Era2158

[Chupee]

Originally Posted by tkb289

Hello ScarletG302,

Congrats on ERA2052. Would be glad to chat with you about the roll bar setup(s) in my FIA. I have sent you an email.

Now back to 6TNCRZY's build log ...

- Tim

I have a full rollbar off my new to me Aurora you can have if it will work.. thx

[6TNCRZY]

Another modification to my FIA. I cut 1 1/2" off of the header collectors which allowed me to tuck the side pipes up nicely under the car. The mufflers are the lowest part of the car and I now have an additional inch of needed ground clearance.

[xb-60]

Craig,

I need a minimum 4" ground clearance on my 289FIA to pass registration requirements; hence my added interest in your exhaust.

A number of questions, if I may ...

• what ground clearance (ie how many inches) are you anticipating?
• what size pipe are you using?
• what diameter muffler are you using?
• what brand muffler?
• noise level anticipated?

Very nice looking car, btw

Cheers!
Glen

[6TNCRZY]

I have the chassis ride height set as 4 1/8" front and 4 5/8" rear, that is 5/8" lower front and rear than ERA recommendation. The muffler is the lowest point and is 3 1/2" to the ground. The exhaust system is from ERA, 3" exhaust pipes, 3 1/2" mufflers. I believe the mufflers are 2 1/4" ID. The noise level is loud but not any where near as loud as the 3 1/2" exhaust on the ERA 427 car I had before this one.

[6TNCRZY]

Because the exhaust system is by far the lowest part of the car on a FIA I wanted to tuck them as far up under the car as possible. I made a small dimple in the top of the mufflers for more chassis clearance and modified the left engine mount to lessen engine torque over that could cause the exhaust to hit the chassis. I drilled and countersunk 2 holes in the motor mount, installed 1/4" stainless screws with fender washers, rubber washers and nylock nuts. I hope that helps.

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by 6TNCRZY

I have the chassis ride height set as 4 1/8" front and 4 5/8" rear, that is 5/8" lower front and rear than ERA recommendation. The muffler is the lowest point and is 3 1/2" to the ground. The exhaust system is from ERA, 3" exhaust pipes, 3 1/2" mufflers. I believe the mufflers are 2 1/4" ID. The noise level is loud but not any where near as loud as the 3 1/2" exhaust on the ERA 427 car I had before this one.

Craig,

Very useful information for me. Thank you for going to the effort.
It should help me shortcut the suspension setup and the exhaust spec. considerably.

Cheers,
Glen

[rads42]

The ride height looks awesome! As does your garage.

[6TNCRZY]

Another little tweak I made to the ERA "kit". I thought the brake scoops were a little overbearing so I trimmed them back a little to make the opening smaller, more like the originals I have seen pictures of. I also placed them about 1/2" farther outboard where they fit the body better.

[6TNCRZY]

When it came to the suspension I didn't go with the Spax shocks that ERA supplies. I had them on the ERA 427 car I had before and was not too impressed. For this car I went with JRi double adjustable shocks that JJ Furillo at Ultimate Performance custom valved for me. The ERA rear suspension takes very short bodied shocks, so remote reservoirs were needed in the back. I went with springs that are about 20% stiffer front and rear. I could not be happier, with the Avon tires the car is very smooth and handles extremely well. Great turn in, control on bumps and washboards and doesn't squat on acceleration.

[PDUB]

Originally Posted by 6TNCRZY

Another little tweak I made to the ERA "kit". I thought the brake scoops were a little overbearing so I trimmed them back a little to make the opening smaller, more like the originals I have seen pictures of. I also placed them about 1/2" farther outboard where they fit the body better.

Did the ducts come from ERA?

[6TNCRZY]

Yes, Brake ducts are an ERA part, Peter will gladly sell them to you.

[PDUB]

Originally Posted by 6TNCRZY

Yes, Brake ducts are an ERA part, Peter will gladly sell them to you.

Thanks for the info! Nice work on the trimming.

[6TNCRZY]

I received some questions about the JRi shocks I installed, so I thought I would post a couple pictures. The rear shocks have to have short bodies so remote reservoirs are needed. I went about 20% firmer on the springs so helper springs were needed to keep springs seated at full extension.

[Cobra1169]

Originally Posted by 6TNCRZY

Here is a hot tip for any 289 owners. A White Lightning shifter with a offset adapter installed at a 45* angle up and to the left will position the shifter in a much more comfortable and more correct position.

On that White Lightning Shifter what offset in inches did you go with? Options are from 1” to 3”. Thanks

[6TNCRZY]

I used the 1" at a 45* angle up and left with a couple machined washers to space the shifter a little more left. I used the 1" because I had already cut the tunnel cover tor the standard Tremic shifter and the boot would not cover the hole with the 3". I will probably order another tunnel cover from ERA and install the 3" as it puts the shifter in exactly the original position on the ERA FIA.

[6TNCRZY]

The 1" offset might be fine on other manufacturers, ERA offsets the engine 1" to the right which makes the shifter location a bigger issue on their cars.

[Tremelune]

Which gearbox are you using? Where did the shifter end up in the end?

[6TNCRZY]

The transmission is a TKO with carbon fiber synchros from Liberty Transmissions purchased before the TKX was available. Here are pictures of the final shifter position.

[Tremelune]

What's that gearbox? I'm planning on using a TKX, and I'm trying to figure out which shifter winds up in which location from random internet photos, and there are just too many possibilities to make sense of it...I'm hoping to avoid a long, angled shifter.

Edit: Oh wow, I asked this months ago and you answered! Missed a page...Do the TKO and TKX have the same shifter position?

[6TNCRZY]

Thought I would update a couple or the changes I made over the winter. I had installed Sniper Stealth on the car when I built it and wanted a fuel pressure gauge. The original FIAs had a pressure gauge where ERA put the fuel level gauge. On the FIA if you remove the gas cap you can see the fuel level so the level gauge is really not needed. I took a SW oil pressure gauge, carefully removed the bezel, removed the "oil" from the face with brake cleaner, carefully reassembled and installed where the level gauge was in the dash. The gauge looks very similar to the 0 to 10lb gauge in the original cars.