My Ultima RS kit car build thread

[mingrey02stg2]

I made a previous thread in the regular Misc about getting the engine for this thing here: https://forum.bodybuilding.com/showt...hp?t=178032701

I figured the rest of the thread would be better here for the guys that actually have an active interest in cars.

I ordered the kit last year on Black Friday (Nov 29) and finally got an email from the factory that it's ready to ship. For those of you who don't know, the company was founded by Lee Noble and they started producing kits in the 80s using Renault parts and their V6 engine. Ultima released the GTR kit which used a Chevy V8 and a Porsche transaxle which is still the powertrain choice today, thouhg you can find a few here and there with Audi V10s and I think someone did a rotary in one. When developing the McLaren F1, an Ultima chassis was used to test the powertrain and the soon to be released T50 by Gordon Murray Automotive also uses an Ultima mule.

Their latest car, the RS, is what I ordered. I'm putting a Chevy LT5 crate engine in it with a gearbox from a 997 Porsche 911 Turbo. It's basically a fiberglass bodied 1000hp go kart- no driving aids, no ABS, etc.

Here are some photos of the car after the body prefit at the factory and ready for shipment as well as a video I made of a tear down of the engine and the rebuild with a bunch of better parts. Hope you guys enjoy.

[Schnitzl]

You fawken wot m8, 1000 bhp in a go-kart! I'd poop my pants every time.

[Ramoneb87]

sound wise, how does the LT5 engine compare to an LS7

[induced_drag]

Why not use graziano L140 trans?

In on build thread. Almost built a RCR SLC back a few years. Always liked the Ultima as well.

Why ultima over SLC?

[mingrey02stg2]

You fawken wot m8, 1000 bhp in a go-kart! I'd poop my pants every time.

That's the plan! I want something over the top scary fast.

sound wise, how does the LT5 engine compare to an LS7

To me it sounds pretty much the same. Same firing order and that typical amazing cammed Chevy V8 sound. Out of all the V8s (5.0 Coyote, 4V 4.6 Ford, AMG Mercedes, etc), I think the Chevy sounds the best. If you've ever watched GTLM class cars in person and seen the C7R pass by, I'm sure you'd feel the same.

Here's a ZR1 with the same engine. Sounds awesome imo.

Why not use graziano L140 trans?

In on build thread. Almost built a RCR SLC back a few years. Always liked the Ultima as well.

Why ultima over SLC?

The Graziano is a great transaxle from everything I've seen, but the Ultima chassis is setup specifically for the Porsche trans. I think the Graz is a little heavier but it's a strong, quality unit. I wish there was a company that offered the C8 transaxle as a tunable, standalone unit because it bolts right up to the engine I got and would be just awesome.

I definitely looked at the SLC and honestly I think the chassis is a bit better and more modern than the Ultima as it's an aluminum monocoque, but it really came down to the looks for me and the fact that Ultimas hold their value VERY well for a kit car. I like that the Ultimas have a cool racing history and some big names have been involved in their development so I trust their engineering. I can't lie though in saying that it's a HUGE chunk of change for a kit car, but the performance can't be touched for the price at the same time.

[Jax05]

Noice!

Subscribed

[1slo5oh]

Yeah... was impressed and low key jealous last time you posted.. not much has changed!! lol Going to be nasty OP! But make no mistake... show up in Htown for some reason and ill pullly down to take that a$$ to gapplebee's … Houston stock FTW!!

[mingrey02stg2]

Yeah... was impressed and low key jealous last time you posted.. not much has changed!! lol Going to be nasty OP! But make no mistake... show up in Htown for some reason and ill pullly down to take that a$$ to gapplebee's … Houston stock FTW!!

lmao Thanks man. You better pulley way down and go on 1! Tell me how that straight-piped LT sounds from the back .

[1slo5oh]

lmao Thanks man. You better pulley way down and go on 1! Tell me how that straight-piped LT sounds from the back .

Just let it be known that im not scared to send rods into orbit to take the W...

[induced_drag]

The Graziano is a great transaxle from everything I've seen, but the Ultima chassis is setup specifically for the Porsche trans. I think the Graz is a little heavier but it's a strong, quality unit. I wish there was a company that offered the C8 transaxle as a tunable, standalone unit because it bolts right up to the engine I got and would be just awesome.

I definitely looked at the SLC and honestly I think the chassis is a bit better and more modern than the Ultima as it's an aluminum monocoque, but it really came down to the looks for me and the fact that Ultimas hold their value VERY well for a kit car. I like that the Ultimas have a cool racing history and some big names have been involved in their development so I trust their engineering. I can't lie though in saying that it's a HUGE chunk of change for a kit car, but the performance can't be touched for the price at the same time.

Definitely will be following along. I have done some very big projects over the years similar in scale. What I found is that you will probably spend a lot more time that you will imagine. (which is part of the fun).

The sheer brutality of the car is something that I am not sure if I could commit to. No doubt, the fastest thing BY FAR ever to prowl the streets, but sheer brutal in the process.

Wish you the very best of luck and cant wait to watch it come together!

[mingrey02stg2]

Definitely will be following along. I have done some very big projects over the years similar in scale. What I found is that you will probably spend a lot more time that you will imagine. (which is part of the fun).

The sheer brutality of the car is something that I am not sure if I could commit to. No doubt, the fastest thing BY FAR ever to prowl the streets, but sheer brutal in the process.

Wish you the very best of luck and cant wait to watch it come together!

Yeah I'm fully expecting things to take more time than expected, especially because I'm pretty meticulous, but I'm ready for it. There's also that "first time" factor where you always take much longer doing something the first time rather than the second or third. Like you said though- all part of the fun.

[3000RT]

Subbed! Wanted to do an Ultima before I saw I could do a GT40 for cheaper. Love the orange!

[RobParks2M]

Subbed! Wanted to do an Ultima before I saw I could do a GT40 for cheaper. Love the orange!

Wot? How cheap was this?

[3000RT]

Wot? How cheap was this?

RCR has a replica for 40k + engine/tranny and misc.

[TenEngineer]

That thing looks gorgeous

[Mang1er]

Car is sick. Been throwing around the idea of an SLC build for a few years now.

[mingrey02stg2]

After 10 months and two days from initial deposit, it's HERE! It was quite the task unloading it from a shipping container, onto a flatbed tow truck, then to the ground, but it got done.

It's my first time seeing one of these things in person and it is TINY. I just have to inventory all the parts received and then I'm going to get to building. I'm like a kid on Christmas opening all the boxes with carbon fiber pieces, huge brake kits, intercooler stuff, etc. Check out some photos:








On a chassis dolly tucked away for the first night. I had to put my Boxer Lincoln in there for a pic though .


The headers are insanely nice and the welds are pure art. I had to put them on the engine just to see...

[KilaByte]

Congrats bud, awesome project.

[Krackerjacked]

Holy chit that’s wicked Opie
Congrats man!

[Baby281]

congrats op. looks nice af

[goodwallaby]

the photo with your dog in the driver's seat is gr8 huehue. nice vid production quality and cool car project.

[mingrey02stg2]

Congrats bud, awesome project.

Holy chit that’s wicked Opie
Congrats man!

congrats op. looks nice af

the photo with your dog in the driver's seat is gr8 huehue. nice vid production quality and cool car project.

Thanks guys!

[kovalchuk71]

That color is awesome. Congrats!

Which Porsche transmission did you end up with? PDK or Manual?

[mingrey02stg2]

That color is awesome. Congrats!

Which Porsche transmission did you end up with? PDK or Manual?

I'm using the Porsche G97.50 which was used in the 997 911 Turbo cars. There's a company working on being able to use the PDK with LS3 engines, but it's out of a Boxster I believe. I'm not sure it would handle the power of my engine. Hopefully something better will come along that I can use- like a version of the C8 Corvette trans.

[nosirrahx]

Absolutely insane and I love the orange. I've cruised with Nobles, DDRs and even a Cheetah but I don't think I have ever seen an Ultima RS in person.

[mingrey02stg2]

Absolutely insane and I love the orange. I've cruised with Nobles, DDRs and even a Cheetah but I don't think I have ever seen an Ultima RS in person.

[img]https://i.imgur.com/Q8dNdwF.jpg[img][img]https://i.imgur.com/L9OBe38.jpg[img]

Daaang that looks like an awesome group to cruise with. Lee Noble's company, Noble Motorsport Ltd actually designed the first Ultima called the Mk1. The modern Nobles are beasts of cars for sure too.

[nosirrahx]

Daaang that looks like an awesome group to cruise with. Lee Noble's company, Noble Motorsport Ltd actually designed the first Ultima called the Mk1. The modern Nobles are beasts of cars for sure too.

That's awesome, I didn't know that. My buddy with the green Noble has a V8 in it and it puts down 530 HP and weighs I think 2300lbs

[MattyMiscer]

fuking IN

[kovalchuk71]

Bump.

[mingrey02stg2]

So I've had the car exactly one month now and have been hitting it pretty hard, trying to accomplish at least something every single day.

I cut out the mounts for the stock pedals, took the whole chassis to a welder, and had a floor welded to the underside (instead of the normal aluminum plate that is riveted there) so that I could bolt up my Tilton pedal assembly.





After that, I finished all the aluminum floor and interior panels which seemed like about 6000 holes later. I coated them with sound deadener before installing so hopefully it will reduce the NVH a tad on the car.



Then I coated the underside in Raptor liner, which turned out really good and really tough.



Right after that, my triple carbon clutch from RPS arrived, which they made custom for me to bolt to a GM 8-bolt flywheel and use a Porsche style input shaft, etc. This thing is a beast.



I also ordered a few high temp Cerakote samples to ask about what color people think I should go with. I'm leaning towards Burnt Bronze, but let me know if you think otherwise.



As the car sits right now, I've got the wiring harness in, the brake lines run, the radiator and intercooler heat exchanger installed, and the luggage side pods. Next up is A/C, steering, suspension, etc, etc.





No days off!

I made some videos if you want to check them out. I'm not here to plug a YouTube channel, nor am I any sort of social media influencer, but if you're a car guy and interested, feel free to take a look.