What gearbox will fit a lotus elan m100 engine

[Drfritch]

Hi there this is my first post on here and i'm hoping you can help me.
What i am doing is putting a M100 turbo lump into a lotus elan +2 chassis.
Now as we all know the m100 was front wheel drive ans the +2 is rear drive.
So this is my question, what reardrive box will fit the engine????
I was think vauxhall carlton or omega.
Any help would be greatly appreciaited.
Thanks Greg

[Monty]

I don`t think anyone can answer that question as i don`t think anyone has done such a conversion with the M100 engine.

The Impulse do a 4WD version but the engine is still transverse, obviously you`ll be fitting the M100 engine longitudinal? so i`d have to question why bother with this engine as i`m sure there`s plenty off other engine conversions for the Old Elan

Must admit it sounds like a great project if you can pull it off, keep us up todate with your progress and would love to see photo`s when it`s complete

Good Luck

[Drfritch]

Thats the plan to mount the engine longways.
I'm sure it would be easier to put another engine in zetec for example, but thats not what i want to do as having driven a m100 the performance is pretty damn good plus i want to keep it as close to it all being lotus as possible.
I will post some pics on here when i get some taken
Can anyone tell me how similar these engines are to a redtop, i'm just thinking what with the lotus, isuzu, vauxhall connection there must be something similar so it can be done.

[lotos]

i want to keep it as close to it all being lotus as possible.

Then by all means use an Isuzu engine

Sounds like a hell of a tricky project.

[superbad]

If you're dead set on doing this I think you'll be making a bellhousing. You might get lucky and find that Isuzu kept the dimensions the same as some of their older engines that were used in RWD cars, but that seems unlikely. And you'd probably end up with a gearbox that can't take the power, or that has ratios that are way off. I don't think a Japanese turbo engine particularly suits a Plus 2, but I can definitely see the appeal of doing it.

[nitroman]

My 2-cents, understanding both your wishes & mechanical realities, is that you'd be best served buying a JDM MazdaSpeed Miata (MX5) front clip. That would give you a tunable turbo with a transmission which is also adaptable to the old Elan, as your current tranny is not up to say, having the HP routed through it doubled. You can always graft the word LOTUS onto a camcover! The front-clip will come with everything above as well as all engine ancilliaries including ECU. A front clip is everything from the dash "forward" on a car.

In fact, there are lots of proof of concept vehicles:
http://www.britishv8.org/Other/SkipCannon.htm
http://www.britishv8.org/Other/BillCardell.htm
http://www.britishv8.org/Other/BobChartier.htm

[Drfritch]

Well i already have an engine and all the wiring and ecu. So one way or another its going to go in, hopefully in the next couple of days im am going to try the engine in the chassis, the dimensions are not to far away from the old twin cam engine.
I will probably end up using a ford type 9 gearbox, as they manage to fit those to vauxhall red top engines with out to much fuss, and as far as i can see the isuzu and vauxhall lumps look similar.

[rip]

I can't offer any help but this sounds like a fascinating project. +2 Turbo...

[theelanman]

my mate did a supercharged +2.....on the original twink.....didnt last too long

are you aware that there are zetec and another manufacterer that used to make F1 engines that I cant just remember at the moment.......which have the gearboxes etc ready to roll.....
and an infinately tunable/modable engine.....

just a thought

[theelanman]

senior moment over....
Duratec....

you can get upto about 300bhp from a Zetec
you can get upto about 350+ bhp from a Duratec

how fast do you want to go???

more importantly....have you driven a +2 with 118bhp??......maybe its just me but once you get to not much more than this it seems to be a waste of power as it can be hairy enough on the road as it is....

or is this a racing project

[Monty]

Another question,

How are you going to mount the engine? as you won`t beable to use the stock mounting positions

[MattDon]

wasnt the early elan engine a ford unit anyway? i dont think lotus are too bothered about keeping it "lotus" atleast in the areas where they feel it might not be as important. m100 isuzu engine, elise rover k series then toyota lump, evora toyota lump, elan ford engine ( i think ) esprit renault gearbox, i think the spirit of lotus is about building lightweight great handling cars at a reasonable cost, part of which involves sourcing parts in the most cost effective way. Just my two cents, personaly id love to make my m100 4x4 and give it a straight six engine but until i win the lottery....

good luck with the build mate, would be very interested to hear if you find anything that fits.

[RayD]

These might help to visualise the problem...

[bobbrown]

Some of the problems are going to be the same as fitting a Vauxhall red top to a Ford Escort
Like the dizzy is at the rear of the engine for one.

Bob

[lotos]

What if you just mounted the stock M100 drivetrain to the rear axle? You'd have 5 reverse gears, something no other sports car can lay claim to.

[bobbrown]

What if you just mounted the stock M100 drivetrain to the rear axle? You'd have 5 reverse gears, something no other sports car can lay claim to.

Why not move the whole lot if you are going to do that, a mid engined Elan now there's a thought

Bob

[Drfritch]

Having had a look at some pics it seems the the omega box is the way to, it looks very close to the original bolt pattern.
There is no easy way to put this engine in but it looks like it will go without to much modification. im sure there are lots of things i havnt thought about iyet but i cant seee why it will be too hard.

[Enright]

If you update your profile with your location you might find someone close who is prepared to let you look at some bits.

[theelanman]

What if you just mounted the stock M100 drivetrain to the rear axle? You'd have 5 reverse gears, something no other sports car can lay claim to.

Why not move the whole lot if you are going to do that, a mid engined Elan now there's a thought

Bob

if you ever watched 'Used Car Roadshow'..according to that fat bloke Jason somebody...the m100 already is a 'mid-engined' car....
he doesnt know what hes talking about...and most programs have some errors in them......

the car featured was one of LECs members and he told him it was incorrect but it stayed in and went to air as was

[Dave Eds]

PJohn151


HERE