Engine swap

[Jfor]

Hi I was just wondering whether an mark 1 or 2 Mazda mx5 engine would fit into a esprit or an excel, I’m only young and looking into a cheap way to do my first engine swap. 

[TAR]

I assume you have the engine and just need a donor car?  

[Jfor]

No I don’t have anything right now, just an idea.

[Guest]

Mx5 engine and box into an excel; probably

into an esprit; no the gearbox is entirely wrong

i put an mr2 engine into an elan 5 years ago,  engine swaps are not easy or a cheap way to do things, that said, it came in cheaper than a replacement twincam lotus engine !

[Jfor]

Cheers!!!

[DaKa]

Having seen on the TV recently putting a Tesla motor into a Delorean, it seems that the same would surely fit into an Esprit. I'd be keen to hear about anyone trying this on a decent Esprit body where their engine and gearbox was broken. They would need to get the speakers inside to recreate the wonderful noise of course!

[Guest]

I started a topic on an dead esprit for this kind of conversion, but be prepared to throw at least 30 k at this project… it is not a cheap alternative, you could get yourself an interior, engine and box and do some paintwork and get that sad esprit back and running for less

[snowrx]

Did someone say electric? Note the beverage can for scale

"The newly announced "Terrier" power unit features two of these Quark motors packaged around the fancy David inverter. The result is a plug-and-play EV power unit that puts out 670 hp / 886 lb-ft of torque and weighs less than 200 pounds, and also offers cross-axle torque vectoring performance. The output shafts are equipped with planetary gear sets, and the unit can be even mounted directly to a vehicle chassis—no subframe required. Koenigsegg believes there are extensive applications for the compact, high-power unit, including boats and aviation, where it could replace high-revving engines that normally require additional gearing, providing a lighter and less complex solution."

 

 

[greentengu]

How about a Zetec-e 2.0 liter engine from the 00-04 US Ford Focus/Mazda Protege? 
 

Many turbocharger kits and two (have to be used) supercharger kits available for that engine—one (Jackson Racing) non-inter/after cooled and another (PowerWorks/Cosworth Engineering) inter/aftercooled. 
 

I only mention these after seeing a pic a ways back of an Esprit with a Zetec engine, although the car was not in the US so no idea if the engine was the 1.8 or 2.0l. 

[jonwat]

On 06/02/2022 at 16:43, DaKa said:

Having seen on the TV recently putting a Tesla motor into a Delorean,

Autoexpress 😃

[PrecisionMike]

On 06/02/2022 at 16:43, DaKa said:

Having seen on the TV recently putting a Tesla motor into a Delorean, it seems that the same would surely fit into an Esprit. I'd be keen to hear about anyone trying this on a decent Esprit body where their engine and gearbox was broken. They would need to get the speakers inside to recreate the wonderful noise of course!

Any one considering ruining the lotus esprit experience by such a sinful modification should in my view seek either counselling or punishment 😁

[jonwat]

Like this?

[PrecisionMike]

On 15/02/2022 at 14:43, jonwat said:

Autoexpress 😃

Yeah, I saw that article. Some people will like it but for me , if it doesn't go Vroom Vroom, I'm not sure if there's much point?

[greentengu]

With modern software and a nice sound system blaring through a faux “exhaust pipe”, you could make an electric Esprit sound like anything from Luke Skywalker’s Landspeeder to a TIE fighter 🤣🤪

[Escape]

And it would be just as fake...

Apart from the merits of an electric sports car, I don't see the point in taking away the soul of a classic car by doing an electrical conversion. What are you left with? Handling will be different (because of weight and distribution), driving will be nothing like the original (no doubt faster, but not engaging), fake sound, no rewarding start up procedure and getting into flow as the engine warms up, ...

And what about the dash? All those lovely gauges that make a car like an Esprit feel all the more special will be useless. So just plunk in an Ipad and run some simulation of an actual dash?

If it's just for the exterior looks, the result would probably be much better if you were to put a lookalike bodyshell on some electric skate.

[PrecisionMike]

12 hours ago, greentengu said:

With modern software and a nice sound system blaring through a faux “exhaust pipe”, you could make an electric Esprit sound like anything from Luke Skywalker’s Landspeeder to a TIE fighter 🤣🤪

Not for me I'm afraid!