Lexus V8 with NOS in a Renault Espace - yeah lets do it !

Lexus V8 with NOS in a Renault Espace - yeah lets do it !

Author
Discussion

gareth_r

5,704 posts

236 months

Friday 24th August 2012
quotequote all
Usual "IMHO" disclaimer, but surely a finished project is more likely if you start with a RWD people carrier. Judging by YouTube, the Hi-Ace is a popular choice, or perhaps the Previa/Estima?

lexspace

Original Poster:

295 posts

139 months

Saturday 25th August 2012
quotequote all
gareth_r said:
Usual "IMHO" disclaimer, but surely a finished project is more likely if you start with a RWD people carrier. Judging by YouTube, the Hi-Ace is a popular choice, or perhaps the Previa/Estima?


but IMHO the Espace is by far the best looking of all the mpv/people carriers ......

CooperS

4,495 posts

218 months

Saturday 25th August 2012
quotequote all
This will be epic, always loved the old espace

lexspace

Original Poster:

295 posts

139 months

Wednesday 29th August 2012
quotequote all
for those of you who are interested here is a little breakdown of the the weight removed so far

i just made a rough note on my phone to give me an idea , the weights are correct but there location and exact parts was a bit vague

spare wheel 22.6 kg
boot carpet 9.5 kg
rear seats 25 kg
rear belts parcel shelf trim etc 11.5kg
interior trim sides + centre console 24kg
front passenger seat 34 kg
remaing boot trim 10.5 kg
headlining + door trim 14.5 kg
glovebox + stereo +cd changer 6 kg
front drivers seat 34 kg
drivers door parts 7.5 kg
drivers footwell area 8kg
sunroof parts 17.5 kg
electric arial + boot parts 6kg
interior carpet 12kg
cruise control motor 2kg
viscous fan + esxhaust parts 4kg
exhaust silencers + system 21kg
air con radiator 5kg
airbags + various trim 8 kg
mudguards plasic arch trim alarm + suspension ballast 7.3 kg

giving a grand total of 289.9 kg so far

looking forward to breaking the 300kg mark

of course i forgot to mention i have added some weight back in
the 2 front seats 12 kg
nitrous bottle and system 12

damn so i have further than i thought to get to 300kg



melvster

6,841 posts

184 months

Wednesday 29th August 2012
quotequote all
Cant wait to see this complete.

magpie21

484 posts

187 months

Wednesday 29th August 2012
quotequote all
This looks like a great project.

What seats have you got in there currently?

CooperS

4,495 posts

218 months

Wednesday 29th August 2012
quotequote all
How come you've taken out the centre console and most of the interior?

I thought it would of been more funny to keep alot of the pratciallities and put in 4 carbon seats in there.

I guess you wouldnt of saved 40+kg but yer i would of kept some of the refinement (if you can call it that)

blearyeyedboy

6,242 posts

178 months

Wednesday 29th August 2012
quotequote all
Please keep the Espace's exterior standard looking.

(Maybe add some Baby On Board signs, sunblinds with Disney characters or possibly even a Powered By Fairydust badge. But then, I'm perverse.) smile

I'd love to see such a sleeper creation leave everyone standing at traffic lights! smile

lexspace

Original Poster:

295 posts

139 months

Tuesday 4th September 2012
quotequote all
magpie21 said:
This looks like a great project.

What seats have you got in there currently?
Thanks, the seats are from ebay , just the cheapest lightest ones i could get really, they are not finished great on the rear but that can be sorted, i originally planned the espace with 3 seats (a la mclaren F1)in the front and the engine in the back but now im thinking a four seater in the "usual" way

lexspace

Original Poster:

295 posts

139 months

Tuesday 4th September 2012
quotequote all
CooperS said:
How come you've taken out the centre console and most of the interior?

I thought it would of been more funny to keep alot of the pratciallities and put in 4 carbon seats in there.

I guess you wouldnt of saved 40+kg but yer i would of kept some of the refinement (if you can call it that)
all the interior is a horrible shade of green or grey , and as im not really sure how its going to be , a clean piece of paper design was decided upon

sadly practicalities are not high on the list - the last car i built had no doors, no windscreen, no heater , no stereo , no carpets , no soundproofing etc etc - and i loved it !!

lexspace

Original Poster:

295 posts

139 months

Tuesday 4th September 2012
quotequote all
some more weight saving today

removal of all the 'crap' under the front and rear bumpers, aluminium crash bars, plastic trim , headlamp washers and piping , some metal trim , bolt on towing eyes that cannot be acseesed with the bumpers on ??? (maybe for different markets) , remaining aircon piping and heater blower

total 16.7 kg

total so far 306.6 kg




lexspace

Original Poster:

295 posts

139 months

Tuesday 4th September 2012
quotequote all


just realised i can save more weight by removing the bonnet gas struts - they dont work anyway thus the need for the piece of wood !


davey sprocket

40 posts

184 months

Tuesday 4th September 2012
quotequote all
Am I missing something here??

You're stripping out loads of weight from the Lexus and then removing the engine to put it in the Espace??

Forestking

17 posts

141 months

Tuesday 4th September 2012
quotequote all
blearyeyedboy said:
Please keep the Espace's exterior standard looking.

(Maybe add some Baby On Board signs, sunblinds with Disney characters or possibly even a Powered By Fairydust badge. But then, I'm perverse.) smile

I'd love to see such a sleeper creation leave everyone standing at traffic lights! smile
That's an epic idea, it will be like the top gear transit van they had when they raced the Aussies. Looks normal on the outside but goes like a stabbed rat.

5hero

2,788 posts

156 months

Tuesday 4th September 2012
quotequote all
davey sprocket said:
Am I missing something here??

You're stripping out loads of weight from the Lexus and then removing the engine to put it in the Espace??
Thinking the same myself.

ALawson

7,814 posts

250 months

Tuesday 4th September 2012
quotequote all
5hero said:
davey sprocket said:
Am I missing something here??

You're stripping out loads of weight from the Lexus and then removing the engine to put it in the Espace??
Thinking the same myself.
Mental isn't it!

Book marked!

0a

23,878 posts

193 months

Tuesday 4th September 2012
quotequote all
Crazy (paving).

5hero

2,788 posts

156 months

Wednesday 5th September 2012
quotequote all
ALawson said:
Mental isn't it!

Book marked!
Mental indeed. Why focus on stripping weight from a car you aren't going to use?

ALawson

7,814 posts

250 months

Wednesday 5th September 2012
quotequote all
It's obvious isn't it, like a defender 90 shell on a cut down rr chassis this chap is going to weld the espace upper to Lexus chassis?

Any other possibilities?

mig25_foxbat2003

5,426 posts

210 months

Wednesday 5th September 2012
quotequote all
5hero said:
ALawson said:
Mental isn't it!

Book marked!
Mental indeed. Why focus on stripping weight from a car you aren't going to use?
Because...

lexspace on page 2 said:
After seeing a 'body' transplant on a tv show where the running gear and floorpan of a new car had the body of an old car transplanted onto it , this route has been favorite (thanks rhinochopig)