What the Heck, its VTEC!

[Jamie N]

I have had a long hard look at this today ( in wall to wall sunshine over Scotland ) and so far as I can see there is nothing that looks impossible, there are many hurdles to overcome and some of them are a mighty height!, but I really do reckon its a goer, or am I just looking through the rosie specs .
All of the engine mounts look feasible, the overall dimensions look ok, the prongeron might be an issue, the height of the block/head looks to be ok but not much spare, there is always the option of using a B16 which is approx 8mm shorter than the B18.

The shift linkages are definitely going to be problematical as will driveshafts but im sure something could be done whilst retaining the original hubs, plumbing should be easy enough and the electrics don't phase me too much, the downpipe could be an issue and various other ancillaries but overall im pretty confident it can happen.

The B18 Type-R engine is good for over 200bhp and very tuneable (with lovely tunes in VTEC ) but this project is not about trying to make a fast/faster Elan although properly done and set up it theoretically would be a pretty rapid conversion, its more because I just love these engines, have a full setup costing me very little and its a challenge more than anything, plus I have a mountain of spares for them, and it would be the worlds first VTEC Elan, I think!.

It wouldn't be going in the white car!, its only done just over 60k and is in fantastic condition,but if I can find a donor car with a major engine problem then this project will definitely be attempted.




This is not the actual engine I would be using, this is a B18c4 I have for another project, the inlet manifold on the the type r sits upwards similar to the Elan's.

[DeeAitch]

DROMONG, I think your plan is seriously flawed

Buying an Elan for 2-3k you risk getting a basket case! All that hard work fitting the VTec and you are left with the possibility of a huge bill getting the rest of the car up to scratch.
So what you should do is buy mine for £5500
Flog the following:
Engine 700 (good oil pressure,new RC injectors last year, etc etc)
Gearbox (brand new box a few years ago when it was fitted with a Quaife LSD from the group buy). Must be worth a grand.
Driveshafts, new Lotus replacements , 150 ?
ECM with (very) special mountain chip & switcher (C/O ESM who was kind enough to humour me) 150
Coils etc 100
Various bits n bobs, say 500
Voila, a sound project car circa 3k.
And it is NMY, S2 wheels & hood, Vectra front / Dorman rear brakes, lots of other stuff like the best shortshifter heated drivers seat etc and full MOT.
Loads of receipts / history.Full details on request.

I'll even deliver it FOC

[Jamie N]

DROMONG, I think your plan is seriously flawed

Buying an Elan for 2-3k you risk getting a basket case! All that hard work fitting the VTec and you are left with the possibility of a huge bill getting the rest of the car up to scratch.
So what you should do is buy mine for £5500
Flog the following:
Engine 700 (good oil pressure,new RC injectors last year, etc etc)
Gearbox (brand new box a few years ago when it was fitted with a Quaife LSD from the group buy). Must be worth a grand.
Driveshafts, new Lotus replacements , 150 ?
ECM with (very) special mountain chip & switcher (C/O ESM who was kind enough to humour me) 150
Coils etc 100
Various bits n bobs, say 500
Voila, a sound project car circa 3k.
And it is NMY, S2 wheels & hood, Vectra front / Dorman rear brakes, lots of other stuff like the best shortshifter heated drivers seat etc and full MOT.
Loads of receipts / history.Full details on request.

I'll even deliver it FOC

Wow!, what a phenomenally kind offer!.

[Peter_W]

That's the best, well laid-out logic, alternative deal I have seen in a long time - plus, it can be enjoyed as is before moving forward with an engine swap.

[abmunro]

Quaife is £700 without gearbox and fitting..

Its a shame you are considering selling DeeAitch!!

[surfboardfiller]

That's the best, well laid-out logic, alternative deal I have seen in a long time - plus, it can be enjoyed as is before moving forward with an engine swap.

Except the prices are way over.

e.g.

Why would anyone buy a gearbox for £1k when you can pick one up for £300 and fit a brand new ATB with all the warranty etc...? Or better still just buy an ATB and fit it.
Used Engine, £500
New coils £60

However: fixing up a dead car would probably not be any cheaper to replace all the suspension brakes etc.. and respray it the wrong colour.
So just buy his car anyway; it will still be cheaper and keep all the bits you take out, so you can put them back when you find out the VTEC is not as good as the Isuzu Lotus engine and the car will be worth more original - when your bored with the VTEC.

[dapinky]

How about the red one which has spent a while at the bottom or a river?

Interior will need a damn good clean, but it may be the basis of a suitable project - engine may or may not be any good anyway........

[Nickydee]

How about the red one which has spent a while at the bottom or a river?

Interior will need a damn good clean, but it may be the basis of a suitable project - engine may or may not be any good anyway........

Thats a bargain at under £2000, the last submersible lotus I saw - a white Esprit was sold at auction for nearly 100 times that.

[Jamie N]

How about the red one which has spent a while at the bottom or a river?

Interior will need a damn good clean, but it may be the basis of a suitable project - engine may or may not be any good anyway........

Thats a bargain at under £2000, the last submersible lotus I saw - a white Esprit was sold at auction for nearly 100 times that.

It wouldn't be under 2g mate, by the time fees are paid it would have been 21, then 350 to get it up the road and nobody knows if the engine was shot which would have been one of the main things to sell for offsetting the price, then what is the condition of the chassis/wishbones etc etc etc, too much of a risk with that thing, the right car for me will turn up for sure, ive had them before, a silver one with a scrape on the front bumper but otherwise stunning condition for 1600, a blue one for 1750 needing a front bumper. Just a matter of time.

[Elanlover]

I really don't want anyone to take this the wrong way - especially since I really do like the idea of a big project. But......................why?

There's been a few people in the past who have looked at swapping out the engine including someone a few years ago who wanted to replace the 1.6L engine with the 1.8L version from Isuzu. Not sure that went anywhere. In my own mind and based on the comments of those who have considered it there's a handful of reasons why you'd want to invest in the work. They are:

1) More power/performance
2) Parts obsolescence avoidance
3) Improved reliability
4) For fun

On the first point, you've stated that the VTEC engine is good for 200bhp. So is the 1.6L Isuzu engine. With Alan's chips its easy to get to 200bhp without any further modifications (possibly a less restrictive intake system and/or larger exhaust bore). Many have gone further that 200 on the car as well. At some point the tranny, driveshaft and other components aren't up to the stress and may have to be looked at as well. So, if its more power you're after its easily and inexpensively (relatively) achieved with the current engine and within the tolerances of the rest of the drivetrain and possibly up to 250bhp without major surgery. HP and torque don't tell the whole story and I personally feel that the car's weak at low and midrange revs (below 3,500rpm) so a "quicker" car could be made if the engine addressed this range - or if Alan finds a way to increase power in this area of the curve with more chipwork.

Parts obsolescence can be a valid concern. The engine is over 20 years old and parts are becoming more scarce. Still, I haven't come across to many pieces that can't be found somewhere or custom built. I don't think this is a serious concern for us yet but one day will be.

From a reliability perspective I think we've been awfully lucky with this engine. Its tremendously reliable and strong. I don't think this would be a valid reason for a project like this for our cars.

For fun? The best reason yet I suppose Nothing like a big project to get you in trouble with the missus.

Soooo, what would be your reason for attempting it?

[rip]

I've just been 'window shopping' on the net for VTEC Hondas because I thought it may be an interesting conversion for my Calibra. I thought the power figures were ok but not exceptional like I previously thought.
Then the VTEC only really makes a difference above about 4000-6000rpm. Our turbos give our Elans a hard kick well before this.

I agree with Blair. Doing this conversion for the sheer hell of it it probably the best reason I have seen so far.

[Jamie N]

Guys, if you had checked out the wanted post and the comments ive made above, then the answer to "why" is there, nothing to do with power whatsoever, im not that interested in speed, to quickly reiterate the reasons why...

Its a challenge for sure, I love a challenge and this one ticks the right boxes for me.
I have been building Honda conversions for 20 years so there is a wealth of experience.
I have a complete Honda ITR conversion sitting in my garage owing me next to nothing.
As stated previously I would not rip out a good running Isuzu, the project would only be done on a car that was dead anyway and that's a very important factor.
My favourite engine in my favourite car with that addictive VTEC noise!, whats not to like.

That's basically the reasons, although the ITR engine is good for well over 200 and highly tuneable I'm really not that interested in power figures, its just not in the equation, if it was about speed I would have kept my Exige I recently sold.

A challenging project, that's it in a nutshell, with the right donor car of course.

[Elanlover]

I'm good with that!

I love a good project. Its my WIFE that has a hard time with them Be sure to keep us posted on your progress.

[Don.Hasi]

Go on with that. I am really tempted about it. Best luck!