Upgrades For A N/A 90 elan

[rip]

What about a super charger kit? If it's do-able then you could have a screamer of a car!

You can't just bolt on a compressor. It simply won't work.
You would have to make loads of engine mods: lower compression ratio, strengthened components, different cam profiles, MAP sensor, different ECU map.
Remember that Turbocharger is an abbreviation of "Turbine-driven Supercharger" & the NA engine has many differences to an SE/S2.

[speed-demon]

That's no fun is it!

[bratboy_y2k]

if you are willing to mess around with a supercharger I would say just get a turbo engine and drop it in. It is a working and tested exercise as opposed to experimenting with a supercharger. this sounds like it;s more of an ask then the 20hp extra you were originally wanting. once again to get 20hp more and a 25% increas in torque but want it to be n/a then go 1.8. the best of both worlds would be to mate the turbo system with a 1.8 engine.

[Specky]

But which gearbox would you use?

TTFN

[bratboy_y2k]

the stock gearbox can handle it if it can handle the lgm conversion. you can always cryo the gearbox internals if you want to be safe.

[Specky]

Which Ratio from the multitude that are available?

TTFN

[bratboy_y2k]

go to robie the robots page. you will find his listing of isuzu gearboxes with gear ratios

[bobbrown]

I take it you mean these

Gear ratios.jpg

[Specky]

I know what's available....

I was throwing it out there...

and cos It's an N/A upgrade thread....

and If the engine were to be upgraded would you change the gearbox...

LAA against LAB or even bespoke....

TTFN

[bobbrown]

What gets interesting is the the top speed which is only effected by the horses and the drag so assuming you could pull max rpm in top then the turbo and the NA would do the about the same speed as the NA has a higher rev limit (500 rpm). The max torque is the same on both engines at 4200 rpm but the max power is 6600 rpm on the turbo and 7200 rpm on the NA. So that being the case I would stick with a NA box and up the HP as the acceleration will be better, assuming the HP of the NA was taken up to the same HP as the turbo then the NA would beat a turbo in a drag race (on paper). I have looked at this myself and thought that 200 HP sould be possible out of a NA but would take some serious dosh to do it, new ECU, throttle bodies etc or I suppose a pair of 45's.

[Specky]

I've thought about it, even to the extent of throwing a LAA gearbox on a turbo, but I digress.

TTFN

[PhilD]

Its a shame that we cant convince someone to make us a proper chip like the turbo boys. This would be a low effort solution.

I tried asking a few questions around the the Superchips solution with a couple of guys - like how is the performance improved and got no sensible answers, which made me a little nervous. I guess the volumes would be too low create any new chip commercially unless we found an Elaner willing to do this.

[dapinky]

Phil,

The problem as I understand it, is that ignition settings/advance curves/fuel flow etc is controlled by the chip......

....however, with an NA, there are only small windows of variables, as the limiting factor is how much air you can force into the cylinder - obviously, with a forced (turbo or supercharger) induction, then there are far more options - as the first thing you need to do is increase the 'charge' in the engine.

The limitations are:-

Intake (port/polish?)
Inlet cam (can be re-ground to give more power, but you may not like the way it runs at low revs)
Injectors (more than up to the job)
Valve size (not easily changed)
compression ratio - (new pistons?)
Exhaust cam (as inlet)
Exhaust pipe.

As a general rule, to get more than 100BHP per Litre of capacity with an NA aint easy, and it will leave compromises in the drivability......

....as such, you are unlikely to get more than 160BHP from this engine (158?)

As it is already about 130, the indication is that most of the development has already been done, and any future gain will be costly, and small

As a guide, with a Triumph sprint engine, it comes out of the factory at 130 bhp......... you can bolt on carbs and cams and get it up to 185 bhp for little effort, but a few quid..... to go to 200 bhp you would need parts made (special cam grinds) ....... to go beyond that it is labour intensive (75 hours of pollishing on the head alone, for 15 bhp!!!!).... to get a Group 2 race engine (approx 235 bhp), i can build you one, as i can get the parts, but if you drive in the car, and drive it out again, you'd better have a big cheque book and a long lead time..... last one i did took 7 months (spare time), and the bill was over £7K
Could have stuck a Vauxhall/Ford lump in with a turbo, and spent about a grand for the same end result.