S1 Elise 2.0 Duratec Conversion
Discussion
Ok, here is my Duratec build blog.
I purchased a standard S1 Elise earlier in the year with the intention to run it as standard over the summer and then perform a Duratec conversion with my friend over the winter. I'd class myself as an enthusiastic spanner man but I have little in the way of fabrication skills so I chose to go with the Essex Autosport DIY Mugello conversion.
I chose to go with a Duratec over the Honda as I didn't want to over power and fundamentally change the driving characteristics of the Elise. I also didn't want the hassle of driveshaft and CV boot failures. I know there will be plenty people who will tell me I should have gone Honda and the faults have been ironed out etc etc but the choice has been made. I also know there are plenty of people who will tell me I should have gone 2.3 Duratec. Once again, the choice has been made.
So, the car has till then end of October before it comes off the road but I received my kit on Friday so I figured I'd kick off my blog.
So for a kicker. Here's my S1. As I say it is 100% standard. I got it off eBay for a very good price. It's been well looked after with a wallet full of every single receipt in chronological order.
Here's my engine. Taken from a 30,000 mile Fiesta ST150.
And here's what you get when you order a Mugello kit from Essex Autosport. A big box
Containing....
Unwrapping
As I say the car still has a couple of months until it comes off the road but I'm going to begin building up the engine in the coming month. There are issues to resolve with alternator belt routing and a bit of fabrication work to do with the water outlet from the head. I'll detail this work as I progress.
I purchased a standard S1 Elise earlier in the year with the intention to run it as standard over the summer and then perform a Duratec conversion with my friend over the winter. I'd class myself as an enthusiastic spanner man but I have little in the way of fabrication skills so I chose to go with the Essex Autosport DIY Mugello conversion.
I chose to go with a Duratec over the Honda as I didn't want to over power and fundamentally change the driving characteristics of the Elise. I also didn't want the hassle of driveshaft and CV boot failures. I know there will be plenty people who will tell me I should have gone Honda and the faults have been ironed out etc etc but the choice has been made. I also know there are plenty of people who will tell me I should have gone 2.3 Duratec. Once again, the choice has been made.
So, the car has till then end of October before it comes off the road but I received my kit on Friday so I figured I'd kick off my blog.
So for a kicker. Here's my S1. As I say it is 100% standard. I got it off eBay for a very good price. It's been well looked after with a wallet full of every single receipt in chronological order.
Here's my engine. Taken from a 30,000 mile Fiesta ST150.
And here's what you get when you order a Mugello kit from Essex Autosport. A big box
Containing....
Unwrapping
As I say the car still has a couple of months until it comes off the road but I'm going to begin building up the engine in the coming month. There are issues to resolve with alternator belt routing and a bit of fabrication work to do with the water outlet from the head. I'll detail this work as I progress.
John D. said:
Nice. I really fancy a Duratec or Honda powered S1 at some point.
What power output is this spec?
The engine is from an ST150. With the throttle bodies and management fitted it should put out at least 180bhp. That works out at just shy of 250bhp per ton for an S1 Elise. Plenty to be getting on with.What power output is this spec?
GregorFuk said:
John D. said:
Nice. I really fancy a Duratec or Honda powered S1 at some point.
What power output is this spec?
The engine is from an ST150. With the throttle bodies and management fitted it should put out at least 180bhp. That works out at just shy of 250bhp per ton for an S1 Elise. Plenty to be getting on with.What power output is this spec?
One of the first things I need to do is get the Duratec water manifold modified to suit the installation.
It's upside down in this picture but in it's original setup the output to the left goes to the radiator, top right to the heater matrix, bottom right to the header tank. Central hose fitting is a thermostat bypass to keep water flowing through the head even when the thermostat is closed. There is also a fitting for the Ford coolant temperature sensor.
For the Elise the split between radiator and heater matrix is made downstream with a hose so I have no need for the heater matrix output on this item. I could just cap it with a rubber end cap but I'd like to see if I can get it properly blanked off. I also need somewhere to fit the Elise 'blue' water temperature sensor. I plan to copy the EA design which is to have the blank port at the top of the manifold drilled and tapped to take the sensor. This is something I can't do myself as I don't have the equipment so I'll have to find somebody in Aberdeen who does and can.
If anybody knows the thread type of the blue temperature sensor I'd be interested to know.
It's upside down in this picture but in it's original setup the output to the left goes to the radiator, top right to the heater matrix, bottom right to the header tank. Central hose fitting is a thermostat bypass to keep water flowing through the head even when the thermostat is closed. There is also a fitting for the Ford coolant temperature sensor.
For the Elise the split between radiator and heater matrix is made downstream with a hose so I have no need for the heater matrix output on this item. I could just cap it with a rubber end cap but I'd like to see if I can get it properly blanked off. I also need somewhere to fit the Elise 'blue' water temperature sensor. I plan to copy the EA design which is to have the blank port at the top of the manifold drilled and tapped to take the sensor. This is something I can't do myself as I don't have the equipment so I'll have to find somebody in Aberdeen who does and can.
If anybody knows the thread type of the blue temperature sensor I'd be interested to know.
james_gt3rs said:
Any reason in particular for the Ford engine?
Ford engine was chosen as with the help of a simple adapter plate it can be mated to the original Elise gear box. If you go honda then you fit both the Honda engine & gearbox. This can lead to drive shaft issues, something I don't wish to entertain. This particular engine was chosen as it has later high flow head which means it gives better bhp straight out the box.PaulG40 said:
Would the duratec be similar to the K series, characteristic, revviness wise? Seems a good way to give the Elise some more reliable poke rather than straining the K.
From what I gather that is the case. The Duratec is more akin to the K-Series power delivery than the Honda engine. Which is where their popularity lies, along with the fact they can be mated to the Rover gearbox. Not that I've had the pleasure of driving one!
nigelonich said:
Thats a lot of exotic contracepton you have wasted on protecting your ports. What flavours have you gone for?
They are surplus to supply now he's married 
Look forward to seeing, even helping, with the conversion develop over the winter. Finished article will be how the Elise should always have been!
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff