Elise S1 Tuning?
Discussion
iam thinking of buying a s1 elise, now i know there are a few different models with different power outputs, but i think i will end up with a standard 118bhp s1.
What tuning potential do these engines have? what modifications have been tried and tested, and what power is achievable without spending silly amounts of money?
Thanks
What tuning potential do these engines have? what modifications have been tried and tested, and what power is achievable without spending silly amounts of money?
Thanks
About 160-170 is easily achievable without massive engine internal mods like pistons.
For about 140bhp ish, you could have the head off, do a basic porting op on it (400 ish), put in some piper cams (350 ish) and verniers (150ish), new manifold (250), sports exhaust (350) and induction kit (100) (will only make more noise really). Ive done all above and its made a pleasant difference, especially at the top end.
To get more youre going to have to get a new ECU such as Emerald which will be then £600 plus whatever it costs to map it.
Futher to this, fit throttle bodies and you should then be getting up to the 170 mark!
For about 140bhp ish, you could have the head off, do a basic porting op on it (400 ish), put in some piper cams (350 ish) and verniers (150ish), new manifold (250), sports exhaust (350) and induction kit (100) (will only make more noise really). Ive done all above and its made a pleasant difference, especially at the top end.
To get more youre going to have to get a new ECU such as Emerald which will be then £600 plus whatever it costs to map it.
Futher to this, fit throttle bodies and you should then be getting up to the 170 mark!
Edited by JTBUSH on Saturday 31st May 19:02
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I've had a standard K, a Sport 160, an NA Honda'd S2 and now a modded S1 Sport 135 with ~170bhp. The Sport 160 is the car that tugs the heart strings the most, but the best buy by a long shot is the current steed. Get a sensibly modded S1 K-series with around 160-180bhp and you'll have a great laugh on road and track.
S Works said:
I've had a standard K, a Sport 160, an NA Honda'd S2 and now a modded S1 Sport 135 with ~170bhp. The Sport 160 is the car that tugs the heart strings the most, but the best buy by a long shot is the current steed. Get a sensibly modded S1 K-series with around 160-180bhp and you'll have a great laugh on road and track.
so why did the type r not hit the spot then? just wondered as I want to do something to give a little more oomph soon ish !It did. But tracking it monthly for 18 months proved extremely expensive. That plus the fact that you get to silly speeds way too quickly on road, and I realised that for half the cost I could have more-or-less the same amount of fun. Great car, don't regret it for a minute, but for now, less is more.
looking at those kits, you looking about £800 (inc fitting) to gain something like 15bhp.
Not worth it in my opinion, unless you've got money to burn and your gonna go for one of the higher power kits.
as said above, upgraded tyres and brakes will make your elise faster. do that, then the suspension, and you'll have a quick car...
Not worth it in my opinion, unless you've got money to burn and your gonna go for one of the higher power kits.
as said above, upgraded tyres and brakes will make your elise faster. do that, then the suspension, and you'll have a quick car...
or just buy a car with it all done already.always a few for sale with the correct mods...
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/472158.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/472158.htm
Edited by retrorider on Sunday 1st June 15:22
Probably the most popular kit that DVA does for the Elise is the K13A and many that have it report really worthwhile gains.
To be honest if I were looking for another S1 now I'd be looking for a really good Sport 160. Alternatively a 111S is usefully quicker than a standard S1 (in a straight line).
I've had my S1 for two and half years now and still haven't touched the engine but she is now much quicker than when I first got her. Changes have been firstly brakes. I've EBC discs all round and they are fine with just 120 bhp (you don't need anything bigger but if you have the money and want to save a bit of weight at each corner then Ali-bells are the way forward from there). The discs are clamped by Mintex 1144 which are a considerable upgrade from OEM, although a set of EBC Yellowstuffs will be going on next week. I've had a close ratio gearbox fitted (you can find these for about £400 in the classifieds now and then) which makes it easier to keep the engine spinning above 4k rpm (in the power band) and my seat of the pants says its made the car a bit faster. Earlier this year I changed my rather tired Koni OEM suspension for Nitron adjustables with 400/475 springs front/rear. They have made a huge difference to the car (especially on track). Cosmetically I put in a freshly trimmed interior with S1 111S seats (looks great) and with an eye to hanging on to the car better on track, have fitted a set of harnesses.
The car came with a sports exhaust and induction kit which make a nice noise and may add a couple of bhp (not enough to feel).
Next on my list of improvements is a complete suspension refresh (should have been done last winter but postponed to next!) and a trip to either DVA, Sabre heads (kiwirog on Seloc) or maybe fit a nice fit S2 111S engine. Either way I should end up with about 160 bhp which seems to be the sweet spot in terms of power/reliability for the K. That should also keep me happy for now.
As you can see the power is the last thing I'm looking for. When I first got the car I though more power was the easiest way to make it quicker. Well, sure it does in straight lines but that's not the point of the Elise. I soon learnt that getting more out of the brakes and suspension (and the driver!) was the way forward as well as making sure I could access what power I had easily.
One thing I forgot - I also spent about £500 (not a fortune but enough) on some half decent stereo kit for the car - worth it as I can now have music even at a Mway cruise.
Lots of cars out there so happy hunting. Don't buy the first you see, try a few to get the feel for a good'un and get a specialist to check it over for you (not the AA or RAC).
To be honest if I were looking for another S1 now I'd be looking for a really good Sport 160. Alternatively a 111S is usefully quicker than a standard S1 (in a straight line).
I've had my S1 for two and half years now and still haven't touched the engine but she is now much quicker than when I first got her. Changes have been firstly brakes. I've EBC discs all round and they are fine with just 120 bhp (you don't need anything bigger but if you have the money and want to save a bit of weight at each corner then Ali-bells are the way forward from there). The discs are clamped by Mintex 1144 which are a considerable upgrade from OEM, although a set of EBC Yellowstuffs will be going on next week. I've had a close ratio gearbox fitted (you can find these for about £400 in the classifieds now and then) which makes it easier to keep the engine spinning above 4k rpm (in the power band) and my seat of the pants says its made the car a bit faster. Earlier this year I changed my rather tired Koni OEM suspension for Nitron adjustables with 400/475 springs front/rear. They have made a huge difference to the car (especially on track). Cosmetically I put in a freshly trimmed interior with S1 111S seats (looks great) and with an eye to hanging on to the car better on track, have fitted a set of harnesses.
The car came with a sports exhaust and induction kit which make a nice noise and may add a couple of bhp (not enough to feel).
Next on my list of improvements is a complete suspension refresh (should have been done last winter but postponed to next!) and a trip to either DVA, Sabre heads (kiwirog on Seloc) or maybe fit a nice fit S2 111S engine. Either way I should end up with about 160 bhp which seems to be the sweet spot in terms of power/reliability for the K. That should also keep me happy for now.
As you can see the power is the last thing I'm looking for. When I first got the car I though more power was the easiest way to make it quicker. Well, sure it does in straight lines but that's not the point of the Elise. I soon learnt that getting more out of the brakes and suspension (and the driver!) was the way forward as well as making sure I could access what power I had easily.
One thing I forgot - I also spent about £500 (not a fortune but enough) on some half decent stereo kit for the car - worth it as I can now have music even at a Mway cruise.
Lots of cars out there so happy hunting. Don't buy the first you see, try a few to get the feel for a good'un and get a specialist to check it over for you (not the AA or RAC).
S Works said:
It did. But tracking it monthly for 18 months proved extremely expensive. That plus the fact that you get to silly speeds way too quickly on road, and I realised that for half the cost I could have more-or-less the same amount of fun. Great car, don't regret it for a minute, but for now, less is more.
Hi Tim, Interesting comment. my sport 160 is either underperforming or my mates bog standard S1 is going like a missile. We have been out for a few spins and the cars are level from 20mph all the way to 120, nothing in it at all. Now in the past the 160 would pull away but it doesnt in this case. I've been thinking about getting it rolling road tested to see what power is actually coming out as its either down or its not. It feels right but a standard S1 should not be able to level peg like that. They have never been able to in the past anyway... I am planning on a supercharged type R conversion for it however I think that it will be just way too fast. I went out for a spin today and even with my suspect 160bhp, its ample quick enough on the road, and fine for track too. Maybe a visit to Dave Andrews might be in order. I once went in a freinds 160 that had a 203bhp Minster K series and it was fantastic. Such a mental engine, fancy one of those but pricey for the bhp and how reliable are they when stressed like that.........Deciding on power is always a tough one with elise's. Too much and you end up doing daft speeds on the roads. Do you think you will ever want a honda engine in you new S1 ?
Ollie, I'd get your car checked out if a completely boggo S1 is holding on to you. I can remember trying to hang on to you coming back from Hethel a couple of years ago - no contest really! I could always see that if we weren't keeping an eye on the speed then you would be gone.
Incidently just to put a bit of meat on my comments re the S1 111S earlier. I went out in one (Orange and MiniD's) at Bedford last year with Orange D and even two up it was quicker than my car one up down Bedford's back straight. As I said, usefully quicker.
Incidently just to put a bit of meat on my comments re the S1 111S earlier. I went out in one (Orange and MiniD's) at Bedford last year with Orange D and even two up it was quicker than my car one up down Bedford's back straight. As I said, usefully quicker.
TIPPER said:
Ollie, I'd get your car checked out if a completely boggo S1 is holding on to you. I can remember trying to hang on to you coming back from Hethel a couple of years ago - no contest really! I could always see that if we weren't keeping an eye on the speed then you would be gone.
Incidently just to put a bit of meat on my comments re the S1 111S earlier. I went out in one (Orange and MiniD's) at Bedford last year with Orange D and even two up it was quicker than my car one up down Bedford's back straight. As I said, usefully quicker.
Yeah the 111s is very torquey, I've been in it too. Never put them back to back, dont think there would be much in it. I do think mine is down on power as a standard one has never had the same straight line pace in the past. I'd take it on a rolling road, but might just be better to let Dave Andrews from DVA power have a play with it. Just cant find a rolling road anywhere.....Incidently just to put a bit of meat on my comments re the S1 111S earlier. I went out in one (Orange and MiniD's) at Bedford last year with Orange D and even two up it was quicker than my car one up down Bedford's back straight. As I said, usefully quicker.
Will I ever Honda the new car?
Almost certainly not. After this one I plan a foray into Caterham-land for something like an R300 - basically a Cat with ~160bhp. I fancy trying a different type of car as a toy, and one which I can work on more easily than an Elise.
My current one was set-up at Emerald on their RR and it's brilliant. If you're thinking of getting a bit more oomph, I can confirm the results are good. Have you tried a CR box on your car? I hear it makes a big difference to the drive. Given that yours has been timed correctly, maybe that's a cheaper option vs. more power for now?
Almost certainly not. After this one I plan a foray into Caterham-land for something like an R300 - basically a Cat with ~160bhp. I fancy trying a different type of car as a toy, and one which I can work on more easily than an Elise.
My current one was set-up at Emerald on their RR and it's brilliant. If you're thinking of getting a bit more oomph, I can confirm the results are good. Have you tried a CR box on your car? I hear it makes a big difference to the drive. Given that yours has been timed correctly, maybe that's a cheaper option vs. more power for now?
Tim's idea of the C/R box is a goody Ollie.
It made a big difference to my car: more than I thought to be honest. It makes the car feel quicker (don't know that it is but I think it is and that's all that matters
) and certainly makes it easier to keep the car 'on the cam'.
The C/R box also means that the rear wheels 'see' more torque (I can't remember the figs exactly but somewhere around the 6-10% mark dependant on revs/gear rings a bell).
It does make the car a bit noisier to live with on a long journey but I just settle to a Mway cruise at about 85 Kleptons and turn the stereo up.
Now that I've pretty well finished all the other bits on my car I'm hoping to get some more gee-gees over the coming winter (maybe an S2 VVC engine if I can find a good one at the right price and I can get some pennies back in the bank)
For some reason (perhaps because others have said so) I reckon a 160ish bhp S1 with C/R box to be my personal Elise nirvana.
It made a big difference to my car: more than I thought to be honest. It makes the car feel quicker (don't know that it is but I think it is and that's all that matters
) and certainly makes it easier to keep the car 'on the cam'.The C/R box also means that the rear wheels 'see' more torque (I can't remember the figs exactly but somewhere around the 6-10% mark dependant on revs/gear rings a bell).
It does make the car a bit noisier to live with on a long journey but I just settle to a Mway cruise at about 85 Kleptons and turn the stereo up.
Now that I've pretty well finished all the other bits on my car I'm hoping to get some more gee-gees over the coming winter (maybe an S2 VVC engine if I can find a good one at the right price and I can get some pennies back in the bank)
For some reason (perhaps because others have said so) I reckon a 160ish bhp S1 with C/R box to be my personal Elise nirvana.
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