paul jacobs Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 I know the subject has been covered before [several times] but I would be gratefull if anybody who has done it, [dozens of you ] could detail what work is needed to an 1800 k series to get the most power for the least money and keep the thing reliable. Cost would also be a great help in evaluating the project too. The engine I would be starting with is not out of a Caterham, but it comes from a Mk1 Elise with around 30k miles on it. This engine is being sold by a pal for around £300, does this seem about right? Paul J. Waiting to get my CSR back with it's new and remapped Omex ECU Edited by - paul jacobs on 28 Feb 2009 11:57:42 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Whittle Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 If that comes with all the ancillaries you have got yourself a bargain I am Leg End... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billyboy Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 here 20 IS THE MAGIC NUMBER;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul jacobs Posted February 28, 2009 Author Share Posted February 28, 2009 Just realized that this topic should have been in Tech talk, but that link to the 1900 DVA was v. interesting, but over £6000 *eek* Paul J. Waiting to get my CSR back with it's new and remapped Omex ECU Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taffyracer Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 Edited by - taffyracer on 28 Feb 2009 21:21:42 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Support Team Shaun_E Posted February 28, 2009 Support Team Share Posted February 28, 2009 You won't get over 200bhp for much less than that. Think about the cost of the following: Throttle bodies Programmable ECU Forged pistons MS2 or VVC head ported Decent bottom end (Scholar maybe?) Camshafts New bolts, gaskets, etc. 4-2-1 exhaust Assembly by someone who knows what they are doing rolling road session Yellow SL #32 - member of Drowned Rat Racing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Best Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 The block is the cheapest part you can source good secondhand parts and build a 200 bhp engine but you will need some new items. I did it that way and for the parts alone it was about £2500. Add to that TBs Filters exhaust and again if you can find them 2nd hand you are Need another £1500. The engine will then need to be assembled and mapped to include porting of the head and possibly balancing, unless you do it yourself that's another £1,500 - 2,000. Plus and the little things you don't expect but may need, new starter hoses, clutch etc. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul jacobs Posted March 1, 2009 Author Share Posted March 1, 2009 Are there any other engines which would give the required 200bhp for less money, the 2.0l Duratec or maybe a Zetec? Paul J. Waiting to get my CSR back with it's new and remapped Omex ECU Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billyboy Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 There's a good article in Lowflying Last month and this month regarding a duratec engine conversion on the cheap!! But you will need to read it in full - some funny bits too - worth a read IMHO And it seems 200bhp duratec for less than 6k 20 IS THE MAGIC NUMBER;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul McKenzie Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 Paul, In a nutshell - it's the same for most engines Once you put in forged pistons, cams, tb's, mappable ecu and all the other gubbins, they all end up costing you double what you told SWMBO - it's £5K for a properly built tuned engine, whether it's VX, K, Duratec or Zetec. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Wilcx Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 Depends what you start with....certainly build a 200bhp motor for less than £5K....but then you will most likely need to add ECU - TB's - decent exhaust etc - dry sump etc etc and if you want it to survive forged pistons etc etc It all adds up....just don't tell the wife though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badger Bill Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 Have you considered the only real path of truth and enlightenment that is a bike engine? An R1 lump including ancillaries and electrics would be an easy 180bhp, OK not 200bhp, but what you loose in absolute power you make up for in weight. Engine and box probably weigh the same or perhaps even a little less than a k-series engine. Free sequential gearbox too. Also, if it all goes horribly wrong, it will still cost less than a k-series rebuild to buy a std motor and lob it in. I'd strongly recommend trying one of these first before dismissing the BEC option. The whole job neededn't cost more than £3k to do... BB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richyd Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 Paul - Have a look at DVA's website here and go to K05. You will need to add around £850 to this cost for a decent exhaust (powerspeed etc) and c£300 for a custom remap on a RR (Emerald or Track N Road). It can be done on the cheap, but to get the most our of the conversion you should include verniers and an airbox plus a few more hundred quid for forged pistons (which I am sure DVA himself would recommend to make the engine bullet proof). All this lot should result in anything from 190-205bhp in a 1.8k I think and you should squeeze in below £5k in total cost. This is the setup I have on my 1.6, which was recently remapped to 187.9bhp at a pretty safe 8200rpm. I could have got more power if I'd upped the rev limit and fitted an exhaust without a cat built in, but in the end I wanted a safe, reliable and hassle-free engine.... 190bhp in a 1.6 is a thing of beauty 😬 C7 DVA - It's a 1.6 187bhp screamer!!!here Edited by - Richyd on 2 Mar 2009 11:27:06 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Morris Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 Don't forget to budget in cost of rebuild at loweriles than std lump along with the higher prices for parts at rebuild time Power does not come cheap..! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Wilcx Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 DVA K05 is the way I've just gone on my 1.6 - still running it in but have to say that I'm VERY Happy with the service and results so far - just waiting for my slot at Emerald so I can sort the mapping and then really hit the loud pedal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billyboy Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 on pistonheads 200 BHP K £2500 20 IS THE MAGIC NUMBER;-) Edited by - Billyboy on 2 Mar 2009 20:37:36 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Support Team Shaun_E Posted March 3, 2009 Support Team Share Posted March 3, 2009 *arrowup*No throttle bodies and unlikely to have the ECU either. Yellow SL #32 - member of Drowned Rat Racing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul jacobs Posted March 3, 2009 Author Share Posted March 3, 2009 So ECU and a rolling road session, say, £1000, TBs, linkages and airfilter - £750? Paul J. Waiting to get my CSR back with it's new and remapped Omex ECU Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSL Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 £2500 for my old R400 engine currently for sale on Piston heads seems pretty good value *thumbup* (Not for sale by me, the new owner that is ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slider7 Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 Mmm ... but no RB TB's, no dry sump, no flywheel, no ECU or wiring loom. Seem to recall that the going rate for used but 'complete' R400 engines was around 3.5k Add a DS, Emerald, and TB's ... and you'll be getting close to 5k 😳 But now another question : what's 'for sale' in this thread ? 😬 😬 “Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away” Antoine de Saint Exupery Edited by - Slider@7 on 3 Mar 2009 13:25:30 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grubbster Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 Very tempting at £2500 - as I have the rest of the bits needed to swap over from my existing set up (except DS) and would still have a quite reasonable engine to sell on. Shame I daren't spend the money at the moment ☹️ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSL Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 R500 type flywheel was on it when I sold it & would assume that its still fitted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grubbster Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 No flywheel on it in the photos, also as it is EU2 it might not be quite so straightforward for me to exchange. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taffyracer Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 DSL, did you get my email? http://www.xlraceparts.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSL Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 Nope ❗ try- dsluke2@aol.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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