S2 Throttle Body Question

[rico28]

Hi All

As all Elise owners seem to do, I have spent time trawling through the various upgrade parts that owners tend to apply to their cars. I am curious though, when I started looking at upgraded throttle bodies I noticed that the one in mine (Elise S2 2002 K Series) was already metal, does that mean it has been upgraded in the past already - I bought second hand but thought I know most of the cars history.

I will post a picture at the end of the day unless the answer is obvious.

Cheers,

Rico28

[JTBUSH]

Metal 48mm ones are standard on S2 Elises. They didnt come with plastic ones. You are better of modifying the one youve got than going up to a 52mm body.

Remove the butterfly from the body.
Remove the softening wedge from the butterfly.
Put the butterfly on some non metallic (tile or plate)
Heat up butterfly with blowtorch
Apply solder to holes and fill holes
Sand solder flat so you have now got a perfectly flat butterfly with no holes.
You can also knife edge the leading and trailing edge of the butterfly, but for the difference it would give you, i didnt bother!

[rico28]

Cheers, good to know. Although I rather liked the idea that a part had aleady been upgraded - would have saved time, effort, money. Ah well.

What is the real advantage of going up to 52mm, does it really make a difference to response?

Rico28

[bogie]

barely noticable ...if anything you notice a difference due to the difference in size, less thorttle pressure gives more actual throttle

its one of those "nice to have" upgrades if you have done all the other bolt ons, rather than one which you will think you have got your moneys worth from .....most people have done exhaust, induction , cat etc before the throttle body

[JTBUSH]

You may get a slightly adverse effect due to increasing size of throttle body. The 48mm flows enough air for decent BHP on a k series. Increasing the size will decrease the velocity of the air coming into it and could decrease low down torque while only giving you very minimal unnoticable bhp increases at the very top end. Flowing a normal throttle body is much better.

[rico28]

Cheers for the replies.

Every now and then I think about doing some upgrades - but then I drive the car and am totally happy with it. If anything my brake disks look like they are on their way out so I will probably start with those.