My Elise K20A build

[AS147]

Hi, thought I'd post my build. I have a series 1 Elise which has had a few upgrades to the standard Rover engine over the years as I attend track day sprints and hill climbs etc. Though the Rover engine is very good I decided to take the leap to another level. I have all the parts and started work a few months ago.

•JDM Spec K20a DC5 engine (Ebay special) - I stuck with the standard ECU that came with the engine
•conversion kit - mounts etc.
•Upgraded suspension - springs and shocks, stronger rear uprights
•Standard ECU for now - purchased box of tricks to bypass 180km/h limit
•Baffled sump - Clockwise oil sump fits in the standard Honda oil tray for those long left handers
•Upgraded the radiator - to deal with extra pressure and heat
•Replaced Honda oil cooler air to oil - standard unit won't be up to the track work
•Higher capacity/power fuel pump - kept standard fuel pump in lift mode only
•complete new exhaust system
•drive shafts
•Loom conversion - to keep the original instruments
•Fuel surge pot and piping - for those long left handers
•Short shifter - snappier gear changes
•[Critical] Good CV tripod joints and Proper (and expensive) CV and tripode grease

I am hoping to be up and running by next week (fingers crossed).

Car.jpg

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[Jayden95]

Wow looks amazing! Impressive stuff. Must be very exciting to get it up and going.

[felixR]

Very nice!

[plAythiNG]

FUARKKK.

Looks mad man.

Cant wait for the progress on this!

[Beatz]

The best of both worlds cool car!

[gunpoons]

Awesome build,
probably how she should have rolled out from the factory, would love to see and hear more about it


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[PG_DC5]

Nice work dude! K20 all things!

[AS147]

Thanks for the energetic response folks. We passed an important milestone on Thursday. The engine fired up first time and all electrics etc. were pretty much spot on first time

I am not alone as this is the most popular engine swap for Lotus Elise and Exige (motorsport model). There is a mate of mine on this forum who described his mod to his series 2 Elise (mine is a series 1 which is a bit lighter) http://forum.clubitr.com.au/showthre...e-K24-K20-swap

Folks who go hard core then stick on a supercharger to add another 110bhp which takes them to about 330bhp in a car that weighs less than 800kg!!

Here are some more pictures

[Beatz]

Cool how you can remove the body! Are those seats entirely plastic?

[AS147]

Cool how you can remove the body! Are those seats entirely plastic?

The body is fibre glass on an extruded aluminium chassis. The whole car is made up of 4 panels, front, rear and two doors and use mount points on the chassis that they bolt into. Not difficult to take off but a bit fiddly to put back on.

The chassis has almost no welding or rivets but is glued together. Because the whole surface of the joined pieces (not just the weld or rivet points) are glued this makes the frame very strong and very stiff. This is why it can go from an engine of 118bhp to 500bhp+ and not twist.

The seats were specially made from a mould of race seats. They are lightweight fibreglass composite. Removing the old seats saved lots of kgs which is important in a car that weighs less than 800kgs.

Bare chassis


Loaded chassis


Overview drawing


Glued section

[Apu]

Those seats look pretty similar to the Tillet...FRP would be much cheaper! Do you mind if I asked where you got them from?

I had a Series 1 in my hands for a while - great fun given the right conditions...otherwise, could be quite inconvenient. It's a very specific purpose car, isn't it?

[AS147]

You are correct in all your comments. I believe they are a copy of a Tillet seat that my mechanic got a specialist make up. I drive my series 1 daily. It's all relative but that was its design intent, a car you could drive to the track and thrash it on the track and drive it home again.

[stienerv2]

Nice build!

Are you planning to run a/c and which alternator are you planning to use with the swap?

[AS147]

Nice build!

Are you planning to run a/c and which alternator are you planning to use with the swap?

Not running the A/C as its primarily a track car and the A/C isn't critical. The alternator that is on board is sufficient.

[ChargeR]

Welcome Alec, look forward to seeing this car again in person (Tom, your engineer here )