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Noble Assembly Faq.
Whether you are a new owner or a prospective buyer
we are sure you have questions about this fine automobile! The following questions are the most commonly
asked and we hope this information will address some of the issues pertaining
to being a Noble owner.
Please feel free to contact
us for any additional information.
1. Can a Noble be registered here in the
United States?
Yes. The Noble is considered a component
vehicle and can be registered in your State as a "Specialty Construction
Vehicle". Each State/County varies with compliance and it is best to
contact your local Department of Motor Vehicles and follow their specific
process. TurboHoses R&D is located in California and will be
glad to assist all new California owners with the correct protocol
for registration.
2. Do I need an expert mechanic to
install the engine?
Due to the nature of the vehicle, it is highly
recommended to have a professional install the engine. It is also recommended
that your installer be knowledgeable about "turbochargers" as the
Noble is equipped with twin turbos from the factory.
Your purchase will come in three pieces:
The chassis, the engine and the accessories package (a/c, engine mounts,
transmission, computer, etc...). Most experienced installers will
provide some thermal package which shield some of the heat away from the wiring,
intercooler and other engine parts.
3. Do I need any parts that do not come
with the assembly package?
The engine package from the factory is
complete. Recommended upgrades:
A. Blow off Valve
B. Turbo Oil Return lines.
4. Where does all the engine heat come
from?
The engine heat comes from lack of airflow
through the engine bay. The two turbos generate large amounts of heat as a
by-product of it's usage. Most installers will provide their own version
of heat shielding kits which cover the majority of wires, computer, tubing,
intercooler box, etc... By far, this seems to be a "band-aid"
upgrade more so than a true repair. TurboHoses R&D addresses these
issues by using a combination of ECU tuning and hardware that have decreased ambient
engine temps. by over 75dg. F. This
was done without any type of excessive thermal wrap.
5. Is the Noble ready for a track event?
Yes and no. In our experience the Noble
does very well in it's stock configuration for the average track day. Like
any other vehicle, a dedicated track car will need to be race prepped to perform
optimally and reliably.
Most high-performance Nobles will include the
following in their build:
A. Dyno Tuning
B. Brake ducting modification
C. Alignment for closest spec. to
factory.
D. Thermal management
E. High Flow Exhaust
F. Upgraded Intercooler
These modifications also make for an excellent
daily/weekend driver.
6. Is the Noble engine easy to
maintain?
The engine is a 3.0 ltr. V6 Ford Duratec
engine. Although modified for the turbo chargers, most external
engine hardware and components can be purchased from the dealer and/or local
parts store. OEM pieces are available from the factory and must be shipped
to you.
7. Can I modify the engine for more hp?
The Noble is a simple vehicle to modify for hp
gains. However, this must be done in conjunction with dyno tuning for safe
results.
We have found that any modification that
effects air flow (exhaust, intercooler, tubing etc) will change the air fuel
ratios to a point beyond a comfortable safety margin.
Dyno graph of a stock M12.
Notice the A/F ratio.
Dyno graph of a stock M400.
Much better a/f ratio, but will lean out with
any exhaust modification.
TurboHoses R&D is an U.S. authorized MBE Tuning Facility
by Lee Noble of Noble Cars.
The Noble programming from the M12 to now M400 is
some what mysterious as to how many versions of the map there are. This
has created quite a controversy for owners that have had idle issues in
specifically the M12 model.
Below are
facts and information that will help clear
some of the history to the Noble ECU, programming and tuning specific to each
model:
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