change from 4cyl to V8

change from 4cyl to V8

Author
Discussion

mageri

Original Poster:

16 posts

283 months

Thursday 17th March 2005
quotequote all
Hi,

First of all, i´ve got bad english!

I want to know what problems i should expect when changing engine from my 4cyl (s4:a 1994) to a esprit v8 engine.

ex. clutch(shaft)? gearbox to engine? engine to the chassi etc etc?

cooling, exhaust, motecsystem and things like that whould be smaller problems.

I think i had killed my engine badly *very sorry*.
Its a big hole at the longside of the engine, caused by a blown headgasket.
Gasket failed only around the cylinder, not all the way out, so all pressure went down in the water room and brake the wall!

I know thats going to be a big project changing to V8.
But i got time if it is possible to do such change.

Regards
Magnus, Sweden

cnh1990

3,035 posts

268 months

Thursday 17th March 2005
quotequote all
I suppose the same gear box would work.
I think the major parts would be the suspension changes to take the extra weight of the V8, perhaps new fuel pumps, The whole igniton system, clutch, etc. It's a lot of work.

Maybe better off to sell the car to someone who will fix it and buy a V8.

>> Edited by cnh1990 on Thursday 17th March 17:23

mageri

Original Poster:

16 posts

283 months

Thursday 17th March 2005
quotequote all
yes, suspension whould be something to think about.
i have adjustable dampers and think they will work, but i need stiffer springs then.

if i sell my esprit i whould´t get much for it as it stands, it´s much cheaper to bay a new 4cyl engine instead.

i whould like to know if there is any difference in "boltpicture" between my gearbox and a V8 engineblock?
and also if my gearbox shafts fit to the v8 clutch?

all answers are helpfull.

cheers
Magnus

cnh1990

3,035 posts

268 months

Thursday 17th March 2005
quotequote all
If you can find one of those Emme engines that was selling for 4-5K USD that would be nice, it's an SE engine and would bolt right in.

I think the engine would cost about 8-10K USD from the usual sources.

I still don't understand how the engine blew. Only time I have seen a hole in the side of the engine is when a con rod or what was left of it came through the side of the engine.

A V8 engine would cost you a whole lot more and a lot of work.

The your gearbox splines would match up as it is the same gearbox as the V8. I suppose all you need is the V8 clutch/flywheel and the bell housing. I have never done a side by side look at the motor mounts of a V8 vs the 4 cyl cars.

It will be a lot of work. I have a hard time wondering how I would do such a thing unless I took the body off the car so it would be easier to do.

The radiator core size would have to be increased.

I'm sure there is a whole list of items that will come up.

MikeyRide

267 posts

270 months

Thursday 17th March 2005
quotequote all
The frames are different too. If I recall correctly, the rear hoop is different to allow routing the exhaust.

mageri

Original Poster:

16 posts

283 months

Thursday 17th March 2005
quotequote all
MikeyRide said:
The frames are different too. If I recall correctly, the rear hoop is different to allow routing the exhaust.


exhaust would be custom made anyway, but manifolds
are more difficult to do something about.

do they fit, any clue?

mageri

Original Poster:

16 posts

283 months

Thursday 17th March 2005
quotequote all
[quote=cnh1990]If you can find one of those Emme engines that was selling for 4-5K USD that would be nice, it's an SE engine and would bolt right in.

Tell me more about this Emme engines, and where to find them.

About how my engine blow, its hard for me to explain in english.
headgasket just around 3rd cylinder has failed, but headgasket sealing (water/oil)all around the enginedeck where ok, so all cylinder pressure from 3rd cyl went thrue into coolingsystem and brake the engineblock.

why didnt a cooling hose or the radiator failed??
i dont understand.

ragingfool

138 posts

242 months

Friday 18th March 2005
quotequote all
both used 4 and 8 cylinder engines for sale:
www.lotusespritworld.co.uk/Sale/parts.html
you can try a salvage locator in the US
www.usedcars.com/autoparts/upsalvageulotus/index.shtml
and get better prices on a used 910 (Esprit 4 cylinder) motor and have it shipped to you
hope that helps
your english is good
chris
90SE


>> Edited by ragingfool on Friday 18th March 02:27

Dr.Hess

837 posts

255 months

Friday 18th March 2005
quotequote all
Your English is much better than our Sweedish, although I think I can still do some Mock Sweedish.

Nothing is impossible, only varying degrees of difficult. Changing a 4 cyl to a 8 cyl Lotus engine would probably be easier than, say, changing to a Lexus V8 because Lotus worked out all the details for you already. You would almost have to have a wrecked V8 donor for the motor all the little things that come up, like the starter, clutch slave cylinder, hoses, etc. Not to discourage you, but I think sticking with the 4 cylinder would be cheapest and easyist, or fixing it up, selling it and buying a V8 if you just must have one. I have seen some 910 blocks on eBay every once in a while. Seems like there was one just a couple weeks ago. Guy was trying to sell the block and the bearing cradle thing in separate auctions. Neither one had a bid on them the last I looked. Don't know how the auction ended.

Dr.Hess

mageri

Original Poster:

16 posts

283 months

Friday 18th March 2005
quotequote all
ragingfool said:
both used 4 and 8 cylinder engines for sale:
<a href="http://www.lotusespritworld.co.uk/Sale/parts.html">www.lotusespritworld.co.uk/Sale/parts.html</a>
you can try a salvage locator in the US
<a href="http://www.usedcars.com/autoparts/upsalvageulotus/index.shtml">www.usedcars.com/autoparts/upsalvageulotus/index.shtml</a>
and get better prices on a used 910 (Esprit 4 cylinder) motor and have it shipped to you
hope that helps
your english is good
chris
90SE


>> Edited by ragingfool on Friday 18th March 02:27


i put out a request on "usedcar.com" and we will see what happens.

the other one at espritworld are for sure cheapy (becaurse its same as new). but for me its a little too much money.

thanks for the tips!
Magnus

mageri

Original Poster:

16 posts

283 months

Friday 18th March 2005
quotequote all
Dr.Hess

-You would almost have to have a "WRECKED V8 DONOR" for the motor all the little things that come up.
(i dont understand that words, please explain)

And its right like you said "only varying degrees of difficult".

1.selling my 4cyl car for a V8 are not easy here in sweden.
2.i want little more power than the 4banger can deliever.
so maybe the best thing for me (now when mine is broken) is to change engine?

Offcourse if a good deal shows up on a 4cylinder i will probably bay, it would be the easyest way.

Nothing at ebay.de or com right now, but i have my eyes open.

Magnus

Dr.Hess

837 posts

255 months

Friday 18th March 2005
quotequote all
Magnus,
I meant that you may need many of the pieces that are specific to the V8 Esprit, and thus need a V8 Esprit to take parts off of. "Wrecked" means broken, damaged, destroyed beyond repair. A "parts car" that you can pull all the small pieces you need besides just the engine. It is probably quite difficult to come across a wrecked V8 Esprit in Sweeden. It is difficult here in the US where I think most of the Esprits were shipped to.

Dr.Hess

mageri

Original Poster:

16 posts

283 months

Friday 18th March 2005
quotequote all
Ok thanks for that.

Maybe theres allready a V8 on its way?
Right now i dont know how complete it is?
I know outlet manifolds and turbos are there, it sounds like all things are included, but without ECM.
I had emailed him today with questions.

//Magnus