The world's best Exige?

[Esprit]

.... well that's the goal Or at least the way it's slowly turning out

I started out 2 years ago pulling my Exige S1 to bits to give things a bit of a clean-up and have ended up turning it into a kinda concours-style restoration/modification.

I've been running a thread over on the Elise/Exige/Europa/340R forum for a while now which you can see HERE.

Here's a random photographic taste of what's therein..... it's a long and pictureful read so you might like to make a cup of tea before you sit down to read it all I've done pretty much everything myself apart from the engine assembly, which has been done off-site as I ran out of space. Other than that it's just one guy having a bit of fun tinkering with a car he loves very much

Enjoy...

BEFORE:










DURING:

[Logie]

Great stuff, was that new pistons or refurb by yourself? Love the plate aswell

[Esprit]

Every moving component inside the engine is new as I decided to build for a bit more reliability and horsepower. Aiming for about 230bhp and 750kg, which should be eminently achievable

[RobCrezz]

Esprit said:

Every moving component inside the engine is new as I decided to build for a bit more reliability and horsepower. Aiming for about 230bhp and 750kg, which should be eminently achievable

Fantastic! I love your car its lovely!

Have you seen the thread with the black Exige? The guy had dropped in a Honda CTR engine with a supercharger!

[OlberJ]

Before i read through the whole thread, is there a quick answer on why you decided not to do an engien swap?

[Esprit]

RobCrezz said:

Esprit said:

Every moving component inside the engine is new as I decided to build for a bit more reliability and horsepower. Aiming for about 230bhp and 750kg, which should be eminently achievable

Fantastic! I love your car its lovely!

Have you seen the thread with the black Exige? The guy had dropped in a Honda CTR engine with a supercharger!

I'm familiar with Mark's car, yeah, there's plenty floating around with that engine conversion

OlberJ said:

Before i read through the whole thread, is there a quick answer on why you decided not to do an engien swap?

Well for starters, genuine Exige S1s are rare and are appreciating in value quite sharply. The original-engined ones are the most sought after, they're becoming quite a collectible car. I'm wanting to preserve the future value of the car and build it as what I see as the ultimate Exige within the original bounds of the car.

Also, to my mind the K-series VHPD engine is the heart of the Exige S1's character. Sure the Honda engines can be made quicker (especially when supercharged) but the grumpy nature and sound of the K-series is its heart and soul... I didn't want to lose that.

I'm sure you could make a RS1800 BDA Escort go faster by swapping in a Honda F20C engine out of a S2000.... but you wouldn't would you?

[kik1.6se]

THat looks great. Who coated the wishbones?

Also I can see what you mean about keeping the k-series, an engine change would possibly change the character of the car.

I'd love to get stuck into my VX220 and get it as clean as that.

Kirk

[Esprit]

kik1.6se said:

THat looks great. Who coated the wishbones?

Also I can see what you mean about keeping the k-series, an engine change would possibly change the character of the car.

I'd love to get stuck into my VX220 and get it as clean as that.

Kirk

I had the wishbones fine-grit-blasted, to get them completely clean, then they were zinc plated/passivated before being overcoated with a couple of coats of POR15 clear.

[OlberJ]

Esprit said:

OlberJ said:

Before i read through the whole thread, is there a quick answer on why you decided not to do an engien swap?

Well for starters, genuine Exige S1s are rare and are appreciating in value quite sharply. The original-engined ones are the most sought after, they're becoming quite a collectible car. I'm wanting to preserve the future value of the car and build it as what I see as the ultimate Exige within the original bounds of the car.

Also, to my mind the K-series VHPD engine is the heart of the Exige S1's character. Sure the Honda engines can be made quicker (especially when supercharged) but the grumpy nature and sound of the K-series is its heart and soul... I didn't want to lose that.

I'm sure you could make a RS1800 BDA Escort go faster by swapping in a Honda F20C engine out of a S2000.... but you wouldn't would you?

Fair play. I was assuming "best" would mean quickest and best handling. School boy error.

I got to admire your attention to detail in the restoration (i think that's the best word).

Are you planning to keep it or sell it when you're done?

[Esprit]

OlberJ said:

Fair play. I was assuming "best" would mean quickest and best handling. School boy error.

I got to admire your attention to detail in the restoration (i think that's the best word).

Are you planning to keep it or sell it when you're done?

Well to make it the best handling or fastest I'd have to completely butcher the car since there's some wild modified ones out there with 600+bhp... which isn't really my style

I'll be keeping this car for sure. I've been offered a rather large amount (as in a silly amount) to sell it when done, but I couldn't bear to part with it

[BoRED S2upid]

Fairplay not something most people would do "Tinker" with an Exige. I presume your a mechanic. Looks awesome.

[RobCrezz]

OlberJ said:

Esprit said:

OlberJ said:

Before i read through the whole thread, is there a quick answer on why you decided not to do an engien swap?

Well for starters, genuine Exige S1s are rare and are appreciating in value quite sharply. The original-engined ones are the most sought after, they're becoming quite a collectible car. I'm wanting to preserve the future value of the car and build it as what I see as the ultimate Exige within the original bounds of the car.

Also, to my mind the K-series VHPD engine is the heart of the Exige S1's character. Sure the Honda engines can be made quicker (especially when supercharged) but the grumpy nature and sound of the K-series is its heart and soul... I didn't want to lose that.

I'm sure you could make a RS1800 BDA Escort go faster by swapping in a Honda F20C engine out of a S2000.... but you wouldn't would you?

Fair play. I was assuming "best" would mean quickest and best handling. School boy error.

I got to admire your attention to detail in the restoration (i think that's the best word).

Are you planning to keep it or sell it when you're done?

In fairness, the Rover K-series is quite a bit lighter than the Honda or Audi lumps, so thats another good reason to keep it.

Either way, its a very nice car!

[Esprit]

BoRED S2upid said:

Fairplay not something most people would do "Tinker" with an Exige. I presume your a mechanic. Looks awesome.

No Mechanic. I'm a mechanical engineer so work with machinery a fair bit, never done anything this ambitious with a car though... just a lot of patience and being careful required

[soad]

Boy does it look good! Lovely photos too, will have a good read later on.

[BBL-Sean]

I always thought this one would be "the best" Exige (if there is such a thing): http://www.sandsmuseum.com/cars/elise/experience/c...

[Esprit]

Thought I'd update this.

The car's recently left home:



Only to return, with her fully rebuilt engine and Quaife 6-speed gearbox fitted:











If you see the thread, I'm currently busy getting the remainder of the plumbing finished before beginning on sensors and wiring.... couple of months to go until first engine start!

Edited by Esprit on Sunday 13th June 13:22

[The Riddler]

Nice to see it's all coming together now Esprit.

[dan19evans]

mmmmmm nice motor

was surprised at how cream crackered those shell bearings were though !

[fullbeem]

Looks great.

[Esprit]

dan19evans said:

mmmmmm nice motor

was surprised at how cream crackered those shell bearings were though !

Typical of the bearings they originally used in the engines, just weren't up to the task.

New bearings should be more than up to the job in hand