Engine conversions for Exige/Elise S1 and S2

[GTRene]

yeah they sometimes think that...
its sad that those lovely V8 lightweight screamers don't come so far that they are going to get a bit cheaper and come more in too produktion in Exige's and Elise's but then its tripple the price or more then a honda or audi or duratec conversion...
But you surely get much fun with such engine in the back of your lotus on a track and road and can compete very good with the rest of the field though the Elise is a bit more heavy then the tested caterham...
I would give a 15.000,-euro extra when they build me one reliable RST-V8? in the back of a Elise or Exige S2 but then, they won't do that for that money I'm afraid
GTRene

>> Edited by GTRene on Monday 6th March 00:20

[bogie]

Im sure it would be great...but Lotus wont even give a long factory warranty on a 240bhp supercharged Toyota engine let alone a tiny production V8 !

[GTRene]

guess your right on that...and personaly, I would or could not pay that kind of money just for 30.000miles or so...
So that would bring us back to the 275hp duratec, 300hp Honda SC, 330hp audi, or even a 280hp SC toyota engine conversion
You know how a 300hp SC drive's, and I have seen a video clip of such 300hp audi conversion, but I am curious how a 275hp duratec drive's...
Guess that would be easyer when all 4 (300honda, 300audi, 275duratec, 280yota) would be on the same track, same day, same conditions, and then a big carmagazine article about thoose conversions with all the data about the times(0 to 60/100), money(conversion cost) and good feeling factors about them, that way its a bit easyer to choose from, and it would be a wonderfull item a collecters item? its mostly is a personal thing, where do you use it most of the times(normal road, highways, track) and what do you like(a nice powercurve or a big short powercurve, torgue high low? a sreamer?) reliabillity, fuel consumption, and ofcorse maintanance of such car.
Anny toughts are welcome, and I hope some carmagazine's read this and do something about that please....
GTRene

>> Edited by GTRene on Monday 6th March 00:54

[willdela]

Hi Folks,

My question is sort of realted to this thread I am currenlty in America but returning to Blighty at the end of the year and I am looking forward to buying an Exige used 04,05,06 when I get back. I want to drive it for a year so I can get used to the car, and improve my ability. I then like the idea of increasing the engine power. As I understand there are several options and many arguments for conversions and upgrades. But which model Exige should I be looking for I was thinking of basic engine with sport pack so it has better brakes and suspension?
Thanks in adavnce for your advice
Will

[StuartB]

willdela said:

I want to drive it for a year so I can get used to the car, and improve my ability.

Focus on that first... www.carlimits.com is a good starter

willdela said:

I then like the idea of increasing the engine power.

Things no doubt will have moved on a lot in the 12-18 months with regards Engine conversions so look in then

>> Edited by StuartB on Monday 6th March 16:42

[GTRene]

Good news?? I was just talking a bit to a caterham man wich have the Duratec engine in it, with 300+hp
So I asked the quistion how did you get this power? turbo? sc? nope, all wrong...huh?
yep he's got a normal aspirated duratec engine though tuned to 300+hp he says, so me thinking...duratec conversion also for Elise/Exige...if he can get that much power out then we can get that too? so where did you do that
here is the link and I reconnised the S1 Exige with that duratec, see here the link, but I don't know what it cost though to get 290<>300hp out of it...
I like a non turbo SC option, but I don't know much about it yet...its maybe like a S1 160 with almost dubble the power??

www.raceco.com/dura.html

and here some more; www.raceco.com

GTRene

>> Edited by GTRene on Wednesday 19th April 16:37

[GTRene]

Some more fine "news" of conversions all in...Honda(also SC) Duratec, Audi, also a fast K Series to come dare I say 240? read the story on another thread here, nice pictures too

http://elise.pinkcore.com/forum_posts
GTRene

[bogie]

GTRene said:

Some more fine "news" of conversions all in...Honda(also SC) Duratec, Audi, also a fast K Series to come dare I say 240? read the story on another thread here, nice pictures too http://elise.pinkcore.com/forum_posts GTRene

the Elise in the pics with the 240bhp K series is already here and has been for over a year - its SteveBs car and did very well at the Tuner GP last year. It was built by Steve himself and DVA Power (Dave Andrews)

the Duratec in that S1 is no longer in it - that car is my friends - Dan S160 (over on SELOC) ...it lasted about 8 months then he took it out, sold it and is now awaiting a Honda to go in there....

...now if you joined SELOC you would be fully up to date with all this stuff thats years old

.notice the date on that thread - when Hubert visited Bernard/MSC etc is was July 2005.........

[GTRene]

I'm only on PH activ(and don't want/can't handle more)...and looking on the net sometimes to find things and then come acros some other things I'm also interested in like this stuf, and I was blinded by the for me new pictures that I did not care about the rest
But why did he sell that duratec and want to replace it for the honda? the Honda must be even better then? what is he saying about that...
And if you could do it again, no money involved, what conversion would you want in a Elise/Exige....you've seen and tried some I guess?
thanks
GTRene
Oh...now I looked at the date on that thread its posted on 25-05-2005 so thats not even a year old when you mentioned it I thought 2002 or so...but its not that old...


>> Edited by GTRene on Wednesday 19th April 19:58

[scuffham]

why don't you just nip over to Seloc, then spend a day reading up on all this?

you already have an account there?? Rene_S1 - Rene Beumer yes?

[GTRene]

scuffham said:

why don't you just nip over to Seloc, then spend a day reading up on all this? you already have an account there?? Rene_S1 - Rene Beumer yes?

Nope, I don't have an account there...I'm René Stam(RS like porsche or other fast brands) or GTRene on PH thats my only forum sad I know but I can't handle that much(old)
GTRene

[bogie]

"And if you could do it again, no money involved, what conversion would you want in a Elise/Exige....you've seen and tried some I guess? "

Yes - Ive tried pretty much all them - apart from the ones that are not 'real' yet - like Hyabusa and V8 engines

Myself Ive had 120, 160bhp tuned Ks, then a TT230 K and now SC Honda

Ive driven Duratecs/Audi converted cars that belong to friends also

..oh and just about every factory version just that left Lotus

in hindsight, to save wasting a load of cash along the way - Id go SC Honda, what I have now ...I prefer it as an all round package to anything else thats available on the market (i.e. not dreamland conversions/one-offs) .

[S Works]

GTRene said:

scuffham said: why don't you just nip over to Seloc, then spend a day reading up on all this? you already have an account there?? Rene_S1 - Rene Beumer yes? Nope, I don't have an account there...I'm René Stam(RS like porsche or other fast brands) or GTRene on PH thats my only forum sad I know but I can't handle that much(old) GTRene

Rene, for someone as interested in this topic as you seem to be, you are doing yourself a great disservice by not joining SELOC (free membership) and reviewing the technical forum and other discussions.

I have learned so much from reading and asking questions on there about Lotus ownership, tuning, suspension, set-up etc. The wealth of knowledge is huge. In particular I followed the many Duratec, Honda, Audi & other option threads with great interest. You'll be very upto date with those if you follow the forums there, as there's so many more people specifically into Lotus there.

Sign-up, spend an hour and see what you find. It's a treasure chest of info for someone like you with an enquiring mind and patience to surf and review.

Give it a try my friend, then tell us what you think.

>> Edited by S Works on Wednesday 19th April 20:28

[GTRene]

Thanks bogie indeed I ment only the payeble options that can be done in lets say a week waiting, good thing to have driven all those type of lotus cars, that way you know a bit more what it does to you.
So the Honda SC has the best all round package also in drivebillity? then I stay with that option for the moment and when that time come and I would buy a S2 Elise to convert, the way it now is, I would go for the Honda also now someone who can and will do that job in NL they also maked a few already.
Firts see how it goes with selling my car and what is for sale by that time(I've got more options)

S works thanks too, for leading me into the darkside SELOC...maybe I will do it in time, but not very soon I can not concentrate on to many things sadly and being not English it cost more time for me to read and understand, and the last few years I'm not that strong mentaly?(a by product of some serious accidents when I was 16 also 3 days in a coma and a crack in the shel? braindamage too and when getting older...hm...haha do a bit less with them)
I know you all ment the best, and thanks for that...but my head is like a old computer...can't handle that much at once... and a bit slower with reading and getting it things like that.
But I'm used to it, and adapt to it and cars can still touch my soul so I'm very lucky with that and that I can drive one and own such car I have...though as you all know my next car must be light and have some desent power..thats why I'm that much on Lotus its one of the cars I'm serious interested in and after at(when I sold my car finally)
thanks guys
GTRene

[dannylt]

GTRene said:

Good news?? I was just talking a bit to a caterham man wich have the Duratec engine in it, with 300+hp So I asked the quistion how did you get this power? turbo? sc? nope, all wrong...huh? yep he's got a normal aspirated duratec engine though tuned to 300+hp he says, so me thinking...duratec conversion also for Elise/Exige...if he can get that much power out then we can get that too?

Hi Rene,

Actually, my wife has an Elise too! But it's Honda powered, and suits the car perfectly I think (and for sale at www.pistonheads.com/sales/72150.htm). For more power, the SC Honda is clearly the way to go - no point being different for the sake of it when you can go for established reliability. I started with a Duratec in my Caterham, so it made sense to stick with that. There is no way my 307bhp Duratec would fit in an Elise without serious bulkhead surgery - the inlets are very long.

[GTRene]

dannylt said:

GTRene said: Good news?? I was just talking a bit to a caterham man wich have the Duratec engine in it, with 300+hp So I asked the quistion how did you get this power? turbo? sc? nope, all wrong...huh? yep he's got a normal aspirated duratec engine though tuned to 300+hp he says, so me thinking...duratec conversion also for Elise/Exige...if he can get that much power out then we can get that too? Hi Rene, Actually, my wife has an Elise too! But it's Honda powered, and suits the car perfectly I think (and for sale at www.pistonheads.com/sales/72150.htm). For more power, the SC Honda is clearly the way to go - no point being different for the sake of it when you can go for established reliability. I started with a Duratec in my Caterham, so it made sense to stick with that. There is no way my 307bhp Duratec would fit in an Elise without serious bulkhead surgery - the inlets are very long.

You both must make some nice couple then to powerfull lightweight cars, what are U2 talking about at diner
But thanks for making some things clear about the duratec and the Honda that will make my choice when I stand for it, more easyer to make...Honda SC is the way I'm thinking now, because I also like to keep that boot as it will be my only car... so even if a small V8 would be there for a price like the Honda conversion, I think you will loose the boot installing such machine even though some bike V8's are small.
I will focus on Honda SC also there is a "lot" of experience in and parts specialy made for Honda conversion.
Oh, and also the car you are selling, looks like a nice clean car also a fare price I think, sadly for me its RHD and S1 and in the UK...but when it was overhere in NL and LHD it was very tempting for me, specialy there are not many around in NL I guess maybe 10 max?
cheers
GTRene

[dannylt]

GTRene said:

You both must make some nice couple then to powerfull lightweight cars, what are U2 talking about at diner

Our kids? She bought a standard S1 years which I loved apart from being slow. I thought about tuning it, but reliability and driveability go downhill. With the Honda you get more torque everywhere, perfect manners and plenty of speed - perfect!

[evo-gt]

How much do you change (and spend) on an engine before it becomes something else? Is (was) a Rover touring car engine still a K series after almost everything has been changed? Same for vauxhall, Honda et all...

There are some nice conversions out there no doubt (even mine :-). Wouldn't mind a go in that Audi V8 though!

[dannylt]

As long as the block and head are still from the original castings?

But that's why the standard Honda conversion is so great - 200bhp without any change to the engine itself.

Nothing on my Duratec is standard; modified block and heads and almost everything else is changed.

[bogie]

agreed - so a fully built 1.9 or 2.0L K series isnt really a K series at all..its just based on one ...in fact I suspect that a 2.0L Scholar block K hasnt got any original K series parts ...and of course then the problem is, if a £10K engine goes bang its a £10K engine to replace ...the beauty about Audi/Ford/Honda conversions is that the hard work is getting it to fit ...if it lasts 50 or 100K miles then goes bang its £2K for a new one