Support Team Shaun_E Posted August 7, 2005 Support Team Share Posted August 7, 2005 Following the news today that my head gasket has probably failed, my engine upgrade plans are to be brought forward. As I don't want to do any of the work myself other than perhaps removing and refitting the engine I am tempted by a turn-key engine such as those supplied by Hellier Performance. I am looking for something around 200bhp (more would be nice but there are limits to the budget not only for the engine but the rest of the kit that would need upgrading to match). So a few questions: 1. Is it worth the extra £1k for the 1.9 conversion and an extra 10bhp? 2. Are there any risks or benefits of a 1.9 over the 1.8? 3. Does anyone here use the EFi engine management system that Hellier supply? Can it be mapped by the end user? Could I (or should I) specify an Emerald? 4. Are there other suppliers of turn-key engines I should look at? 5. Is it likely I could save a significant amount of money by sourcing the parts myself and getting an engine builder to put it together. 6. For a 200bhp engine, is there any point in using my existing engine (1.6 Super Sport) as a base or would only the block be reused? Please note that this process needs to be minimum hassle and time for me. I spent 6 months stripping and rebuilding my car over the winter and I really don't want to spend any more time in the garage (nor does my wife want me to either ). Reliability of the new engine is important. Shaun Yellow SL #32 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mav Posted August 7, 2005 Share Posted August 7, 2005 What is the cost for this? I only ask as I know you can source a R400 engine complete with drysump system for circa £4k... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Support Team Shaun_E Posted August 7, 2005 Author Support Team Share Posted August 7, 2005 £7k for 1.8 and £8k for 1.9. Are the R400 engines the ex-race ones? If not, i.e. if they are new, where can you get them? Yellow SL #32 Edited by - Shaun_E on 7 Aug 2005 16:15:00 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mav Posted August 7, 2005 Share Posted August 7, 2005 Have a word with Simon Lambert. I know a chap who is thinking about doing this, and the engine has a full refresh prior to being fitted, and apparantly they will be warranied too... Definately worth asking the questions... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottydog Posted August 7, 2005 Share Posted August 7, 2005 I am in the process of having a honda type r engine installed into my SLR, after the K series dropped a rod. The main reasons for choosing this were the reliabilty of the honda(totally fed up with all of the many issues with the Kseries install) & the 260Bhp it will be producing, from a stock engine. I bought a 3000 mile honda from ebay for £1400, I think Ian is still coming up with the total costs, but it might be worth bearing in mind. I am hoping that the conversion should be completed in a couple of weeks time. Scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinwhitcher Posted August 7, 2005 Share Posted August 7, 2005 Why not talk to Oily (DVA) I've got a 207BHP 1800cc K from him, could have had a 1900cc for very similar money but was 3 months to early ☹️, and it was cheaper than that Martin MW 51 CAT Superlight No.171 now known as:Superlight DVA 207 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Support Team Shaun_E Posted August 7, 2005 Author Support Team Share Posted August 7, 2005 Cheers guys, will talk to Caterham and DVA on Monday. Yellow SL #32 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Support Team Shaun_E Posted August 7, 2005 Author Support Team Share Posted August 7, 2005 The Honda route sounds interesting but I just want a plug and play solution. If the car spends any more time off the road I'll lose interest in it. Yellow SL #32 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brodie Posted August 8, 2005 Share Posted August 8, 2005 Someone I know will have a Hayabusa installed in your car complete with a free sequential gearbox for similar money!Totally reliable and certainly the most fun you,ll ever experience in a Caterham? '......in yer bike!' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Support Team Shaun_E Posted August 8, 2005 Author Support Team Share Posted August 8, 2005 Have had a good chat with Dave Andrews now and it looks like a 200+bhp 1.9 K is now on the cards. Should make up my mind by the end of the week. Brodie - tempting as a Hayabusa is, I think I shall be sticking with K-series power. Daves price is a little lower than that quoted above. If anyone knows of a good source of second hand 1.8 K series then please let me know as I want to have a new engine built and fix the current one to keep me on the road. I spoke to Simon Lambert and Caterham have sold all the ex-race R400 engines. Yellow SL #32 Edited by - Shaun_E on 8 Aug 2005 21:17:11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Piper Posted August 8, 2005 Share Posted August 8, 2005 Shaun, Minister do sell ex race engines too, but I don't think they offer guarantees. Have you managed to find someone who will testify as to the longevity of the 1900 engine? I'm not saying there's anything wrong with it, but given your experiences with your (reliable, usually) engine, would you really sink £8k or whatever into an engine that didn't have a solid track record behind it? I know I wouldn't..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Support Team Shaun_E Posted August 9, 2005 Author Support Team Share Posted August 9, 2005 Mark - I discussed this with Dave and there were some issues with the early 1.9 engines that have now been resolved. Dave recommends a Scholar conversion anyway and the difference between the 1.8 and 1.9 is minimal. I think his words were that "it is a single brain cell decision". There is a risk with any tuned or non-mass produced engine as of course they can't possibly have had the level of testing that the unit will have received prior to being fitted to a Rover 25. I appreciate your comment though and am going into this with my eyes open. If anyone with a 1.9 is reading this I would love to hear your experiences good or bad. Please email me offline if you don't want to publish here. Yellow SL #32 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Piper Posted August 9, 2005 Share Posted August 9, 2005 Shame Nigel Marston doesn't post any more - he had a Scholar conversion didn't he and could have shared his experiences (NB I hasten to add that I don't know whether they were good or bad...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinwhitcher Posted August 9, 2005 Share Posted August 9, 2005 I've had a scholar converstion, NO TROUBLE AT ALL, piece of mind re strength and headgaskets. very much a no-brainer IMHO Martin MW 51 CAT Superlight No.171 now known as:Superlight DVA 207 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myles Posted August 9, 2005 Share Posted August 9, 2005 Shame Nigel Marston doesn't post any more - he had a Scholar conversion didn't he and could have shared his experiences (NB I hasten to add that I don't know whether they were good or bad...) Well, he's just sold it... ...hardly used it - but it was/is a corker (244bhp from a 1.9). I drove it shortly before he passed it on. Mmm. Project Scope-Creep is live... Alcester Racing 7's Equipe - 🙆🏻™ Alcester-Racing-Sevens.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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