Honda Elise

[Herman Toothrot]

Can someone point me to companies / info / tech details basically anything on the internet that maybe worth reading if one is considering buying an Elise to immediately put a Honda engine in.

Any one have anything to say on the subject?

I went out in smiles1's car and its the only "proper car" i.e. not a Caterfield that realy impressed me to the extent I'm considering leaving my Eunos Turbo for (most things are just too slow once you've got used to 260bhp and 950Kg).

[bogie]

theres nothing definitive really ...theres quite a few companies that will do you a conversion though ...Id start with looking at www.hondaelise.com to see whats involved in a kit etc

as for buying an Elise to convert - well, its much cheaper to get one already done ...thats all I can say...you can probably pick up a nice car from £16K-£35K ...at the lower end, you may be looking at a budget/DIY conversion with some other bits sorted (you may get lucky) at the top end you are looking at Class C Racers spec, or road going equivalent - only the best, most sorted cars command those sort of prices..

If I was starting from scratch myself and in need of a donor car, well you want the most sorted car really with expensive stuff like brakes, wheels/tyres/suspension/toe-links/bearings/ARB/seats/harnesses etc all done first ...if you can find a car with all the most necessary upgrades done other than the engine then your half way there

theres usually a few Honda cars for sale on SELOC or Lotus Central ..or on here of course......post up when you find one you like and Im sure you will get lots of opinions on its history and VFM

[Herman Toothrot]

bogie said:

www.hondaelise.com

Cheers, great info

[smiles1]

Hi Steve, you should of dropped me an email If you need any info just ask (miles220t at hotmail dot com) glad you enjoyed the passenger ride!

Hopefully see you at another trackday soon. I'm doing Colerne on the 18th April if you fancy it?

[squirejo]

not as well kown as the 3 or 4 conversion specialists but check out atf power (google it) and they have a honda elise build blog at the moment - see left hand side. That will be a very high spec car at very reasonable money. They are also building some elise trophy race cars.

[TIPPER]

Companies that come to mind are Sinclairs, Maidenhead Sports Cars, Hofmann and Mountfort.

[Herman Toothrot]

smiles1 said:

Hi Steve, you should of dropped me an email If you need any info just ask (miles220t at hotmail dot com) glad you enjoyed the passenger ride!

Hopefully see you at another trackday soon. I'm doing Colerne on the 18th April if you fancy it?

I'm booked in for 24th April at Abingdon and I think 19th June Abingdon I maybe doing as well. I'll have to look at the diary for other potential dates

It was great to have a passenger ride, certainly decided an Elise is the next car. It does have the edge round the bends on the Mazda but I don't think I can manage with the stock power, I like the kick in the back too much I'll have to get saving, probably a winter or early next summer aim.

[Herman Toothrot]

So, if I was to buy a car with the sole intention of a honda conversion and at the same time do a suspension overhall with nitrons and I may as well do bushes at the same time, really I may as well just find the cheapest non crash damaged car I can as really all the important parts are going to get replaced anyway?

[TIPPER]

Yep. Sounds like a plan. There was a 'project' Elise in the Seloc classifieds recently. Otherwise I'd try and get a scruffy but straight car for about 7k.

[Jubal]

My pal did his own car: http://www.elisetyper.com/ there's a fair bit of tech info on there.

[Gooby]

Having seen Randys (Hoffmans) work first hand, I wouldnt go anyware else.

[jondude]

Can someone help me with a question which niggles me....


.....it seems that with Honda conversions you get a 'used K20 engine'.....( I think I read that on Sinclaires site).

Why used and how many miles (ab)use does that normally mean? Are they lifted from crashed cars or something?

I do like the idea of a Honda engine but the thought of paying ten grand or so for a used block is hard to justify......or is the engine really that special this is still a good deal????

[tertius]

jondude said:

Can someone help me with a question which niggles me....


.....it seems that with Honda conversions you get a 'used K20 engine'.....( I think I read that on Sinclaires site).

Why used and how many miles (ab)use does that normally mean? Are they lifted from crashed cars or something?

I do like the idea of a Honda engine but the thought of paying ten grand or so for a used block is hard to justify......or is the engine really that special this is still a good deal????

Isn't it about 10k for the whole job? So the used engine and gearbox (far more than just the block) is probably 4k of that?

[Scuffers]

jondude said:

Can someone help me with a question which niggles me....


.....it seems that with Honda conversions you get a 'used K20 engine'.....( I think I read that on Sinclaires site).

Why used and how many miles (ab)use does that normally mean? Are they lifted from crashed cars or something?

I do like the idea of a Honda engine but the thought of paying ten grand or so for a used block is hard to justify......or is the engine really that special this is still a good deal????

two points:
1) 10K is not for the engine & box, it's for the complete turn-key job
2) K20A/A2's are no longer made, buying a new one is not an option (short of buying it in parts and building it)

when new engines were available, they cost ~£4,500+vat, some were used when people wanted to pay the premium.

Most converters use engines from crashed civic etc, some will silly low mileages on them, although these days that's increasingly rare.

What you have to remember here is that it's really condition that's important, and that all the professional converters will warentee it anyway.

over the last 5-6 years of doing these, they have proven extremely reliable engines, assuming they are setup and looked after properly.

[Yee haa!]

tertius said:

Isn't it about 10k for the whole job? So the used engine and gearbox (far more than just the block) is probably 4k of that?

nah, nowhere near. Just have a good look around. Picked up mine (late spec K20a with the lighter flywheel) with 10,000 miles on for just over £2000 including box, loom, & shafts.


edit for spelling

Edited by Yee haa! on Friday 27th March 08:32

[kambites]

Is there a reason people haven't switched to fitting the K20Z4 from the latest Civic Type-R?

[Scuffers]

kambites said:

Is there a reason people haven't switched to fitting the K20Z4 from the latest Civic Type-R?

yes,

the Z engines are subtly different, the physical stuff is easy enough but they are more based on the K24 design with balance shafts, drive-by-wire, etc.

Yes, it's do-able, but they have no advantage over the K20A and several downsides (they are not as strong for starters).

[kambites]

Scuffers said:

Yes, it's do-able, but they have no advantage over the K20A and several downsides (they are not as strong for starters).

Well the advantage is that they still make them.

[tertius]

Yee haa! said:

tertius said:

Isn't it about 10k for the whole job? So the used engine and gearbox (far more than just the block) is probably 4k of that?

nah, nowhere near. Just have a good look around. Picked up mine (late spec K20a with the lighter flywheel) with 10,000 miles on for just over £2000 including box, loom, & shafts.


edit for spelling

Edited by Yee haa! on Friday 27th March 08:32

Thanks. I was guessing at the numbers, but in principle I think I was right the "engine" is a fraction of the total ~10k cost.

[Scuffers]

kambites said:

Scuffers said:

Yes, it's do-able, but they have no advantage over the K20A and several downsides (they are not as strong for starters).

Well the advantage is that they still make them.

for how long though?

and if they go BANG much easier, then what's the point? (let me put it this way, I would NOT fit an SC to a K20Z without major internal work)