N/A to Turbo Conversion X180

[DaKa]

I'm looking for previous posts or advice from anyone who has converted their normally aspirated X180 to turbo charged.

It must be that this has been done before so I'm interested to know the options for moderate turbo boost (nothing extreme) and therefore greater reliability.

Could it be a DIY with engine out?

Buy refurbished  turbo engine and swap out (I guess several thousand for this less whatever you get for old plant)?

Cost and recommendation if outsourced to a specialist?

Buy another Esprit turbo and sell or trade in your own N/A?

It seems like some of the turbo kits would work but I'm guessing a host of other components and complication would be involved.

My budget is up to £5,000 would that be enough?

 

 

[red vtec]

Hi our not far from me if your in Hutton, 

i havea turbo, I think I'm correct in saying the pistons are different to cope with temp. I'm sure someone with more knowledge will be along. Your probably correct in putting a different lump in, but bear in mind that is a carb turbo unit, if you want to go EFi your going to need the ECU etc....

[andydclements]

Compression ratios are different, so would be complete strip-down and replace lots of internals, carbs are set to have boost both sides of the fuel, lots of differences.

I'd agree with Buddsy, easier and cheaper to sell NA and buy Turbo car. In your original post you stated "..the options for moderate turbo boost (nothing extreme) and therefore greater reliability...."  I'd say the NA is more reliable.

[chris]

As buddsy says, unless you are emotionally attached to it (like I stupidly am with mine) then better off selling the n/a and getting a turbo. If you do, then I’d suggest an SE or S4 rather than a carb turbo depending on what your budget will stretch to. Over the last 17 years of owning my carb turbo the only reliability issues that were specifically turbo related, as opposed to espritisms, were down to the carbs, dizzy or exhaust manifold. I’ve converted mine to fuel injection, electronic wasted spark ignition and fitted an alunox manifold and the car now runs beautifully however it depends on your view on modifying.

If you want more performance have you considered what gains you could get by converting to fuel injection and wasted spark ignition? I’m fairly certain that you could get the same sort of power on today’s technology that the carb turbo had as standard and within your 5k budget. Think I’ve seen articles in the club lotus mag and absolutely lotus on this being done by excel owners.

If you do go for another car, make sure it has air con as you definitely don’t want to retrofit that lol!!!

 

 

[DaKa]

Excellent comments and much appreciated.

Now leaning towards a new buy/exchange but I'll need to double my budget I feel.

 

 

[red vtec]

As Chris says if you fitted EFi you would get increased performance something akin to the rare S models. 

[andydclements]

You'd not get S-like performance, unless you switched to Turbo as well (which would include internal changes to the engine), so although it would remove the reliance on carbs and all the work involved, it isn't really that different to a gas-flowed head with better flowing exhaust etc on a NA car.

[silverfrost]

Speak to Mike at lotusbits and get a fully developed engine,  you can use your own powerplant and get the 2.2 made up to 2.5.   I know the work is not cheap,  but 5k to spend on tuning your n/a engine will go a long way,  that way you keep your car and factory engine nuber,   just anther option you could look into 

[Chillidoggy]

If it were me, I’d sell the X180 and buy an SE.

[Vanya]

1 hour ago, Chillidoggy said:

If it were me, I’d sell the X180 and buy an SE.

This.