I know not many of you venture into the Luego sub-forum of this site; I have a project thread in there which occasionally gets updated:

http://locostbuilders.co.uk/forum/27/viewthread.php?tid=182407

But I thought I'd do this post as a quick reference as to what I've been up to over the last 6 weeks -

I had bought my Locost with a standard 2.0 silvertop in it but decided it wasn't fast enough so fitted some GSXr throttle bodies and MBE ECU and had it mapped to 168bhp.

Did a few track days which were really enjoyable but after getting my arse handed to me by a Jag f-type I decided more torque was needed.

I read some posts and did some research and went for a 1.8 Turbo CA18DET from a Nissan 200sx S13.

I roped in the help of Steve Bell to fit it -

old one out -



New one being installed -









Well, it works -



My pro-drifter mate having a play -




I need to get the inlet modified and my new bonnet fitted to sort all the holes out



- it's nothing short of awesome. It scares me to drive it and I'm always wanting to go out in it, I know some people say turbo's are too much power in these yada yada but this conversion has utterly transformed the car into a monster.

If anyone else is considering the conversion I hope I can be of some help

Good work, what sort of power and torque are you getting?, nothing like adding lightness to a turbo motor...

The ECU has a Horsham Developments Stage 2 chip, this 'stage' requires -

T28 turbo from the SR20, uprated fuel pump, bigger downpipe, front mount intercooler and boost controller.

I have all those things already on the engine but have left the boost 'standard' for now, it's therefore running around 8psi but on the bigger turbo so is probably somewhere around 220-230bhp but it feels much much more powerful than that, I've honestly never driven anything that pulls as hard as this (and I have driven some fairly impressive machinery LOL).

When I dare, the boost controller will be setup to run around 15-16psi which should take the engine to 270-280bhp but, as it stands I honestly can't imagine needing it to be any faster.

No idea on torque I'm afraid until I get the boost controller on.

[Edited on 7/10/14 by daveb666]

what kind of weight is the car now dave?

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Originally posted by beaver34
what kind of weight is the car now dave?

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Nice .....

If you don't mind me asking what was the "rough" installed cost? Don't mind a u2u reply!

Cheers

Andy

u2u sent Andy

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Originally posted by daveb666

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Originally posted by beaver34
what kind of weight is the car now dave?

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Not sure Alastair - at my Procomp weigh-in it came in at 611kg.

Whilst the actual CA18DET block & turbo is lighter than the silvertop block that I took out I have obviously added some bits - fmic, bigger radiator, more loom and my new bonnet is also heavier, BUT the new exhaust is a lot lighter than my old one was.

I'd be surprised if I'd added more than 25-30kg but I won't know until I get it back on the scales.

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quote:

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Originally posted by beaver34
its is a fairly different approach to driving though, i dont feel as confident in the corners as when it was n/a as now it is turbo charged as when its comes on boost its proper savage and i can only think im going to end up backwards

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quote:

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Originally posted by daveb666

quote:

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Originally posted by beaver34
its is a fairly different approach to driving though, i dont feel as confident in the corners as when it was n/a as now it is turbo charged as when its comes on boost its proper savage and i can only think im going to end up backwards

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Agree 100% - it's mental on the straights but I do intend on participating in some DWYB/skid days to really try and get the most out of the car on the corners - I don't really want to die tbh.

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Very impressive conversion

Coming from someone who drifts 400hp to 500hp Nissans and has also owned 3 kit cars from 2ltr pinto through to the the current GSXR 1000 Indy and who also does a fair few track days etc etc. I totally understand why you have done this.

I have been torn for sometime between the driveabilty of our cars compared with chasing power figures. These cars are all about grip and speed, too much unpredictable power and the driver will hold off trying to apply it, yes it will be great fun and certainly be a handfull and if that's all the owners want then go for it I say.

I am currently thinking of fitting a turbo to a spare GSXR 1000 engine I have, but like you I'm looking for a bit more but not too much as too spoil the whole point of owning this type of car. If i want to drift I take one of the other toys out the box as they say...

I recently did a track day at Croft and many of the newer hot hatches now can lap very quickly never mind the high powered stuff, although in the corners I wanted them out of the way I lacked the acceleration I felt i could handle once the car was straight out of the corner and 2/3rds of the way down the straight would have been a nice place for more grunt.

quote:

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Originally posted by marco
Very impressive conversion

Coming from someone who drifts 400hp to 500hp Nissans and has also owned 3 kit cars from 2ltr pinto through to the the current GSXR 1000 Indy and who also does a fair few track days etc etc. I totally understand why you have done this.

I have been torn for sometime between the driveabilty of our cars compared with chasing power figures. These cars are all about grip and speed, too much unpredictable power and the driver will hold off trying to apply it, yes it will be great fun and certainly be a handfull and if that's all the owners want then go for it I say.

I am currently thinking of fitting a turbo to a spare GSXR 1000 engine I have, but like you I'm looking for a bit more but not too much as too spoil the whole point of owning this type of car. If i want to drift I take one of the other toys out the box as they say...

I recently did a track day at Croft and many of the newer hot hatches now can lap very quickly never mind the high powered stuff, although in the corners I wanted them out of the way I lacked the acceleration I felt i could handle once the car was straight out of the corner and 2/3rds of the way down the straight would have been a nice place for more grunt.

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Are you saying that with this or more power you are quicker by a mile than say 150 to 180 hp kit cars round the track?

That is my point is it worth chasing the extra power, I had a go in a busa turbo once the fastest scariest thing I've ever been in, would I have liked it as a track car I'm not sure on that one...

quote:

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Originally posted by beaver34

quote:

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Originally posted by marco
Very impressive conversion

Coming from someone who drifts 400hp to 500hp Nissans and has also owned 3 kit cars from 2ltr pinto through to the the current GSXR 1000 Indy and who also does a fair few track days etc etc. I totally understand why you have done this.

I have been torn for sometime between the driveabilty of our cars compared with chasing power figures. These cars are all about grip and speed, too much unpredictable power and the driver will hold off trying to apply it, yes it will be great fun and certainly be a handfull and if that's all the owners want then go for it I say.

I am currently thinking of fitting a turbo to a spare GSXR 1000 engine I have, but like you I'm looking for a bit more but not too much as too spoil the whole point of owning this type of car. If i want to drift I take one of the other toys out the box as they say...

I recently did a track day at Croft and many of the newer hot hatches now can lap very quickly never mind the high powered stuff, although in the corners I wanted them out of the way I lacked the acceleration I felt i could handle once the car was straight out of the corner and 2/3rds of the way down the straight would have been a nice place for more grunt.

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i think track use with big power is fine, its on the road i struggle as there is no margin for error or a small slide or sniff of understeer

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ive not been on track after its power increase, it will be quicker for sure with the turbo power when looking at the sprint and hill climb times people are always faster after having more power ive not seen anyone go the other way

mostly i think its restructuring the driving style to be more gradual in feeding the power in and it will cause no issues

quote:

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Originally posted by marco
Are you saying that with this or more power you are quicker by a mile than say 150 to 180 hp kit cars round the track?

That is my point is it worth chasing the extra power, I had a go in a busa turbo once the fastest scariest thing I've ever been in, would I have liked it as a track car I'm not sure on that one...

quote:

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Originally posted by beaver34

quote:

---

Originally posted by marco
Very impressive conversion

Coming from someone who drifts 400hp to 500hp Nissans and has also owned 3 kit cars from 2ltr pinto through to the the current GSXR 1000 Indy and who also does a fair few track days etc etc. I totally understand why you have done this.

I have been torn for sometime between the driveabilty of our cars compared with chasing power figures. These cars are all about grip and speed, too much unpredictable power and the driver will hold off trying to apply it, yes it will be great fun and certainly be a handfull and if that's all the owners want then go for it I say.

I am currently thinking of fitting a turbo to a spare GSXR 1000 engine I have, but like you I'm looking for a bit more but not too much as too spoil the whole point of owning this type of car. If i want to drift I take one of the other toys out the box as they say...

I recently did a track day at Croft and many of the newer hot hatches now can lap very quickly never mind the high powered stuff, although in the corners I wanted them out of the way I lacked the acceleration I felt i could handle once the car was straight out of the corner and 2/3rds of the way down the straight would have been a nice place for more grunt.

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i think track use with big power is fine, its on the road i struggle as there is no margin for error or a small slide or sniff of understeer

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http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/gallery/10003.JPG Thiis is my ca18det in a dutton

quote:

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Originally posted by marco
Are you saying that with this or more power you are quicker by a mile than say 150 to 180 hp kit cars round the track?

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quote:

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Originally posted by plutos3

Thiis is my ca18det in a dutton

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my CA18DET in my Scimitar Sabre

Steel pauter rods, wiseco forged pistons, autosprint cams, ARP head and main studs, TOGA bearings, GT2560 (iirc) turbo, charge cooled, Emerald ecu, 361hp @18psi







[Edited on 9/10/14 by CNHSS1]

In the process of a rebuild at this time, forged bottom end, fully balanced with light flywheel & paddle clutch. the cylinder head is lightly ported and blue printed on the inlet side, ARP head stud kit. Its got a custom made alloy front pulley with a 36 / 1 trigger wheel and a crank sensor. I have used a ford coil pack and leads, I do not use the air flow meter either. I have used stand alone emerald engine management,

When I was using for the two summers it was amazingly quick but very useable in town, it was much better at putting down the power once I fitted the LSD into the atlas axel.

I will reassemble my engine at the start of 2015 and this time I will have it setup on the rollers.

That's a nice installation you have done now enjoy it