Engine conversion question

[culminator]

Hi all, I'm sure this question has been done to death on this forum, but I'm relatively new and can't find what I need.

I'm thinking of buying a S1 Exige with a Honda type R sc conversion. Are there any credible alternatives to this, Duratec etc and who are the best specialists to perform the conversion?

Many thanks

[Mark B]

I'm currently developing my own Duratec conversion which I will market to the DIY world and it will be offered via a couple of specialists. I am hoping for a conservative 180hp more likely 190hp.

Steve Williams does the 2.3 Duratec install where he has 205hp and a bucket load of torks.

I will be honest and say, on the face of it neither are a competitor to an SC Honda though. The SC Honda will be 300 - 390hp so the only other option is an Audi install where you can have anything from 250 - 500hp.

[GR4]

Check out the Seloc site. There is a forum on there solely for engine conversions. There are 3 established choices, Honda, Audi or Duratec, with sub-sets for different capacities, supercharging etc. Each have their devotees. Each is quite different in character, and has its own plusses and minuses. Also a number of different suppliers of the conversions, so loads of choice but a bit of a minefield. Anything between 200 and 400+ bhp available depending on intended use, and budget!

[Mark B]

On an aside, were you in the Griffith on the A24 over the weekend, I am sure I saw a lovely dark green car heading towards Worthing from the Holmbush junction?

[Esprit]

Well for starters it's always FAR cheaper to buy converted rather than convert yourself.... Converted S1 Exiges barely make any money over standard ones, despite it being a 6-12k pound conversion to do.

There are other conversions out there... the Audi 20v Turbo and the Ford Duratech being the main two, but the Honda is the most popular by far.

Why don't you want to stick with a K?

And also, why an S1 Exige? If you're converting, best to start with an Elise and do an Exige body conversion... S1 Exiges are about 10-11k premium over an S1 Elise. Given that in a conversion you'll be throwing away most of what makes an Exige great other than the body, you're better off to start with the Elise chassis... and then you're not messing with something that's rapidly becoming a valuable classic.

[culminator]

Thanks for all the advice, cery useful.

To be honest, it was the relative lack of power and perception of unreliability that has lead me down the possible conversion route but maybe I'm over reacting against HGF issues etc.

Mark, nope wasn't me at the weekend but I do go down the A24 quite a lot in the Tivver. Great road!

[Mark B]

culminator said:

Thanks for all the advice, cery useful.

To be honest, it was the relative lack of power and perception of unreliability that has lead me down the possible conversion route but maybe I'm over reacting against HGF issues etc.

Mark, nope wasn't me at the weekend but I do go down the A24 quite a lot in the Tivver. Great road!

(I meant the A27 - Doh!)

I am based in Worthing, my car has done 90k miles without HGF. It is an issue, but not serious enough to worry me personally.

As mentioned though, I am doing the Duratec thing as the increase in power linked with a more reliable engine (and the engineering enjoyment of doing it myself) is very attractive to me.

[S Works]

Fixing HGF is hundreds of pounds to resolve (unless you're very unlucky). A conversion costs many times more than that. Having had a c.175 bhp K series and a 240bhp NA Honda'd car, both were excellent. All in all, the K was more useable more of the time, but the Honda was a screaming loony box of fun. I'd have both again in a flash.