The hottest 550 on Earth, coming soon

Word is there's a stock 550 now undergoing the first complete tuned exhaust modification (ever, anywhere) at Dave Helm's Scuderia Rampante in Boulder. Half way through the testing, the car is reportedly already so powerful the ASR tries to stop the wheels from spinning from a normal start! And I'm told the car sounds like a beast-from Formula 1 hell. This testbed is apparently being used to test and evaluate prototype and stock after-market components from manufacturers in the USA, Canada and Italy...to pick (or create with Dave Helm's input) the ultimate 550 exhaust solution (torque, horsepower, throttle response and sound)...and meet all noise (except maybe Aspen and certainly Switzerland) and pollution standards.

 

Don't the Tubi 550/575 upgrades do this already?

 

No tuned exhaust (complete or whatever) is going to transform the power/torque values of the 550 enough to transform the car. Increase power/torque yes-but not a night/daydifference.

 

Cabokidd,
this sounds very intriguing and almost too good to be true, I am waiting for more news and if true, count me as a customer. the pot of gold go's to those who have figuered it out. Show more please.

 

I would be skeptical also but Dave is not only a very good and knowledgable mechanic but also a stand up guy so I am sure it will be well thought out and well documented. Look forward to more info.

 

Sheesh, old news, old hat. I've already seen a dyno proven and documented 120rwhp power increase (albeit running race fuel and non stock ECU). I know Daniel from Harmony is finishing off a system to suit 550/575 that is road legal, so probably with not quite the same results, but it should be fairy close due to the use of a much better header design than I was using. (I just had the factory units modified)

 

Holy-Cow......an honest 120 rwhp increase !!! Even if it is old news that's dog-gone impressive!

 

Without resulting to cheap tricks like Supercharging or Turbocharging that degrade the life of the engine?

 

Dude, thats a bit harsh!! Personally, I love boost and would hardly call it a cheap trick. NOt to stir the boost vs NA pot, just don't think any turbo or sc car is a trick, just another way to get power.
F40 is hardly a cheap trick.

 

Sounds hard to believe to me, but I'll buy one if it is even close to 100hp increase. I had a little run in with a Ford GT last week (actually spanked me pretty handily out of the hole and I never came very close to catching him). An extra 100 hp would have helped. Now I just need to loose a few hundred pounds. I'd be nervouse putting turbo or super charging on my 550 without modifing the compression ratio and more importantly, the clutch. It seems to smoke pretty easily as it is (stock)

Speaking of clutches, does anyone recommend a different replacement clutch other than the factory unit?
Thanks!

 

I wouldn’t call a forced induction a cheap trick as many have used it with great success. When we purchased our 550 the first idea that came into mind is mounting a twin turbo kit since the v12 has a safe amount of compression to handle some boost. Upon further inspection we found the factory actually left A LOT of room for power unlike the 355/360. As myself and Stephens have mentioned the factory exhaust is far to small for the engine. Stephens gained 120whp just by doing the complete exhaust system not including headers. We are days away from wrapping up our product line for the 550/575 that will be launched in early October. On cars without precats there is about 20-30whp to be gained in the manifolds alone, and with precats I would guess 40-60whp. Proof to all these power claims would be the race 550/575 that all have north of 600hp with stock blocks.

As far as clutchs go we resurface the factory clutch with a high performance clutch compound.

 

Sorry, my opinion on forced induction is rather narrow.

If you can't design the engine performance to meet the parameters, then you result to compensating for the poor design. The result is reduced drivability throughout the entire range, but you are extracting more power and lowering reliability and lifetime of the components.



Again, my opinion only, but I've made my guess as to how they're achieving
these "remarkable" specs.



.

 

Sounds very encouraging. Keep us posted on the results, availability and price. Where in New York are you, I'm just north of Philly, PA.

 

Any engine tuning method which increases BMEP and achieves a HP increase as a result will increase the heat and stresses of internal components in a very similar fashion and shorter engine life will result.

Turbocharging has gotten a particularly bad rap in that area but ANY method that allows the same extradordinary increases in hp will be accompanied by the same extraordinary reductions in life span. In fact the case can be made turbocharging is easier on internal components because the stresses are not experienced off boost but for some inexplicable reason the operators of turbocharged motors can't seem to run them for any period of time off boost.

 

Excellent points.

Let me expound on that by saying few owners allow the proper warm up and cool down time that turbos require which can result in preliminary wear and "coking" of the oil.

Please keep in mind that the turbo charging community will tout the single horspower figure which results in the highest number, such as 500 BHP. This is the measurement at one point along the curve and tells you nothing about how "peaky" or how broad the power curve is. Those buyers who are into the Specifications aspect will revel in this high number.

On yet another point, since the engine output has been altered by applying a forced induction module, is the existing Transmission and Differential now still correctly paired for the car?

 

I assume that from the initial post that this is strictly a exaust only modification and not a boost situation. Are we being led down the wrong path?

 

Dear HarmonyMotorSports,
Do the whp gains include changes to the cat converters or is there still more to be gained here? Presumably the exhaust ports are left unported?
Looking forward to your Oct launch and the special first chance offers we hope the FChatters will get.
Regards.
Ron

 

Yes it does include changes to the factory precats as noted with estimates noted precat and non precat headers. The exhaust ports are left unported, flanges are port matched in shape to the factory exhaust port. This is a 100% bolt on converision, you can piece the kit together to work with your other parts or do the full package in a 3" exhaust diameter for max power gains. Ferrari chat members will recieve an introductory discount.

 

This is an exhaust and intake mod only, further, there is no point in the power curve where the car produces less power than standard.

 

Steve who did your system?

 

It's much easier for the non Aussies to get a system through Daniel at Harmony, the workmanship is first class. You should see the headers and exhaust system they did for the 360! My stuff was done through Howard and Rod at Race Brakes, to my specs. if you have any questions PM me and we can talk offline.

 

Are you saying it is a perfectly flat power curve
(That would be fantastic!)

 

I love it. Someone after 10 years has finally come up with a way to beat Ferrari building a Ferrari. Let me drive next to it.

12 cylinders or walk

 

Anyone interested in a full product list and pricing for the 550/575 please contact us via email at [email protected].

 

Ever heard of Norwoods?