Another elise thread: R32 conversion

[gianlu]

So...as the car is pretty much completed (as it is a project, I don't think it will be ever *really* completed by definition)let me introduce you to:

Elise S1 with R32 (BUB) engine

Conversion started in 2009ish, at the time was the product of a company called JSD racing, I believe a company born to promote conversions on Elise platforms, mainly the R32.

As far as I know, 2 conversions were done, one probably caught fire at some point.
One (supercharged) was stripped of the engine and sold as a rolling chassis. So this might be the only one around.

JSD was offering:
R32 conversion (5 speed manula/Quaife LSD)
Emerald
Nitrons
Corbeau Seats
48ltr alu tank
plumbed in fire extinguisher
AP bells and calipers

300hp and a fair bit of torque:



you might be interested to hear it from the video JDS uploaded back then:


elise r32

Now, the car was bought by one of the lotus forum members, moved to another person 2 years back, and to me in April.
A few issues have been corrected by the previous owners (drive by wire/clutch/flywheel/gear leverage etc).

What I bought was this:



with an engine sitting an angle (a couple of inches difference from the bulkhead and the 2 sides of the head).

We modified engine mounts and all was good.

aesthetically was not the best, so bought a set of original elise motorsport clams from here:


taken the mould, and hey presto:




tried to think which color to go for (changed my mind a million and 1 times). I even made my skilfully attempt at simulating a 911gt3 scheme, on Paint. Behold:



I've then decided to go for an Lotus color, Scandal green:



and completed:










And here it is where I am at the moment.
i still have a couple of electrical gremlins, no idea how much petrol I have (gauge doesn't read) nor I know the coolant temperature (same as above). Which chould be an earth issue.
Luckily the Emerald can read the temperature and the fan is ECU controlled.

Car will probably be booked in with Stealth Racing (they are on hol at the moment, how inconsiderate as ) they seem to know a things or 2 about these kind of conversions on Corrado. It shouldn't be too different to fine tune what has already been done!


Yes, the R32 is an heavy engine. More popular conversions on the Elise are either the 1.8t audi lump or the Honda s/c+c/c.
While the R32 is heavier "undressed", it does work without having turbos + charge coooler etc strapped on.
Driving doesn;t feel any different than the 1.8t I had before (on an S2 elise).

Once all is done I'll do a corner weight session, and I'll share the results.

It is a great drive, I love the noise, the torque makes it really really easy.

broom

Well, this is is. What do you think?



edited to add a couple of engine pics:





a straight engine (now)

Edited by gianlu on Tuesday 26th August 14:35

[StangGT]

Good work....

IMHO, the only major drawback of Elises is the engine note.

[paulw123]

That is so cool. lovely car

[thatguy11]

That looks the absolute business! Top stuff

[gianlu]

StangGT said:

Good work....

IMHO, the only major drawback of Elises is the engine note.

Thanks!

And on the engine note, to be honest, the K with a proper exhaust doesn't sound bad!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gv4X3CFuk3o

[Gingerbread Man]

On the finial pictures it has Exige written on the back. Isn't it still an Elise with modified bodywork or have I missed a new car turning up?

[StangGT]

gianlu said:

Thanks!

And on the engine note, to be honest, the K with a proper exhaust doesn't sound bad!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gv4X3CFuk3o

Not bad, but not a patch on a nice v6!

[gianlu]

Gingerbread Man said:

On the finial pictures it has Exige written on the back. Isn't it still an Elise with modified bodywork or have I missed a new car turning up?

Well spotted!
yes, it is mis-badged at the moment. It was and still is an Elise. The motorsport elise has then evolved into the exige, do normally when body conversion is done is badged exige. So why it was done.

I'm now waiting for new Elise stickers

[John D.]

Gingerbread Man said:

On the finial pictures it has Exige written on the back. Isn't it still an Elise with modified bodywork or have I missed a new car turning up?

In a sense that's all an Exige is but I see your point.

Not sure I like scandal green on Exige bodywork. Odd as I love it on Elise.

Have seen that car a few years ago at the Ace not long after it was converted. Think Mollyspeed off here owned it at the time. Love the engine note. Some doubts on the effect of the extra weight in the back - not that I've ever driven it!

[mark.c]

I'll admit to not knowing much about the Elise but that looks the business, love the colour too, well done for taking it on and getting it right, it certainly seems to have the legs to match the looks. Congrats and enjoy

[gianlu]

John D. said:

In a sense that's all an Exige is but I see your point.

Not sure I like scandal green on Exige bodywork. Odd as I love it on Elise.

Have seen that car a few years ago at the Ace not long after it was converted. Think Mollyspeed off here owned it at the time. Love the engine note. Some doubts on the effect of the extra weight in the back - not that I've ever driven it!

Yep, moosped was the first owner. I've only driven a couple of hundred miles and no tracks yet. At the moment it does not feel back heavy at all. The engine is more "central" compared to the K, so probably not much difference on track either. Nitrons are setup perfectly (I believe JSD spent some time on this).

ANd on the color: it is slightly different in the flesh. I love it (well, i'd say so)
I'm sure though the effect would change completely with darker wheels. I'll try at some point

[selym]

Good work there, and pleased to hear that the lump doesn't feel too 'lumpen' in the chassis. It's a hell of a job doing engine transplants on these, mostly the financial aspect.

[Tickle]

I seen this earlier on SELOC, looks great!

Do you know what version of Comp Mo's they are? Are they 15"/16" too. They look good!

[gianlu]

Tickle said:

I seen this earlier on SELOC, looks great!

Do you know what version of Comp Mo's they are? Are they 15"/16" too. They look good!

Yep, i thought i'll get the threads done with since i had some time

Wheels: 16/17, exige s1 size and offset. I'll check the model (if i still have the box) but was one of the last batch before it was "no more" production.
However compomotive is starting again, which is good news.

[Olivera]

Looks great!

As much as the VAG 1.8t engine is effective (I have one in my LCR), the Elise is in my opinion best with an NA engine, which I'm glad you've stuck with.

[mwstewart]

I can imagine it sounds great. I've always thought the Elise lacked a decent engine.

Just one thing - isn't the BUB a bit on the portly side? I had a BUB and O2M for a previous project and to this day that combinatioin remains the only thing I've ever had on my engine crane that managed to put a bow in it

[Justin S]

Remember seeing this car on a Seloc meet just after it was running and was quite rough as a development car. Did sound good but was stinky with fuel and was just a mule at the time.

[FamilyDub]

Excellent!

[ManOpener]

mwstewart said:

Just one thing - isn't the BUB a bit on the portly side? I had a BUB and O2M for a previous project and to this day that combinatioin remains the only thing I've ever had on my engine crane that managed to put a bow in it

A little under 170kg dressed I think. Not exactly light but not that heavy in the grand scheme of things.

[Tickle]

gianlu said:

Tickle said:

I seen this earlier on SELOC, looks great!

Do you know what version of Comp Mo's they are? Are they 15"/16" too. They look good!

Yep, i thought i'll get the threads done with since i had some time

Wheels: 16/17, exige s1 size and offset. I'll check the model (if i still have the box) but was one of the last batch before it was "no more" production.
However compomotive is starting again, which is good news.

I thought they looked a little bigger and better proportioned than the Mo's I have seen on Elise's.

I can't decide if I prefer Victories or Mo's in Elise sizes. The 16/17's look brilliant. IMHO keep them silver too!