Other engine options

[Dr Alex]

Hi all,

I'm wondering about the choice of the popular VAG (VW,Audi,Seat,Skoda) 1.8Turbo unit- which I have lots of experience with, as an option for a bolt in cheap & reliable power upgrade for the Elise.

My reasoning being it is very easy to get hold of a used engine quite cheaply, they are quite bullet proof and easily capable over 150,000 miles in Mk4 Golf GTis etc, plus its not significantly heavier than the K series, but is a far more reliable & unburstable powerplant.

The standard 150bhp engine in the light Elise would prove very rapid, & with a simple rechip the 150bhp unit is good for a reliable 200bhp. While for huge power increases the 225 or 210 unit in the TT/S3/CupraR can be taken up to over 300bhp very easily.

Any thoughts?

[fergusd]

Assume you are a significantly experienced engineer ?

Not as insignificant undertaking by any means, but IIRC it's already been done.

Fd

[tuffer]

Theres a company in the states that does a conversion using a Honda engine (they are working on using the S2000 240bhp unit). They sell a kit of parts so should not be too difficult. Think they are called Power Engineering, do a google for Honda Exige and you should find it.

[Arno]

plus its not significantly heavier than the K series,

Seriously doubt that as the 1.8T is a cast-iron lump..

Some guys weighed it and the engine+box+alt+flywheel+manifold (Primaries)+oil cooler+Oil+wiring+TB's
came in at 135Kg's.

The weight minus flywheel but otherwise complete bare engine (no gearbox), it weighed 60KG.

How much does the VAG lump weigh? Complete with gearbox and complete engine on it's own?

The added power will offset this (similar to the VX-turbo which also uses a cast-iron engine from the Astra turbo), but the added weight in the back will make the distribution go more to 30:70 than 40:60.

So it may become a bit of a handful on the twisty work. (think of an old-style 911)

A full alu turbo engine like a Volvo unit from an S40 would probably be a more interesting option.

Bye, Arno.

>> Edited by Arno on Sunday 19th January 11:11

[englishman in LA]

tuffer said: Theres a company in the states that does a conversion using a Honda engine (they are working on using the S2000 240bhp unit). They sell a kit of parts so should not be too difficult. Think they are called Power Engineering, do a google for Honda Exige and you should find it.

You mean prototype racing

I've seen their K20A conversion (they haven't done the S2000 one yet) and it looks good. Its not cheap, but it does contain everything including instructions for you to do the conversion.

Steve

[bert]

Arno,

I think you are quit right about the volvo engine. Perhaps if there is enough place you could even take the 5 cilinder engine. Its basically the same engine as in the s40 but with one cilinder added. In fact it was the other way around. First there was the 5 cilinder, then the 6 and afterwards the 4 cilinder.in the past walkinshaw used the 5 cilinder 2 liter engine in the BTCC. If you have ever driven a 850 R (estate) with 300 bhp you can only dream what it should give in an elise !

[duncanreally]

Don't Honda engines spin the other way to most others? i would think that would make them hard to transplant.
D

[tuffer]

duncanreally said: Don't Honda engines spin the other way to most others? i would think that would make them hard to transplant.
D

Nope

www.prototyperacing.com/k20kit.htm

Someone else bought this up in a thread before, I think it was only some very old bike engines that did that (puts fireproofsuitonandstandswellback)

[Joe McCarthy]

In the past, Honda engines did rotate counter clockwise. Not really a big deal, it just means the engine sits on the LH side of the car. All currently produced Honda automotive engines rotate clockwise.