Ultimate Shadow ES

[5DIGITS]

From the ruins of fire and a warehouse of privately kept items, there's enough to complete a few final projects.
We are taking the core of the "Ultimate Daytona" from Mopar Magazine and transplanting it into CSX #65.
Although, I'm returning to the car to it's original "pre-shelby" status as a 1987 appearing Shadow ES.
"Stay Tuned"

[zin]

I'm excited to see what someone with intimate knowledge will create as the "ultimate" XXXXX. I know I've often wanted to create a nitrous system that was just that, but never had the support of resources allocated to allow it to happen. I understand why, just not feasible, not enough ROI, but still, it's kind of a scratch that one wants to itch!

Mike

[wheming]

Looking forward to seeing this project develop!

[5DIGITS]

The reasoning behind the project...

This is being built with Shelby prototype components from the Whittier facility and many of the remaining NOS accessories necessary to obtain a 'production' type look.
At the time, close attention to detail was supported even down to Mahle providing T-III style 2.5 pistons with the correct 4 valve reliefs cut into the pistons.
There were two custom forged cranks machined for testing at Whittier, as the 2.5 Lotus was the production plan for the 1990 CSX.
This is how 7 white CSX's with Fibrerides came to be.
3 with the bilstein adjustable suspension, 3 with 16v powertrains, 2 with T-II powertrains and one show car for autoshow exhibits and magazine publications.
Once the relationship between Shelby and Chrysler deteriorated, the program was cancelled and the meeting minutes/notes and related documentation I've captured clearly depict what was going to be built.
Some of the items being posted for sale (NOS Shelby interior, prototype CSX steering wheel, etc...) are pristine items that were slated to complete this production intent 1990 CSX based on Chrysler marketing plans and the engineering meeting notes mentioned above.
The 1990 CSX planned content was as follows:

• White 1990 Shadow
• Silver Fibrerides
• Silver 1989 CSX styled decal graphics - "CSX" was to be solid rather than outlined
• Silver "16v Intercooled" power-bulge graphic
• 1989 styled ground effects
• 2.5L 16v Lotus - w/o cam phasing
• Shelby Interior - Non-Recaro for cost reduction
• Shelby signature steering wheel deleted due to NHTSA air bag Chrysler "common column"
• Shelby dash badge
• etc...

This would be enjoyable to build but I've simplified/lightened the project by making the car a standard Shadow ES.
Although, the project will receive a few tricks and changes realized through the years while being completed with the intent of a 'production' look.
These items are as follows:

• A/C compressor relocation
• Long runner intake (both the 8v and 16v benefit from this)
• Corrected flow direction through the intercooler (The T-III flows backwards through the intercooler which adds undesired PSI drop)
• Updated Intercooler core mounted in the production location
• Custom software for dual injection per port (improved fuel adaptation without sacrificing peak performance)
• Removal of the 3D spark and fuel look-up table in the software - (This is a huge tax on processing time and it can be simplified)
• TU 3" exhaust modified to have a stock appearing dual tail pipe as equipped on the 1987 Shadow ES
• NOS 1989 Shadow ES interior, as pictured
• Etc... etc.. etc..

[wheming]

See! I knew it was going to be good!
Mr Ken, what is your intent with the completed car? Do you plan to race it?

[5DIGITS]

See! I knew it was going to be good!
Mr Ken, what is your intent with the completed car? Do you plan to race it?

I'm going race and beat the crap out of this car !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[wheming]

I'm going race and beat the crap out of this car !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love hearing that!
Now i'm even more anxious!

[Wastelands Warrior]

This is going to be coooooool!!!

[WLKivett]

Subscribe

[BadAssPerformance]

AWESOME! Subscribed!

[2.216VTurbo]

87 Shadow ES was my first TM bought with my Navy paychecks from Hayward Dodge as a fresh faced 20 year old so I'm in

[BadAssPerformance]

87 Shadow ES was my first TM bought with my Navy paychecks from Hayward Dodge as a fresh faced 20 year old so I'm in

I've become addicted to 87 CSX's and 87 ES's... might part with this one if not used to save 87 CSX's

[jonnyb]

In 1990, when my GLH was totaled by a large pickup truck that decided to blow a red light, I bought an 87 Shadow ES Turbo 5spd (white with light blue interior - loved that combo) . It was one of my favorite fwd mopar's and I always regretted the ending for that car (driving way too fast on an unknown wet road and didn't make the corner and slid off the road into a stone wall - destroyed passenger frame rail and floor board...grrrr). It was a really early build 87 with no ground effects and I swear it had a hood vent and a power bulge on it.

Really looking forward to your build. Def subscribed!

[2.216VTurbo]

In 1990, when my GLH was totaled by a large pickup truck that decided to blow a red light, I bought an 87 Shadow ES Turbo 5spd (white with light blue interior - loved that combo) . It was one of my favorite fwd mopar's and I always regretted the ending for that car (driving way too fast on an unknown wet road and didn't make the corner and slid off the road into a stone wall - destroyed passenger frame rail and floor board...grrrr). It was a really early build 87 with no ground effects and I swear it had a hood vent and a power bulge on it.

Really looking forward to your build. Def subscribed!

Hood vent on a P body? Hmmm, it's OK Mr Berubi, my memory isn't what it used to be either

[jonnyb]

Hood vent on a P body? Hmmm, it's OK Mr Berubi, my memory isn't what it used to be either

https://i.wheelsage.org/pictures/d/d...r_sedan_1.jpeg

Looks exactly like mine did with sunroof, crabs and no ground effects or rear wing (except mine was white/blue instead of black/silver).

[Reaper1]

Ken, I see where you list off all the "possibilities" for what was to be the 1990 CSX. What about the blue car that most people know as the 1990 prototype? Or was that the"show car"?

[5DIGITS]

Ken, I see where you list off all the "possibilities" for what was to be the 1990 CSX. What about the blue car that most people know as the 1990 prototype? Or was that the"show car"?

That was Shelby's hope for the 1990 production car but Chrysler wanted nothing to do with the Bonzai blue.
Additionally, they entertained a wastegated VNT for the T-III as a 2.2 but Garrett costs were astronomical and their new production facility already had build variation issues that were not realized with the early hand-built VNT's. This is why the minimum attainable boost was all over the map in production and ultimately caused the VNT to be cancelled.
Therefore, the 2.2 T-III with a wastegated VNT was quickly discarded as an option and Chrysler marketing took over to define a car against Shelby's interests.

[Reaper1]

That was Shelby's hope for the 1990 production car but Chrysler wanted nothing to do with the Bonzai blue.
Additionally, they entertained a wastegated VNT for the T-III as a 2.2 but Garrett costs were astronomical and their new production facility already had build variation issues that were not realized with the early hand-built VNT's. This is why the minimum attainable boost was all over the map in production and ultimately caused the VNT to be cancelled.
Therefore, the 2.2 T-III with a wastegated VNT was quickly discarded as an option and Chrysler marketing took over to define a car against Shelby's interests.

Thanks! I knew about the wastegated VNT option, which was a strange one.

[5DIGITS]

Thanks! I knew about the wastegated VNT option, which was a strange one.

This is the only one I know to exist from the program and what makes it unique is the use of a ceramic turbine wheel.
Also notice the cast T-III turbo flange - it's amazing what could have been.

[5DIGITS]

What was horrific on the Ultimate Daytona was the turbo and exhaust.
The turbo was the best offered for the engine size and application in 1991 - A Mitsubishi POS coupled with an elbow that was derived by cutting a 2.5" tube on a 45 degree angle and welded to make a 90 degree turn. The turbo alone was a huge limit to the package along with the expeditious plumbing needed to quickly make it functional.

By today's standards and technology, it was a pathetic arrangement capable of far more - not by engineering limitation but solely by the hardware availability.
In short, what made 300HP with an incredibly flat torque curve in 1991 is capable of far more today, without all the complex hardware.

I've removed a measurable amount of metal from the exhaust manifold and the custom cast dual BB T3/T4 turbo (thanks to my friends at turbonetics) should yield a bountiful amount of boost at very low shaft speed for efficient low heat emitting boost, thus no need for a radiator sized intercooler. Low volume + good efficiency = beyond acceptable response and output.
Again - "Stay Tuned"