Team Phoenix Esprit - 358cid conversion

[Jonathan]

Great noise - nice 1

[M Blur]

Cheers guys.. it's been a long time coming... Alas video doesn't quite capture full db coming out - it's a lot louder than it seems in the vid but it has a nice note, revs smoothly and quickly for a sbc, considering this is an early sbc on carbs, not a LT or LS engine. The induction noise should be quite entertaining at full chat.

[Quicker]

brave job Jon!!!!

Can you post some more pics of the hood and what you did with the breathing through the front into the bonnet?

[M Blur]

a wee reminder that this used to be John Hazzard's 2.2 racing turbo, which raced in 750MC and AMOC/

If anyone has pics of John's 2.2 racing over the years (in various colours) then please post/share.

Thanks

JB

[silverfrost]

Jon,

Really glad you got her finished in the end mate, the finished product looks great, Hope you decide to keep her after all the time and effort.

Well done

Regards danny

[medida]

what are the front lights from?

[M Blur]

Hi - they are from a Nissan 300zx.. as also used on the Nissan R390GT and Lambo Diablo.. powerful and a lot lighter than the pop up pods. I managed to pick up them cheaply from Ebay which was a stroke of luck and they were in A1 condition. They also include projector lamps.

Be warned - the body panels and wings need a fair amount of modification to get the rake and fit right. However I wanted to go for fixed lenses for the LM look but this was a better compromise to use on the road. The vinyl tint is adhesive film from US and seems to have worked well, helps the whole LM look thing and works with the green well I think.

If interested then may be worth contacting MVS Racing www.mvsracing.co.uk

Thanks

JB

[M Blur]

Looking at the NEC Autosport auction in Janaury.

Would be nice to insure car in the meantime and get a few runs - rang Footman James and they wouldn't even quote because the car has a 'Q' plate - they are supposed to be 'specialist insurers' for heaven's sake... how they've changed since the Aon takeover!

Any tips who to try for insurance is much appreciated???? I'm only after Third Party and preferably Fire & Theft, 1500 miles max, garaged etc. I have 11 years NCB, clean driving and racing license and Advanced Driving test pass.

Jon

[shadeone]

soooo..... what are you doing with the old revolution wheels??

[EXCEL V8]

Hi Jon - Brilliant car! I recently insured my 5.7l Excel (Chevy LS1) with Competition Car Insurance in Nottingham. They weren't phased by the conversion, and were really helpful.

Pete

[neil e]

After all this hard work is it really for sale. ?

Its been on pistonheads for little while now. Or am i missing something.

Seems a shame if it is.

Neil

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2215939.htm

[M Blur]

Plan A is still to sell her unfortunately.

My wife hates the Esprit and wants a weekend classic. As with comes with 11 years of marriage - compromise is the foundations to marital bliss..

Esprit arrived today from Wales - I'm chuffed as punch with the finished article - old John Hazzard wouldn't recognise her and she's far from the sticky-backed plastic and sorry state she was in back then.. and she sounds awesome - not civilised one bit - big induction noise through the airbox. So mixed emotions as you can guess.

excuse the cheesy grin.. I've waited 3 years to wear that BB cap again

I'd thoroughly recommend MVS for big jobs, aero and body conversions etc - proper Lotus people.

[M Blur]

Up for sale on racecarsdirect Ad on Race Cars Direct

And more pics - she needs a wash and a proper run but wealther is filthy!!

http://s22.photobucket.com/albums/b308/MBlur/Team%20Phoenix%20Esprit/?albumview=slideshow

Edited November 20, 2010 by M Blur

[M Blur]

Impromtu first test run today - a bit slippy - on green semi slick R888s (not run, 3yrs old so harndened, and road cold and damp but I persevered. I need to run the car to recharge the battery due to the alternator set-up.

Firstly I managed to get over the speed bumps - hooray! Then to note rear traction was immense - very shocked at that given condition of tyres, secondly front end was lively and tracked everything so a bit front to rear bias weight adjustment may be neccessary. Brakes glazed but started to come back - no servo so felt typically wooden like an Elise.

Grunt is quite shocking after a few years out of a v.fast car.. never used much more than half revs but every gear from say 30 was brutal bar 5th which needed a but more speed but from 50 also relentless.. thought I was in 2nd but I was in 4th etc etc// No idea of speed (no speedo) but the way car would pull up and leave cars was comical on a short run.. very exrteme experience tho for road use and roundabouts taken with extreme caution. steering lighter than expected but will hopefully weight as grip comes to the tyres. Engien very cammy low down and doesn't like to doddle, stop or go -

Initially scary but gradually started to get into it, nice n easy,

Most gauges working okay bar fuel gauge which stopped working this weekend and suspect bad connection at sender or gauge as electrics all new - worrying given engine's likley thirst but easy enough to fix. rear camera is very good and aids the tiny racetech mirrors.

Rear hatch needs more vents - just not enough ways for heat to escape engine bay.. engine running >100 deg F.even on a short run. Good oil pressure >40psi, water temps around 110 degrees and voltmeter was showing only 12 volts, now looked closer to 13 so alternator seems to be doing its thing.

Made a little boy fall of his push bike and a 7 driver almost swallowed his toungue when he went past in the other direction - I gave our fellow loti brethern the typical nod.

LOUD!

JB

P.S. Will post vids as soon as I can get hold of my mount/clamp.

[Mike6]

Wow just watched that youtube clip and my computer table and everything on it started to rattle and move about. Awesome and worth every penny. Would you accept Irish Euros.

[M Blur]

That's nothing, that vid was idling with a dodgy camera phone..

some good weather back from work + finally got video hooked up.. took her oot for a wee run this evening.

<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/jK9e07wV7r8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/jK9e07wV7r8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

and still didn't manage to open up the taps properly, mostly short-shifting.. only up to 5000 revs at most.. takes on another edge after 6000rpm to 7000rpm+

Need to reserve that for track tho.

'Shake n bake'

JB

Edited April 19, 2011 by M Blur

[silverfrost]

Jon,

Really chuffed your using the car mate Great video, Keep up the good work, whats the deal are you keeping this car now, I hope so after all your effort and hard work

Regards danny

[M Blur]

Cheers Danny,

To be honest she's pretty hardcore..

It's not so much the engine tho the single digit mpg and really cammy engine are a trade off of the raw power. Hazzard's old car has always been a race car and the chassis and interior etc are a bit hardcore.. But at least a lot tidier than how he had it. A bit hard for the road tho is like piloting a spitfire on 4 wheels.

We'll see, going to get a few track sessions in and trying to convince the organisers of Targa Britannia to let her in. That would be good fun.

Need to address brakes, 4 pot Alcons just not nearly enough now..

JB

[M Blur]

Wee bit sun, chance to take some up to date pics with front diffuser on etc

<div style="width:480px;text-align:right;"><embed width="480" height="360" src="http://static.pbsrc.com/flash/rss_slideshow.swf" flashvars="rssFeed=http%3A%2F%2Ffeed22.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fb308%2FMBlur%2FEsprit%2520Special%25202011%2520%2520Green%2520Monster%2520Racing%2Ffeed.rss" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" /><a href="http://photobucket.com/redirect/album?showShareLB=1" target="_blank"><img src="http://pic.pbsrc.com/share/icons/embed/btn_geturs.gif" style="border:none;" /></a><a href="http://s22.photobucket.com/albums/b308/MBlur/Esprit%20Special%202011%20%20Green%20Monster%20Racing/" target="_blank"><img src="http://pic.pbsrc.com/share/icons/embed/btn_viewall.gif" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

[Jonathan]

Awesome !

[silverfrost]

Jon,

" Green Monster 2011 " I love it

Regards danny

[M Blur]

Cheers guys,

Going into engine shop to find missing 150bhp or so, 3 options:

Address valve bounce and fuelling on current set up and take top end up to 8500rpm. Cheapest option.

Short stroke and square off the block and run 9000rpm. Coolest option but pricey.

427 stroker kit but try and keep her free revving.. Probably the most realistic option.

Target is 550-600bhp..

Pwace yor betz..

JB

[Jonathan]

Go the 9000 rpm route, you wont be happy otherwise.

Jobs worth doing.....do it propperly - it'll sound fantastic.

Seriously hardcore though.

[rydning]

Hi Jon

Its realy good to see that you have got your car running. And it looks good to.

Do you have a video from outside while accelerating?

[M Blur]

Not yet decided to have car reloomed by a guy I know now that I'm planning on keeping car after ( yet another time waster)!

Then we'll turn attention to fuelling and timing.

Once we know she's running right and north of 500bhp then we have some test days at Knockhill to start dialling in the chassis.

Seen a really nice Barry Grant Demon 4 barrel carb.. Flows 920cfm.. Yummy!

Few other little jobs I'd like to do such as a trans pump and cooler.

So soon..