Bigpower

It has been said that I have a few too many project, so to make sure i don't disapoint everyone by bucking the tradition I have got yet another!

Tonight I drove home in my Elise 111S (a 2002 Rover VVC engine Elise). It has had a fairly hard life before me, but was cheap and should make a very nice basis of a track car and daily drive combo.



I have missed having my own Elise since I had to sell my early Elise S2 4 years ago, and also wanted something with the potential to do some racing. Plans are varied and after buying this I need to sell some of the others or get some money in before I can progress too many of them, but there will be some tidying up and a few upgrades as I can. If I can get the money together to prep the car then maybe even next years Lotus on Track series.

start off list:
- Patch up front clam
- Get it on the ramp and inspect it - steering on centre feel is missing
- Replace front 2-piston AP brakes with bigger 4-pots that I already have.
- Start getting the handling back to how it should be with new parts
- Sell off wheels and replace with my forged Volks (already have form old elise, just need tyres)
- take out stereo and what little extra weight it has that isnt needed.


I am going to try and leave the engine alone as it is only a k-series and get extra performance from upgrading the handling even further and taking out weight. The car has no ABS or airbags, but does come with AC (which will stay in place).

Now I really must get that damn RX7 finished and find myself a trackday to give this toy a real test. There must be something at snetterton or brands hatch soon.

Anyone want to make an offer on a V8 RX7, Nissan PS13, Yamaha R1, Jaguar XJ8, BMW 523i Touring or a Volvo B20 rally engine?

phwoor i'd love the ps13, but im in a similar position with toys

awesome chap - wish i could afford the ps13 too .. assuming that it's not cheap lol.

Well done Rob; I love the way you've produced the last couple of photos (this one and the work shop one)

Well, what can I say? I love Elise and this one looks it has all the makings of an absolute hoon. You do have too many cars but then I've been guilty of that a few times as well, the thing that gets me is your car for all occasions! Git

Judging by the early response with the PS13, that's the first one you should try and move on. That's if you can stand to sell it after driving it about 4 times.

The PS13 is probably the one that makes the most sense to sell, but I really dont want to let that go after spending so much time improving it and so little time driving it. It wont be a cheap sale if that one goes.

Back to this car, I got the Lotus-on-Track and the European Lotus Cup regs today. Even production classes mean I need to develope the powertrain to be competative, but that class doesnt allow me to do what I want with the body and aero. Will pick a few more knowledgeable peoples brains next week, but until then I will keep the upgrades to what I want rather than to a set of regs for a series I am tempted to enter. I will just have to make sure I can swap back if needed.

I will start on it this weekend, but for now here are a couple more pics of the car outside last night:




They make it look a lot tidier than it is, both front and rear clam have some damage and the paint is a real state.

Erm, getting caried away. Here is my "cut-down" job list so far:

- Service engine
- All new suspension bushes and ball joints
- Upgraded TCAs
- AP 4 pot big front brake upgrade
- Rear Ap 2-piston big brake upgrade (Not that either front or rear have any fade, but I have the bits for the upgrade already)
- Carbon firbe seats
- New steering rack and arms (so it feels like new again)
- Remove stereo
- GPS HUD speedo and shift light
- Lap timer
- adjust and upgrade worn gearbox linkage
- Hunter geometry set-up
- Lightweight Forged wheels (need to get some tyres)
- Lightweight exhaust system (maybe modified 340r parts)
- Close ratio gearbox
- Ohlins 2-way dampers
- Conversion to wheel studs (much easier for swaps than bolts)
- "RPS13 custom" diffuser
- "RPS13 custom" front splitter and bumper
- "RPS13 custom" hard roof
- "RPS13 custom" interior trim panels
- Fire extinguister mount
- Quick release clamshells
- Filter in A/C system
- "RPS13 custom" Front and rear tow eyes (FIA sizes)
- HID headlight conversion
- Current Elise LED rear light conversion
- Lightweight battery and relocate it into engine bay
- Get a spare key cut

it was a lot worse not long ago including stupidly expensive uprights off this thing:


and i am trying not to think about an engine list!

That looks a lot like the MacKinnon/Newby Redbull Exige that was at the Britcar. Very nice!
A cut down list eh? Just make sure that this one stays drivable throughout and you'll love every minute of it

Fk mate not another project !!!
this looks awesome !!
By the way the Elises we drove at the tour if the factory, what spec and bhp were they ? Ben and I were discussing today and didn't really come up with a conclusion.

The basic model 111s
134bhp, basic tyres and brakes

Stu - This car must stay drivable. Jobs cant last longer than a weekend without the car driving, which that list is achievable for. BTW - got any spare BMW wheel bolts? The E36 M3 ones fit Elises.

I know the redbull car - it has the dampers I am after.

RX7 - The driver training cars are all the base 134hp Elise S models (1.8l Toyota engines similar to those used in the old MR2 but with a few tweaks including bigger valve head). The top Elise SC is 220hp, and Exige goes up to 260hp.

My new toy is only 156hp, but about 50kg lighter than the Elise S models you drove.