photo (c) Lee Noble
This page contains useful information for owners or prospective owners of the Noble 6 cylinder cars (the V8 M600 are not included in this knowledgebase).
NOTE: if posting comments, please make your comments factual, respect other people's opinion and make an effort not to offend others. Any abuse of the comments section will result in it being removed.
"DID YOU KNOW?": the M12 was originally designed without the rear wing for the first prototypes. An early customer asked for a rear wing to be fitted, so extra holes were drilled in the rear clam to accommodate the request. Thereafter other clients decided to opt for the "race-car" look rather than the original sleek shape. So if you see a car without a rear wing, this is how Lee preferred and intended the styling.
"DID YOU KNOW?": after building and validation of the M12 prototype in the UK, Lee instructed Hi-Tech (Port Elizabeth, South Africa) to begin making the first examples of the M12. Early M12 pre-production and press cars were in Silver. The car driven by Clarkson in Top Gear was dark metallic red. After that filmed episode, Lee's phone "never stopped ringing". The M12 had now eclipsed the Ultima in terms of driving dynamics and styling.
NOBLE M12 IN THE PRESS
original review of a 3R with Tiff Needell and Lee Noble: Noble GTO-3R Fifth Gear
Jeremy Clarkson review on Top Gear: Noble GTO Top Gear
Wheeler Dealers purchasing a GTO: Noble GTO Wheeler Dealers
Aerodynamic wind tunnel testing by ReVerie: Wind Tunnel Data
Some useful information for upgrades: http://noblecars.org/engine.html
DEALER & SPECIALIST CONTACTS (in order from North to South Europe)
UK:
Noble Motorsport - Chesterfield, Derbyshire
Jetstream Motorsport - Bruntingthorpe, Leicestershire
Bespoke Performance - Ware, Hertfordshire
Mole Valley - Dorking, Surrey
GERMANY-FRANCE-ITALY:
[tbc]
PRODUCTION NUMBERS (Approx 706 total)
UK:
GTO 99
GTO3 116
GTO3R 165
M400 75
USA:
GTO3-GTO3R-M400 220
REST OF THE WORLD:
M400 31 in South Africa
ENGINE CONTROL UNITS: oem supplied by MBE Systems
TYRES: example prices of rear 265/35-18 (all-year, winter, track)
EXAMPLE CARS SOLD RECENTLY
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
The M12 spec is compared against two much more expensive cars, which have similar weights.
Description of the fuses in the passenger footwell
Power curve of the standard engine in the GTO-3R
Power curve of a tuned Noble GTO-3
Power curve of a tuned 3R
Power curve of a tuned M400
As a comparison, the power curve of a tuned Porsche 993 Turbo with 570PS
As a comparison, the power curve of the Ferrari F40
As a comparison, the power curve of the McLaren F1 (BMW S70 engine)
SPARE PARTS & PART NUMBERS
Headlamps: Cibie 8482371
main beam/sidelight unit
1KO 008 191-00
HR-2 12,5 04 HR
main driving lamp (projector)
1BL 008 193-00
HC-6 04 HC
Oil filter: Ford 4628534
Sump plug: Ford 3051079
Spark plugs: NGK BR7EFS gapped to 0.025" or 0.64mm
Fuel Filter: Sytec Motorsport Bullet (15mm in/out)
Fuel Pump M400: Bosch 0 580 254 979
Lambda sensors: Ford Cougar V6 Lambda C85432, D4 (WP) 1001702, 96BB-9F472-BA
or NGK OZA216-D2 0190
Coolant Fan Switch: Intermotor 50173
Battery: type 075
Rear Hub lock nuts: Porsche Boxster P999.084.641.02 (Improvement over standard part which can become loose)
Wheel Nuts: M12x1.5mm pitch, 60 degree seat, 19mm A/F hex
ECU for M400: MBE 975D
One way valve in the overflow petrol tank pipe: Ford escort zetec 150 ps 89f8-9a 153-ab 8z02a
Alternator belt: Gates 6PK 1708
6PK 1705 (6 ribs 1705 long)
6PK 1700 (also fits fine and cured squeak on M400)
6PK 1238 for cars with air-con removed AND Daddysumo's smaller crank pulley fitted.
Alternator: Ford Cougar 2.5 (2002) Euro car parts: 401591231 or 401591230 or 401591232
Crank pulley bolt: Ford 3675106 (torqued to yield and should be replaced). Tighten in 4 stages - 120Nm, release 360 degrees, 50Nm, tighten 90 degrees.
Water Pump Belt: Motorcraft 5L8E-8K543-AA
Finis Code 59X28DO5 Part No 4513849
Reversing light switch of 3R 6 Speed gearbox: Ford 1444282
Ford 1805255 Switch Assy Reversing Lamp
Water pump tensioner: Ford Finis 4173397
Water pump tensioner bolt: Ford Finis 7106178
2.5L Idler Pulley- Gates Drive/Align: T36199 (7803-21299)
Dip stick: F53E-6750-CB Mondeo
Front Suspension Torque setting:
Upper & lower A-arm inner bushes 140 Nm 103 lbft
Upper A-arm outer ball joint mounting block to upright (Loctite 243) 60 Nm 44 lbft
Upper A-arm outer ball joint 60 Nm 44 lbft
Lower A-arm outer ball joint 60 Nm 44 lbft
Wheel bearing bolt end nyloc nut 220 Nm 162 lbft
Damper mountings, upper & lower 100 Nm 74 lbft
Tie rod ends to upright 60 Nm 44 lbft
Rear Suspension Torque settings:
Upper A-arm inner bushes 140 Nm 103 lbft
Upper A-arm outer ball joint 60 Nm 44 lbft
Lower A-arm inner front bush 140 Nm 103 lbft
Lower A-arm inner rear bush & inner track rod joint 140 Nm 103 lbft
Lower A-arm outer bush & outer track rod joint 140 Nm 103 lbft
Damper mountings, upper & lower 100 Nm 74 lbft
Brakes Torque setting:
Front & rear caliper mtg bolts + Loctite 243 60Nm 44 lbft
Front disk-bell, retaining bolts (use AP Mtg.kit) 14Nm 10lbft
Limited Slip Differential: Quaife ATB QDF41Z
Aluminium flywheel (5spd MTX-75 gearbox): Fidanza 186251
Aluminium flywheel (6spd MMT6 gearbox): Fidanza 186251 (www.ultrarev.com)
Clutch Slave Cylinder: AP Racing (Modified) Noble M12CLU03, AP Racing CP6859-10
1st & 2nd Gear: Ford 1374959
2nd & 3rd Gear: Ford 1374958
5th & 6th Gear: Ford 1371699
Reverse Gear: Ford 1371700
Driveshaft Seals: 2 x Ford 1543933
Bell Housing Seal: Ford 1807604
Hex Bolts: 10 x Ford 1663348
1st, 2nd 3rd & 4th Gear Syncro Rings: Ford 1712553
5th & 6th Gear Syncro Rings: Ford 1474007
Reverse Gear Syncro Ring: Ford 1474849
1st Gear Needle Roller Bearing: Ford 1227471
2nd Gear Needle Roller Bearing: Ford 1227473
3rd Gear Needle Roller Bearing: Ford 1227475
4th Gear Needle Roller Bearing: Ford 1227482
5th Gear Needle Roller Bearing: Ford 1227479
6th Gear Needle Roller Bearing: Ford 1227482
Reverse Gear Needle Roller Bearing: Ford 1227479
Gearbox oil: 2 x Royal Purple Synchromax Manual transmission fluid litre bottles
Ball joint front lower: Opel, Firstline FBJ5030
Ball Joints Rear: Peugeot 406 3640.34
DELPHI TC368
QH QSJ1184S
Wheel hub: Febi/Bilstein 19090 ford pkw
Wheel bearing: SKF VKBA3575 (Andrew Page ltd)
Exhaust gaskets:
manifold to turbo Nissan 1441517-m00
turbo to down pipe Nissan 1444579-e00
Tyre pressures:
M12 F 18psi 1.25bar, R 27psi 1.85bar
M400 F 20psi 1.40bar, R 30psi 2.05bar
Wheel bearing torque: 270Nm
Wheel nut torque: 130Nm
Intercooler: Pro Alloy M12/M400 Intercooler £700
Brake discs: AP330 Front Grooved Disc LH, AP330 Front Grooved Disc RH
CP3580-1131/0-CR8
CP2494-18 Bell fitting kit
Brake pads: Pagid RS19 or Pagid RS29
MANUFACTURER TECHNICAL DATA
Spring rates (lb/in):
M12: Front 425, Rear 575
M400: Front 575, Rear 685
Protech: Front 450, Rear 600
Tyres:
M12: Bridgestone Potenza S-03, Front 225/40-R18 18psi, Rear 265/35-R18 27psi
M400: Pirelli P Zero Corsa, Front 225/40-R18 20psi, Rear 265/35-R18 30psi
Wheel alignment:
M12 Cars before car 44 - Wheel Alignment Settings
Front Camber: -.50 to -1 non-adjustable Front Caster: aprox. +10.5 non-adjustable
Rear Camber: -.50 to -1 non-adjustable
Front Toe: out .08” per wheel Total toe .16” out (5/32”)
Rear Toe: in .12” per wheel Total Toe .24” in (1/4”)
M 400 and M12 Cars after 44
Front Camber: -.50 to -1 non-adjustable Front Caster: aprox. +10.5 non-adjustable
Rear Camber: -.50 to -1 non-adjustable
Front Toe: out .04” per wheel Total toe .08 out (5/64”)
Rear Toe: in .078” to .12 per wheel Total Toe .157” to .24 in
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Useful engine data:
2.5 gto standard
bore 82.4 mm
stroke 79.5 mm
rod centres 137 mm
deck hight 208 mm
gasket bore dia 83 mm
compressed gasket thickness 0.9 mm
chamber vol 42 cc
piston dome/bowl+relief vol -2.9 cc
piston commpression height 30 mm
squich pad distance from head face 0 mm
piston height from deck -1.25 mm
cylinder vol 423.95
total engine vol 2543.95 cc
gasket vol 4.87
piston vol -6.67
dome vol with piston in block -3.77
total clearance vol 50.64
squish clearance 2.15 mm
rod/stroke ratio 1.72
compression ratio 9.37 :1
new engine build
bore 83 mm
stroke 79.5 mm
rod centre 139.5 mm
deck height 208 mm
gasket bore thickness 83 mm
compressed gasket thickness 0.9
chamber vol 42 cc
piston dome/bowl+relief vol 10 cc
piston compresion height 28.4 mm
squish pad distance from head 0 mm
piston height from deck -0.35 mm
cylinder vol 430.14 cc
total engine vol 2580.14 cc
gasket vol 4.87 cc
piston vol -1.89 cc
dome vol with piston in block -11.89 cc
total clerance vol 58.76 cc
squish clearance 1.25 mm
rod/ stroke ratio 1.75
compression ratio 8.32 :1