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Honda S2000 conversion
CJ646 - 3/12/18 at 06:17 PM

Hi, newbee on here! My Locost 7 is in dire need of an engine refurb or change. It's currently got a 2.0 pinto mated to a type 9 box, but it's very tired.
I was wondering rather than have it rebuilt whether a better option would be a complete change and go for a Honda S2000 conversion. Appreciate it wouldn't be cheap but bent S2000's do come up on Copart quite often. I'm just wondering if anyone has any knowledge of how practical if at all this might be, will it even fit? Have people done this before? Any thoughts appreciated!

Nickp - 3/12/18 at 07:34 PM

I believe they're a very tall engine, but anything is possible
You'll be into a good few £k's to get one in there.
What about an ST170 lump? Basically a posh Zetec. I got a bare engine for £100 off here. Got a 2nd hand VVT pro (to control the VVT), megajolt and ZX6R carbs. Whole lot probably stands me at about £500 and should see up towards 200bhp once sorted.

CJ646 - 3/12/18 at 07:57 PM

Thanks, yes that's probably a much more sensible, realistic & cost effective option! My old pinto runs on Kawasaki ZX750 carbs now, but I doubt they'd be enough, not that it's an issue.

CosKev3 - 3/12/18 at 09:12 PM

The ratios of the Type9 aren't very good,that's one of the main issues.

As above a S2000 conversion is expensive, but you end up with 240bhp and a sporty ratio 6 speed box

Nickp - 3/12/18 at 09:24 PM

quote:
Originally posted by CJ646
My old pinto runs on Kawasaki ZX750 carbs now, but I doubt they'd be enough, not that it's an issue.


I think they're 38mm so should be well up to the job tbh

Ugg10 - 3/12/18 at 09:58 PM

If you go down the st170 route and re use the carbs the new ME100 ecu is worth looking at. This is basically an ME221 with the injector drivers knobbled which if you wanted to go injection/throttle bodies in the future can be de-knobbled with a firmware update (for beer tokens). This can run full control of the VVC.

I would then invest in the spc duratec semi helical type 9 box (or a Bgh long first), and atb diff and a full geometry set up/rolling road tune, this assumes your brakes are up to it, if not four pots on the front plus light weight 13” wheels and some sticky tyres.

CJ646 - 3/12/18 at 10:40 PM

Yes, that sounds promising, I've got 4 pots already on the front & I think fiesta discs on the rear so should be there or thereabouts on the brakes. Could really go ME221 with throttle bodies & injectors & still be way way under the likely cost of my original S2000 idea. I can see the gearbox upgrade would make sense as well. Thanks

Nickp - 4/12/18 at 07:12 AM

quote:
Originally posted by CJ646
Yes, that sounds promising, I've got 4 pots already on the front & I think fiesta discs on the rear so should be there or thereabouts on the brakes. Could really go ME221 with throttle bodies & injectors & still be way way under the likely cost of my original S2000 idea. I can see the gearbox upgrade would make sense as well. Thanks


I wouldn't dismiss the bike carbs, especially when you can get an ignition ECU like the ME100 which is upgradeable to fuel injection in the future if you wish. You're unlikely to gain much power if any by going FI over well set up and appropriately sized carbs. You could gain some driveability but tbh after my first drive I'm pretty impressed how cleanly my ST170 pulls on the ZX6R carbs, and at what cost? As a bonus the ST comes with its own ready made manifold for a bike carb / ITB conversion, they just need re-spacing to match up

CosKev3 - 4/12/18 at 09:44 AM

quote:
Originally posted by CJ646
Yes, that sounds promising, I've got 4 pots already on the front & I think fiesta discs on the rear so should be there or thereabouts on the brakes. Could really go ME221 with throttle bodies & injectors & still be way way under the likely cost of my original S2000 idea. I can see the gearbox upgrade would make sense as well. Thanks


Depending on how much room you have in tunnel I would be looking into a RX8 gearbox rather than blowing £1500+ on a uprated type 9

rusty nuts - 4/12/18 at 09:45 AM

One thing to bear in mind is your exhaust routing especially if it goes through a side panel? Just another expense if you have to replace bodywork. A BGH gearbox was one of the best mods I've done to my car

wylliezx9r - 4/12/18 at 01:38 PM

I did an S2000 conversion years ago on an Haynes chassis. The engine is tall and the Honda bell-housing is big (if your using it) It would definitely involve some cutting and shutting of a Ron Champion chassis. The engine management works out expensive as it needs to be able to accommodate sequential fuel injection and vtec control.
Overall though a cracking engine that's perfectly suited to a 7; loads of revs, great peak hp and relatively low torque. Not completely bomb proof though as a lot of people seem to think.....they like to spin main bearings on N0.4 piston and are notoriously hard/expensive to re-build.

I think if i was in your postion i would go down the duratec route over a zetec as it is lighter but there isn't much in it in terms of tune-ability.

[Edited on 4/12/18 by wylliezx9r]

SPYDER - 4/12/18 at 01:47 PM

quote:
Originally posted by CosKev3
... but you end up with 240bhp and a sporty ratio 6 speed box


Another route to a similar outcome would be the VVTi 3SGE motor and box from an import Lexus Altezza.
If I was starting again this would be my choice.
Dual VVTi 210 hp and a six speed box, titanium valves and 8K revs. Again, it's a tall motor but probably no more so than the Honda.
They come up fairly regularly at around half the cost of the Honda.

big_wasa - 4/12/18 at 01:50 PM

I am half away through a turbo zetec but if I was starting over tomorrow I would be looking at the 1.6 ecotec. There will be as fresh batch of donors after the winter.