Disappointment in 06, looking fwd to 07?

Decisions, decisions: V8 or replacement 910 - both race spec, both forged - both 10K installed..[ouch]

Much hangs on tranny options for the Chevy V8 and available room. Switching to a different tranny makes sense but it's more cost and perhaps more space required.

British American V8s have come back with quote - their Stroker 383 'M' looks very cool - 425bhp approx and 470lbft.. nice. Main thing is to have a new engine installed by Xmas. www.britishamericanengines.co.uk

Meanwhile I'm trying not to think about S'stone - possibility we can patch old 910 together for one last track day at Knockhill - SIDC - 19th Sept.

Stay tuned.
Jon

Engines engines engines

Decisions decisions decisions..

Should I get a new engine or try to rebuild existing>?

Both options would give me strong engines specific for racing and built to last - small block Chevy 350 would be stroked to 383 or 408 - it'd give a reliable 400bhp and 400lbft torque or so. 910 engine would be set up to same spec as the race Esprits in the US to give 500bhp and 400+lbft torque.

Both would be tuned to give nice linear delivery, top endy, willingness to rev out, strong top ends to handle that. Both would be fully balanced and lightened, forged bottom ends etc. Both would be nice - the V8 is the cheaper engine but requirs more installation. Both will come in around 10K fitted. the 910 would be the fastest package - more power + lighter block - Chevy tends to use an iron block - all alloy LS engines tend to fetch big bucks if you want the larger stroke and more power. The LS would probably have the larger torque curve most likely... and the noise of course.

The 910 can be tuned further but not much reliably beyond 600bhp for prolonged circuit use without need for constant rebuilds - V8 can be tuned more easily but as my engine builder says - only 2 circuits where I'd miss any power deficit above 500bhp.. i.e. Thruxton, Snetterton and S'stone to a degree (i.e. Hangar straight). I've no intention to go above 500bhp.. anything above 400bhp is worth the hassle. Intention would be to have either serviced once per annum by the builder to monitor wear.

'Kemp' 910 would also be nice - built by the best 910 engine builder in the UK who prepares drag engines etc. Forged bottom end: crank, H-beam rods, pistons, special cams, verniers, new block, iron liners or modded closed block, p&p and balanced, lightened fly, special cam gear, balanced, dry sumped, uprated gaskets, arp fixers throughout.. etc etc. Counts little for bragging rights but simply gives me the best base engine for racing next year - engine would then be dyno'd, run in and tightened down with my chosen turbo before crating up.

Need to decide on a mechanic to do the install - I'll prb give Dunc first refusal but I wont pass the business if he's snowed as he'll struggle to turn around in time, which he admits himself - inundated with Scobbies and Nissans.

I'd probably switch to a fuel cell and review the fuel pump-to-rail set-up.

All going well the new engine could be ready by end of Sept/Oct - aim to have install complete by end of year and start testing in the new year.

S'stone no-go - engine is dead..!

Finally ran the compression check - bad news - all cylinders at least 30psi down - most likely the rings are shot. It's not conclusive as the engine was cold but it ws cranked with full throttle.

Gutted - we stopped work pending a re-think - not much point taking to Datsek quite yet and not worth the risk to take down.

Need to think about whether to rebuild existing engin or swap to a fresh one

bu**er!

Boost controller..?

I've elected to go for an HKS EVC3 (doesn't have fuzzy logic) to control the boost - this will give me more control than the simple 2 buttom approach currently set-up. It also give sme options to lower the boost if I think the car is misbehaving mid-weekend and want to still try and run but at a lower boost. It should also allow me to run boost according to track type/conditions

Not sure what to do with the original Delco solenoid activated by the ecu.>? I know some guys frown on these but for racing they're bloody handy and John Welch reckons they are very useful for race and modified applications.

If I disconnect the original delco unit can I leave in situ or does it have to be removed completely - ie.. remove connectors to etc etc..??

more questions..????

Silverstone - not long now

The LOT track day at Silverstone GP looms near - prep for the Esprit is running overtime - but will it be ready in time.. who knows!

Thankfully LOT guys both organised and relaxed - wil literally turn up and pay on the day.

If all goes well then expect some pics over next cpl of week.

Airbox update

Well I've finally got there - to be honest the box is A1 but the seal between box lid and scoop was awful. luckily I had some polyurethane sealant/adhensive on the shelf so applied liberal amounts ot the join and bolted it all down tightly. I;ve used draft excluded adhensive tape on all of the other joins.. so fingers crossed.

Tonight I drilled the 7 hols for the special threaded rivets that use one of those fancy torque tools. All line up pretty well with the box and I have some decent screws that will do in the short term. Mullig whether I shoudl countersink the holes for the rivets - would then get more of a flush fit between roof panel and the lip of the air box that's bolted to it.

Scoop looks okay amd will look fine once on the car tho it doesn't look the money that's been spent on it.

Filter oiled and ready to go in - diameters measured and Dunc has ordered the requireed pipework.

Lots to do on Friday - but looks more positive now - then it all comes down to the rollers at Dastek.

Tomorrow I need to finish the last peice of the airbox assembly which is a very crude twisted bracket that will support/secure the airbox in the frame,

Bliming wires...

Trying to re-fit the ecu but 2 wires have come out of their multi-plugs - we can't work out exactly where they've come off and my manual shows only 3 plugs not 4 as I have - ???

Tracking down the correct colour coding for the wires and ecu multi-plug connectors on pdf - I need this by Friday or I my chances are stuffed to do a shakedown at the w/e to get to S'stone next week.

It could be they are redundant as many things have been disconnected but who'd take the chance.. A re-loom for next year is a def must if I'm to make this bloody car reliable for racing.. Bliming awful set-up.

Back form Le Mans Bugatti - S'stone??

Yoshi and I decided to make the trip back from Le Mans in one stint, which gave me an extra day on the Esprit for S'stone on the 3rd August.

:o) talk about cutting it close - Compressions still to do ££$%^& Fitting brackets for 'modest' roof mounted airbox today and also cut prototype hatch to suit. Few hoses stil to replace, electrics still a joke. All 6 injectors in, new c'cooler pump in but couple of rogue wires loose into back of ecu so have to check and meant we couldn't do an idle test yesterday. Shakedown booked for 30th so fingers etc crossed.

I'm really trying to make it as it'll be invaluable experience for next year as I have no real idea of how fast she'll want to go with 350-360bhp - let alone when she's got 500bhp. It'll be a good marker and good chance to pick up tips for taking the faster turns ahead of racing next year..

Stay tuned... it's 50:50 !!

LOT Racing Driver's Club (LOTRDC)

I will be signing up for this in August once regulations become known. Aim will then be to run 3-4 weekends in year 1 as part of the class 4 invitation category. That will also give me chance to play with set-ups.

"The Lotus on Track Elise Trophy is being launched in 2007 in conjunction with MSVR - the racing club division of Motor Sport Vision - owners of Brands Hatch and four other major circuits. LoTRDC aims to provide a friendly, safe and financially viable series for those wishing to progress from attending LoT track days into racing. The series is open by invitation to like minded Elise & VX220 owners and will be a mix of straight class racing and an exciting handicapped race. There are only a handful of Elises racing on the same grid in the UK at the moment and we hope to change that with the Elise Trophy."

I will then also run 2-3 events in time attack to supplement. Hopefully both will make for good sponsorship opportunities.

Dunc is popping over Friday night to go over list of jobs.. phew!!

SMRC or LOT series - 2007?

Gordon was busting my balls again as to entering the SMRC race series. Frankly I've been bombarded with the whole SMRC thing and it's getting tiring. Perhaps I don't share folks' obsessive ~ serious focus to win - the Esprit has her wins with her previous owner - she's got provinence and doesn't deserve to be raced full out season-on-season anymore. I'm here to learn, enjoy and compete with minimal financial and physical detriment as possible. Eleanor isn't an easy car to maintain so I want to be picky in what I have a go at. Running the car every weekend would cost a massive budget simply put.

I'm not going to to go and race big power cossies and mental specials etc in year 1 -I'd rather build up my own experience and develop the car which has 10yrs of tweaking to catch-up on. When I do go onto race GT cars I'd rather do it on a faster more flowing circuit.

I have nowt against folks racing SMRC but for me I want to learn the tracks down south - you learn one style of driving at KH - I want to broaden my experience on tracks with more than 6/7 deja-vu turns. Maybe after that I'll come back to SMRC, which I see as way more competitive, higher expense. I've watched enough SMRC to know there's more than the odd big off and trading of paintwork. Yes other big cars appear in SMRC but generally look bloody awkward and absolute sitting ducks for the likes of Kevin his Cossie and that weird Charade thingy. I'll only be lookng at 2-3 events in y1 to balance costs with developing car. y2 - who knows..

the appeals of LOT are plain to see and there's the chance of more Esprits coming into the fray not to mention nutzky's like Neil sticking on s'chargers eventually. I wont even be competing for cup points in class 4 so it's not about winning or losing in any case.

Besides Knockhill is a bloody dreary damp, cold and wet place at the best of times - I fancy some darn saaf sunshine thanks very much. and the chance to race on tracks I've only watched on telly or from the grandstand.