26 replies to this topic

[old codger]

I have seen that the Lotus Elise can be converted to the type R engine, and it is apparently very good. Has anyone converted a vx 220 to the Honda type R? It seems a hell of an engine to put in the vx, or is it?

[theolodian]

Great compared to a K-series. Not worth the money/effort compared to supercharging, and no point swapping a turbo engine for anything else unless you want over 300hp which still makes a Type-R engine irrelevant.

[BAZ8465]

This is only my lay persons view and I’m sure that loads of people better suited to answer this will be along shortly…….. If you have a Tubby – For little money you can do stupid things with the engine – 300bhp for not a lot of effort ( compared to an expensive engine swop ) If you have an N/A then you supercharge – Same as above throw a few grand at the engine and 250+ BHP is well insight. I would assume that this is the reason that we don’t see many engine conversations in VX’s………

[techieboy]

Not worth it unless you're fitting a supercharged version of the engine, IMHO. Doesn't offer anything over the standard VX engines other than a feck load of revs and not much torque. Should be easier to do in a VX as the rear subframe is longer than the S1/S2 K series subframe but too much work for too little gain. There is a thread on this site where somebody in Europe was in the process of doing it.

[old codger]

Mmmm. so thats why nobody has done it then. I thought that there must be a good reason. Thanks for the info guys.

[jonnyboy]

The reason for the number of typeR conversions is the amount of failed K series engines that no Lotus owner will ever admit happens!

[TheRealVXed]

K series are ok if you look after them... head gasket every 40k miles is a pain in the wallet though!

[Adonai]

I don´t know if this is the type R engine, but here is an italian video about an vx with honda engine

[AMOSS]

K series are ok if you look after them... head gasket every 40k miles is a pain in the wallet though!

Just fit a decent competition head gasket and a remote thermostat, that will sort that out no problem. Most of the problems we these engines are the thermostat which is housed in a plastic housing next to the engine. They are awkward to get at so people neglect them and they stick and cause the engine to overheat thus the gasket fails. The engine is very good and I have had no problems with mine at all in my Westfield which has the 1.8 VVC unit installed.
I spoke to Steve Guiglelmi who installs the Audi 1.8T engine into the elises. He rekons that the Audi engine is highly tuneable and almost bullet proof. That would be the my choice for an engine swap.

Edited by AMOSS, 19 April 2010 - 10:53 PM.

[The Knobs]

Having owned an Audi Elise, yes that would be the engine to fit.

[Mangham54]

Having owned an Audi Elise, yes that would be the engine to fit.

And when the Engine in mine finally bites the bullet (a good few years yet I hope) then it will be a VAG lump going into mine!

[Crabash]

Had a passenger ride in an Audi Elise with 300bhp, quite impressive but no more so than a 300bhp ZLET/H. I think alot of Elises get converted not so much because the K series is crap (as said I think alot of that comes from neglecting the engine), but because it starts to get very expensive to tune the K series at much lower power outputs than the Audi and Honda units. The real question should be have no elise owners thought of trying to get a ZLET/H in there? Seems to make a lot of sense to me to at least be worth investigation.

[14500rpm]

I think if you're going to all the effort of swapping the engine you should at least fit a proper engine rather than another ghey inline four.

[theolodian]

No, a VAG 1.8T is not worth the trouble either for 300-350hp. However, if you want 400hp or more you can probably do it more cheaply and reliably with a VAG 2.0T than tuning up either stock VX engine. For instance off-the-shelf bolt on parts are available for the S3 2.0T motor that take it to a daily driveable fully reliable 425hp on stock internals and pump fuel.

[techieboy]

However, if you want 400hp or more you can probably do it more cheaply and reliably with a VAG 2.0T than tuning up either stock VX engine.

Anybody know if Paul @ PSR ever managed to get that 2.0T transplant into an Elise working? Seemed to have been taking forever to get it going.

[Winstar]

No, a VAG 1.8T is not worth the trouble either for 300-350hp. However, if you want 400hp or more you can probably do it more cheaply and reliably with a VAG 2.0T than tuning up either stock VX engine. For instance off-the-shelf bolt on parts are available for the S3 2.0T motor that take it to a daily driveable fully reliable 425hp on stock internals and pump fuel.

If you want more than 400bhp the best route is the Z22SE the engine is tuned to silly bhp in the states, with load of componets available. Without the extra expense of having to engineer fitting a new drivetrain into the car

Edited by Winstar, 20 April 2010 - 09:08 AM.

[Crabash]

No, a VAG 1.8T is not worth the trouble either for 300-350hp. However, if you want 400hp or more you can probably do it more cheaply and reliably with a VAG 2.0T than tuning up either stock VX engine. For instance off-the-shelf bolt on parts are available for the S3 2.0T motor that take it to a daily driveable fully reliable 425hp on stock internals and pump fuel.

The one I went out in cost the guy £18.5k inc. suspension and brakes (nitron, pagid), plus the car to start with. Would have to be a hell of a lot cheaper (like tenners coming out the exhaust) to tune before it makes any sense in a VX.

[vocky]

standard honda NA power is approx 200-220, that can easily be achieved with the z22se NA, so probably why the honda conversion is not popular with the vx220/speedster

[theolodian]

No, a VAG 1.8T is not worth the trouble either for 300-350hp. However, if you want 400hp or more you can probably do it more cheaply and reliably with a VAG 2.0T than tuning up either stock VX engine. For instance off-the-shelf bolt on parts are available for the S3 2.0T motor that take it to a daily driveable fully reliable 425hp on stock internals and pump fuel.

If you want more than 400bhp the best route is the Z22SE the engine is tuned to silly bhp in the states, with load of componets available. Without the extra expense of having to engineer fitting a new drivetrain into the car

I'm not familiar with the US tuning of the Z22SE, which is why I left the caveat of 'probably'. Sounds interesting though.

Yes, engine swaps are not to be taken lightly. However, the mechanics of bolting a 2.0T into a VX have largely been covered with the Elise 1.8T conversions so no major engineering required. The electrics won't be fun though.

[Winstar]

[quote name='theolodian' date='20 April 2010 - 12:59 PM' timestamp='1271764782' post='1026172']

If you want more than 400bhp the best route is the Z22SE the engine is tuned to silly bhp in the states, with load of componets available. Without the extra expense of having to engineer fitting a new drivetrain into the car
[/quote]
I'm not familiar with the US tuning of the Z22SE, which is why I left the caveat of 'probably'. Sounds interesting though.

Yes, engine swaphs are not to be taken lightly. However, the mechanics of bolting a 2.0T into a VX have largely been covered with te Elise 1.8T conversions so no major engineering required. The electrics won't be fun though.
[/quote]

clicky for the ecotec build book 3rd edition (warning it's 7MB) that tells you how to get up to 1400bhp