What engine for an Elise? Performance, Reliabity & Cheap...

[Rob Croydon]

340R engine that was in my Elise S1 has blown (as in f*****d but the gearbox is OK). Am wanting to replace it with something 200BHP+

Yes I would love a Honda conversion but can't afford it... Am happy to take something secondhand so what is the best value for money and most reliable option available to me? (as I am very hard on the engine/car)

Thanks in advance.

(NB Garages/dealers welcome to offer me their options)

[neiljohnson]

Does the elise run the Ford gearbox with a k series?? in which case a late zetec or Duatec engine would be an off the wall choice. Not as revvy as the Honda but 200bhp is fairly straightforward to get.

[OlberJ]

What's your budget roughly?

[Rob Croydon]

Well have been initially quoted about £4500 for a K series and £8700 for the Honda (with gearbox) - Including fitting.

Ideally I would like to do the whole job for between £2000 & £3000 but have no idea if that is feasible...

And don't want to skimp only for it to blow after 1 day of use.

[OlberJ]

Could you do the swap yourself or you need it done by someone else?

[Rob Croydon]

Nope... Basic servicing is about my limit.

[otolith]

I wouldn't have thought you will find much cheaper than a K series, given that anything else is likely to need some fettling to make it fit. Are you paying more for an engine built to the same spec as the original? I don't know what's in the 340R, but I wonder if a standard VVC lump rebuilt and tuned would work out cheaper?

[TIPPER]

otolith said:

I wouldn't have thought you will find much cheaper than a K series, given that anything else is likely to need some fettling to make it fit. Are you paying more for an engine built to the same spec as the original? I don't know what's in the 340R, but I wonder if a standard VVC lump rebuilt and tuned would work out cheaper?

To get reliable 200bhp from a K will cost a bit more than 2-3K. That sort of money enables you to get a well sorted reliable 160bhp K.
Worth checking out Duratec conversions on SELOC - I think £5k nearer the mark.

[OlberJ]

TIPPER said:

Worth checking out Duratec conversions on SELOC - I think £5k nearer the mark.

Home-build?

[TIPPER]

OlberJ said:

Home-build?

Linky for diy kit http://www.essexautosport.com/content/upgrades/upg... so a bit more than £5k.

[WestieMan]

Stark will do you a Honda kit cheaper than the durabang and you will end up with a much better engine IMHO.

http://www.stark-automotive.co.uk/conversion/

But you still are up to £5k mark for diy install.

[WestieMan]

WestieMan said:

Stark will do you a Honda kit cheaper than the durabang and you will end up with a much better engine IMHO.

http://www.stark-automotive.co.uk/conversion/

But you still are up to £5k mark for diy install.

Hmm looking the Durabang kit seems better value for money as you are getting the ecu too.

But I would still go with the honda though

[4pot]

I'd buy a stagnated engine and get the head fettled and an Emerald Ecu via liaison of sabre heads. A friend had this done, along with manifold etc and it's running 182 bhp. The bottom end hasn't been touched and it runs on the vvc plenum chamber.

The rev limit is set at 7.2k to keep thongs reliable. Cracking bit of kit and goes very well indeed!

Duratec DIY build is another option via Essex Autosport as Tipper has pointed out.

[OlberJ]

4pot said:

The rev limit is set at 7.2k to keep thongs reliable.

As we all know, as soon as you hit 7,300 rpm, your thongs fail dramatically, which isn't much fun when you're trying to show off to your mates on track.

[otolith]

TIPPER said:

otolith said:

I wouldn't have thought you will find much cheaper than a K series, given that anything else is likely to need some fettling to make it fit. Are you paying more for an engine built to the same spec as the original? I don't know what's in the 340R, but I wonder if a standard VVC lump rebuilt and tuned would work out cheaper?

To get reliable 200bhp from a K will cost a bit more than 2-3K. That sort of money enables you to get a well sorted reliable 160bhp K.
Worth checking out Duratec conversions on SELOC - I think £5k nearer the mark.

I think 2-3k is optimistic for anything, just wondering if he can beat the £4500 he's been quoted for a K-series and still get the 177/190bhp the car came with?

[4pot]

OlberJ said:

As we all know, as soon as you hit 7,300 rpm, your thongs fail dramatically, which isn't much fun when you're trying to show off to your mates on track.

Thongs have been known to split over 7.2k!

[Rob Croydon]

Thanks so far. You have given me a lot to think about.... What is a fair price to pay for someone just for fitting an engine if I source it?

[TIPPER]

Important thing to rememember is that a 200bhp K will need regular rebuilds. How regular will depend on what sort of use you give the car. I've seen 40k-ish road miles as a rule of thumb between rebuilds but bear in mind thats the equivalent of 4,000 track miles. Bear that in mind if sourcing a used engine. Also remember that there are engine builders and there are engine builders when it comes to rebuilds.
Worth talking to someone like Dave Andrews at DVA Power - he's generally regarded as king of the K series gurus.

[Scuffers]

well, IMHO you can't get realistically 200+ reliable Bhp for £5K (starting from your current position).

to get a duratec (2L) or zetec to 200+ requires not insignificant work, asides that fact that to actually fit them it involves money.

I suggest you become a little more realistic as to what your options are for £5K

[400SE Dave]

Rover T series. Turbo fun