S/C honda update
Just received this from Brian Laing on S_E1, who now has his converted car back from Phoenix, so should be of interest on here.
"Good news Brian, I was talking to Tony Stansfield last week and he said that it was just about ready.
Getting quite an eRise contingent in the area now, that makes three within 15 miles. Glad to hear they appear to have made such a good job of it, and look forward to seeing their conversion.
I would be interested in seeing it through the stages, could be helpful to Craig, so could you possibly make me a copy of the CD?
Jim Valentine is about to design and make exhaust manifolds for Tony, starting off with the first two for myself and Craig. He will be coming up to look at our cars in a couple of weeks, and I would think be interested in seeing yours as well, as the Phoenix conversion is different than the rest with respect to the engine mounts, so the manifolds would be very slightly different in measurement.
Both our cars are off the road now until next year as Craig puts the conversion kit together, and he and Alan put the new bodywork on my car. His engine mounts are being made at the moment, and he has my gear linkage kit off and being copied. The offside lower wishbone is a simple mod, the cross bar is just cut off, shortened, and re-welded on 90mm inboard for clearance. He was going to try and do all the electrics/looming himself, but Sunspeed in the States do a complete plug into the Elise harness system and VED box for the Honda.
We reckon he can put the whole kit together for under £1,000, so will end up with a 300hp S/C Type-R for around £5,000, including Exhaust manifold from Jim, and uprated 400hp fuel pump from Gaz.
If you can make it over in the near future to let us see your car, give me a bell on 01771 622971
Cheers
tut
"Subject: [Scottish_Elises] S2 Erise
Finally got the Elise back after over 6 months off the road.
I collected the car on Saturday from Phoenix Motorsport, appropriately named going by my car. They've done a superb job and I would highly recommend them if anyone needs work done on their Elise, just a bit far to travel for servicing. They also supplied a CD with photos at various stages of the conversion . Apparently it was the worst looking Elise they've seen for corrosion damage which is most likely due to the amount of salt Aberdeenshire council throw on the roads over the winter. They also scraped barnacles off the back but I've no idea how they got in there. The last job they did before I left was to waxoil the suspension etc. which should help to protect it over the winter and this'll have to be an annual routine now.
It wasn't the best drive back through snow, sleet and ice and I took it easy most of the way up. So far I've only managed a quick blast on Sunday and its stupidly quick once past 5000rpm with the front of the car lifting as it rockets towards the horizon. I'll need a dry day before pushing it too much but the car feels glued to the road and is much more stable with the suspension bushes replaced and new toe links fitted. (old bushes had seen 95,000miles so well past their sell by date).
There are a few rattles and resonances to sort out which you only notice when trickling through traffic but is to be expected with the engine steady bars fitted.
I'm looking forward to some decent weather so I can have a proper play in it.
Cheers,
Brian
PS - Any recommendations for a paint shop to sort a crack in the front clam. There was someone recommended in Banchory in the past but I can't find the details."
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"Good news Brian, I was talking to Tony Stansfield last week and he said that it was just about ready.
Getting quite an eRise contingent in the area now, that makes three within 15 miles. Glad to hear they appear to have made such a good job of it, and look forward to seeing their conversion.
I would be interested in seeing it through the stages, could be helpful to Craig, so could you possibly make me a copy of the CD?
Jim Valentine is about to design and make exhaust manifolds for Tony, starting off with the first two for myself and Craig. He will be coming up to look at our cars in a couple of weeks, and I would think be interested in seeing yours as well, as the Phoenix conversion is different than the rest with respect to the engine mounts, so the manifolds would be very slightly different in measurement.
Both our cars are off the road now until next year as Craig puts the conversion kit together, and he and Alan put the new bodywork on my car. His engine mounts are being made at the moment, and he has my gear linkage kit off and being copied. The offside lower wishbone is a simple mod, the cross bar is just cut off, shortened, and re-welded on 90mm inboard for clearance. He was going to try and do all the electrics/looming himself, but Sunspeed in the States do a complete plug into the Elise harness system and VED box for the Honda.
We reckon he can put the whole kit together for under £1,000, so will end up with a 300hp S/C Type-R for around £5,000, including Exhaust manifold from Jim, and uprated 400hp fuel pump from Gaz.
If you can make it over in the near future to let us see your car, give me a bell on 01771 622971
Cheers
tut
"Subject: [Scottish_Elises] S2 Erise
Finally got the Elise back after over 6 months off the road.
I collected the car on Saturday from Phoenix Motorsport, appropriately named going by my car. They've done a superb job and I would highly recommend them if anyone needs work done on their Elise, just a bit far to travel for servicing. They also supplied a CD with photos at various stages of the conversion . Apparently it was the worst looking Elise they've seen for corrosion damage which is most likely due to the amount of salt Aberdeenshire council throw on the roads over the winter. They also scraped barnacles off the back but I've no idea how they got in there. The last job they did before I left was to waxoil the suspension etc. which should help to protect it over the winter and this'll have to be an annual routine now.
It wasn't the best drive back through snow, sleet and ice and I took it easy most of the way up. So far I've only managed a quick blast on Sunday and its stupidly quick once past 5000rpm with the front of the car lifting as it rockets towards the horizon. I'll need a dry day before pushing it too much but the car feels glued to the road and is much more stable with the suspension bushes replaced and new toe links fitted. (old bushes had seen 95,000miles so well past their sell by date).
There are a few rattles and resonances to sort out which you only notice when trickling through traffic but is to be expected with the engine steady bars fitted.
I'm looking forward to some decent weather so I can have a proper play in it.
Cheers,
Brian
PS - Any recommendations for a paint shop to sort a crack in the front clam. There was someone recommended in Banchory in the past but I can't find the details."
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We had a gathering of four Elises at Craigs today, mine, his, Alans and Brian Laing came along with his new Honda conversion. Which unfortunately stayed there, as it would not start on departure, so Craig gave him a run home.
The fuel pump would prime with ignition and flow for 4 seconds, but then cut off and flow stopped with start up.. Tried all the usual suspects, but then gave in.
One reason for the meet was that Jim Valentine came along, and took my exhaust manifold away to design two purpose built ones for the Honda conversion, with the option of just the manifold, or a complete system through to the tail pipe, which will be a more efficient and straight through system than presently available. We had to cut a V out of my subframe to get the manifold out, but Geary has done me a great deal on a new one that he has, and is even bonding and riveting new longerons on for me, so mine, which is the worst one that he has ever seen, will go on the ever growing scrap heap.
Craig now has his engine mounts made, and will be fitting the new uprated fuel pump in tomorrow, the engine loom, sensors and electronics are on their way, so it will not be long before he can trial start the engine. I have a selection of inner and outer CV joints, so he may get away with just needing new driveshafts.
He is going to cut and enlarge the fuel pump access hatch rather than drop the tank, a process that Uldis has already pioneered.
He drove my car from the main garage to his own, not far down the road, with no bodywork or manifold on, no gear linkage either so had to lock it in second, quite a sight and sound.
tut
The fuel pump would prime with ignition and flow for 4 seconds, but then cut off and flow stopped with start up.. Tried all the usual suspects, but then gave in.
One reason for the meet was that Jim Valentine came along, and took my exhaust manifold away to design two purpose built ones for the Honda conversion, with the option of just the manifold, or a complete system through to the tail pipe, which will be a more efficient and straight through system than presently available. We had to cut a V out of my subframe to get the manifold out, but Geary has done me a great deal on a new one that he has, and is even bonding and riveting new longerons on for me, so mine, which is the worst one that he has ever seen, will go on the ever growing scrap heap.
Craig now has his engine mounts made, and will be fitting the new uprated fuel pump in tomorrow, the engine loom, sensors and electronics are on their way, so it will not be long before he can trial start the engine. I have a selection of inner and outer CV joints, so he may get away with just needing new driveshafts.
He is going to cut and enlarge the fuel pump access hatch rather than drop the tank, a process that Uldis has already pioneered.
He drove my car from the main garage to his own, not far down the road, with no bodywork or manifold on, no gear linkage either so had to lock it in second, quite a sight and sound.
tut
it sounded like a good idea when I bought the car new and they were fitting the stereo (I'll remove it this winter, I promise!)
