3.0 Duratec Esprit !
Discussion
Blu3R said:
It's a Renault UN1 which is the weakest link in all of the esprits.
You can use the box on some kit cars too but the more preferred method is to fit a Porsche G50 box but mod it so it can run upside down (otherwise you end up with 5 reverse gears!).
Yep, that's correct. The V8s had to, in effect, be downtuned due to the box. Those engines produce 350bhp; Torque was limited in 1st and 2nd as well ( not so much in the Sport 350 which I had before the Nob ). Lotus would sell you a "Red Race" ECU which increased power to 440bhp but you had to sign something to say "if the gearbox blows up, you can't blame us". That engine can produce 500 horses with very little effort or cost ( nowhere near what it would cost to get 500 out of the Nob ), but the box you most likely go bang !You can use the box on some kit cars too but the more preferred method is to fit a Porsche G50 box but mod it so it can run upside down (otherwise you end up with 5 reverse gears!).
snuffy said:
Blu3R said:
It's a Renault UN1 which is the weakest link in all of the esprits.
You can use the box on some kit cars too but the more preferred method is to fit a Porsche G50 box but mod it so it can run upside down (otherwise you end up with 5 reverse gears!).
Yep, that's correct. The V8s had to, in effect, be downtuned due to the box. Those engines produce 350bhp; Torque was limited in 1st and 2nd as well ( not so much in the Sport 350 which I had before the Nob ). Lotus would sell you a "Red Race" ECU which increased power to 440bhp but you had to sign something to say "if the gearbox blows up, you can't blame us". That engine can produce 500 horses with very little effort or cost ( nowhere near what it would cost to get 500 out of the Nob ), but the box you most likely go bang !You can use the box on some kit cars too but the more preferred method is to fit a Porsche G50 box but mod it so it can run upside down (otherwise you end up with 5 reverse gears!).
snuffy said:
Yep, that's correct. The V8s had to, in effect, be downtuned due to the box. Those engines produce 350bhp; Torque was limited in 1st and 2nd as well ( not so much in the Sport 350 which I had before the Nob ). Lotus would sell you a "Red Race" ECU which increased power to 440bhp but you had to sign something to say "if the gearbox blows up, you can't blame us". That engine can produce 500 horses with very little effort or cost ( nowhere near what it would cost to get 500 out of the Nob ), but the box you most likely go bang !
A few years ago I looked into building a kit which would have used a UN1 and that's when I first heard of the gearbox man. They told me they could modify my box so it could take around 400lbft which was what I was aiming for. I now (from reading on here and talking to people) understand how they do that!There was a company ( the name of which I can't recall ) which did offer a kit for the UN1 box, specifically for the Esprit. It offered a strengthened 2nd and 5th gear. As I recall it was £2.5k+, but I think it all went pear-shaped.
Tis a pity the gearbox used in the Esprit ( especially with the V8 ) because otherwise the Esprit V8 would be a monster.
One large difference I find with launching the Esprit off the line compared to the Nob is the gearing. I assume it's 6 speed as opposed to 5 in the Esprit the makes the difference. In the Nob you hit the rev limiter before you know where you are, but the Esprit's gearing is much taller, and the gears seem to go on for ever ( I found I could get 70 in 2nd in 110 in 3rd ).
Tis a pity the gearbox used in the Esprit ( especially with the V8 ) because otherwise the Esprit V8 would be a monster.
One large difference I find with launching the Esprit off the line compared to the Nob is the gearing. I assume it's 6 speed as opposed to 5 in the Esprit the makes the difference. In the Nob you hit the rev limiter before you know where you are, but the Esprit's gearing is much taller, and the gears seem to go on for ever ( I found I could get 70 in 2nd in 110 in 3rd ).
The gearing is shorter in the ST220 which is where the noble box came from and I too find it a bit close. Whether it's better for track work I don't know as I'm no professional but it surprises me that no-one has looked into it yet.... Or at least they haven't shared their experiences.
I'm pretty sure Hewlands new LLS would go in with the engine the other way round....
...doubt you'd see much change from £20k though! might as well just buy a radical!
http://www.hewland.com/svga/lls.html
...doubt you'd see much change from £20k though! might as well just buy a radical!
http://www.hewland.com/svga/lls.html
snuffy said:
One large difference I find with launching the Esprit off the line compared to the Nob is the gearing. I assume it's 6 speed as opposed to 5 in the Esprit the makes the difference. In the Nob you hit the rev limiter before you know where you are, but the Esprit's gearing is much taller, and the gears seem to go on for ever ( I found I could get 70 in 2nd in 110 in 3rd ).
1st 44.6mph
2nd 72.0mph
3rd 92.2mph
4th 117.7mph
5th 149.8mph
6th 185.0mph
It seems it does have a much longer 3rd gear than the Noble.
R0162 said:
It seems it does have a much longer 3rd gear than the Noble.
3rd just goes on and on and on !!The standard Noble engine and standard Esprit engine have the same power ( 350bhp ) but the Noble has much more torque ( 350lbft v 295lbft ).
But I've also said that the Esprit V8 pulls like a train; they are very different engines.
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