NSX and Lotus Elise

[AU_NSX]

You Aussies appear to have got the USA version. Ours in Europe look like this:
http://www.fantasycars.com/derek/cars/images/lotus/elise_type72_1.jpg
Our NSXes have a nice little turn indicator too, not the Lego block lights you have…
http://skycar.diy.myrice.com/Html/jspc/Honda%20NSX.JPG

Peter, in Australia, we got the European spec (including those horrible big number plate cut-outs for those massive number plates you get in Europe.. Only the US models (ie Acura) had those reflectors on the front and rear quarter panels...

Here is one of mine. This is actually a JDM car:

This is my other one, it is an Australian delivered car...

See the number plate cut-out in the bumper...

 

[710]

Peter, in Australia, we got the European spec

oh, great. I should have checked before posting. Sorry.
I'm glad you got the good ones, the Lotus in particular looks better (but they are brave with the US sidelights, that's admirable).
I had the choice to buy an American NSX here for less money, but chose mine, a European one partially based one the way it looked.
So you have the smiley rear bumper cut out too... haha
peter

 

[710]

… although i would get a Vauxhall/Opel VX220. It is based on a Elise, looks better and has a better engine…

I would love either the VX220 or an Elise. But the Elise I would get, if anything, is the Exige. But I can’t afford it. I like the S1 Exige outside, but the S2 Exige inside and under. An Elise with the new Toyota engine is good too. So I don’t know which one I would get.
The VX220 was much cheaper so that’s better for me too. The Opel dealer here has a new red one in the showroom
But since I can’t afford any of them, I will continue with my Elise/VX220 killer, a Lotus 26R S2. That’s the Elan but with a slightly different body for racing. Much bigger wheel arches and headlights that actually work..
I am making it look completely original outside with balloon tyres, magnesium wheels with knock offs and everything, but building my own chassis and suspension, improving on the original Elan. It was good in its day but times have moved on. The engine is being moved back 30cm and anyway it’s not the original gutless engine Twin Cam engine. I have a Cosworth Escort N/A engine with injection, should give 260hp easy. Everything underneath is going to be different! I have a Caterham 6sp gearbox, bigger diff, longer A-arms, pull rod suspension, magnesium rear uprights on unequal length A-arms, etc. I have had all the pieces already lying around for years so thought I would used them for something. Will start building this summer. The weight will be about 500kg. The body with doors windshield etc weights 55kg. Bye bye Elise & VX220!
Hey, see you at Autosport International this week!!!
These are pics of some original ones with older S1 headlights. The white car has the S2 headlights.
Notice the way the Elan is leading all the monsters. And that’s with the old gutless engine! The cars are street legal.

 

[Senninha]

Dont settle for second best with the VX, if you have to wait then do so and buy the Elise or Exige.

I've driven all on track and owned the Elise as a daily comute. The Lotus always communicates better, is more throttle sensitive and controllable on the limit and just like the NSX, you will always look back and smile when you park it up at the end of journey.

If you're going to enjoy a lot of track time then there is very little else available for the money that will get close to the Exige. The levels of grip available from road tyres is just incredible.

Remember, all models were assembled by Lotus, but do you really think they would give away all their chassis knowledge:wink:

 

[AU_NSX]

When I expressed my wanting to get a Lotus Exige but wanted the toyota motor, to a guy in the Honda club (But has a couple of lotus's as well)...

He said why don't you drop an NSX motor into the Exige... Hmmmm.. :biggrin:

 

[Senninha]

I'm not sure if these guys are still around,

http://www.prototyperacing.com/

but they were installing the Integra Type R unit into the Exige with some interesting performance results. Might be a good place to start if you're thinking about the Lotus / NSX conversion?

 

[jaytip nsx]

I have a Cosworth Escort N/A engine with injection, should give 260hp easy.

Isn't that a little bit optimistic for an old (non-turbo)2.0 ford engine

 

[NSX Swede]

Just had to post a picture of my NSX with another Lotus Elan....

 

[710]

Isn't that a little bit optimistic for an old (non-turbo)2.0 ford engine

I don’t know yet.
But when I started talking about 160HP to the people who have build these types of engines, they all frowned and said “don’t you mean 260?”
So I checked around and everybody who does these engines says the same thing. 260hp with injection, 220hp with carbs. 9000rpm redline. Torque-y engine too.
It’s a Cosworth Escort/Sierra engine, but N/A, not turboed as stock.
I bought the engine a quite a few years ago not really knowing much about that type of engine when N/A.
It was built by a guy who used to build race engines and F1 engines and all the parts in it are the good ones. Everything has been changed, the lifters, cams, porting, even the valve sizes. And high compression pistons of course.
I will rebuild it again, of course (it’s been sitting around for a while). With injection and the right mapping, that’s the HP they say. So I asked if it was just useless high rpm power, they said “it will pull the side off a barn”, and other such expressions.
I think the rods are overbuild/heavy for this engine, they are made for much more HP. I may get a set of H-rods from one of the suppliers here. There are several with good prices. Yes, I will. Good idea. Apparently they are stock item.

So we will see.
I know my Escort has the same engine (but turboed) and a modest chip and slightly bigger injectors and a 3” exhaust. Those are the only changes to it. It has 340hp. Standard head-gasket, standard clutch, standard turbo, everything the same. I had to fit a good air/oil separator though.
It came from the factory with the ridiculously low 220 HP. I don’t think there is a Cossy on the street today with that low HP. It’s a cheap and easy upgrade to 270 then 340HP
I chose to stop there because I’d didn’t want to burn so much gas. I use the car as an everyday driver.
The next step up is apparently 470hp only by changing to a bigger turbo (mine is stock) and bigger injectors. And above that 550hp with 4 more injectors, better clutch, ARP studs. The rest still stock.
Then there are the people who do crazy things to it and get ridiculous HP but the car becomes unusable for an everyday driver then. Anyway these are all turbo engines.

So this engine is very capable, anyway in a light car it’s going to be a kart!:biggrin:
When I map the injection, I will see how much power it has. Hopefully later this year. I’ll post the dyno charts.

 

[710]

Just had to post a picture of my NSX with another Lotus Elan....

Aaaw, isn't it cute? Great photo!

Actually that's the stock Elan. The one I like is the Elan 26R (“R” for racing, and they had it back in 1963!!! Did Honda copy Lotus???). It has wider wheel arches, hard to see on the photos, but in real life it looks VERY cute.
That’s the body I have. Originals are very rare, but there is a guy in the UK making them now. In Denmark too I think…. Not cheap, but cuuuute! I couldn’t resist it when I saw it.
It will be my Exige killer and will eat my NSX for breakfast.

 

[710]

Isn't that a little bit optimistic for an old (non-turbo)2.0 ford engine

OK, did some checking and measuring about the power on that engine, it can go that high in full race form, barrel throttle bodies, race cams etc.
So my engine should have more like 230hp on a good day. I’ve got normal butterfly throttle bodies and less radical cams.
Oky-doky.

 

[kreh]

Elise cannot compete with the NSX on all fronts