Alfa engined esprit ?
Discussion
I know a lot of you will dissaprove (or try to hunt me down ;-) For saying this, but the lotus 2 litre non-turbo enigin in the old esprits are not all that god. I have a 78 esprit s1 witch is great, but the engine is temperamental and not realy fast enough to match the cars looks. Therfore..... (here comes the alfa rapes lotus bit) I was woundering about replasing the enigine with the wounderfull 3 litre v6 alfa engine from a 92-93 164. This engine gives aprox. 200 hp as standard, is light, have fuel injection, the most beautifull noice of any v6 (or v8) engine around, and can be tuned to 250 hp easily without turbo. It should fit in the esprit. So i would think that with a convertion plate it could be mounted onto the original bellhousing. But! I'm pretty new to lotuses and would realy like to here from anyone who has done any kind of engine convertions on the esprit.
Sverre
Sverre
For earlier engined esprits have a look at LEW about some available tuning options for normally aspirated Lotus engines from lotusbits. 220bhp easy and 270 in race versions.
I would say this would probably be a cheaper and easier solution than trying to mate new engine to the C5 gearbox.
And to be honest the citroen gearbox has a limit as to the power it can take before coming tempermental.
Engine transplants have always been suggested by many people, looked into it myself, but when starting down this route there are many hurdles that can cost way more than sorting out origional engine properly and generally only the brave, comitted experimenter or basically mad modders get to the end and still have a car that handles well, looks ok and performs as they expect.
If you want more power, best and cheapest option IMHO is buy a later V8.
Del
S4s
I would say this would probably be a cheaper and easier solution than trying to mate new engine to the C5 gearbox.
And to be honest the citroen gearbox has a limit as to the power it can take before coming tempermental.
Engine transplants have always been suggested by many people, looked into it myself, but when starting down this route there are many hurdles that can cost way more than sorting out origional engine properly and generally only the brave, comitted experimenter or basically mad modders get to the end and still have a car that handles well, looks ok and performs as they expect.
If you want more power, best and cheapest option IMHO is buy a later V8.
Del
S4s
Lotus built and tested an Esprit powered by the Lotus-designed Corvette ZR-1 DOHC 5.7 V8. I wonder what they used for a gearbox?
But at 600 lbs, that would be a big weight penalty to stuff in the back of an Esprit. ?? The Esprit 3.5 V8 is no lightweight at 471 dry / 500 wet, and the chassis balance is compromised by that. 100 lbs more would turn it into another Pantera.
Think light.
Regards,
Tim Engel
Lotus Owners Oftha North
But at 600 lbs, that would be a big weight penalty to stuff in the back of an Esprit. ?? The Esprit 3.5 V8 is no lightweight at 471 dry / 500 wet, and the chassis balance is compromised by that. 100 lbs more would turn it into another Pantera.
Think light.
Regards,
Tim Engel
Lotus Owners Oftha North
Hi, Maigret and his brother I forget his user name here, owns a S1 and has a Toyota engine (not V8) and gearbox in it, I can not recall which model engine but sounds like a great option. Hopefully they might chim in.
And yes a guy in OZ races with the Toyota V8, but it sits in a stevens car I think and lots modification had to be done to make it fit in there etc.
Seems an easier option to sell the S1 and buy a 2.2L Turbo Esprit.
And yes a guy in OZ races with the Toyota V8, but it sits in a stevens car I think and lots modification had to be done to make it fit in there etc.
Seems an easier option to sell the S1 and buy a 2.2L Turbo Esprit.
The Toyota engine in my brothers car is actually mounted Transversly using the toyota box. Naturally this has required the building of a new rear suspension and some changes to the chassis and engine mounts. New fuel tank location, new wiring loom etc. Not for the faint hearted. Things never fit quite right when the components were not designed for your car. I have built a couple of kit cars and some creativity is reqd. at times.
Easiest and likely to give the least grey hairs is to the 907 motor a serious workover to make it reliable and more power.
The Alfa V6 sounds a nice idea and may give you more room to maneuver where things get a bit tight (which they will). Good luck
Easiest and likely to give the least grey hairs is to the 907 motor a serious workover to make it reliable and more power.
The Alfa V6 sounds a nice idea and may give you more room to maneuver where things get a bit tight (which they will). Good luck
Lotus ran Esprit with the Alfa engine in for the M250 program but they were mounted transverse. Not that light but makes a lovely noise.
Rover V8 has appeared in a few also....
My favourite would be the Excel S E 180bhp 2.2... high compression, reliable, light and visually similar. Renault gearbox if you can find one.
Lotus V8 is 270kg which is pretty light for a V8 -5.7ltr Chevy is about 40kg heavier and Detroit iron option add extra 80kg.
Try and keep the S1 as original as possible v.rare and special car
Rover V8 has appeared in a few also....
My favourite would be the Excel S E 180bhp 2.2... high compression, reliable, light and visually similar. Renault gearbox if you can find one.
Lotus V8 is 270kg which is pretty light for a V8 -5.7ltr Chevy is about 40kg heavier and Detroit iron option add extra 80kg.
Try and keep the S1 as original as possible v.rare and special car
I remember seeing a G car with a Renault V6 turbo lump (from the Alpine GTA/Volvo) a while ago. Looked like a comfy fit.
There was also a Stevens shaped car with a Sierra Cosworth lump dong the rounds a few years back, too. No doubt this had some saucy bits added to produce outrageous amounts of horsepower!!
There was also a Stevens shaped car with a Sierra Cosworth lump dong the rounds a few years back, too. No doubt this had some saucy bits added to produce outrageous amounts of horsepower!!
just fitted a cosworth in my stevens esprit and have more room in engine bay now, made adaptor plate for renault gearbox and made engine mounts so did not alter exsisting chassis mounting points.have pics but do not know how to post them.only driven it 1 mile so far as i am doing body now.(had to try it)starting off with 350 bhp to see how it goes. happy to help if i can.
Roy.
Roy.
Hei.
I love to here about the diffrent convertions people have done to there esprits. If I do convert my esprit I will use the alfa v6 as it's a great engine and i do love italien engines. I guess the work involved would be pretty simular to the cosworth convertion adapter plate, some work on the clutch , and new engine mounts. I would love to se the pictures from that project. The engine is not that big so it should fit pretty easily with new manifiolds.
And with about 250 HP the tranny should be able to cope.
But i do agree that this is one of the few surviving original s1 esprits ( except converted from rhd to lhd ) So it should be kept original, what to do what to do ..... I do agree on the 2.2 180hp excel engine, that would be a great upgrade. Anyone know how mutch they go for these days?
-Sverre
I love to here about the diffrent convertions people have done to there esprits. If I do convert my esprit I will use the alfa v6 as it's a great engine and i do love italien engines. I guess the work involved would be pretty simular to the cosworth convertion adapter plate, some work on the clutch , and new engine mounts. I would love to se the pictures from that project. The engine is not that big so it should fit pretty easily with new manifiolds.
And with about 250 HP the tranny should be able to cope.
But i do agree that this is one of the few surviving original s1 esprits ( except converted from rhd to lhd ) So it should be kept original, what to do what to do ..... I do agree on the 2.2 180hp excel engine, that would be a great upgrade. Anyone know how mutch they go for these days?
-Sverre
As this is a S1 Esprit, I think this is a bad idea.
I can see someone in a few years time coming across the car and wondering why "some muppet butchered it to fit an Alfa engine" and then spending hard money to get it all back to its original state.
I see the S1 Esprit as a future appreciating classic. Keep it original. If the engine is a bit rough , then fit a better Lotus one or rebuild it.
If you want more grunt, then sell the car for a Turbo.
All IMO.
I can see someone in a few years time coming across the car and wondering why "some muppet butchered it to fit an Alfa engine" and then spending hard money to get it all back to its original state.
I see the S1 Esprit as a future appreciating classic. Keep it original. If the engine is a bit rough , then fit a better Lotus one or rebuild it.
If you want more grunt, then sell the car for a Turbo.
All IMO.
Hi
I'm the owner of the S1 Esprit with a Toyota 3SGE 2litre fitted.
This car is a pre-production prototype, body #6, it was intended to be used as a test mule and not as a completed car. It arrived here in new Zealand less its motor & box. It was then going to be a racecar so it was fitted with the Toyota motor, major modification have been done to the suspension, made stronger for a start. After they were almost finished with it the car was put in a barn and forgotten about. I'm currently trying to make it road legal.
I think for resale an orignal car will get more, my car is a quite a bit different as it only half original.
e-mail me if you want photos of the build.
robbsimpson@yahoo.com
Good luck
ROBB
I'm the owner of the S1 Esprit with a Toyota 3SGE 2litre fitted.
This car is a pre-production prototype, body #6, it was intended to be used as a test mule and not as a completed car. It arrived here in new Zealand less its motor & box. It was then going to be a racecar so it was fitted with the Toyota motor, major modification have been done to the suspension, made stronger for a start. After they were almost finished with it the car was put in a barn and forgotten about. I'm currently trying to make it road legal.
I think for resale an orignal car will get more, my car is a quite a bit different as it only half original.
e-mail me if you want photos of the build.
robbsimpson@yahoo.com
Good luck
ROBB
Hey Robb,
What mods were necessary to fit the motor/box? Transverse mounted motor and a Toyota box? A S54 box, I would suppose.
While the 3SGE is a fine motor, and put out 200HP in its final VVT form, why not go with the 3SGTE that can do 300 without really trying? Or was it a racing class thing?
Dr.Hess
What mods were necessary to fit the motor/box? Transverse mounted motor and a Toyota box? A S54 box, I would suppose.
While the 3SGE is a fine motor, and put out 200HP in its final VVT form, why not go with the 3SGTE that can do 300 without really trying? Or was it a racing class thing?
Dr.Hess
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