning) but even I know they were under-rated.

[RM1SepEx]

I think you will find that the 265 is a RWHP from a dyno... after simple tuning, both are 2.5L

Don't remember where, but its been posted here somewhere

[Mechie3]

Actually, the 06-07 WRX motors were spec'd at 230hp, a whopping 3hp gain from 25% more displacement! I'm not a Subaru guy (still learning) but even I know they were under-rated.

06/07 Had lower boost from factory IIRC. 12psi vs 14 or 15 in the 2.0's, unless I'm making stuff up. lol.

[wleehendrick]

The engineering team recently changed the rear hatch design for easy access. Functional testing is driving excellent refinement on the 818

15747



Anyone know what seats are in the S there?

[Rasmus]

Anyone know what seats are in the S there?
http://p.images.boldride.com/packard/1937/thumb/packard-six-rumble-seat-convertible-coupe.654x436.Feb-13-2013_19.59.48.309406.jpg
1924 Model A

[metalmaker12]

Yea I think it was a Model A lol

[Joe Scott]

GTM seats - Joe@FFRTECH

[RM1SepEx]

260 RWHP quote, Dave Smith in 818 brief update thread, #14

The car was dyno'd (818R in the brief video) before we left for durability and track testing. It produced 260 rwhp. We will have alot more information at Moochfest and emailed to pre-orders Friday. With respect to the development path, pre-production, production, production ramp up, parts availability and production planning... All I can say is that the company with clear leadership, staffed by a talented and seasoned team, and guided by clear design goals and a directive from me that makes the QUALITY of this new product introduction of paramount importance... I guess I'm saying "don't worry, the project is being managed in a remarkably professional way, distinct from ANY kit car maker and better than anything we've done to date. We've hit EVERY project milestone and promised target date and we'll launch on-time and with the design vetted and ready for sale. The development plan doesn't end with product launch, it merges with it and continues. We've got development partners and customers who will bring the design and build experience to others. Grassroots Motorsports and this very forum among many, will help direct and guide platform derivatives and we can only imagine where it will go globally. We've laid the groundwork with great export partners in Europe, South America, Canada, Malaysia, and Australia. All this work coordinated on a complex but logical pert chart of jobs to be done and tasks dependent on and building on others.

It's late and I can't seem to type in anything but record run-on sentences... I've heard others compare this car to similar offerings from other companies and I just smile and say to myself in my best Jack Nicholson accent as The Joker, "wait till they get a load of me!" We've put more quality thought and engineering into this car than I can describe. I'm so proud of the development team and EVERYONE at FFR. Areas like Operations has made major changes and is ahead of schedule. They've added laser cutting processes in-house, constructed mezzanine space for inventory, established packaging, welding, and composites areas (just in case) and are busy setting up suppliers and Bills of Materials and Pack-Lists, we've set conservative production plans and been working on a million other details, and thats just Ops getting ready... all the while continuing to make and ship the best quality Mk4's, Coupes, Hot Rods and GTMs...

I am not the right person to ask, but I will tell you that the 818 is our best work together, it represents the technological competence and maturity of a team that is not going to it's first rodeo, is MY PERSONAL commitment to fulfilling the charter that I read at the University of Wisconsin (That a man's reach should exceed his grasp), BUT MOSTLY that this represents the beginning for us at FFR. In so many ways we are just getting started.

Technology and design and connectivity are on the side of small companies like ours. My grasp of reality is firmly in check, and while we are a small company with modest resources, I do believe that we have our best and most exciting years ahead of us. Considering all that we've done together, THAT is a big statement, but for sure the truth. I gotta go to bed and try and fall asleep so that tomorrow comes as fast as possible, there's so much to do and so many great stories to build! Hope to see you guys at Moochfest.

Dave
Last edited by Dave Smith; 02-05-2013 at 11:27 PM.
Dave Smith, FFR 001
President
Factory Five Racing

[wleehendrick]

1924 Model A

That would be a hot seat! Seriously, though, I didn't get seats from my donor and need to budget for aftermarket buckets. Kirkeys are a little too hardcore for my street build, Sparcos are $$$, and I've been looking at Corbeaus. The S had the stock Subbie seats at SEMA, but had the buckets pictured above installed for track testing. I hope FFR has a reasonably priced seats available... from what I can tell from the track testing gallery, those look like a good option.


GTM seats - Joe@FFRTECH

Thanks!

[Mechie3]

I'm looking at OMP TRS Sky seats. Think they run about $350 each.

http://www.california-wash-concept-34.com/370-472/siege-baquet-omp-trs-trs-.jpg

[metalmaker12]

15749 I kind of like these about 300-400 each, but Kalstar has a seat that looks as good

[Hayai]

It's going to be probably 2 years before I'm able to do this project, but I'm thinking about the good old combo of Bride seats and Takata harnesses.
http://image.importtuner.com/f/15327722/impp_0905_11_z+1990_honda_civic+bride_seats.jpg
(minus the shoulder pads)

[riptide motorsport]

Good stuff!!

[Hayai]

Oh, and has anyone gotten any more performance numbers other than 1.5g's of lat. accel. ? I'm curious about real, measured numbers for 0-60, 60-0, lap times, 1/4, ect. I dont think they've taken it to a drag strip yet (straight line isnt even the purpose of this car), but lap times would be sweet to compare it to other cars.

[Rasmus]

A link to your FFR 818 custom seating thread (http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?8457-Seating-Options) already in progress.

[Wayne Presley]

Oh, and has anyone gotten any more performance numbers other than 1.5g's of lat. accel. ? I'm curious about real, measured numbers for 0-60, 60-0, lap times, 1/4, ect. I dont think they've taken it to a drag strip yet (straight line isnt even the purpose of this car), but lap times would be sweet to compare it to other cars.

We didn't do 0-60, 60-0 or 1/4 mile when we were out testing. Lap times were recorded but we did not run the cars for the best possible lap times, for a great lap time you have to push the car hard everywhere around the entire track. None of the drivers had been to that track and would be hard to gauge lap time improvements due to the car or the driver learning the track better.

[Hayai]

We didn't do 0-60, 60-0 or 1/4 mile when we were out testing. Lap times were recorded but we did not run the cars for the best possible lap times, for a great lap time you have to push the car hard everywhere around the entire track. None of the drivers had been to that track and would be hard to gauge lap time improvements due to the car or the driver learning the track better.

Understandable. You got a good bit of seat time correct? I imagine it feels pretty similar to a lotus elise or exiege. For power, weight, and size, I think they're pretty comparable.

[Wayne Presley]

Understandable. You got a good bit of seat time correct? I imagine it feels pretty similar to a lotus elise or exiege. For power, weight, and size, I think they're pretty comparable.

I run a Lotus Elise in SCCA Touring 3 (168 RWHP) and have quite a bit of time in a SC Elise (240ish HP) and a turbo Elise (338 RWHP). The 818 is similar but different than the Elises. The brakes are awesome in both, the 818 has more power than my T3 Elise, I think the 818R had more total grip especially considering that it was 40°F outside.

[C.Plavan]

Hey Wayne- Make sure they pull the Fire Safety pin next time when on the track..... :)

[longislandwrx]

It's going to be probably 2 years before I'm able to do this project, but I'm thinking about the good old combo of Bride seats and Takata harnesses.
http://image.importtuner.com/f/15327722/impp_0905_11_z+1990_honda_civic+bride_seats.jpg
(minus the shoulder pads)

If you need a how to guide to tell if a harness is fake or real, and may or may not save your life, it's time to switch brands.

I'm a brand whore too, but I can't justify these.

[Wayne Presley]

I just put these Schroth Enduro belts in one of the race cars and by far the best belts I've used.
http://www.discoveryparts.com/cgi-bin/store/commerce.cgi?cart_id=1362078873.162&product=harness_schroth_comp&pid=1091

http://www.discoveryparts.com/images/harness/Schroth_Enduro_Beltlg.jpg

[JRach]

Stock HP at the crank for '06-'07 is 265 (approx). The official materials from Subaru do not indicate an increase from the 2.0L engine ('02-'05 use the 2.0L and '06-'07 use the 2.5L) and therefore still list 227, but many people have dyno'd the 2.5L and it is indeed more HP than the 2.0L. 265 is the number that is most commonly used, but each engine will have some slight variance. Hope this helps.

Working for a long time at a shop with a AWD mustang dyno, the 06/07 doesn't make any more hp in stock form/tune. The TD04 is the limiting factor, and they consistently make about the same hp regardless of EJ205 vs EJ255. Sure they make a lot more torque though :)

STG II EJ205's after a tune would consistently be around 205 whp and 200 tq on our low reading dyno. STG II EJ255's would pretty regularly hit the same 205 whp, but about 20-25% more torque.

[CHOTIS BILL]

I have used Schroth belts for many years and you can’t believe how much better thay are until you try a set. Even though my Type 65 Coupe kit came with a new set of Simpson belts and I plan on only driving it on the street I am going to changing to a set of Schroth belts. They are also FIA approved so if you run with SCCA you only need to change the belts every 6 years instead of 3.

Bill Lomenick