convert elise to exige? can it be done?
Discussion
just thing about it, i eventually wanna get a honda in the back of my S2 elise which currently has the rover 1.8 - lovely lol. But if i was to do this could i buy a rear clam (exige) coverting it. Just that would be alot cheeper picking up a second had clam and self fitting the honda (love doing work like this - and have all the tools).
How much could you do the whole lot for? or is it worth getting a exige, with the toyota in the back as i prefer the honda vtec?
Anyone done it?
How much could you do the whole lot for? or is it worth getting a exige, with the toyota in the back as i prefer the honda vtec?
Anyone done it?
Converting Elise to Exige isn't just rear clam, it's front clam, roof, inner arches, engine cover, hinges/stays and wheels at the very least (plus a lot of fiddly bits too) It can be done, but even as DIY, costs will add up.
As has been said, it's been done before so it might be worth hitting those people up to find out exactly what's involved
As has been said, it's been done before so it might be worth hitting those people up to find out exactly what's involved
Esprit said:
Converting Elise to Exige isn't just rear clam, it's front clam, roof, inner arches, engine cover, hinges/stays and wheels at the very least (plus a lot of fiddly bits too) It can be done, but even as DIY, costs will add up.
As has been said, it's been done before so it might be worth hitting those people up to find out exactly what's involved
your talking S1, S2 is somewhat different....As has been said, it's been done before so it might be worth hitting those people up to find out exactly what's involved
yeah, it can be done, finger in the air guesswork then you are probably looking at about £8-10k of parts inc the engine and conversion kit, with all the body bits too ...then the labour is all yours ...and then maybe another £3K a for a full respray 
..oh and all the usual 'upgraded bits' if you havnt done them already
..oh and all the usual 'upgraded bits' if you havnt done them alreadyjust my car is only worth probs 12k and i want a honda engine, so an exige is probs a min of 20K and then the conversion would be ontop of that! cheers tho!
to the other guys comment, u do not need the front clam, plus is the suspension any different? also anyone fitted a supercharger or turbo to the honda vtec engine? or are the audi's engines better?
to the other guys comment, u do not need the front clam, plus is the suspension any different? also anyone fitted a supercharger or turbo to the honda vtec engine? or are the audi's engines better?
it will look odd without the front clam
the suspension etc is the same layout, obviously needs upgrading to suit 300bhp +
Supercharging the Honda is very popular - my old Elise was, 300bhp easy without intercooling, and up to 350bhp ish intercooled these days
Audi engines - they are just different - a bit heavier, and turbo of course, no cheaper to do as you still need all the same bits, engines are more common to get hold of and if you are not worried about mileage, you could save some cash there.
...just boils down to if you want a linear power delivery from an aspirated or SC Honda or if you like the power delivery of the Audi turbo, which is mapped as linear as poss (280lb/ft of torque kicking in at 2K revs wouldnt be very driveable !) but of course, you can always tell its a turbo engine.
best to get a test drive in them before deciding and splashing out
it may also work out a lot cheaper just to sell your car and buy one ready-made ...of course finding one exact is very, very rare, but a good base car thats already got the engine in, will save a lot of cash...the cosmetic stuff can wait .....
the suspension etc is the same layout, obviously needs upgrading to suit 300bhp +
Supercharging the Honda is very popular - my old Elise was, 300bhp easy without intercooling, and up to 350bhp ish intercooled these days
Audi engines - they are just different - a bit heavier, and turbo of course, no cheaper to do as you still need all the same bits, engines are more common to get hold of and if you are not worried about mileage, you could save some cash there.
...just boils down to if you want a linear power delivery from an aspirated or SC Honda or if you like the power delivery of the Audi turbo, which is mapped as linear as poss (280lb/ft of torque kicking in at 2K revs wouldnt be very driveable !) but of course, you can always tell its a turbo engine.
best to get a test drive in them before deciding and splashing out
it may also work out a lot cheaper just to sell your car and buy one ready-made ...of course finding one exact is very, very rare, but a good base car thats already got the engine in, will save a lot of cash...the cosmetic stuff can wait .....
tnjjeffrey said:
just my car is only worth probs 12k and i want a honda engine, so an exige is probs a min of 20K and then the conversion would be ontop of that! cheers tho!
to the other guys comment, u do not need the front clam, plus is the suspension any different? also anyone fitted a supercharger or turbo to the honda vtec engine? or are the audi's engines better?
Clam wise, although the S2 Exige front clam is different from the Elise, there's sod all in it, so keeping the Elise one is perfectly feasable..to the other guys comment, u do not need the front clam, plus is the suspension any different? also anyone fitted a supercharger or turbo to the honda vtec engine? or are the audi's engines better?
Engine wise, you've not been doing much reading up on this have you?
Honda's can be supercharged, anything from 300-350Bhp (with stock engines)
there is little in it looks wise, the main difference is 10mm wider at the arches, mesh inserts in the wider panels behind the arches, mesh everywhere rather plastic (you can pay a few hundred quid and get this anyway), and the factory look Exige S2 spoiler.
its one of those things that if theres an excuse, like an insurance claim for a new clam, then get the Exige one fitted, otherwise it can wait and you can save a couple of grand on that bit.....however Id like to think that if you have the budget to do the rest, and make your own honda engined Exige replica, you could at least go the whole hog and do it properly
its one of those things that if theres an excuse, like an insurance claim for a new clam, then get the Exige one fitted, otherwise it can wait and you can save a couple of grand on that bit.....however Id like to think that if you have the budget to do the rest, and make your own honda engined Exige replica, you could at least go the whole hog and do it properly
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