36 replies to this topic

[WoodenDummy]

4.2 in a Elise!?

[skogshuggarn]

http://www.brandes-d...i/en/index.html

[skogshuggarn]

I e-mailed Prototyperacing who does the Exige and Elise K20A conversions to see what it would cost to install a K20A in a Speedster *dreaming*

Here is the answer, and he answerd realy fast

Hi Johan,
I'm fairly certain the K20A will fit into the VX220 or a Speedster since the chassis is identical to the Elise, it's just that living in Southern California I've never had the opportunity to see one of these cars, let alone do a K20A conversion on one of them.
If you could send me some photos of the VX220 engine mounts I'd have a much better idea of where we stand. Another area of concern is the wiring, Lotus wired the Exige and 340R very differently than the Elise, so it's a very safe bet the VX220 is wired even differently due to the engine's GM heritage. Every manufacturer uses different electrical connectors, and they're not easily available. Some of the AMP and Sumitomo connectors I had to buy to make a plug and play wiring harness for the Elise had to be ordered in quantities of 24,000 just to place the order.
The K20A Elise and Exige conversion kits are $7,600, and the Hondata ECU mapped specifically for this application is $650 [using your ECU]. Hondata also has a fully user programmable K20A ECU that sells for $1,000, once again using your engine's ECU.  www.hondata.com
JDM [Japan Domestic Market] K20A engines are available used on Ebay for $4,500 to $5,500 from sources in Asia, but once you add shipping costs, customs broker's fees, and import duties the total cost can be much higher. This is a very highly desirable engine, as you might expect, and since the only source is from the Japanese market their numbers are limited. They're becoming harder and harder to get, even in So. California where switching later model engines into early Civic's is so popular we get regular shipments of engines from Japan.
I'm certainly not saying it can't be done, it's just not going to be cheap or easy to do.
Just last week I finally took delivery of my new US legal Elise, something I've been waiting for almost 5 years to happen! It has the Toyota engine in it right now, but as soon as I'm finished with the base-line performance testing I'll be installing a supercharged, intercooled JDM K20A that'll make about 330 HP to the wheels. I'm also building a 2.3 liter naturally aspirated K20A for my Exige. That one should make right around 300 HP. The supercharged engine is going into the Elise because it's so much heavier, these cars Lotus is sending us weigh 885 Kg!
My Exige only weighs 740 Kg.
Best regards,
Joe
----- Original Message -----
From: Johan Classon
To: joe@prototyperacing.com
Sent: Tuesday, October 12, 2004 3:17 AM
Subject: K20A in a Speedster??

[jneill]

I e-mailed Prototyperacing who does the Exige and Elise K20A conversions to see what it would cost to install a K20A in a Speedster

According to a thread on SELOC there are some "issues" with him taking deposits from customers and leaving them out of pocket

http://forums.seloc....d.php?tid=33706

[ShinyAndy]

Oh please lets not degrade this forum with Joe "Thundering Horses" bashing.. it's been done to death on every forum known to mankind

[caleebra]

When people talk transplants, why do they never mention C20XE or C20LET as possibilities?!? A guy at work had a 220bhp throttle bodied XE in his Westie and loved it Surely a lot cheaper than all this Honda/Audi talk?!? I recall from my Calibra days that many C20LET owners were running a reliable 300bhp

Edited by caleebra, 13 October 2004 - 07:11 AM.

[garyk220]

When people talk transplants, why do they never mention C20XE or C20LET as possibilities?!?

And the engine and gearbox would drop straight in. QED even do a 2.0 Ecotoec engine for people who think the C20XE is a bit long in the tooth. 195PS in relatively mild tune, and a lot more torque than the Honda engine. Add a Quaife 6 speed C/R gearbox kit and it would be awesome on track

If the VXT had not come out, I was seriously thinking about this route.

[toreide]

While we're at it.... For us na owners it would seem more realistic to fit a VXT engine. How much would this cost? Has anyone done it?

[clipping_point]

Yes, its been done both in UK and Germany, I think. Not possible in Sweden tho

[garyk220]

For us na owners it would seem more realistic to fit a VXT engine. How much would this cost? Has anyone done it?

I'd have thought it would be more cost effective to trade-in an NA for a VXT... especially with used prices as they are at the moment. For example, '03 NA £16-17k, '03 VXT £18-21k.

IMO these engine conversions are only really worthwhile if you have i) a car with a broken engine/no engine or ii) there is no turbo alternative available.

[barrybethel]

I think Courtneys are putting a vxt engine into a n/a as we speak. Give them a call for a price if you're interested...

[cheeky_chops]

I think Courtneys are putting a vxt engine into a n/a as we speak. Give them a call for a price if you're interested...

i thought it was a turbod NA? Owner told me his SC'd speedster wasnt fast enough

[barrybethel]

Nah it's definetly a 2.0 litre. He's bought a written off turbo mainly to plunder the engine. He had some probs with his supercharger, oil leaks and fuelling I think. Didn't sound too encouraging.

[minime]

regal have done a couple of engine transplant for a couple of german owners.....seems to work fine! they have a played a bit more with their turbo 2.2 z22se and it appears to be very safe running at 0.4bar.... ps...i have changed my mind on whats happening to my motor. i am now having new cams/large valve head/steel rods/balancing shafts and possible an uprated crank! plus a new exhaust installation! this should allow the car to run upto 8000rpm with power all the way! should be having a fuly programable ecu aswell! this is the winter project pps...this also allows for a possible turbo next year too!

[clipping_point]

Sound interesting: the standard head has 35 mm inlets and 30 mm outlet valves, what are you planning to use? What kind of ECU will u use? Cost? Myself I'm planning use 275° cams, gas-flowed head and custom intake/exhaust. However I do not clearly see how to mate this with the existing ECU

[cthomas443]

Accident damaged catd s1 audi turboed elise on ebay, Insurance company paid out over 20k, make engine conversions worth while.

[NickB787]

regal have done a couple of engine transplant for a couple of german owners.....seems to work fine! they have a played a bit more with their turbo 2.2 z22se and it appears to be very safe running at 0.4bar....

ps...i have changed my mind on whats happening to my motor. i am now having new cams/large valve head/steel rods/balancing shafts and possible an uprated crank! plus a new exhaust installation! this should allow the car to run upto 8000rpm with power all the way! should be having a fuly programable ecu aswell!

this is the winter project

pps...this also allows for a possible turbo next year too!

Go on mate get a S/c not a turbo much nicer to drive