S2000 engine in a Caterham

[jamesh1983]

Does anyone know if this has been done before, if so is there a website anywhere with details?

I am interested in buying a caterham but dont have R500 money, I am therefore considering buying a reasonable car at around the 12K mark, a good S2000 engine and gearbox I have seen for around 2.5K, so the question is; will it fit, how much would a good conversion cost, what are the issues?

If it can be feasibly done and for significantly less than a good R4/500 I may be interested in doing it. Having previously owned an S2000 I know what a great engine and gearbox combo it is, would be awsome in a car the weight of the caterham.

Thanks in advance for any help/info you can give.

James

[Ergie]

I dont know about the S2000 specifically, but dont forget its not just the engine.

you couldnt just put a powerful engine in a 1.6 roadsport and expect it to perform without upping the brakes, suspension etc. Overall the cost would be much higher than going for an already modified older car.

i believe the 2L ford duratec makes a good caterham and there are a few about. I recently acquired a 2L vauxhall engined car from 1997 era, bit more than 12k though not that much more.

[john7]

James, don't know if you are a member of the Lotus 7 Club, but I'm sure someone mentioned this engine transplant into a 7 on blatchat a while ago.

[LRdriver II]

Clockwisemotion and Blink IIRC have done some sort of Honda conversion..

www.clockwisemotion.co.uk/

www.blinkmotorsport.com/cgi-bin/site.pl?honda


hmmm the Blink one was a Westfield..sorry.

[jackal]

s2000 engine in a westy, yes
but i would imagine its far too big for a S3 caterham

[normalbloke]

Too big as in bulky or too tall?

[Jon Ison]

There's one doing the rounds in an Mk Indy, check out locostbuilders for the guys build diary, its currently high up in the "run what ya brung" times at santa pod.

[rossybee]

normalbloke said:

Too big as in bulky or too tall?

I always thought the height was an issue...

[jackal]

Bellhousing clearance is an issue with k20a install so i can only presume that a F20c will be even more of a tight squeeze. I very much doubt it can be done unless you are looking at an SV.

Bottom line is why shoot yourself in the foot over this ? There is a whole long list of engines that you would choose way before the s2000 lump... and of course if you really must have honda (which is a great choice of course) then go for a K20a as its similar power and smaller/lighter.

[lukeb]

What he said. Without going into the relative merits of light, powerful 4 pot engines, you'd have to have a massive hard-on for a Honda to go that route rather than another engine that can count dozens of Caterham installs.

[ewenm]

There was one done - it was featured in Low Flying (the Lotus 7 Club magazine) a couple of years ago. The car was painted in Honda colours (white and red) and looked good. Not sure where it is now or if there are any links to details anywhere.

[jackal]

ewenm said:

There was one done - it was featured in Low Flying (the Lotus 7 Club magazine) a couple of years ago. The car was painted in Honda colours (white and red) and looked good. Not sure where it is now or if there are any links to details anywhere.

the white car with the red honda badge in low flying was a honda fireblade
still have that issue at home

[ewenm]

jackal said:

ewenm said: There was one done - it was featured in Low Flying (the Lotus 7 Club magazine) a couple of years ago. The car was painted in Honda colours (white and red) and looked good. Not sure where it is now or if there are any links to details anywhere. the white car with the red honda badge in low flying was a honda fireblade still have that issue at home

Doh! My mistake...

[rubystone]

ewenm said:

jackal said: ewenm said: There was one done - it was featured in Low Flying (the Lotus 7 Club magazine) a couple of years ago. The car was painted in Honda colours (white and red) and looked good. Not sure where it is now or if there are any links to details anywhere. the white car with the red honda badge in low flying was a honda fireblade still have that issue at home Doh! My mistake...

Our esteemed chairman's car no less - and a great work of art too

[Finchy172]

www.hondarush.com

my site and mine and my fathers car

more pictures to be uploaded soon

The F20 is a superb engine, 240bhp from factory. Add some throttle bodies, good management, dry sump and cams and you can increase the torque as well. The s2000 box fits in the dax a treat, caterham will be a problem though i feel.

easy upgrade is a supercharger, TTS any many more in the states and you can see ober 350bhp for relatively little cash

Has bike engine revs and driveability

[Noger]

If you want honda, then why not one of the newer Fireblades engines. Currently the pick of the RGB bunch IIRC. 170 in the bike, 180 bhp+ should be easy. Lots of standard bits. And it weighs nowt.

[racecardoctor]

I've got an S2000 engine in a westfield, it won't fit in a caterham unless you run a bonnet bulge or are happy running a very high ride height or are happy with the sump on the floor - and thats with a flat plate dry sump - its a very tall engine

www.racecardoctor.com some info

www.fluke-motorsport.co.uk projects section

[racecardoctor]

definative answer

I just so happen to have an S2000 engine and a caterham in my workshops at the moment

so with the aid of a tape measure...

the S2000 engine would need a 4cm bonnet bulge

it would also need the 2 diagnonal cross braces removing - or rejigging somehow - you would have to triangulate off other bits of chassis

you might have to ditch the alternator and the water pump - replacing with an electric pump maybe

so its possible - but not in anyway ideal - the duratec is a no brainer option these days for a caterham

the F20C fits in a westfield Seiw with quite a lot of chassis modification and rewelding



Rich at Blinkmotorsport.com is just completing a K20A (civic) engined caterham - and will be doing conversions in the near future - he has great experience having produced lots of honda elises www.blinkmotorsport.com