WestTexasS2K Posted October 22, 2010 Share Posted October 22, 2010 I would go with an engine that is available state side with easily available parts. I love the S2000 engine for its reliablilty and power. There isnt a more powerful box stock engine around with the same level of reliability. It is a tall engine so may not fit all cars. It isnt the lightest either and the six speed trans is a bit of a monster. That being said it is very civil for a liesurely tour and is very fast if you keep it between 5500 to 9000 rpm. The lack of low end grunt that alot of S2000 owners complain of goes away with the weight of the seven compared to a S2000 car. Go with the 2.2 L and it gives more low end grunt. You can find eng tranny combinations for around 3k if you look around. The V6 engines like the Superstalker use make good power are reasonable price and reliable. It will be a little heavier with its iron block. Than an aluminum 4 banger. I dont know alot about the ford motors in stock form they should be alot of fun and very reliable. It will take some money to get alot of power out of them. (230 hp range) Honda does that box stock. The Ford is shorter and more compact engine, not but much though. Love the Hartley engine just very pricey and thats before you mate the engine with a trans. I like his H2 model which uses a Busa head, crank, rods, and pistons in his custom engine case. It does away with the bike engine and he puts a bell housing with flywheel and clutch assy to mate to a transmission. It has the alt mounted on the other end with the dry sump set up. It is compact and really cool and makes 200hp. It cures the main problem with BEC wear on transmissions and saves some weight which you have to add back with another trans. It would be great with an Elite 5sp sequential tranny. You now have sequential shifting again and a proper reverse. For about 15k you can put this package together out my price range but it would be a trick set up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted October 22, 2010 Share Posted October 22, 2010 Donkervoorts in Europe are now using the Audi 2lt 4cyl turbo engine. I have one in my daily driver and it is a nice smooth engine with a surprising amount of torque. The downside is that it is NOT a compact package. Not having seen a Donkervoort in the flesh I guess they must be fairly hefty to accommodate this engine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowss7 Posted October 22, 2010 Share Posted October 22, 2010 I always liked the look of this engine, but any working on it looks like it would be an engine out job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted October 22, 2010 Share Posted October 22, 2010 I always liked the look of this engine, but any working on it looks like it would be an engine out job. OK I will bite....apart from looking very sexy, what is the engine? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowss7 Posted October 22, 2010 Share Posted October 22, 2010 (edited) I'm sorry Croc, I believe that is the Hartley V8 that was mentioned by Sean. :leaving: LHD too, I wonder if it's here in the States? Tom Edited October 22, 2010 by yellowss7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supersportsp Posted October 22, 2010 Share Posted October 22, 2010 I'm sorry Croc, I believe that is the Hartley V8 that was mentioned by Sean. :leaving: LHD too, I wonder if it's here in the States? Tom That is John Hartley's car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timax Posted October 22, 2010 Share Posted October 22, 2010 I do not know if the Nissan would fit. Has anyone seen a viable modern motor for the old Elan? Cheers, Dermot. I have heard of a few Elans running Toyota 4AGE 20 valves. Small , light and with a standard 160 or so HP. This is what I have in my seven and its plenty of power for me for now. The Zetec is another but they don't rev like the 4A and so have a different character. I imagine the Duratec is too tall?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeanG Posted October 22, 2010 Share Posted October 22, 2010 There was a guy who had a very neat installation of a Toyota engine in his Elan. He showed up with the car a few of the New England LOGs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slngsht Posted October 22, 2010 Share Posted October 22, 2010 Ls9 ftw LS2 had just come out when I got mine... If anything happens to it (maybe even not), I will replace with a stroked LS2 or LS3 and save a few pounds that the blower and dry sump add. 550hp should keep me happy for a while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BusaNostra Posted October 22, 2010 Share Posted October 22, 2010 There was a guy who had a very neat installation of a Toyota engine in his Elan. He showed up with the car a few of the New England LOGs. I think the guy's name is Tom Bartley (NY)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeanG Posted October 23, 2010 Share Posted October 23, 2010 I think the guy's name is Tom Bartley (NY)? The first name and NY seem correct to me and the Lotus Ltd directory has a guy with that name, an Elan and a NY address. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snookwheel Posted October 23, 2010 Share Posted October 23, 2010 550hp should keep me happy for a while. I imagine it just might!! :drool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mondo Posted October 23, 2010 Share Posted October 23, 2010 I just saw this: 420lbs torque! "... They call it EcoBoost, and with the 2011 F-150's new 3.5-liter V6 engine, it delivers 420 lb-ft of diesel-like torque, 365 horsepower and highway mileage into the mid-20s..." Probably too big for our cars but that's impressive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slngsht Posted October 23, 2010 Share Posted October 23, 2010 I just saw this: 420lbs torque! "... They call it EcoBoost, and with the 2011 F-150's new 3.5-liter V6 engine, it delivers 420 lb-ft of diesel-like torque, 365 horsepower and highway mileage into the mid-20s..." Probably too big for our cars but that's impressive. According to this, that engine weighs 449 lbs. http://mustangs.about.com/od/modelyearprofiles/a/ecoboost-ford.htm EcoBoost Weight Specs EcoBoost versus other Ford engines: 3.5L V6 PFI 405 .lbs 3.5L V6 EcoBoost 449 .lbs Mod V8s 525-550 .lbs 6.2L V8 590 .lbs That's heavier than a normally aspirated LS3 crate motor - 415 lbs, complete with packing, not including the actual wooden crate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solder_guy Posted October 24, 2010 Share Posted October 24, 2010 Toyota 2TG has been mentioned before .. especially when punched out to 2L with a 3TC crank .. which is what mine is (I'm told) .. parts are scarce though. Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeanG Posted October 24, 2010 Share Posted October 24, 2010 Toyota 2TG has been mentioned before .. especially when punched out to 2L with a 3TC crank .. which is what mine is (I'm told) .. parts are scarce though. Rob That is one of the reason I like the Lotus twin-cam. Plenty of parts and support. If someone wanted to go high-tech there is a fuel injection option that is a direct bolt on for the Stromberg head. That and replacing the distributer with crank angle based direct ignition would free up a bunch of power. Still I gather that 170 hp is about the limit unless you go to heroic levels to keep the engine together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midgetracr Posted October 25, 2010 Share Posted October 25, 2010 GM LS series V8's are very reliable have tons of torque, "almost enough" HP and are cheap. It is easy to make 600+ HP if "needed" and mine weighs only 357 lbs. Probably to big for a Berkin/Caterham but they do fit in Stalkers. They are also lighter than the cast iron Superchaged V6. Only way to go for the power addicts in our midst. GM crate engines also come with a 2 year/50,000 mile warranty. For the exotics, the Hartley V8 is a very neat piece. It fits beautifully in an original Seven, can make almost 500 HP and weighs less than 200 lbs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiwiBirkin Posted October 25, 2010 Share Posted October 25, 2010 I have a Toyota 4AGE Blacktop 20v in my Birkin, fits in real nice and will revs its balls off all day, making 140hp at the rear wheel. http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu326/Hotdognz/Engine%20Swap/BirkinFriday_20th2.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted October 25, 2010 Share Posted October 25, 2010 It seems like the formula for the perfect se7en engine is a blend of lightness, compactness, power, reliability, serviceability. If so, the bike engined cars would seem to have an advantage, followed by the most modern 4 cyl engines (Duratec, Ecotec, etc) since modern car makers have roughly the same perameters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeanG Posted October 25, 2010 Share Posted October 25, 2010 I was reading about a Saab 2-stroke powered 7 hill climb car from back in the day. Now that different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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