Building a reliable Esprit

Posted by Time-Chance-5374@reddit | projectcar | View on Reddit | 48 comments

I’m almost three years into this swap, not in a rush, just enjoying the build. It’s a childhood dream car so I’m pretty happy just to have it in my garage. 88 Lotus Esprit turbo getting a Honda k24a2, Kraftwerks supercharger, Kennedy adapter, Porsche boxster trans. I’ve got everything on hand to finish the build, all the custom parts that needed to be fab’d are done, just trying to find time where I can to put it all together.

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Zed32_Customs@reddit

1 bolt a day makes the world go round

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TSIorDIE@reddit

Yeah this is how I've managed to get anything done. Even if it's just cleaning parts or airing up tires or something. Eventually it'll come together.

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Flashy-Wrongdoer-628@reddit

Hell yeah

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Own-Opinion-2494@reddit

Toyota motor

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chandleya@reddit

In seeing how impossible this obviously is, I’m curious what actually fits in there. It’s obviously not wide enough for an EJ. An LS is so small for what it is but it is still at least 4.8L.

Maybe a Renesis? Mazda K8 V6? Honda B16? A Ford 1.0 Ecoboost would be a laugh but otherwise awful.

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Seeker80@reddit

I was thinking someone could step up and offer one of those 'restomod' jobs for the Esprit. I was checking to be sure, and the Esprit used a longitudinal mount for the engine, so lots of options out there.

The GM Ecotec turbo could work as a replacement engine on the early 4cyl cars. Just something more common and with better support that can also be turned up a bit further.

An LF4 V6 could work too. In keeping with the lower displacement & turbocharged theme.

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Accro15@reddit

As expected, looks like someone is:

https://encor.design/

But will probably cost way too much.

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Seeker80@reddit

Oh yeah, that's pricey. They're really trying to take it up to some new heights by starting with only V8 models and offering a new flat-plane V8, but that's expensive. Ooof.

Definitely more room for chassis freshening and a reliable 300hp 4cyl. I guess if you're going to do something, might as well go big.

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Time-Chance-5374@reddit (OP)

Those would all fit except the ej

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HuyFongFood@reddit

The frame rails are quite narrow so it is a challenge

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Toto_nemisis@reddit

Omg this is awesome!

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9bikes@reddit

> Kraftwerks supercharger

For driving on the autobahn!

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soedesh1@reddit

I’m the operator of my pocket calculator.

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ClosedL00p@reddit

“Dadyou know you’re not supposed to be on the internet unsupervised…”

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_Schrodingers_Gat_@reddit

Just don't tell your mother what this cost.

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STUPIDBLOODYCOMPUTER@reddit

Deutsche qualität

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Roverjosh@reddit

Now this is an awesome concept… my favorite car from the 80s was Roger Moore’s Bond’s Espirit… so cool!

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SALTY_PILOT@reddit

this is one of the best ideas

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Time-Chance-5374@reddit (OP)

Thanks man, I spent about a year contemplating it until I just had to find an esprit and do it. 12 year old me made me do it.

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leppardfan@reddit

Any of 1989.5-1995 Esprits with GMPFI fuel injection are reliable. One reason is that GM (their owner) made them pass GM quality tests. They also gave them access to the GM parts bin with many reliable/cheap parts...e.g. ECU is $200. Full disclosure: I am an 91SE owner for the last 20years.

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jankenpoo@reddit

Next step is to make it a submarine!

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teamgravyracing@reddit

"got everything on hand to finish" hahaha. I've said thia so many times and I'm not even doing a swap. You won't know how wrong you are until your done.