Elise R32

[mwmackenzie]

Is the T not a cast block? so again you get the weight argument... there is a 1.8 turbo K used in the 75 I believe? I would hope the special nitron kit in the conversion would sort and handling issues? Proof will be in the driving, still an interesting conversion imho.... would be good to know what it does to the weight and what their suspension set up does to adjust the handling to suit and what the BHP per tonne is as opposed to a honda/Audi with similar power but I believe a similar power honda or audi would cost more?

Mark

[Shug]

Is the T not a cast block? so again you get the weight argument... there is a 1.8 turbo K used in the 75 I believe? I would hope the special nitron kit in the conversion would sort and handling issues? Proof will be in the driving, still an interesting conversion imho.... would be good to know what it does to the weight and what their suspension set up does to adjust the handling to suit and what the BHP per tonne is as opposed to a honda/Audi with similar power but I believe a similar power honda or audi would cost more?

Mark

T is heavier, but cheap as chips and tunable to the moon (are there not 500bhp Rover Tomcats out there with this engine) - also plugs into the PG1 with no mods. Yup - 1.8 turbo K is out there, but it's a low-pressure thingy for torque. I think the consensus opinion is that the K wouldn't stand much boost as a 1.8 and the hassle of hacking about the bulkhead to fit it in isn't worth it.

WRT the nitrons on the V6, it's a sticking plaster mate. The V6 must be a good deal heavier than the VAG 1.8T, itself a good deal heavier than a K. Laws of physics apply - if you stick a big top-heavy engine in there, you will ruin the handling - it's about the proportion of weight and where it is. You could minimise the effect by sticking on heavier springs on the rear (which one supposes they had to do to account for the extra weight) but it doesn't sort the basic issue and will make it more snappy in oversteer.

Added to the big additional weight is that the majority of the weight will be high (2 more pistons, more valves, valve springs and metal in the head as it's very narrow angle) and it's not ideal by any means. Most V engines drop the CoG by laying the cylinders out lower, the VR6 is really narrow angle and just uses one head and staggers the cylinders - compact and clever, but hugely top-heavy as a design.

So, the sound is nice, but just about every other aspect of the car is compromised compared to say a VAG 1.8T or a supercharged Honda. Not dramatically cheaper than either other option to get to 300bhp either, given they are all over £10K.

[Doc883]

Here's one they made earlier: only £21500 to you for a converted S1
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1325579.htm