Phantom project

[MattDon]

im no expert, but i do think a smaller more powerful engine seems to be the way to go, obviously acceleration is limited due to the front wheel drive, so it makes sence to sacrifice bottom end for more up top, i think the wankle engine could work well or perhaps the interga engine, im not sure how a bike engine would cope with the weight of the elan though, but if it could i bet that would make life interesting (ive always wanted to bolt 2 honda V4 motors together to produce a 300+bhp 1.5 V8) . I also think a 6 speed box is the way forward especialy if you head down the peaky engine route. realy looking forward to seeing what you come up with mate. also just curious may or may not be on topic, but is it possible to increase the capacity of the se lump? not seen much about that.

[L.G.]

How about a Kia 1.8

If you are really considering to make something different, you can have a glance at a subaru engine maybe? Reasoning 1: If you buy a celica engine, as several people suggested, you'll either have 190 bhp or you'll have to tune it. If you do tune it you'll most probably supercharge it as in the exige. I presume that will cost quite a lot but that is just a guess.
2nd reason the wrx engine already has 230 bhp on it and if one day you want to go completely mad, you can. (at least more easily)
3rd one, the boxer engine has a lower center of gravity (do you get bored reading this in car magazines? I do, anyway) so, well that would help something.
I don't think it would fit and the drivetrain would be a big problem anyway; just an idea. Honda's look smaller, must check to be sure.

Good luck.
L.G.

[DaveT]

Car now under scrutiny for

a) assessing the original set up, brake testing, dyno, suspension and weight

b) deciding how much can be achieved with what is already there

c) deciding what can be achieved by some other- as yet undecided alternative

d) paint job- powder blue and black detailing

I hope by the end of this week to be able to say what will be done to the car and how and why and how much it will cost.
The company I am using have already worked on an M100 which is one of the reasons I chose them. They are specialists with a very good rep and came highly recommended.
Total budget for the project is limited but more than enough to achieve any of the options that are being looked at.

[Specky]

Pictures Dave

TTFN

[Gazza]

Dave

I have seen an Elise in powder blue and it looked excellent. Had orange details though (Gulf colours)

Gazza

[Dave Eds]

guys you need to think "Club Racer" limited edition Exige S as was just outside the main door to the clubstand unit at Hethel 40th..


Sky Blue non-metallic with Phantom Black Tri-Stripe


The cost is £40k though, and Dave's will look much better

[DaveT]

Phantom good project name D- well done, go to top of class

[Dico]

Pharting Black

[Candles]

Accept no substitutes:

JET POWER

Low CofG, lots of power; the benefits are endless.

[Costas]

8)
Thanx for the input Monty but having read the post of yourself and others I still wonder whether the car can cope with the additional power? For instance, how many times have you changed your cylinder head gasket? Does the clutch need to be changed?

Dave, one fear was terrorizing my brains when I was building up Sh4rk and that was that I would have to go back for major engine repairs everytime that I would have pushed the car at a race track or on the street. If I had a money pool to cover it I wouldnt mind but I dont... Nevertheless I had taken the Risk to go to the edge IMHO. 3 years later I can honestly tell you this: the engine is simply put Bulletproof. Youdo understand that I dont have the engine tuned at 1.6 bar on daily basis, but i do have 2 setups. One at 1.1 and one at 1.4 which output 280 and 325hp. I am driving the car EVERY SINGLE DAY of my life and due to the fact that my work needs to cover a lot kms (200/day minimum) I can easily say that I am enjoying the car at its best and at its limits. Need I remind you that the car was driven for 4400kms NON-STOP with no troubles at all when I visited Dony 2 years ago?

To the point now. The engine, after beeing hardly tuned has worked for over 80.000kms! Every 40k i do open up the engine and turn it into pieces to check every little part of it. The only part that costs and I have changed are the forged pistons after 80k and thats because i was precautious and not because they were damaged.

So to answer your question, the cylinder head gasget has never had any damage at all and neither had any other major part of the engine. The Clutch needs to be changed of course but thats obvious... you need a better/harder 4puk to handle that power and you need to replace every so you damage it depending on your driving style (I do replaceit every 40k kms)

Trust the engine, GO for it. Stay below 1.4bar boost and enjoy your rides.

If you are about to install a new engine I had made a similar research years ago and i was very depressed by the results (engine bay is minimum) that I focused on the stock engine to avoid even more troubles...

Costas

[lotusgirlmarie]

I agree with Costas. The factory engine is fine. I"m running 1.2 Bar with no issues and its a rocket. At one point I was looking into alternative powerplants but went back to the OEM as it wasn't too hard to get the figures I wanted and the reliability I needed. Plus the fact that I didn't have to worry about new motor mounts and building new axles as well. All in all its a good little lump and can be coaxed to do amazing things without too much difficulty.

[Ellie]

when I was building up Sh4rk ... 3 years later I can honestly tell you this: the engine is simply put Bulletproof....
If you are about to install a new engine I had made a similar research years ago and i was very depressed by the results (engine bay is minimum) that I focused on the stock engine to avoid even more troubles...
Costas

1) Where can we find out about Costas' project?

2) I agree: use the standard engine and find ways to coax reliable power boost from it - shoehorning another powerplant into the M100 engine bay will bring many problems with dimensions, mechanical & electrical fittings, linkages etc.

[Specky]

Here is the sh4rk project

TTFN

[DaveT]

Ok folks the thinking has been done and the budget discussed so now looking forward to the work. I have decided not to alter my current car as it is in such unmolested order. So I will be looking for a suitable alternative.
The project is to be directed toward the production of a track/road car producing about 225bhp.
The work on the list is
Larger charge cooler- custom made
Upgraded turbo- stock
K&N air filter- stock
Brake upgrade- stock
New suspension components where applicable- stock
Replacing rubber bushes with bearings- custom
New rear roll bar- custom
Replacing engine mounts- custom
Alterations to front clam shell
Fit hard top
Respray in powder blue with black trim- decided against medina
New wheels and tyres- stock

The chaps have already had a good look over this site and other related ones, so I have to commend them for their homework.

No I'm not going to tell you what the budget you can see that its significant. Hopefully it will be a work of art when finished.

Once things are under way I'll start posting as work proceeds. Additional work will also be noted.

D

[ailwyn]

Replacing rubber bushes with bearings- custom
Replacing engine mounts- custom
Alterations to front clam shell

Dave,

What's the thinking behind these three changes?

Ailwyn

[DeeAitch]

Costas, are you running OE head gaskets? I seem to recall talk of a 'one off' copper gasket but don't remember if it got past the planning committee

Oh, and I seem to recall a video showing that you don't exactly hang about either.

A benchmark project if ever there was one

[DaveT]

Replacing rubber bushes with bearings- custom
Replacing engine mounts- custom
Alterations to front clam shell

Dave,

What's the thinking behind these three changes?

Ailwyn

Hi Ailwyn
Bushes and mount changes to stiffen things up and improve w&t

Front clam shell being altered to include two extra vents for better flow over the larger chargecooler and the other to make it symetrical, but it'll flow over the oil cooler anyway, so that wont be a bad thing.

[Specky]

4 S's...

Safety, Stopping (Servo Seals), Seatbelts and suspension...

TTFN

[Ellie]

Here is the sh4rk project

TTFN

What an amazing project, an big reading event at 37 pages - I still haven't finished!

Costas, SH4RK is a credit to you and an inspiration to others including this Phantom project, I'm sure. The SH4RK benchmark will take some meeting!

[DaveT]

Forgot to mention seats and belts


seats and belts