TVR TUSCAN - ENGINE SWAP - HONDA S2000 (F20C2)

TVR TUSCAN - ENGINE SWAP - HONDA S2000 (F20C2)

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alexaras

Original Poster:

90 posts

205 months

Thursday 21st July 2022
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TVR TUSCAN S2K – HONDA S2000 F20 C2 ENGINE & GEARBOX SWAP

The story is as follows, I have bought the only TVR Tuscan in Greece (in fact one of the two TVRs in Greece).
Problem is that when I bought the car it was in need of an engine rebuild. I thought that I could get away with a piston and headwork but really the engine needs a full rebuild.
Transportation of the motor to one of the TVR specialists + Costs + Customs would bring the price of the rebuild to extreme high numbers.

So I had a spare S2000 engine (best 4 cylinder engine) and S2000 gearbox (best gearbox the world has seen) and my mechanic encourage me to try it on…
Looks like it will fit in there relatively smoothly so this will be a build thread.

To all purists – I do apologise however please consider:
1. About not having a TVR specialist in the same country to tune the engine
2. Costs of rebuilding the straight six
3. I already owned the S2000 mechanics
4. The fact that no modifications will be made to the chassis and the swap will be fully reversible to fit the straight six engine when it will become 30 years old ie of historic importance.


Finally ofcourse opening this long hood you expect to find at least 6 cylinders, so in order to compensate for the lack of 2 cylinders and to fill up the space we will be fitting a big Turbo kit.

Wish me luck, should be fun.




Edited by alexaras on Wednesday 29th November 14:44

LucyP

1,739 posts

67 months

Thursday 21st July 2022
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You're going to need a lot of luck. The 2.0 S2000 is way down on power and torque compared with a Speed 6, and then you need to fit it to the car, and the wiring loom, and fit a gearbox.

It's also the nastiest engine I have ever driven. The power band is so tiny and all at the top end. The only car I have ever had to change from 6th to 2nd just to find some power to overtake.

As for turbocharging - have you looked at the S2000 forums? They seem to all be old now, and even 3 years ago, no one seemed to be making an installation to fit the S2000 any longer, so you are going to struggle, and most of the kits that were sold just caused the engines to blow up and were expensive.

You are going totally down the wrong route, wasting your money and devaluing your car. You should sell your S2000 engine to an S2000 owner, and buy a Speed Six engine and get it sorted in the UK by one of the recommended suppliers here.


frontfloater

367 posts

150 months

Thursday 21st July 2022
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I have a lot of respect for that engine. In 25 years of owning my modified S2, only 3 or 4 non-TVR cars have out-accelerated me when I was really trying. One of those was a Honda S2000 - went past me doing 120+ on a quiet motorway. I didn't know what it was at the time, so when I got home I looked it up in "Top Gear" magazine, and found it had a variable valve timing engine, red-lined at 9000 !

Of course, it won't sound as good. But if you take care to get the transmission and rear differential matched and set up properly, it should have plenty of speed even before you consider adding the turbo.

S2000 kerb weight was 1250 kgs, Tuscan was 1100, so it should give even better performance than in its original body.

Ice_blue_tvr

3,262 posts

172 months

Thursday 21st July 2022
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It'll sound nicer than a speed 6 tbh biggrin

Phil_D

126 posts

244 months

Thursday 21st July 2022
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Good man go for it...I would look at a SC instead of a turbo setup but either way it will be brilliant..

Fermit

13,240 posts

108 months

Thursday 21st July 2022
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LucyP said:
It's also the nastiest engine I have ever driven.
Seriously?! A good friend had an S2000 for a while, and during one passenger ride in it he gave the full beans from 20mph - err, rather quickly. It was an aural sensation, hardly what I would call nasty.

OP. Following with interest.

gordon1955

116 posts

54 months

Thursday 21st July 2022
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LucyP said:
You're going to need a lot of luck. The 2.0 S2000 is way down on power and torque compared with a Speed 6, and then you need to fit it to the car, and the wiring loom, and fit a gearbox.

It's also the nastiest engine I have ever driven. The power band is so tiny and all at the top end. The only car I have ever had to change from 6th to 2nd just to find some power to overtake.

As for turbocharging - have you looked at the S2000 forums? They seem to all be old now, and even 3 years ago, no one seemed to be making an installation to fit the S2000 any longer, so you are going to struggle, and most of the kits that were sold just caused the engines to blow up and were expensive.

You are going totally down the wrong route, wasting your money and devaluing your car. You should sell your S2000 engine to an S2000 owner, and buy a Speed Six engine and get it sorted in the UK by one of the recommended suppliers here.
You haven’t got a clue, best engine Honda have ever made

Belle427

9,803 posts

241 months

Friday 22nd July 2022
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I’ve never driven one but the sound they make on full tilt is very nice.
It would be an unusual conversion for sure but if it works for you then go for it.
A Supercharger conversion would certainly do it justice in that car.

s6boy

1,669 posts

233 months

Friday 22nd July 2022
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LucyP said:
You're going to need a lot of luck. The 2.0 S2000 is way down on power and torque compared with a Speed 6, and then you need to fit it to the car, and the wiring loom, and fit a gearbox.

It's also the nastiest engine I have ever driven. The power band is so tiny and all at the top end. The only car I have ever had to change from 6th to 2nd just to find some power to overtake.

As for turbocharging - have you looked at the S2000 forums? They seem to all be old now, and even 3 years ago, no one seemed to be making an installation to fit the S2000 any longer, so you are going to struggle, and most of the kits that were sold just caused the engines to blow up and were expensive.

You are going totally down the wrong route, wasting your money and devaluing your car. You should sell your S2000 engine to an S2000 owner, and buy a Speed Six engine and get it sorted in the UK by one of the recommended suppliers here.
Unbelievable post!

op not sure if you're new on this forum but it's best to learn to ignore certain people. Please keep the real enthusiasts on here updated on what should be really interesting project.


Edited by s6boy on Friday 22 July 08:34

alexaras

Original Poster:

90 posts

205 months

Friday 22nd July 2022
quotequote all
Hey guys,

I appreciate everyone's input.
I have a pretty good experience with the F20C.

I have an S2000 HKS supercharged for the road (360 bhp)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f65bYMYdVzU

I also have a Westfield Aero Race F20C Science of Speed (SOS) supercharged for the track (400 bhp)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgrxyM-hRvk

Safe to say that after using these cars the way they should be used, its a bullet proof motor.

Now since I am after more power on the TVR - I decided to go a bit nuts and go Big Turbo on it.
Expect 500bhp - noise - flames from the exhausts...

Hopefully with the lighter engine sitting further back we ll save some more weight and aid the weight distribution.
6 speed gearbox is a gem.

I will upload some photos asap.


PS: Here is an older video of my mechanic's similar setup (stock internals) to what I am looking to do on the TVR.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPYll_0XawU


Edited by alexaras on Friday 22 July 11:13


Edited by alexaras on Friday 22 July 11:20

LucyP

1,739 posts

67 months

Friday 22nd July 2022
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"Expect 500 bhp from a 90s 2.0 4 cylinder." Ha ha. Expect it to blow up before it gets to the end of the street then.

Those "idiots" at AMG can only manage 400 from a 2022 2.0 4, fitted to the C43, and that's with a turbo and a 48 volt electric motor as well.

anonymous-user

62 months

Friday 22nd July 2022
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I'd find a BMW 3.0 M54 straight six.

With 3litres vs 2 litres it'll be far nice to drive and sound the part. Easily available,simple powerful engine. A decat and decent intake will see you close to 300bhp even in non "M" format, which would only be available from a 2.0litre engine with forced induction in practice.

Find an E46 330i or if you can find an E36 M3 engine (but these are now rare and sort after)

Frankly, even the older 2.8 (M52) straight six would be far preferable to some nasty 4 cyl engine.......


Classic Chim

12,424 posts

157 months

Friday 22nd July 2022
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I think maybe some people are missing the point which is the car will be light and very fast with what amounts to a race engine fitted with a fantastically short shift silky box that encourages a race driver type strategy to get the best from it. Sounds like a good idea to me.
If the chap wants to use this engine and has experience with said engine why do people try and advise doing something else.

I have experience with the “Bond DB5” replica car using the S2000 road train. It’s a bit heavy with the huge DB5 body plonked on top but handles well and goes like a scolded cat if revved. It’s an absolute hoot and about the only DB5 that goes like a race car, Bond would approve I reckon.
It’s a joy to drive if the truth be known. If any engine would add even more race car feel to a Tvr it might just be this one.




FHCNICK

1,306 posts

239 months

Friday 22nd July 2022
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LucyP said:
"Expect 500 bhp from a 90s 2.0 4 cylinder." Ha ha. Expect it to blow up before it gets to the end of the street then.

Those "idiots" at AMG can only manage 400 from a 2022 2.0 4, fitted to the C43, and that's with a turbo and a 48 volt electric motor as well.
The guys I watched racing Sierra Cosworth's at Snetterton last weekend were getting 580bhp from their 80's 2.0 4 pot rolleyes

mk1fan

10,667 posts

233 months

Friday 22nd July 2022
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How about the Ford 2.4 (2.3) four pot? Can be built n/a or forced. 300+bhp and plenty of parts / support.

Appreciate the OP already has an engine and gearbox, more of a general question.

In keeping with TVR heritage too!

alexaras

Original Poster:

90 posts

205 months

Friday 22nd July 2022
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Wanted more than 400bhp really.
So the E36 and E46 engines were turned down.

I had a think about BMW's V10 - now that would have been a beast.
But the electrics would have beed too complicated.

Fermit

13,240 posts

108 months

Friday 22nd July 2022
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alexaras said:
I had a think about BMW's V10 - now that would have been a beast.
Lucy will be along shortly to tell you that's the second worst engine ever made.

Zeb74

409 posts

137 months

Friday 22nd July 2022
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And what about a LS?
This has been proven to work and you should be able to keep the existing gearbox.
There is a Sagaris in France with the Chevrolet V8 and this is a monster but of course, it does not rev 'til 9000 rpm :-).



Andy665

3,810 posts

236 months

Friday 22nd July 2022
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Are we not missing the point that the OP has an S2000 available already and is part of the decision making process

s6boy

1,669 posts

233 months

Friday 22nd July 2022
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Andy665 said:
Are we not missing the point that the OP has an S2000 available already and is part of the decision making process
Exactly this and has the experience.

Hopefully with a shorter engine managing temperature of a big turbo will be easier.