Why don't I like Honda K20's

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Shug
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Re: Why don't I like Honda K20's

Post by Shug » Wed Oct 26, 2011 11:27 am

foz01 wrote: Honda updated and lightened the flywheel as part of the UK CTR facelift, so whats that 2004, mine certainly is not like that, has lots of machined holes in it although i dont have a picture of it.
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KingK_series
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Re: Why don't I like Honda K20's

Post by KingK_series » Wed Oct 26, 2011 11:50 am

Shug wrote:
foz01 wrote: Honda updated and lightened the flywheel as part of the UK CTR facelift, so whats that 2004, mine certainly is not like that, has lots of machined holes in it although i dont have a picture of it.

Sorry missed that

ok ......I'll do some more research

but it seems very strange to me that honda have a perfectly good lightweight flywheel for the best variant the JDM which they are fitting 2001- 2006, they then fit the same to the Z1 2005 - present? why would they do something else in 2004 to the A2? Sounds like unnecessary cost to me?

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Gourlay83
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Re: Why don't I like Honda K20's

Post by Gourlay83 » Wed Oct 26, 2011 12:52 pm

KingK_series wrote:
Shug wrote:
foz01 wrote: Honda updated and lightened the flywheel as part of the UK CTR facelift, so whats that 2004, mine certainly is not like that, has lots of machined holes in it although i dont have a picture of it.

Sorry missed that

ok ......I'll do some more research

but it seems very strange to me that honda have a perfectly good lightweight flywheel for the best variant the JDM which they are fitting 2001- 2006, they then fit the same to the Z1 2005 - present? why would they do something else in 2004 to the A2? Sounds like unnecessary cost to me?
They did do it, the last version of the EP3 CTR had a few extras including Lightnened flywheel, tweeked map and might also have a LSD (can't be sure of that).

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scottishselise
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Re: Why don't I like Honda K20's

Post by scottishselise » Wed Oct 26, 2011 1:55 pm

Alan, think the newer versions were non LSD unless there was a 'special' I am unaware off. There was a special 'premier' edition with the above (minus LSD) with recarros and factory tints.

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campbell
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Re: Why don't I like Honda K20's

Post by campbell » Wed Oct 26, 2011 2:11 pm

there was a Championship Edition CTR, in the "wedgey shaped" version, that was LSD I believe

but don't follow these in detail so can't be confident
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tut
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Re: Why don't I like Honda K20's

Post by tut » Wed Oct 26, 2011 2:35 pm

Both my Elises have new JDM engines in them, one a 2004 and the other a 2006.

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Re: Why don't I like Honda K20's

Post by KingK_series » Wed Oct 26, 2011 2:50 pm

Gourlay83 wrote: Honda updated and lightened the flywheel as part of the UK CTR facelift, so whats that 2004, mine certainly is not like that, has lots of machined holes in it although i dont
They did do it, the last version of the EP3 CTR had a few extras including Lightnened flywheel, tweeked map and might also have a LSD (can't be sure of that).

Alan



ok so is it better than the JDM - ie lighter? or is it cheaper and heavier?
- from the production point of view I would have thought it made much more sense to fit the JDM rather than design and make a new flywheel - true?

if not it seems unlikely to have been a lighter flywheel if they were still fitting the one I posted a pic of to JDM's in 2006?


- anyway best case I suspect is that K20A2 came down to JDM crankset weight at 29.5kg,

- still 3kg heavier than stock Rover, still not particularly well balanced and still with no dowel so it can't easily be improved.

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Re: Why don't I like Honda K20's

Post by Ferg » Wed Oct 26, 2011 3:18 pm

As a standard K owner looking for more power, the idea of a solid 200hp engine is very exciting. From your posts I suspect the book enables you some kind of IP over your work? Do you plan to commercialise any elements of this that would allow someone like myself to have benefits of specific features of your work. I suspect a BTCC 'inspired' engine is well out of my price bracket, but the opportunity to have some really well realised engineering improvements to the engine would be hard to pass up.

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Re: Why don't I like Honda K20's

Post by KingK_series » Wed Oct 26, 2011 3:31 pm

Ferg wrote:As a standard K owner looking for more power, the idea of a solid 200hp engine is very exciting. From your posts I suspect the book enables you some kind of IP over your work? Do you plan to commercialise any elements of this that would allow someone like myself to have benefits of specific features of your work. I suspect a BTCC 'inspired' engine is well out of my price bracket, but the opportunity to have some really well realised engineering improvements to the engine would be hard to pass up.

That is kind of you, and the truth is that several people have approached me recently, - we will see.

the book was intended to give anyone involved with the engine some ideas/help to build more successful engines - and I hope it will do that , - even if that includes DVA!!! However I think the commercial option would be a totally reliable, all new 220bhp, 150lbft engine on a plenum. In truth I haven't built that engine, the nearest I have got is the Class A's which would make near enough that on a hydraulic cam were they not reg limited to 170bhp. 'That' [ 220bhp hopefully] engine will go together for my own S1 Elise runnabout next year, then we will see, - the problem would be making enough of them and all the "business" behind it.........maybe, we will see. It would need to be a turnkey engine in my view.


However I see no point in doing it if they do not use all the work I have done in the last 6 years - ie be completely 'new generation" Ks.

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philthy
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Re: Why don't I like Honda K20's

Post by philthy » Wed Oct 26, 2011 4:57 pm

That level of tuning/power to peoples existing engines would be a good comparison to the k20 engine conversions, price wise, reliability and driveability which is much more important than how and engine is built imo.
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Re: Why don't I like Honda K20's

Post by KingK_series » Wed Oct 26, 2011 5:20 pm

philthy wrote:That level of tuning/power to peoples existing engines would be a good comparison to the k20 engine conversions, price wise, reliability and driveability which is much more important than how and engine is built imo.

- you have to drive one to "feel" how much blueprinting contribute to the experience and pleasure of ownership. Blueprinting is what made all the guys at WSR who have a huge amount of experiance in F1/LMP/BTCC declare mine was "so sharp by comparison to the Judd, and that the difference in the drive was night and day".

Plus a blueprinted engine will last longer and in any engine be more reliable.


The new ideas BTW that contribute to solve the 'HGF' issue include;-

my own radically different water pump to stop cavitation and increase flow/ water pressure to stop air bubbles forming [from boiling] around the top of liners

The modifications to waterways and gasket that even out the temps through the engine

my own 74 deg PRT

and a redesigned waterpipe system

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Re: Why don't I like Honda K20's

Post by mckeann » Wed Oct 26, 2011 5:31 pm

the other great thing thats included in a honda conversion is the gearbox. Proper 6 speeder, thats very reliable, unlike the quaife options for the K series, which seem to go the same way as the toyota gearbox, eating 3rd gears.

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Re: Why don't I like Honda K20's

Post by KingK_series » Wed Oct 26, 2011 5:41 pm

mckeann wrote:the other great thing thats included in a honda conversion is the gearbox. Proper 6 speeder, thats very reliable, unlike the quaife options for the K series, which seem to go the same way as the toyota gearbox, eating 3rd gears.
I totally agree about Quaife and losing 3rd has happened to me, it happens because the needle roller bearings are plastic caged [they are honda bearings and were costed down in 1996]


- which is in part why I make my own gear shafts and gears now, with any gearing. And I use only best quality all metal caged bearings

here is a pic of two of my shafts under a Quaife - you can see the brown residue from the plastic cage deposited on the Quaife shaft

Image

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Re: Why don't I like Honda K20's

Post by KingK_series » Mon Oct 31, 2011 12:01 pm

Shug wrote:
foz01 wrote: Honda updated and lightened the flywheel as part of the UK CTR facelift, so whats that 2004, mine certainly is not like that, has lots of machined holes in it although i dont have a picture of it.

There you go - a 2007 K20A2

- with the JDM flywheel, same as the one I showed you as part of the JDM crankset

so a k20A2 with this is 29.5kg, still 3kg heavier than stock Rover, note the flywheel bolts and no dowel for flywheel location and accurate balancing

Image

sorry the pic is not great I'll try and get a better one

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Rich H
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Re: Why don't I like Honda K20's

Post by Rich H » Mon Oct 31, 2011 12:17 pm

Slight off topic: How do you go about getting a gearshaft made then? Isn't it rediculously expensive?
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