240HP Honda Powered Exige
Discussion
Just thought I'd update you on the latest engine option for your car. Take a look at www.prototyperacing.com and click the K20A page for some photos and info on my latest creation.
Enjoy,
Joe McCarthy
Enjoy,
Joe McCarthy
hear hear, well said. Lotus are you looking? This is what the Elise should be.Joe, would agree with you about the brakes, neither the brakes on the Exige or the 111S have ever inspired true confidence even with better pads and braided hoses fixed - I really noticed the difference jumping into an Audi TT of all things straight after the 111S - found myself putting the car on its nose for the first few bends.
Have you had any UK custom or interest in either the EXige ir Elise engines conversions?
Have you had any UK custom or interest in either the EXige ir Elise engines conversions?
I don't think I'd put it in the Supercar category just yet, Adeewuff, but when I get the Turbocharged version finished, then we can start talking Supercar. Traction will become an issue at that point, however.
I've been approached by Owen at Race-Speed to become my UK distributor, we'll be talking more in the next few days. He may be interested in doing installations as well, we haven't gone that far yet.
I've been approached by Owen at Race-Speed to become my UK distributor, we'll be talking more in the next few days. He may be interested in doing installations as well, we haven't gone that far yet.
quote:
I don't think I'd put it in the Supercar category just yet, Adeewuff, but when I get the Turbocharged version finished, then we can start talking Supercar.
OK, OK... just got rather excited at the prospect..
It's good to see you are brave enough to do something that Lotus itself can't do. That is give the Elise some POWER!!
I wish you all the best for your future endeavours and hope you really make a success out of an ventures on this side of the pond.
It will be interesting to get close-up to a converted car to see how the conversion works, as the Honda S2000 engine actually runs backwards! If for example the original Elise gearbox was used, you would have 5 reverse gears and 1 forward gear!! 
Obviously the Honda box would be needed or some other trickery in order to make it work. Very interesting though, and about time too!
Jas.
Obviously the Honda box would be needed or some other trickery in order to make it work. Very interesting though, and about time too! Jas.
There seems to be some mis-conception as to the relative rotation of Honda engines, and a bit of reality therapy seems to be in order. Mr. Soichiro Honda had a thing for counter clockwise rotation, but since his demise, all newly designed Honda engines, including the K20A and F20C rotate with the rest of the automotive world, clockwise. The last of the CCW engines was the B18C, which is no longer in production.
To Adeewuff,
I'm quite comfortable doing things no one else has tried, I've been doing just that nearly all my life.
Helps keep me young, you know?
This Elise/Honda project just seemed to be a natural to me. Combine the best handling car with the highest output engines. In my opinion, the Elise deserves nothing less than the best engines available, and right now those engines just happen to say Honda on the cam cover.
To Adeewuff,
I'm quite comfortable doing things no one else has tried, I've been doing just that nearly all my life.
Helps keep me young, you know?
This Elise/Honda project just seemed to be a natural to me. Combine the best handling car with the highest output engines. In my opinion, the Elise deserves nothing less than the best engines available, and right now those engines just happen to say Honda on the cam cover.
Nice work Joe, keep it coming.........
Whats the stats on the little beast, have you kept the same gearing as the R Type ?
With the engine/gearbox at the same end as the Rover, has it made the kit easier/cheaper ?
Finding engines down here is still proving tough and they're not cheap !! if you can get one !
What stages of power developement are you going too - 240, 260hp.............?
When's the F20 going in ?
Turbo ?
Saving the pennies...........!!
Whats the stats on the little beast, have you kept the same gearing as the R Type ?
With the engine/gearbox at the same end as the Rover, has it made the kit easier/cheaper ?
Finding engines down here is still proving tough and they're not cheap !! if you can get one !
What stages of power developement are you going too - 240, 260hp.............?
When's the F20 going in ?
Turbo ?
Saving the pennies...........!!
Hi Dean,
I'm going to do some 0-60 times this weekend, and will put them on my website. 1/4 mile times will have to wait until the 1st magazine feature, which will be happening pretty soon. This 6 speed trans is sweet, very even gear spacing. The engine being on the right side didn't really change things much, and the engine mounts on this one are a bit more complex than the B18C, but having the exhaust on the rear allowed me to lower the engine in the chassis substantially. Lower C.G.= better handling. I bought another K20A (200HP)
on E-bay for $3,000 and am going to build it as my naturally aspirated mule motor, so I'll be able to let people know exactly what modifications produce given HP levels, and how much they cost. I'll do it in stages, all the way up to 320HP or so. We still haven't got the OK from Procar in Australia to run the Turbo K20A Motorsports Elise in the Nations Cup series.
If that happens I'll be building a Turbosystem for it
post haste. Fingers crossed,but not holding my breath.
I've reserved a space in the L.A. Auto Show, so by Christmas I'll have the F20C installed and running. The show runs from Jan.4 thru 12 for the public, but move-in day is Dec. 29. I'm getting a topless dancer to be my spokes-model! Should help relieve the boredom.
Keep saving those pennies.
I'm going to do some 0-60 times this weekend, and will put them on my website. 1/4 mile times will have to wait until the 1st magazine feature, which will be happening pretty soon. This 6 speed trans is sweet, very even gear spacing. The engine being on the right side didn't really change things much, and the engine mounts on this one are a bit more complex than the B18C, but having the exhaust on the rear allowed me to lower the engine in the chassis substantially. Lower C.G.= better handling. I bought another K20A (200HP)
on E-bay for $3,000 and am going to build it as my naturally aspirated mule motor, so I'll be able to let people know exactly what modifications produce given HP levels, and how much they cost. I'll do it in stages, all the way up to 320HP or so. We still haven't got the OK from Procar in Australia to run the Turbo K20A Motorsports Elise in the Nations Cup series.
If that happens I'll be building a Turbosystem for it
post haste. Fingers crossed,but not holding my breath.
I've reserved a space in the L.A. Auto Show, so by Christmas I'll have the F20C installed and running. The show runs from Jan.4 thru 12 for the public, but move-in day is Dec. 29. I'm getting a topless dancer to be my spokes-model! Should help relieve the boredom.
Keep saving those pennies.
Hi Pat,
First off, other than the excellent AP front calipers, everything is way too heavy. This leaves me a lot of room for improvement without increasing the unsprung weight of the car. From my initial measurements, it appears I can easily use a 328mm rotor in the front that weighs less than the 282mm piece Lotus used. These will only work with the 16" Exige or Motorsports wheels, however. Wilwood makes a differential bore 4 piston caliper they call Billet Superlight that only weighs 1.6 Kg. and has an excellent range of pad choices. This setup for the front will certainly be too much stopping power for anything other than a car running slicks, which is exactly what I am going to be using. I'll mount the AP front calipers in the rear, like Lotus did, but use a 305mm two piece rotor that, again, weighs less than the original. I'll rid myself of the parking brake, and lose a few more Kilos in the process.
I know, you're thinking OK, that's fine for racing, but what about road use with the 15 & 16" wheels?
The most economical way for all you Elise owners to get a far superior braking system is to simply use a larger diameter front rotor, and retain the AP caliper.
Brake torque and effective swept area increase dramatically by just going to a larger rotor, and the caliper can be moved easily with the use of a pair of bobbin shaped spacers, and longer bolts. The new rotor would naturally use an Aluminium center to keep the weight down, and minimise heat transfer to the hub.
These are just a couple of the refinements I plan on engineering for the Elise/Exige in the near future. I'll have several different setups, based on different customer requirements.
We all know we can't rely on Lotus for this sort of thing.
First off, other than the excellent AP front calipers, everything is way too heavy. This leaves me a lot of room for improvement without increasing the unsprung weight of the car. From my initial measurements, it appears I can easily use a 328mm rotor in the front that weighs less than the 282mm piece Lotus used. These will only work with the 16" Exige or Motorsports wheels, however. Wilwood makes a differential bore 4 piston caliper they call Billet Superlight that only weighs 1.6 Kg. and has an excellent range of pad choices. This setup for the front will certainly be too much stopping power for anything other than a car running slicks, which is exactly what I am going to be using. I'll mount the AP front calipers in the rear, like Lotus did, but use a 305mm two piece rotor that, again, weighs less than the original. I'll rid myself of the parking brake, and lose a few more Kilos in the process.
I know, you're thinking OK, that's fine for racing, but what about road use with the 15 & 16" wheels?
The most economical way for all you Elise owners to get a far superior braking system is to simply use a larger diameter front rotor, and retain the AP caliper.
Brake torque and effective swept area increase dramatically by just going to a larger rotor, and the caliper can be moved easily with the use of a pair of bobbin shaped spacers, and longer bolts. The new rotor would naturally use an Aluminium center to keep the weight down, and minimise heat transfer to the hub.
These are just a couple of the refinements I plan on engineering for the Elise/Exige in the near future. I'll have several different setups, based on different customer requirements.
We all know we can't rely on Lotus for this sort of thing.
My kits will fit all of the Elise based cars. S1 and S2
From what I understand, you can live a quite nornal life with only 20% of one kidney functioning, but it seems a good idea to keep the other as a spare, just in case. Anyone know what good low mileage kidneys are going for these days?
From what I understand, you can live a quite nornal life with only 20% of one kidney functioning, but it seems a good idea to keep the other as a spare, just in case. Anyone know what good low mileage kidneys are going for these days?
Joe,
I'll be seeing you at the LA Auto show then.
I've been reading what you've been up to , both here and on Roadfly. Sounds like a well sorted package.
Peronally I can't afford an Elise until 04 anyway... but if Lotus puts back its delivery any further I'm sure I'm going to be in touch.
Steve
I'll be seeing you at the LA Auto show then.
I've been reading what you've been up to , both here and on Roadfly. Sounds like a well sorted package.
Peronally I can't afford an Elise until 04 anyway... but if Lotus puts back its delivery any further I'm sure I'm going to be in touch.
Steve
Hi Steve,
Look forward to seeing you at the Convention Center, if you wait that long. Why not just cruise over to Torrance some day for a ride? You're not too far away.
I had a guy come up from Irvine on Sunday for a test ride. This guy shows up driving a Zinardi Edition NSX with only 10,000 miles on the clock. Beautiful car! Honda only made 50 of them. Anyway, he fell in love instantly, and is going to by an Exige, have my friend in San Francisco import it and I'm doing the K20A conversion for him.
Look forward to seeing you at the Convention Center, if you wait that long. Why not just cruise over to Torrance some day for a ride? You're not too far away.
I had a guy come up from Irvine on Sunday for a test ride. This guy shows up driving a Zinardi Edition NSX with only 10,000 miles on the clock. Beautiful car! Honda only made 50 of them. Anyway, he fell in love instantly, and is going to by an Exige, have my friend in San Francisco import it and I'm doing the K20A conversion for him.
Gassing Station | Elise/Exige/Europa/340R | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff