Engine swap

[ephancock77]

I've always wished the Elise had used the turbo engine found in the VX220 and ive read endless threads regarding the engine swap to Honda/Audi etc.

I'm assuming it must be possible to have the Vauxhall powerplantin in an Elise isn't it? and if so has anybody had it done and at what cost.

just intrigued.

[subaqua]

The VX/europa have a different rear subframe from K series or Toyota powered elises.

Thus people who want a lotus chassis with VX power generally find it easier to:

1. Buy a VX
2. Buy a Europa

Even if you have to sell an elise to do this, its less aggravation than trying to be the first (or one of the first) to try turn a Lotus into a Vauxhall.

[Thorburn]

Sure at least one has been converted to Elise style bodywork - was running Exige GT3 bodywork iirc.

[kambites]

Indeed, why would you not just buy a VX220?

[djwilma]

Or fit a k series turbo

Easily done if you know what your doing

[ephancock77]

Ill have to be honest im not a fan of the way the Vauxhall looks in comparison to the Elise and also there is a bit of underlying badge snobbery in there too im afraid.

Looking at the performance stats comparing the engines side by side the Vauxhall seems to trump the K all ends up.

Id love to hear why someone would prefer why the 111s k series engine to the Vauxhall.

[kambites]

ephancock77 said:

Id love to hear why someone would prefer why the 111s k series engine to the Vauxhall.

Throttle response. Well, and weight.

I drove most of the Elise derivatives around when I was looking to buy mine and the VX220 turbo was the very worst of them, to my mind.

[Scuffers]

kambites said:

ephancock77 said:

Id love to hear why someone would prefer why the 111s k series engine to the Vauxhall.

Throttle response. Well, and weight.

I drove most of the Elise derivatives around when I was looking to buy mine and the VX220 turbo was the very worst of them, to my mind.

To be fair, the Std mapping on the VX is shockingly bad, the VXT even worse (if that's possible?)

The 2.2 engine is basically a good engine, the turbo is a cast iron dinasor.

[Frimley111R]

djwilma said:

Or fit a k series turbo

Easily done if you know what your doing

In Lotus' I don't think I've ever seen/heard of a K Series Turbo install. TBH I'd avoid this as there must be a reason why so few (any?) people have gone done this route.

Engine swaps are nice but they are very expensive, realistically £10k+. (Although you may find one or two a bit less but when you're paying all that make sure whoever it is does the job properly).

[Scuffers]

Frimley111R said:

In Lotus' I don't think I've ever seen/heard of a K Series Turbo install. TBH I'd avoid this as there must be a reason why so few (any?) people have gone done this route.

several have been done, a German outfit sold them for a while, but they all went bang sooner ot later, K is just not up to big power (awaits the outcry from the disciples of KingK).