Esprit V8 project

[WEllison]

Hi Mike,

I see you made it back with the 4 pot!

Good luck on the drive to Dusseldorf. I have never had much luck with GAZ shocks when racing. They are an inexpensive shock.

Still waiting on the files, time for an in person visit on Monday.

Wayne

[mike_sekinger]

Hey Wayne,

The S4s was very well behaved. I´ve recieved the coated replacement manifold, so will start with preparing the engine extraction over the next weeks.

The drive to Düsseldorf was without problem - less then 600 miles but will help contribute to the run-in miles. By the time I get back, I´ll be ready to dump the oil and prepare for the next stage. Thanks for keeping my posted on the chargecooler front - I haven´t forgotten that I owe you an image of the compressor duct lengths

Okay - here are some phone-cam snaps from the trip. Left home shortly before 1pm on Sunday.

First fuel stop of many......

Everything looking good on the move

In Paris

Mid-route check-up

Getting into Belgium

Arrived at the office at around 10pm

I´ll be driving back on Friday if any of the Belgian crew are around? I would love to have made Walters Annual TL BBQ, but need to be home over the weekend.

Let me know if any of you want to meet up en-route?

Cheers,

Mike S

[bzguy]

Mike, where do you pass revving through Belgium ? Will you meet up with Gert or so ? You're always welcome here (close to Leuven)

I can take the Esprit for a nice on-road meet as well

[mike_sekinger]

Trying to sort something out with Gert at the moment.

It will be Friday morning travelling through Belgium - normally E42 Liége - Namur - Mons, but I could venture North a little to say "Hi"

Cheers,

Mike S

[Simon350S]

Nice to see you racking up the mileage...

Hows that engine sounding?

[mike_sekinger]

Thanks Simon,

...... given the lack of soundproofing and other mods to the induction.... mechanical and very, very noisy on boost. You hear everything that is happening behind you

Luckily, with Ipod and earphones you can block out the vast majority of the noise for any longer trips.

[Simon350S]

TRES COOL....!!!!!

Edited October 4, 2010 by Simon350S

[Iconic Ride]

That radio coverplate is so cool, Mike. It looks just like an instrument cluster!

[rogerch]

I was only momentarily thrown by the appearance they angled toward the passenger.

[Exploded]

So we are now officially awaiting Mike for his (first?) visit to the North of Belgium

Any one else who wants join us and meet? Just pm or send me a mail, you're all welcome!

[bzguy]

You know I'll be there, really curious about Mike's car !

[mike_sekinger]

It´s just an Esprit with a V8 engine in the back..... nothing out of this World

The chargecoolers are not installed yet and I´m still running the engine in, so no crazy high revving, freeky speed stuff.

Will be great to put some more faces to names.

Cheers,

Mike S

[Exploded]

It´s just an Esprit with a V8 engine in the back..... nothing out of this World

/quote]

Well you could say that, but keep in mind I've been to quite a few Lotus meetings in Belgium this year. How many Esprit V8's have I seen with Belgian registration plates on it you reckon? Any guesses??

The answer is 2 and that includes the one you have rebuilt Mike.

We all know the V8 is not the most reliable engine in the world, but that is not the main reason. The main reason is taxes, a 4 cyl Esprit costs around 450 euro on yearly taxes. A V8 costs around 1350 euro taxes a year... I think that is the main reason why you don't see much Esprit V8s in Belgium.

[Iconic Ride]

Will be great to put some more faces to names.

Cheers!

John

[mike_sekinger]

Hi Folks,

Had some last minute change of plans for the weekend, so drove back home through the night on Friday. Travelling around Paris was actually a pleasure for a change and I got home at 5am.

The engine has just shy of 1500miles, so now it is on to stage 2 and the chargecoolers. Although I´m not 100% sure that I will stick with the barrel-style coolers, I´m going to start with them. Here are the first images of the test-fit.

Up pipes installed

Ducting and LH cooler

Header tank and connections

As all of the pipes/pump-work at the frond-end of the car are already in place, next weekend should bodies installed and ready for the first test on the road.

Cheers,

Mike S

[garry_ludwar@hotmail.com]

sure is a different route than we ran mike, but it sure will be nice to have all that room in there

[mike_sekinger]

Hi Garry,

Yep - I´ve not got the same packaging constraints and I really want to get the heat out of the engine compartment.

So much for the mock-fit. On with the real fitting

Just need to make up two feed hoses and get the dump valve duct with the IAT sensor boss.... it is coming along pretty well

Cheers,

Mike S

[Iconic Ride]

Lookin' good my man!

Today's "dummy" question: Is the chargecooler(s) circuit independent of the normal engine coolant circulation? In other words, is its header tank part of a completely closed system? If so, how is it (the entire system itself) cooled? I'm a bit confused as to the difference between an "intercooler" (using airflow only, over a separate radiator, to cool down the intake manifold [plenum] inlet temp) and a "chargecooler," with which I have zero experience.

Cheers,

John

[mike_sekinger]

Hi John,

Intercooling is the overall term for additional cooling action on the intake of a forced induction engine. Not all forced induction application deploy intercooling (e.g the early Esprit turbos, Esprit V8)

There is air-to-air intercooling, which uses a traditional heat exchanger core receiving cooling air to reduce the inlet temperature and often used in front-engined applications.

Then there is water-to-air intercooling (Lotus termed - chargecooling) where you have a heat exchanger core that is encased in a unit that uses water to extract the heat from inlet. This is quite typical in mid/rear mounted engines, where a good flow of cooling air is more problematic. The coolant is separate from the engine coolant, as that is operating at high temperature (>80deg).

The coolant is pumped around the circuit and typically cooled via another heat exchanger that is able to receive a feed of cooling air.

There is also water/methanol injection, where the system sprays controlled quanities of atomised water/methanol mix directly into the inlet to cool the temperature.

There are lots of discussions on the efficiency and complexity of the various options.

Hopefully, this system will prove efficient enough to allow a boost increase in excess of 1.1 bar boost and allow me to reach my power target.

Cheers,

Mike S

[bzguy]

Maybe a stupid question Mike, but nevertheless : what chargecooling pump does V8 standard have (mechanical/electric) and what Will you use ?

[mike_sekinger]

Hi Hans,

The standard V8 doesn´t have any intercooling at all - the turbos are only generating low-to-moderate boost and the charge is routed directly to the inlet via some cast ducts. The turbo lag is very low, but there is the downside that the engine does not make full power on hot days.

Cheers,

Mike S

[Iconic Ride]

Many thanks for the previous explanation about intercooling/chargecooling, Mike.

On really hot days during the Texas summer, I've found that piling a mound of ice cubes in both C pillar (buttress?) air intake scoops is good for a few more HP, but only for a few minutes. Just kidding.

[bosbon_be]

On really hot days during the Texas summer, I've found that piling a mound of ice cubes in both C pillar (buttress?) air intake scoops is good for a few more HP, but only for a few minutes. Just kidding.

It's not a joke to use ice cubes, I think it would work verry well in the Texas heat.

http://www.chargecooler.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=73&products_id=213&zenid=50e25512a7863f33b10f6e29fb518f39

[Iconic Ride]

Shazammm, Peter!

Who knew?

[mike_sekinger]

Hi Folks,

The final fabricated part was finished today (BOV and IAT duct), so the induction side of things is now complete.

I´m chuffed to bits the way that it has come together.

I´m expecting my Spanish customer tomorrow to collect his engine and other parts.

Cheers,

Mike S