Discussion
I've just started looking seriously at getting a 340R and would appreciate some beginners advice please.
Assuming that I buy a car that's had nothing extra done to it since new.....and there seem to be a couple around of this ilk ....... How much would I need to spend to get the sensible mods done, without losing the integrity of the original car? Ie. Engine power upgrade to 190, ride, exhaust maybe, well liked cosmetic improvements etc......and finally, are there some Lotus main dealers or specialists that do a far better job than some others please? Any advice much appreciated.
Assuming that I buy a car that's had nothing extra done to it since new.....and there seem to be a couple around of this ilk ....... How much would I need to spend to get the sensible mods done, without losing the integrity of the original car? Ie. Engine power upgrade to 190, ride, exhaust maybe, well liked cosmetic improvements etc......and finally, are there some Lotus main dealers or specialists that do a far better job than some others please? Any advice much appreciated.
I would suggest most 340 have a race battery, so a battery change should be simple. The only other issue is cam belts, though the change can be done with the body in situ - so not the major issue people think.
Most have the 190 kit fitted - There are a few options on exhaust, Jim at 2ublar does one.
The UCR gearbox is supposed to give a good performance improvement. Alternately a Honda is a great addition lol
Reverie do a lot of nice carbon body parts, but can get expensive.
Happy hunting! They are worth it
Most have the 190 kit fitted - There are a few options on exhaust, Jim at 2ublar does one.
The UCR gearbox is supposed to give a good performance improvement. Alternately a Honda is a great addition lol
Reverie do a lot of nice carbon body parts, but can get expensive.
Happy hunting! They are worth it
There are a lot for sale at the moment , many are good ones.I might have mine for sale soon. But you right on trying to keep the possibility to revert to original. Mine have the full reverie carbon kit,titanium exhaust, emerald but all the original parts too. I do have a spare original body,cut, which makes maintenance easier. But a non cut one too. I might be open to offers (shameless plug) ??
Edited by gianlu on Monday 8th June 22:00
My car is currently for sale and I also dipped into the options over the first few years of ten of ownership, we went for the Emerald ecu, race battery, titanium exhaust, decat, Reverie boost tube, alloy rad and quick shift kit these IMHO are worthy mods, regarding the full size battery it is a body of job(not really ten hours, I've done mine so don't believe the hype)though most cars should have a small battery by now if not put the race one next to the std one until you take the body off which you will do one day, regarding the cam belt some specialists can do it body on however I opted got the body off twice rather than the Dan Dare method so we could carry out other maintenance work. In my opinion cars that have the body cut are slightly spoiled however I spoke to Harry from EVO mag who cut his and apparently still sold it on easily.
Make sure you have an all alloy rad as the std one will pop, mine did twice before we got it sorted properly. My car is with Hangar111 right now but I've happily used Steve Williams and Allon White over the years we have had it.
Going back to the original question, my car was a 177 when we bought it and the largest difference came from fitting the Emerald, decat and titanium exhaust, until we did this it felt nothing like as quick the figures suggested. The car is pretty reliable considering it's a K under the bonnet in face it's a real screamer with lots of character so don't worry about the power plant too much.
It's a proper fun car unfortunately I don't use mine enough nowadays so my time is done but you will enjoy one if you do buy, happy shopping.
Make sure you have an all alloy rad as the std one will pop, mine did twice before we got it sorted properly. My car is with Hangar111 right now but I've happily used Steve Williams and Allon White over the years we have had it.
Going back to the original question, my car was a 177 when we bought it and the largest difference came from fitting the Emerald, decat and titanium exhaust, until we did this it felt nothing like as quick the figures suggested. The car is pretty reliable considering it's a K under the bonnet in face it's a real screamer with lots of character so don't worry about the power plant too much.
It's a proper fun car unfortunately I don't use mine enough nowadays so my time is done but you will enjoy one if you do buy, happy shopping.
Edited by andysv on Sunday 7th June 11:21
I love my 340R - its a real keeper, I've had it since early 2003, it has a nice story, the first owner having it in the USA for a year on british plates - he couldn't keep it there any longer so I bought it from B&C after that with 6k miles - now has 18k. see article if you are interested: http://www.340r.net/articles/alvin/alice/alice.htm...
There are several great sources of info: 340.net - not actively used now - was set up by some of the first owners but loads of good technical info - especially if you want to update/modify/lighten further(!) the car. There is a closed facebook group you can join if you get a car, and also a yahoo group - many overlapping members but some guys dont use facebook! Again the folks are a great source of info, a few original owners on there as well as long term keepers.
I've not done loads to my car over the years although it has 190bhp, quick release steering wheel, carbon fibre mudguards, carbon fibre g'box tunnel (Reverie), alloy rad (Elise parts - the originals are crap and it is a body off job), race battery (originals are weightly and large - body off job as already said - I've just replaced it after 7/8 years - always on a good trickle charger), Titanium Exhaust (with cat bypass pipe), I've fitted the MMC elise brakes and pads mainly because they are lighter(kept the originals) they are fine for limited track/fast road, if it is just for heavy track use I would go a different route, still on A038's although they are getting old now since last yoko production so need to think about others - some users use Advans for all weather use, I have a short shift gear linkage and make sure you get the UK spec Magnesium wheels. I have the race roll bar in the garage but never fitted as although it saves a lot of weight it means cutting the body. Jobs that have always been on the list but never really justified the expense: Carbon Seats, Carbon boast tube, various other carbon bits from Reverie, UCR cogs.
Many folks go with Emerald ECU and Verniers - I've never needed to. I've not cut the body, I've taken it off myself once though- there are very good instructions - just takes time and a second pair of hands for lifting the body. I do get the belts changed every four years, (I replaced the rad and battery the first time and got it resprayed the second. The third time I found a specialist that did it without removing the body - aparently he is a gynocologist at weekends! Tempting fate but never needed head gasket, the K series is great but sometimes a little rich at MOT time.
I wouldn't get drawn too far into the debate on 340R vs 2-11. Both excellent cars, both limited production, both lovely to drive. The R has the benefit of the windscreen for road use, IMHO looks better and steering is sublime, the 2-11 undoubted faster!
Given prices it would probably be far more cost effective to find one with the bits you have on your list as 'must haves' already done - make sure good specialist history and the belts...
Good luck in your search and hope to see you on the yahoo/facebook groups!
Mine was out at Goodwood for breakfast last sunday - photo on: https://grrc.goodwood.com/breakfast-club/mega-gall...
There are several great sources of info: 340.net - not actively used now - was set up by some of the first owners but loads of good technical info - especially if you want to update/modify/lighten further(!) the car. There is a closed facebook group you can join if you get a car, and also a yahoo group - many overlapping members but some guys dont use facebook! Again the folks are a great source of info, a few original owners on there as well as long term keepers.
I've not done loads to my car over the years although it has 190bhp, quick release steering wheel, carbon fibre mudguards, carbon fibre g'box tunnel (Reverie), alloy rad (Elise parts - the originals are crap and it is a body off job), race battery (originals are weightly and large - body off job as already said - I've just replaced it after 7/8 years - always on a good trickle charger), Titanium Exhaust (with cat bypass pipe), I've fitted the MMC elise brakes and pads mainly because they are lighter(kept the originals) they are fine for limited track/fast road, if it is just for heavy track use I would go a different route, still on A038's although they are getting old now since last yoko production so need to think about others - some users use Advans for all weather use, I have a short shift gear linkage and make sure you get the UK spec Magnesium wheels. I have the race roll bar in the garage but never fitted as although it saves a lot of weight it means cutting the body. Jobs that have always been on the list but never really justified the expense: Carbon Seats, Carbon boast tube, various other carbon bits from Reverie, UCR cogs.
Many folks go with Emerald ECU and Verniers - I've never needed to. I've not cut the body, I've taken it off myself once though- there are very good instructions - just takes time and a second pair of hands for lifting the body. I do get the belts changed every four years, (I replaced the rad and battery the first time and got it resprayed the second. The third time I found a specialist that did it without removing the body - aparently he is a gynocologist at weekends! Tempting fate but never needed head gasket, the K series is great but sometimes a little rich at MOT time.
I wouldn't get drawn too far into the debate on 340R vs 2-11. Both excellent cars, both limited production, both lovely to drive. The R has the benefit of the windscreen for road use, IMHO looks better and steering is sublime, the 2-11 undoubted faster!
Given prices it would probably be far more cost effective to find one with the bits you have on your list as 'must haves' already done - make sure good specialist history and the belts...
Good luck in your search and hope to see you on the yahoo/facebook groups!
Mine was out at Goodwood for breakfast last sunday - photo on: https://grrc.goodwood.com/breakfast-club/mega-gall...
Though I would restart this as I have similar thoughts.
I have always loved the idea of a 340R, it looks fab is reportedly great to drive as well as being pretty much the first back to skeleton road car and only produced in very limited numbers...
I have a Ferrari 360 coupe and think a little one of these next to it might be perfect, the question I have is with what's already in the garage would i use it or are the circumstances around me using would be so similar I would always be torn between which one to take out (I have 2 kids and the opportunity to use the Feza is too infrequent as it is).
Help needed please.
I have always loved the idea of a 340R, it looks fab is reportedly great to drive as well as being pretty much the first back to skeleton road car and only produced in very limited numbers...
I have a Ferrari 360 coupe and think a little one of these next to it might be perfect, the question I have is with what's already in the garage would i use it or are the circumstances around me using would be so similar I would always be torn between which one to take out (I have 2 kids and the opportunity to use the Feza is too infrequent as it is).
Help needed please.
andysv said:
My car is currently for sale and I also dipped into the options over the first few years of ten of ownership, we went for the Emerald ecu, race battery, titanium exhaust, decat, Reverie boost tube, alloy rad and quick shift kit these IMHO are worthy mods, regarding the full size battery it is a body of job(not really ten hours, I've done mine so don't believe the hype)though most cars should have a small battery by now if not put the race one next to the std one until you take the body off which you will do one day, regarding the cam belt some specialists can do it body on however I opted got the body off twice rather than the Dan Dare method so we could carry out other maintenance work. In my opinion cars that have the body cut are slightly spoiled however I spoke to Harry from EVO mag who cut his and apparently still sold it on easily.
Make sure you have an all alloy rad as the std one will pop, mine did twice before we got it sorted properly. My car is with Hangar111 right now but I've happily used Steve Williams and Allon White over the years we have had it.
Going back to the original question, my car was a 177 when we bought it and the largest difference came from fitting the Emerald, decat and titanium exhaust, until we did this it felt nothing like as quick the figures suggested. The car is pretty reliable considering it's a K under the bonnet in face it's a real screamer with lots of character so don't worry about the power plant too much.
It's a proper fun car unfortunately I don't use mine enough nowadays so my time is done but you will enjoy one if you do buy, happy shopping.
Can't really say it's not a ten hour job as things like that can easily take ten hours - all you need is a few rusty bolts that need drilling out and you can suddenly spend the entire weekend on the damn thing. Make sure you have an all alloy rad as the std one will pop, mine did twice before we got it sorted properly. My car is with Hangar111 right now but I've happily used Steve Williams and Allon White over the years we have had it.
Going back to the original question, my car was a 177 when we bought it and the largest difference came from fitting the Emerald, decat and titanium exhaust, until we did this it felt nothing like as quick the figures suggested. The car is pretty reliable considering it's a K under the bonnet in face it's a real screamer with lots of character so don't worry about the power plant too much.
It's a proper fun car unfortunately I don't use mine enough nowadays so my time is done but you will enjoy one if you do buy, happy shopping.
Edited by andysv on Sunday 7th June 11:21
There was an invoice with my previous Elise for £1050 to change the radiator fan (£50), as all the bolts on the front clam needed drilling out. Still seems mentally excessive to me but don't discount it.
On the other hand, I've removed one in an hour as all the bolts came straight out...
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