Just picked up completely standard S1 111s!
Discussion
Hi guys/gals, Im new to the scene! I just picked up a mint unmodded S1 111s in the dark bluey greeny colour! (apologies for my ignorance!)
I want to start modding her but Im not completely sure wheres best to start (performance wise)
Are the Ebay induction kits any good? Do they work well on the VVC engine?
I think the induction side is gonna be the first point of call followed by a sweet sounding exhaust!!
I want to start modding her but Im not completely sure wheres best to start (performance wise)
Are the Ebay induction kits any good? Do they work well on the VVC engine?
I think the induction side is gonna be the first point of call followed by a sweet sounding exhaust!!
The VVC seems to respond pretty well to the basic bolt-ons. The sort of things you might consider are:
4-2-1 exhaust manifold. Improves torque across the range. Eliseparts version is optimal design but lacks flexi section so requires a stiffer lower engine mount (cheap & easy but more vibration). Its beautifully made but expensive. SteveB sells Piper ones at a very good price, find him on SELOC.
Larger 52mm throttle body, also potentially solves sticking throttle problems sometimes experienced with the 48mm plastic unit.
Various aftermarket exhausts, some combinations are too loud for some tracks. Check suppliers listed below.
Filter / Induction kit. Hurricane is popular, there are also options like K&N 57i, or you can just drop a K&N panel into the existing box.
That lot should see power in the 150 to 160bhp range.
For proper tuning there is no better than Dave Andrews, take a look at the K06 and K06a kits on www.dvapower.com
Dave
4-2-1 exhaust manifold. Improves torque across the range. Eliseparts version is optimal design but lacks flexi section so requires a stiffer lower engine mount (cheap & easy but more vibration). Its beautifully made but expensive. SteveB sells Piper ones at a very good price, find him on SELOC.
Larger 52mm throttle body, also potentially solves sticking throttle problems sometimes experienced with the 48mm plastic unit.
Various aftermarket exhausts, some combinations are too loud for some tracks. Check suppliers listed below.
Filter / Induction kit. Hurricane is popular, there are also options like K&N 57i, or you can just drop a K&N panel into the existing box.
That lot should see power in the 150 to 160bhp range.
For proper tuning there is no better than Dave Andrews, take a look at the K06 and K06a kits on www.dvapower.com
Dave
Nice action dude. In my very humble opinion, the 5 best mods you can do, in the following order are:
* Driver Training - www.carlimits.com with Andrew Walsh
* Gear linkage & Shortshifter upgrade from Eliseparts
* Decent Tyres (Yokohama Advan Neova LTS's if it doesn't have them already)
* A good sports exhaust, recommend either the Eliseparts one, the Janspeed large diameter, the Larini or the Bell & Colvill one (all stainless steel)
* A good induction kit, recommend the Hurricane.
Enjoy!
* Driver Training - www.carlimits.com with Andrew Walsh
* Gear linkage & Shortshifter upgrade from Eliseparts
* Decent Tyres (Yokohama Advan Neova LTS's if it doesn't have them already)
* A good sports exhaust, recommend either the Eliseparts one, the Janspeed large diameter, the Larini or the Bell & Colvill one (all stainless steel)
* A good induction kit, recommend the Hurricane.
Enjoy!
Thanks for that info guys!
I think im gonna go for the hurricane kit first as Ive seen alot of good press about that one and you guys seem to like it.
As for tyres its already got the Yoko's on it! they look wicked!!
Im gonna do some Track days in it so might wait till then for the driver training, might get an instructor to come out for a ride and give me some pointers!
I would be happy with 150-160 bhp so I think I will plan my mods around that list for now! : )
I was thinking for the mean time, until I save a few more pennies - do you guys recommend fitting just a decat on standard system with the hurricane? Would that run well? And make a bit more noise?
I think im gonna go for the hurricane kit first as Ive seen alot of good press about that one and you guys seem to like it.
As for tyres its already got the Yoko's on it! they look wicked!!
Im gonna do some Track days in it so might wait till then for the driver training, might get an instructor to come out for a ride and give me some pointers!
I would be happy with 150-160 bhp so I think I will plan my mods around that list for now! : )
I was thinking for the mean time, until I save a few more pennies - do you guys recommend fitting just a decat on standard system with the hurricane? Would that run well? And make a bit more noise?
Forgot to list:
www.elise-shop.com
www.eliseparts.com
As fun as it is to mod for more power the most value & performance benefit would come from other areas first.
Since you have standard suspension (how many miles?) you'll see a big improvement from something like Nitrons. Not only far better performance on track, but also quieter and more comfortable on road.
Do a "Walshy Day", very highly reccomended driver training which will really open your eyes to what you can do with an Elise www.carlimits.com
www.elise-shop.com
www.eliseparts.com
As fun as it is to mod for more power the most value & performance benefit would come from other areas first.
Since you have standard suspension (how many miles?) you'll see a big improvement from something like Nitrons. Not only far better performance on track, but also quieter and more comfortable on road.
Do a "Walshy Day", very highly reccomended driver training which will really open your eyes to what you can do with an Elise www.carlimits.com
Decat is debatable, some evidence suggesting that it does nothing for VVC engines and it will make you much louder, esp with a straight through exhaust like the Eliseparts one.
Agree with S.Works on order of preference above.
Yoko Advan Neova are good, but many say the BFG G Force Profiler (don't confuse with Profiler G) is just as good and its a fair bit cheaper. I had the Yokos, now on BFG and while its hard to compare accurately when comming off worn Yoko onto new BFG I can say I'm very happy with the BFGs. They feel good and seem to be wearing very well.
Agree with S.Works on order of preference above.
Yoko Advan Neova are good, but many say the BFG G Force Profiler (don't confuse with Profiler G) is just as good and its a fair bit cheaper. I had the Yokos, now on BFG and while its hard to compare accurately when comming off worn Yoko onto new BFG I can say I'm very happy with the BFGs. They feel good and seem to be wearing very well.
I agree with Dave. You have the Yoko's already, stick with that. I'd spend money on all the other stuff before a decat, that will lose you power anyway.
A 4-2-1 manifold will give better power increase and will improve sound too.
Do a driver training day before you go on track - you'll learn the limits of the car in a safe environment where spinning =
's and not ££'s
A 4-2-1 manifold will give better power increase and will improve sound too.
Do a driver training day before you go on track - you'll learn the limits of the car in a safe environment where spinning =
's and not ££'sMine has done 33,000 miles, i havnt really considered upgrading the suspension yet as I havnt had chance to test it properly. the driver training day sounds good - will do some research into it!
I'm gonna have a look for an induction kit and manifold now. That should start me off nicely.
ok i'll forget about the decat option - thought it would really help these engines.
Thanks for your info guys! Will probably need your assistance again soon!!
I'm gonna have a look for an induction kit and manifold now. That should start me off nicely.
ok i'll forget about the decat option - thought it would really help these engines.
Thanks for your info guys! Will probably need your assistance again soon!!
The thing about the suspension is, the standard stuff seems great because your point of reference is usually a regular car that weighs twice as much and suspended on marshmallows. The standard elise suspension is ok, but a lot of the agility you are feeling is due to the low weight, low polar inertia and stiff chassis.
For road driving it feels sharp but...
When you compare it directly to something like Nitrons, and especially if you do that on track or in slalom etc the standard stuff suddenly seems quite sloppy and you suddenly see what can really be achieved from that chassis. The differences in precision & control is quite marked.
The standard konis slog out pretty quickly on the elise. Not like regular cars which perform much the same for miles & miles the konis die quickly plus the whole thing gets rattly.
If its mostly road use the S2 suspension is half the cost of Nitrons (contact SteveB) and makes a great improvement to ride. Its not adjustable for damping & hight etc but Steve can supply alternate brackets for lower ride hights if desired.
Nice thing about the elise, there is a wealth of knowledge & support from the community and a lot of people who *really* know their onions. Detailed information on everything from componants to good setups is freely available so if you want to take an interest and learn its all there for you.
For road driving it feels sharp but...
When you compare it directly to something like Nitrons, and especially if you do that on track or in slalom etc the standard stuff suddenly seems quite sloppy and you suddenly see what can really be achieved from that chassis. The differences in precision & control is quite marked.
The standard konis slog out pretty quickly on the elise. Not like regular cars which perform much the same for miles & miles the konis die quickly plus the whole thing gets rattly.
If its mostly road use the S2 suspension is half the cost of Nitrons (contact SteveB) and makes a great improvement to ride. Its not adjustable for damping & hight etc but Steve can supply alternate brackets for lower ride hights if desired.
Nice thing about the elise, there is a wealth of knowledge & support from the community and a lot of people who *really* know their onions. Detailed information on everything from componants to good setups is freely available so if you want to take an interest and learn its all there for you.
Also if it hasnt already been done (and most have) the bolts holding on the door cards and the window winders were originally tacky plastic.
Ally versions are available for both that really transform the appearance of the interior (the window winders are the same as the classic mini, so lots of options there but I believe the door card studs are bespoke)
Trimming the door cards is another relatively cheap mod that really lifts the interior.
The dash buttons on the right of the steering wheel were lifted from late model Pug 205s and early 106s and can be changed for ally items, there is also a "blank" non-functional one that can be handily changed for something else, some people like to use it as a starter button.
Changing the 49mm plastic throttle body for the metal one is a no-brainer, there are a couple of possible issues that can occur with the plastic that wont occur with a metal one.
The induction kit IMHO is also a must, not that the power gain from an induction kit is really noticable but it does make a great induction roar
The quick shift is easy to fit and worthwhile.
Enjoy the Elise, its a cracking little car and you sound like youve got a nice one
Ally versions are available for both that really transform the appearance of the interior (the window winders are the same as the classic mini, so lots of options there but I believe the door card studs are bespoke)
Trimming the door cards is another relatively cheap mod that really lifts the interior.
The dash buttons on the right of the steering wheel were lifted from late model Pug 205s and early 106s and can be changed for ally items, there is also a "blank" non-functional one that can be handily changed for something else, some people like to use it as a starter button.
Changing the 49mm plastic throttle body for the metal one is a no-brainer, there are a couple of possible issues that can occur with the plastic that wont occur with a metal one.
The induction kit IMHO is also a must, not that the power gain from an induction kit is really noticable but it does make a great induction roar
The quick shift is easy to fit and worthwhile.
Enjoy the Elise, its a cracking little car and you sound like youve got a nice one
Final point on the suspension, get the geo checked / fixed regardless of whether you upgrade. The factory settings are often all over the place and even if not they tend to drift over time & use. Its quite possible its never been checked and miles out. Correct geo along can transform the handling.
Hi Eddie and congrats on your good taste!
I'd strongly second Speedydave's comment re a geo. I got my Elise in December and its just had a c service and geo. Night and day! I didn't have any complaints before the geo but found it hard to believe the difference after - the car is amazing.
Dave Andrews site is deffo worth a visit. He can change your car so that all the power doesn't just come in at the top end. A trip to him is on my shopping list but to be honest for road work the standard car is probably fast enough (When I pull out to overtake I find I'm throttling back fairly quickly to keep speed down to a reasonable level). Spax also do a suspesnion kit for the Elise, available from Hanger 111 (I think). Don't know if its any good but I'm sure some of the guys on here would advise.
Have fun and (as everyone on here will tell you) take care, especially in the wet!
I'd strongly second Speedydave's comment re a geo. I got my Elise in December and its just had a c service and geo. Night and day! I didn't have any complaints before the geo but found it hard to believe the difference after - the car is amazing.
Dave Andrews site is deffo worth a visit. He can change your car so that all the power doesn't just come in at the top end. A trip to him is on my shopping list but to be honest for road work the standard car is probably fast enough (When I pull out to overtake I find I'm throttling back fairly quickly to keep speed down to a reasonable level). Spax also do a suspesnion kit for the Elise, available from Hanger 111 (I think). Don't know if its any good but I'm sure some of the guys on here would advise.
Have fun and (as everyone on here will tell you) take care, especially in the wet!
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