Jump to content
SAU Community

Recommended Posts

Something different that's being built at pro fabrication race engineering for one of our customers. The owner has had a number of lotus' in the past from rover k series to Toyota powered Elise's and also some other production cars like celica's and recently a brand spanker ford focus RS.

The idea of this exige was to create his ultimate lotus that was uncompromised.

The base car was bought from NZ with a Honda K series engine and the homologated Jackson supercharger kit.

After a couple of races the car was stripped down to a Bare alloy chassis and the rebuild began.

The engine was overhauled buy a well know lotus Toyota engine builder Neil trumma.

While the engine was away a 70L bladder tank was installed and a new integrated surge tank was built.

Using an aeromotive pump hanging off the bottom to feed the surge, the surge is feeding a single Bosch pump externally. The reg was mounted to the tank to keep everything compacted and easy to locate.

post-20349-0-24142300-1364628864_thumb.jpg

Catch can was done next to sit behind the engine

post-20349-0-47614900-1364628925_thumb.jpg

Engine came back with instructions to build the mother of all exhaust systems. The owner has a lot of respect for the engine builder (his engines have been beating him for years so kinda gotta listen to him now) and work begun on the exhaust.

Plans are to do the system in titanium once the stainless version has been tested and modified if required.

post-20349-0-59721700-1364629369_thumb.jpg

post-20349-0-92557200-1364629523_thumb.jpg

post-20349-0-05277500-1364629748_thumb.jpg

The rest of the exhaust is 4inch with a funnel outlet that will create a basic blown diffuser.

post-20349-0-58384000-1364629841_thumb.jpg

Justin from pro wire is coming in to wire the entire car and install the Haltech Ecu, race pak smart wire and all the data logging gear.

Next up is the mounts for the air jack system and all the fuel system plumbing.

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/422616-lotus-exige-prod-sports-build/
Share on other sites

I'd never own a lotus either but building one like this is always good.

Ill throw up some photos of the body work and other bits that are done this week. Basically everything from the original car went in to bin and has been replaced.

Porka is a 100% accurate lemans replica. Engine & transaxle are close but not legit components.

I couldn't bring myself to own such an impractical yet hideously expensive car. They are such basic cars I don't understand why they are so expensive.

Porka is a 100% accurate lemans replica. Engine & transaxle are close but not legit components.

I couldn't bring myself to own such an impractical yet hideously expensive car. They are such basic cars I don't understand why they are so expensive.

You're teasing with this one. Is it a replica because it wasn't made in Weissach? Or is it a modern reproduction that follows the original plans and never raced? It seems that numerous builds of the 956/962 were not carried out by Porsche themselves.

Reading up on their history, comments by Derek Bell indicated they were very "truck-like" but that toughness was what led to success in 24 hour events. Ground effects that worked was the obvious big advance from their 935 model.

Tell us a little more about this thing.

That car has been assembled and manufactured here locally in the owners garage over the the last 7 years.

He has purchased as many genuine parts as possible and the rest his been able to either borrow genuine parts and have reproductions made or bought reproductions out of Canada for it.

The suspension and uprights are all 100% identical reproductions of the original cars.

The body work is from the original Porsche moulds same as the front screen.

Things like radiators etc have all been locally made from drawings and photos of original parts.

The car hasn't been raced and I don't think it will be. The owner has built it just to take out and enjoy driving it. The amount of money that's been spent is ludicrous,

What a shame. Should have built a Cobra for a fraction of the cost and use it as an open top pose machine.

That thing should be welcomed into any historic type events and run at speed. I love looking at the vision of Rob Sharrad's Sauber C9(?) Group C.

I'd never own a lotus either but building one like this is always good.

Ill throw up some photos of the body work and other bits that are done this week. Basically everything from the original car went in to bin and has been replaced.

Is there a reason why you'd never own one? Financial or mechanical?

Financially doesn't concern me owning one. In fact a supercharged Honda series 2 is actually a more financially viable option to purchase than my current Supercar.

THe thing that turns me off is how fragile they are. If the car takes a decent shunt its usually a write off. The chassis is an aluminium extrusion "tub" chassis. All the stress of an accident goes directly into the tub which is only glued together.

The rear subframe is replaceable but its also bolted to the tub and vulnerable.

Mechanically some can be a nightmare, this one should be fairly good. They don't have "weak" links like gearboxes. They are known to catch fire but that's just through poor preparation and heat management than anything else.

No doubt a great car but I can see ownership being a very frustrating thing. If my Supercar takes a hit, drop it at the panel shop rip it straight and back on the track.

The tubs are actually fairly cheap. It's the time that goes into changing everything over that becomes the frustrating part.

Honda K series conversions are expensive so if you did buy one get one already done or a Toyota powered car.

Don't touch a rover engined car unless you get it cheap and want to do a Honda conversion anyway.

This car was originally bought from New Zealand and was well priced

They are so underpowered and a reliability nightmare with the old rover engines.

That always seems to be the perennial bugbear of Pommy engineering - some good ideas, poorly executed in terms on maintenance/servicing or reliability. Little wonder that Rover were happy to get Honda on board back in the day.

That always seems to be the perennial bugbear of Pommy engineering - some good ideas, poorly executed in terms on maintenance/servicing or reliability. Little wonder that Rover were happy to get Honda on board back in the day.

Take that back or I'll glass yah!

I hve tracked a Rover Lotus Elise and it was underpowered. The thing was still keeping up with R33 GTRs on street tyres, mostly courtesy to the AO48s it was on. Whilst underpowered the driving was a load of fun.

The main problem withthe Rover engines is head gaskets. There are som3 decent enough kits around for them that if you put a good quality head gasket in to replace the std then you are on your way to making a reasonable 180hp or so

I have tracked a supercharged Exige at Spa Francorchamps and being a high speed track the s/c Exige did struggle against the GT3 Porsches and 430 Fezz's down the long straights but under brakes and cornering they were mobile road blocks

The Exige is a fun and awesome looking car, great handling and stopping car just that they need at least 225hp. If you can get them up around 285-300hp then they are genuinely QUICK cars. Compared to some of the other big banger exotics they are shopping trolley change for servicing and spares/parts. I am a huge fan and on a montly basis have to tell myself that sinking 50k into a 3rd car is poor form :)

I just looked around NZ classifieds and looks like since I will be unemployed in the next 3-4 weeks I should take my next assignment in NZ, just long enough to get a personal import.

Any more pics of the chassis and cage etc? This one is silver which makes me WANT IT EVEN MORE :)

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Similar Content

  • Latest Posts

    • sold listed as a Tomei LSD 1.5 Way For 1998+ Nissan Skyline ER34 25GT RB25DE w/Open R200 https://www.ebay.com/itm/174006114594?campid=5338967980&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&toolid=10050&customid=&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&loc_physical_ms=108689&loc_interest_ms=&campid=5338967980&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&toolid=10050&customid=71883f2ccc571356e0a757bc7adfdde2&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&loc_physical_ms=108689&loc_interest_ms= it went in like butter all gears, alignment, back lash etc, rotation and clearances correct, and if rolling all rotates smooth and free when coasting down road , clutch in or out over 10 mph smooth... its the binding, clunking and jerking from a stop that is most concerning, also seems like its going to tear the tires off in 10 miles of normal road driving. 
    • What 1.5 way? There's no such thing really as a 1.5 way, just different ways of explaining 2 ways with different ramp rates. HOWEVER. In any driving in a straight line your 1.5 or 2 or 1.7 way should have no clunking at all. With the clutch fully depressed the diff should be silent (unless it's welded but I'm assuming it's not). Something aint right here.
    • Clutch is a spec brand, new clutch system,( PP, flywheel, friction disc, etc. pull type) installed 100 miles ago, with no problems.
    • looking for some help and maybe some insight on others experience with a new LSD. R34 GT ran and drove beautifully, but always alot of grip loss due to the open R200 rear end, so I just installed a new 1.5 LSD way into the stock open R200 for a ER34. Simple. Everything seemed right. I test drove for the first time this weekend. as I started to back out the garage the first time slowly with tires straight it sounded and felt like I had a loose or half disconnected drive shaft...that was clucking around loose and shaking entire vehicle, and making it feel like the trans clutch was spontaneously slipping then grabbing very roughly while just letting out pedal slowly. I backed it out went to pull forward with the same noise, shake and slip grab feeling with hesitation, I turned the tires to back out more and then pulled ahead some same thing but worst because of added wheel resistance (which that I expected) puzzled … pulling it back in checking everything over and finding nothing wrong, I tried it the next day. same thing, couldn’t believe how it shook everything again making a terrible noise and making it feel like the trans clutch was slipping and grabbing, but I got it out of garage into the driveway, got it straight, drove forward and then reveres a few times in a straight line everything shaking , causing what felt like clutch slip and grab every time, sounded like right behind front driver tire and I could feel it in the floor board with my feet,... worst right when beginning to let clutch pedal out to engage slightly, shuttering and sounding terrible along the way…I managed to slowly get down the road, babying it the whole way, once I was rolling (out of 1st) seemed to be better and between shifts, then clutch felt closer to normal…not slip/ grab etc., but back down to any stop, straight road or turning, same thing. Made no difference if all tires were straight or if I was turning. All other gauge read out correct. with in 2 miles as planned I reached the empty parking lot and performed the break in procedure that came with lsd, essentially to drive in a figure 8 a bunch.  Did this, binding chattering, and shaking the car the whole way. I drove it back home seemed somewhat normal once I was in straight line and past 10 mph or so, and I know it will “bind” on corners and cause some tires squeal when turning especially from a stop, but when I begin to move it still causes what feels like the trans clutch to slip and jerk badly as well as shaking the entire car, and sounds terrible, that I didn’t expect. I used the fluid they supplied with LSD kit and did the breaking, planning to change fluid as they suggest after breaking, but wondering will it get smoother or less aggressive with use? maybe a 1.5 is just too aggressive for normal road driving?   I have a LSD that I put in my 71 cuda when I restored it, with amazing smooth , quite yet effective results. Different style LSD but that ones a joy to drive. maybe expecting too much from this R200?
    • Join SAU NSW for a flame-grilled feed & flame-spitting cruise! Sunday 17th August 2025 3:30PM Meeting Archies Flame Grille Sylvania Waters 4:45PM Cruise Departure 5:15PM Arrival at Cape Solander Kurnell Meet Location: Archies Flame Grille Final Destination: Cape Solander Kurnell *Disclaimer* There will be a lead and follow car so no one should get lost. If you would like to attend or bring others along please put your name down and a +1 as numbers will be needed prior! This is NOT a race and we will all be adhering to all road rules. If this is what you want please come to one of our many track days. This is an official SAU:NSW event and will be run under a CAMS permit. One of the things that really sets our club apart is our commitment to being true enthusiasts. When on normal roads we strive to maintain good relations with the authorities as well as the public in general. When attending one of Skylines Australia NSW events please try to: • Be aware of surrounding environment and act accordingly. • Drive courteously on the state’s roads as a true enthusiast should. • Understand how important it is to maintain the good name of SAU NSW and thus, treat others accordingly. • Any misbehavior will not be tolerated and you will be asked to leave.
×
×
  • Create New...