11 replies to this topic

[Doctor Ed]

Hi guys... This more of a feasibility study than anything at present, but I'm hoping you'll be able to help me fill some knowledge gaps. A bit of background - basically, in Germany getting a modified car on the road with plates is a PITA. My engineer has advised that going pre 1999 will be of benefit in terms of ease of passing certification. I had been planning on a competitive hill limber / weekend toy built from a vx. The longer wheelbase with larger engine bay suits my needs. I can source some well priced suitable suspension arms and uprights etc to extend the track as I wish. Body modifications already planned based on vx dimensions. Basically there's several benefits to the vx layout. Shame it's just a bit too young. But... I can get quite affordable Elise S1 chassis/rollers (and a bare chassis isn't a bad place to start considering what I'm building anyway) Now the Elise I can lengthen with a vx rear subframe, but then the funds starts. All the suspension arms I had planned are vx220 specific. There's body moulds which are blended to vx doors, and based in vx wheelbase. It gets messy. So the questions.... If I had a S1 Elise chassis with a vx220 subframe bolted on... - would standard vx220 rear suspension arms fit. Or would other mounting brackets be needed (specifically lower control arm etc)? - I assume front suspension arms would swap in/bolt up? - would vx220 doors fit/hang properly, and close properly? - windshield/door seals would be the same? Don't worry about body panels/wheel arch linings etc. that's all small stuff. I'm more after the big bullet points... Can I make an S1 functionally the same as a vx220 regarding dimensions, will vx220 suspension bolt up, and will the doors go on? Cheers Ed!

Edited by ed.oates, 28 November 2015 - 10:19 PM.

[garyk220]

The original VX Sprint car (2.2 NA) was built with S1 Exige wishbones, uprights, hubs, brakes, suspension and wheels. So that would suggest the main components are interchangeable between chassis if you are replacing everything together. It also had the Lotus S1 roll hoop and A-frame cage fitted. It was built for Vauxhall by Lotus Motorsport division iirc.

There were a few magazine features on the Sprint car, with spec listed. A search for some of the posts on this site around 2002 might help you find a copy of these.

[Exmantaa]

From memory, the VX/Speedster is a bit of a hybrid and has an S1 front suspension design and the rear is from an S2.

 

But I don't think the longer VX subframe will bolt onto an S1, as there are the major differences between S1 & S2. But maybe it just need some modding.

[Doctor Ed]

Bugger. I was under the impression that the vx subframe would bolt up to an S1

[Arno]

Bugger. I was under the impression that the vx subframe would bolt up to an S1

 

No. Not a chance.
 
The S1 and Rover-S2 ali chassis have longer 'legs' in the back that curve inward where the (smaller) subframe is attached to.
 
S1:
 

 
The Speedster chassis is shorter by about 15-20cm and very similar to the Toyota powered Elises since 2004. The rear subframe is much longer and wider than the S1 and Rover S2 versions.
 
Toyota Elise:
 


Note the big difference in the way and location the rear subframe attaches to the chassis.

Speedster/VX chassis is similarly 'stubby' at the back as the Toyota Elises:


So the Speedster rear subframe won't fit on an S1 or early/Rover S2.. And ad the Toyoya-Elises are only made after 2004 it won't help your age problem either.

 

Bye, Arno.

[Doctor Ed]

Well. That's a bit sh*t. Thanks for the info. Might have to look into stretching the S1 then, and making my own rear susp arms. Or somehow wing it with a post 1999 build year, and get a vx chassis.

[Doctor Ed]

What about doors? Would vx doors mount and close properly if fitted to an S1 ??

[Arno]

What about doors? Would vx doors mount and close properly if fitted to an S1 ??

 

No. The S1 chassis beam is not cut down at the top like the Speedster and S2 Elise so the S1 doors have a different shape on the inside.

 

You'd need to take apart an S1 and Speedster door and then take the inner fiberglass skin from an S1 door and mate that to the outer

skin from a Speedster door.

 

Door apeture from front to back should be roughly the same size (this is Lotus, so expect 'production differences'). S1 windscreen and surround is different though, so you may need to change some things in that area to let the door glass (or new perspex ones) match up correctly.

 

S1 roll-over bar is also completely different from the Speedster, so any upper body pieces like the rear clam and roof would not fit either.

 

Probably needs a bunch of other tweaks and nudges to fit Speedster bits on an S1. Can likely be done, but it's going to be a long process and not just a direct bolt-on.

 

Bye, Arno.

[Doctor Ed]

yeah... its not a huge drama as fit and finish are low priorities - because race car. it would just help if some key components did bolt up and kinda fit in the holes where they belong.

 

it sounds like theres enough mismatch though to just cause hedache though.

 

i need to talk to my engineer again i think. pre 99 would mean basically staying completely with an S1. doable, but not ideal

 

hmmmfff     

[Arno]

Weight-wise you'd not want to use the original Speedster/VX clams for a racecar anyway as they are much more heavy (thicker and some parts are double-skinned like the engine cover) than the clams used on the S1 or S2 Elise unless you're using thinner aftermarket ones.

 

S1 Elise wheelbase may be a little shorter, but there is already a lot of knowledge and available parts for racing those cars out there.

 

Bye, Arno.

[Doctor Ed]

Have a lightweight body lined up, so no concerns re the vx shell. Plus sikaflex and space invader foam go a long way to make things fit where they don't belong. But the basics have got to add up or it's just a shitfight uphill

[james_ly]

The S1 might be a better bet anyway? Significantly lighter and a proven race package with the option of more power through a Honda conversion. Not as good looking as the VX though