Buying a Throttle bodied 7

[Matt B]

Hi

I am looking to buy a Supersport / Superlight 7. I have seen a superlight with the QED throttle bodies and the stand alone DTA engine management fitted. The car drives well but i have some questions please:

 

- How reliable is this set up - i will be tracking the car and dont want to spend the sessions poking around the engine bay

- I know this is dependent on the mapping but hom much more thirsty is this set up

- Any issues re noise restrictions on the track (fitted with a 6" race exhaust) know this depends on circuits but an average idea

- Can this set up run on normal unleaded or require super?

- How good is the cold running?

 

Sorry about all the question on the first post but i have only just joined as I am looking for a nice 7 now.......so hi

 

Thanks

Matt

 

 

 

Looking for a Supersport / Superlight up to £15K

[shn7]

I'm no expert on the specifics of the DTA and TB's but in general I think all of your questions will come down to how well mapped the ECU is, including the super/unleaded question. What fuel has it been mapped on?

 

No reason to expect it to be anything other than reliable as far as I can see.

 

DTA/QED are maybe not the most common but again no reason to think this is a problem.

 

Intake noise can be a problem but that's down largely to how much power the engine is making and thus how much air it's having to breathe in. Best option is to get it tested at a local circuit.

 

 

Steve.

Sussex (West) AO

Not forgetting Percy the Polar Bear

[Mick Day]

Welcome: have a look here.

[guilleracing]

Hi,

 

I have used a DTA system with throttle bodies. (2 Litre Vauxhall XE Engine.) My personal experience was that unless you had a technician with a lap top computer at every meeting, the thing was always broken. My personal experience with DTA's customer service was also poor. These systems are quite common at British Championship speed hillclimbing and if you are an engine tuner yourself they are very adjustable and can give good results. My experience as a non engine person was very disapointing. I sold the entire system within a few months of buying it.

 

 

 

 

[Matt B]

Thats really interesting feedback. I had a supercharged MX5 previously and was always paranoid about it going bang or not running right. Aas i want to use the Caterham on track dont want to spend my track money to sit in the paddock all day fettling.

Think I may hang on for a mechanically standard superlight........

Those throttle bodies do sound awesome though

 

Matt

[Miura]

I am no expert but a few things to consider :

- qed throttle bodies are in fact Jenveys which are used by dozens and dozens of Caterham , Elises, Westfield etc .. owners

- If you like the car and there are concerns with the DTA electronics (I am not saying there are as I have no experience of them), you can- I guess - ditch it, flog it on E-bay, buy something easier to manage from a regular laptop like an Emerald for example

[Matt B]

Fair comment but I wouldnt have the time or money to sell the ECU on and fit and tune the Emerald.

 

I wasnt aware that the DTA had such limited support. From experience with aftermarket engine management systems, unless you buy the 'Hoover' of ECU's it can be a mindfield, it seems as though the Emerald is the Hoover in this instance.

 

I think I will be hanging on for another Superlight

 

Matt

[Alex Wong1697456877]

Had a DTA for years. Had 1 failure in about 35,000 miles and DTA repaired it without any drama and lent me an ECU whilst mine was being repaired. I personally wouldn't hesitate to use DTA again although I'm now on Weber Alpha as that's what my engine came with. In my experience, it's not the ECU's that fail. it's throttle pots, temp senders etc etc, but on the whole, provided it's fitted well (good loom etc), it's a reliable setup. I did 3 endurance rallys with DTA/Jenvey's and never had a problem with them. Had lots of other non ECU related probs, but that's a different matter!

 

Edited by - Alex Wong on 30 Aug 2007 17:12:22

[metal mickey]

I would echo Alex's post. I ran a DTA system on my car on a tuned Zetec engine with jenvey throttle bodies and it was completely reliable. Most ecu's are the same - you need specific software/equipment and skills to map them then they should be reliable. Also QED are extremely helpful if you have any questions regarding the Dta ecu as I believe they are agents for them. All in all

[Paul McKenzie]

Another for DTA 3D mapped ignition on carb fed VX

 

Paul

[BYKer Will]

Matt

 

I'm pretty sure I looked at the car you mention (blue/yellow?) and would have bought it myself had the blackbird I eventually purchased not come up at the same time to tempt me to the darksde.

 

I am no expert and cannot vouch for the car but it drove very nicely on the leda shocks and seemed pretty tidy bar a few inevitable stone chips.

 

I reseacrched the dta ecu on here and felt pretty comfortable with the comments I read.

 

Will

 

PS I have no connection to the car.