New Product Announcement: The WOT Box!
07-14-2008, 11:43 PM
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New Product Announcement: The WOT Box!
Hello everyone! I would like to introduce our company, N2MB Racing. We make electronics for performance cars. Our base is in the SRT-4 community and you can check us out over on SRTForums here: N2MB Racing - SRT Forums - SRT4, SRT6, SRT8, SRT10 & Dodge Forum
We have decided to branch out into new vehicle communities and bring our popular WOT Box product to the Cobalt.
Have you read about the 2008 Cobalt SS TC and drooled over the no-lift to shift and launch control features? If not, take a look at these quotes:
Rocketing to the top end is a ridiculous amount of fun in the new SS, thanks to the standard launch control and no-lift shift functions, which are also found on the less hard-core, pudgier HHR SS. Both are fairly violent events, and not lifting off the gas when you shift feels, well, ludicrous. No-lift shifts, though, coax such sweet burbles and gunfire pops from the exhaust that you just have to do them all the time. From a stop sign? No-lift shift. Getting onto the freeway? No-lift shift. In the produce section at the grocery store? Yup, no-lift shift.
Launch Control
Some cars have this, so alone, it’s not that big a deal. It’s basically traction control, but specifically tuned for drag racing. In the Cobalt, it’s implemented as an optional performance setting. You press a button on the dashboard a few times, until the instrument cluster displays “Competitive Mode” (or something like that). Then, when the vehicle is at a standstill, the display will show “Launch Control”. This is your cue to floor it. Really. Step on clutch, put in gear and floor it. The engine will stabilize at 5,100 RPM, waiting for you to let go of the clutch. Let go normally, and the car will launch forward with minimum wheel spin. Should you let go off the clutch too fast, a different algorithm will kick in, preventing wheel hop. Done properly, Launch Control will give you maximum acceleration at launch, consistently. But combine it with No-Lift Shift, and your drag race enters a different ballpark.
No-Lift Shift
This is a unique feature, and one that gives the Cobalt SS a clear advantage in racing conditions. Anyone familiar with turbocharged cars will be aware of the unmistakable sound a turbo makes when shifting gears at high revs. Every time you let go of the gas pedal to shift into a higher gear, the turbo flushes its boost. You then have to rebuild your boost on every successive gear, losing considerable time to turbo lag. The turbo spooling up and down is the sound you hear.
With No-Lift Shift, this loss of pressure is eliminated. The turbo keeps its boost throughout your trek up to 5th gear (provided you shift fast enough, I think within 0.2 seconds). But in order to do this, you have to learn to drive a little differently. Basically, you floor it, and never lift your right foot off the pedal, even as you shift (hence the name). It’s somewhat hard to do, as it goes against the way you’ve likely been driving for years. But this will keep the turbo spinning between gear changes, and will slice 0.07 seconds between every gear change. It may not seem like much, but over longer races, can translate up to a 0.5 second advantage per lap. And combined with launch control, it gives this car an easy, consistent 0-60mph time of 5.7 seconds with virtually no torque steer.
Some cars have this, so alone, it’s not that big a deal. It’s basically traction control, but specifically tuned for drag racing. In the Cobalt, it’s implemented as an optional performance setting. You press a button on the dashboard a few times, until the instrument cluster displays “Competitive Mode” (or something like that). Then, when the vehicle is at a standstill, the display will show “Launch Control”. This is your cue to floor it. Really. Step on clutch, put in gear and floor it. The engine will stabilize at 5,100 RPM, waiting for you to let go of the clutch. Let go normally, and the car will launch forward with minimum wheel spin. Should you let go off the clutch too fast, a different algorithm will kick in, preventing wheel hop. Done properly, Launch Control will give you maximum acceleration at launch, consistently. But combine it with No-Lift Shift, and your drag race enters a different ballpark.
No-Lift Shift
This is a unique feature, and one that gives the Cobalt SS a clear advantage in racing conditions. Anyone familiar with turbocharged cars will be aware of the unmistakable sound a turbo makes when shifting gears at high revs. Every time you let go of the gas pedal to shift into a higher gear, the turbo flushes its boost. You then have to rebuild your boost on every successive gear, losing considerable time to turbo lag. The turbo spooling up and down is the sound you hear.
With No-Lift Shift, this loss of pressure is eliminated. The turbo keeps its boost throughout your trek up to 5th gear (provided you shift fast enough, I think within 0.2 seconds). But in order to do this, you have to learn to drive a little differently. Basically, you floor it, and never lift your right foot off the pedal, even as you shift (hence the name). It’s somewhat hard to do, as it goes against the way you’ve likely been driving for years. But this will keep the turbo spinning between gear changes, and will slice 0.07 seconds between every gear change. It may not seem like much, but over longer races, can translate up to a 0.5 second advantage per lap. And combined with launch control, it gives this car an easy, consistent 0-60mph time of 5.7 seconds with virtually no torque steer.
Well, drool no longer. We've come up with an add-on module that adds no-lift shifting and 2-step launch control to the Cobalt.
The No-Lift Shift feature makes no-lift shifting easy by cutting your engine's power for a very short period while you no-lift shift. It allows the synchros in your transmission to mesh easily, reducing the chance of missing a gear and damaging your transmission. It also allows you to hold boost through the shift, thereby significantly improving your E.T.
The major benefits are:
* Lower ETs
* Reduced chance of missing a gear
* More consistent, effortless shifts
* Reduced wear on the transmission
* Reduced chance of major transmission damage
The 2-Step Launch Control modulates the ignition by dropping power to individual ignition coils to hold the RPM you want to launch at. If you have a turbo, the turbo will spool up while you do this. You can use this feature for a more consistent and more powerful launch in boost!
How does the WOT Box work?
The split second that you place your foot on the clutch pedal with the throttle all the way down, a signal is sent to the WOT Box that a shift has been initiated. When the module sees the signal from the clutch switch it will reduce engine power by cutting the ignition. This helps you complete the no-lift shift easily, without getting locked out of the next gear or damaging your syncros. If you do it fast enough, you will hold boost through the shift. The result is drastically reduced E.T.s.
The drivers in our test cars describe using the WOT BOX as sitting in the car and going through the gearbox with the engine off!! All the drivers were amazed at how smooth the gearbox was. The transition from gear to gear is effortless and the boost gauge would barely show a blip between the shifts. We were able to test on an Evo8 with a laggy 60-1 turbo and managed to hold 30+ psi through every gear! Even on a stock turbo equipped Dodge SRT-4 we were able to knock 3 tenths off e.t. by simply hooking the box up. Our big turbo SRT-4 cars were able to drop up to 5-7 tenths off their E.T. with the WOT Box alone!
Now, on the SC Cobalts, your gains from no-lift shifting won't be as huge as that, but they will still be significant because your shift times will improve dramatically and you will be able to shift with less effort. Even naturally aspirated Cobalts can benefit from this!
Will the WOT Box affect normal driving?
No. The WOT Box will only activate when you are no-lift shifting. Normal shifts will be ignored and continue to work just as you expect. You won't even know its there, until you make a no-lift shift!
How do I use it?
To use the No-Lift Shift feature, keep your foot fully on the gas and shift quickly using the clutch. Keep the gas fully depressed through the shift. The WOT Box will detect the clutch switch signal and briefly cut the ignition to enable an effortless shift.
To use the 2-Step Launch Control, fully depress the clutch. Next, STOMP the gas to the floor. The engine will rev up and hold the RPM that you have set. Release the clutch while leaving the gas fully depressed to launch the car. Once the clutch is up, the 2-Step Launch Control will automatically disable and allow the engine to work normally.
Do you have videos of the WOT Box on the Cobalt?
Yes. We do... Here are 2 videos on an SS with a turbo swap:
Here are videos of the 2-Step Launch Control on a STOCK 2006 Cobalt SS SC:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmE8rOueydM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeCCR1_aLSc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zHWCfw8z1I
We also have a lot more videos of the WOT Box on other cars on our website here:
NP Complete Performance - WOT Box In Action
How do I program it?
Check out the users guide to see how easy it is to set the 2-step RPM and optional manual ignition kill time:
NP Complete Performance - WOT Box Users Guide
How hard is the WOT Box to install?
The installation only involves 6 wires, and should take only about an hour to complete. A full set of installation instructions with pictures are available here:
http://www.npcompleteperformance.com...oninstructions
These instructions are still being updated, so please bear with us and remember to check the page again before starting your installation.
What about the unburnt fuel that will be present in the exhaust while No-Lift Shifting and 2-stepping?
Every after market part comes with some extra risk of damage or some additional wear and tear on your car. It has to be that way. If there was a way to get free extra performance out of your car, the engineers would have done it already. They are pretty smart.
However, the techniques in our WOT Box are well known and well utilized, on many vehicles safely. For example, nearly all modern after market ECUs come with some form of No-Lift Shifting. What we have done is brought these features to market in a small, inexpensive add-on box for those individuals who may not want to spend thousands of dollars on a full stand-alone.
An even better example of the relative safety of this mod is that some cars are even shipping now with it as a stock feature! For example, the EVO9 has a 2-step launch control and the Chevy HHR has a 2-step launch control and no lift to shift! So, if Chevy is willing to send their cars out of the factory with it stock, they must be convinced it is a reasonable thing to do.
This is not to be confused with anti-lag, which is a system that actually forces fresh air into the exhaust to cause ignition before the turbo to keep the turbo spooled. While this does an excellent job of keeping the turbo spooled (better than no lift to shift), it causes much more wear and tear on the turbo. Here is more reading on anti-lag:
Anti-Lag System - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
To play devil's advocate, let's break down the risks involved in using the WOT Box. To start, the No-Lift Shift feature. I believe it causes very little additional wear and tear on the car, mainly because the amount of time that the ignition is cut is very short. It may be as low as 100 ms, which is only a few rotations of the engine at the RPMs we are shifting at. Plus, the ignition comes back on quickly and evacuates the unburnt fuel from the exhaust. Sometimes there may be a small audible pop as the unburnt fuel ignites in the exhaust. If done enough times back to back, this potentially could heat up a stock cat and cause it to fail, but it would be hard to imagine a situation where you could No-Lift Shift that many times.
On the other hand, the 2-step carries a slightly higher risk of damage to your engine, mainly to the catalytic converter. This time you are forcing less unburnt fuel into the exhaust (because the engine is still firing some of the cylinders), but you are typically doing it for a longer time. The key here is not to use the 2-step for too long and not too often. It is not a toy to make noise in the parking lot. It is meant to be used briefly before a launch at the track and then given the appropriate time after your run to allow the cat to cool. If you were to get on the 2-step and hold it for several minutes, you would probably overheat your cat and destroy it. During the development of the 2-step on the SRT-4, we did actually destroy Jay's catalytic converter. However, that was after HOURS of repeated back-to-back 2-step testing.
In conclusion, when used judiciously, these features should increase performance with minimal additional wear and tear on your engine and catalytic converter. Used inappropriately, they can cause damage. However, this is the case with all mods and drag racing in general. So, be educated about your decisions and the level of risk you are willing to take with your car.
NOTE: We highly recommend that the WOT Box be installed on cars without catalytic converters. The WOT Box is only sold for racing uses off of public roads. We cannot be responsible for damages to your catalytic converter or the rest of your car through the use of this product.
Can the dealer see that this has been installed through an ECU scan?
The dealer won't see the WOT Box through an ECU scan, but they may see the wiring for the box under the hood. They may void your warranty if they find it. We can't be responsible if they do, so install at your own risk.
Can I really use the 2-step launch control in a FWD car? Will there be enough traction?
Yes, you can make use of the 2-step to launch effectively in a FWD car. Jay's shop SRT-4 launches using the WOT Box 2-STEP at 21 PSI! However, you will need slicks to be able to do that. Street tires will be very limited with the 2-step launch, but you can dial down the 2-step launch RPM to make your street tire launches more consistent.
How long is the warranty on the WOT Box?
Our standard warranty is 3 years. More information is available on our website:
NP Complete Performance - Disclaimer
What if I decide to return the WOT Box?
If you decide you do not want the WOT Box, you can return it within thirty (30) days for a full refund. All original packaging must be included and the product must be in like-new condition.
Can this be purchased now or is this a beta test?
The WOT Box has been out for over a year on the SRT-4, and it was in R&D for another year before that on a half a dozen cars. It has been extensively track tested and our results are listed above and in numerous posts on SRT Forums, Youtube and our website at NP Complete Performance
The WOT Box has been successfully installed on at least 3 Cobalt SS's so far and more are being installed every day. The hardware is proven, and software updates are always free and posted on our website.
What comes in the box?
Everything you need to complete the installation is included in the kit.
This includes:
-WOT Box
-Wiring harness
-Serial cable for future software upgrades
-Ground lug
-Zip ties
-Heat shrink tubing
You will need:
-Wire strippers
-Soldering iron and solder
-Electrical tape
We sell the WOT Box in 3 versions:
No-Lift Shift ONLY
2-STEP ONLY
No-Lift Shift AND 2-STEP
If you buy one of the single feature boxes, you can upgrade later if you decide to. Our single feature WOT Boxes normally retail for $159 and the Dual feature WOT Box normally retails for $299. However, to help get the word out in the Cobalt community, we're going to do a group buy on this forum for the first 20 customers to order. The pricing is listed below.
Click on your flag to checkout! The link will take you to a Paypal page, but you do not need to have a paypal account. You can pay using a credit card without a paypal account if you click on the link, "Don't have a PayPal account? Use your credit card or bank account (where available). Continue"
WOT Box with No-Lift Shift ONLY - Cobalt $129
WOT Box with Launch Control ONLY - Cobalt $129
WOT Box with No-Lift Shift AND Launch Control - Cobalt $189
Shipping will be flat rate at $9.99 for the US, $19.99 for Mexico and Canada, and $24.99 for Australia. All orders are shipped USPS Priority Mail with delivery confirmation. You will receive a tracking number at the email address used during checkout once your order ships. Email sales@n2mb.com to get a shipping quote for other countries.
If I buy a single feature WOT Box now, how can I upgrade later?
If you want to upgrade in the future there will be two options:
1. Pay the extra fee to upgrade. It will be the retail price of the single feature WOT Box ($149), and mail your box in. We will flash it and mail it back to you.
Or
2. Pay the retail price of the dual feature WOT box ($285) and we will advance ship you an extra WOT Box so that you don't have any down time. Once you have returned the single feature WOT Box we will refund the difference ($136).
If I buy a single feature WOT Box, can I try out the other feature?
Yes. Email us at support@n2mb.com and we can send you a special software load that will switch your box from one single feature to the other. If you decide you like it, we can upgrade your WOT Box to a dual feature version using the above instructions.
Can the software be upgraded without shipping the box back?
Yes. There is a serial port on the side of the WOT Box. That serial port allows you to upgrade your software as new features are released and the software is improved. We will have software upgrades posted on our site as they come out so that you can keep your WOT Box up to date with the current software.
What do I need to update the software on my WOT Box?
If you have a laptop with a serial port:
Then you don't need anything. Your WOT Box will ship with the serial cable you need.
If you don't have a serial port on your laptop (many newer ones do not), you'll need a USB to Serial converter. You may have one of these already. If it has a prolific chipset, it will likely work with the WOT Box. Other chipsets may or may not work. We've found a few bad USB to Serial boxes that give us a lot of trouble.
I recommend this particular USB-to-Serial because it has the known prolific chipset and it is the same USB-to-Serial adapter that I have done all my development on.
For only $6.49 each when QTY 50+ purchased - USB to Serial Convert Cable(DB9M/USB B female converter and USB A/B cable)[SYB] | USB to Serial/Parallel Converter
Also, it is pretty inexpensive.
Now, if you don't have access to a laptop, we're starting to make wall-plug adapters so that you can power your WOT Box inside your house and load software onto it from your desktop. The same conditions as above apply. If you have a serial port, you won't need anything other than the power cord. If you do not have a serial port, you'll also need a USB-to-Serial adapter. Contact support@n2mb.com to find out how you can order one of these adapters.
Software upgrades will be available on this page:
NP Complete Performance - WOT Box Software
What else does the serial port do?
There is a rumor that someday I will write some windows software that will allow you to retrieve logs from the WOT Box and adjust parameters with fine precision. We will probably log things like your shift times, so you can see how fast you shift.
Let me know if you have any more questions!
Update - 7/21/08
Due to record breaking summer sales and supply shortages on key components, we have run out of stock on the WOT Box. However, we have a huge build running right now at our ISO 9001 certified, US factory. We are expecting to receive delivery of 250 WOT Boxes in about 2 weeks. So, we are going to extend the introductory pricing listed here until the end of August. We apologize for the delay. If anyone has a pending order with us and would like to cancel it, please email us at sales@n2mb.com and we will help you out. Otherwise, you do not need to do anything. Your order will ship as scheduled as soon as we receive the new shipment.
Again, we apologize for the delay and appreciate your patience.
Last edited by phrozen; 07-21-2008 at 11:25 PM.
07-14-2008, 11:58 PM
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ok, if send money now can i get this by friday???
i need by friday
i will test this biatch at the track.
i need by friday
i will test this biatch at the track.
Last edited by ColeJJones; 07-14-2008 at 11:58 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
07-14-2008, 11:58 PM
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It's not as hard as a rev-limiter. It intelligently drops individual cylinders and then re-fires them on the next cycle. So, it ends up being smoother than the rev-limiter.
But, yes. You don't want to do this all day. Just for a second or two before you launch the car.
But, yes. You don't want to do this all day. Just for a second or two before you launch the car.
07-15-2008, 12:01 AM
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We have a bunch of these in stock and ready to go.
Last edited by phrozen; 07-15-2008 at 12:01 AM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
07-15-2008, 12:03 AM
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07-15-2008, 12:03 AM
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if i send another 10 bones to sales@n2mb.com will you ship 2 day air?
07-15-2008, 12:04 AM
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07-15-2008, 12:04 AM
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i'm not looking to do this right now. mainly cuz i just bought a heat exchanger and i'm outa cash at the moment. But ya if i happen to be the first rl with it installed of course i will send pictures.
07-15-2008, 12:05 AM
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You'll still be able to shift faster if you don't have to take your foot off the gas, and the trans will feel smoother during the shift. The launch control will also help you be more consistent. You won't pick up 7 tenths in the quarter like our big turbo SRTs, but it should help.
07-15-2008, 12:06 AM
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if i send another 10 bones to sales@n2mb.com will you ship 2 day air?
07-15-2008, 12:12 AM
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It isn't programming. It's just a box. You can remove the box and install a jumper in the ignition wires, but the rest of the wires will still be there.
