Esprit V8 project

[mike_sekinger 358 2 Vehicles]

For quite some months, I have been waiting for delivery of some special V8 parts. They arrived this week, so in between customer builds I will be building up something rather special for myself.

The basis for the engine is an ex-GT1 918 block. The block (R02) is known as

[Andy67 0 1 Vehicles]

That looks like a very interesring collection of parts there Mike....!

What state/spec is the 5th Gear car in?

[mike_sekinger 358 2 Vehicles]

Hi Andy,

The 5th gear car is

[Andy67 0 1 Vehicles]

Thanks for the info Mike,

Will certainly watch your progress with interest...!

[Jonathan 13]

I would love to be you

Some people have all the fun - watch with interest, sure you can get that car going 100x better than 5th gear did - 200mph ?

[Iconic Ride 267]

Dude!

Froth, froth, froth. Slather, slather, slather, drool, drool, drool.........

OK, Mike, I may be "engine-rebuild challenged," but even I can pick up on the fact that a cross-plane crank is going to require some serious adjustments to the stock piston/valvetrain "interference" mechanical timing. How is this done? Is the pictured camshaft custom made? And by whom? Most importantly, will you be marketing a high fidelity soundtrack recording of the completed engine's exhaust note for installation (with external speakers) in the flat-plane "standard note" versions?

And for those of us who came to the party late, can you provide a quick summary of the "200mph Esprit" escapade?

Thanks,

John

[Advantage 856]

5th Gear TV program 200mph Esprit in a nutshell: "Let's fit nitrous - oh, it broke."

part 1

part 2

Mike, awesome project. Looking forward to this one.

[mike_sekinger 358 2 Vehicles]

The car already has the GTO 5-speed upgraded gearbox, but I

[Bibs 8,949 4 Vehicles]

I thought Betsy was destined for a 4.0l NA project some time ago? Nice to see the block is going in a car and will be used in anger! Look forward to this one mate, good luck

[silverfrost 1,386]

Mike,

Great to see that you have got hold of the esprit you where after Hope all things come together with the project but given your past track record im sure it will be a great end product! Personally think it would be great to build the car and beat the 200nmph that fifth gear did not make Then go and see top gear im sure they would put it on the show just to put fifth gear in there place!

Im sure clarkson would love to see it as would the rest of the esprit community!

Look forward to the updates regards danny

[rocket63 136 1 Vehicles]

Ooo. This will be interesting Mike. Look forward to reading your progress

[mike_sekinger 358 2 Vehicles]

I thought Betsy was destined for a 4.0l project some time ago? Nice to see the block is going in a car and will be used in anger! Look forward to this one mate, good luck

Bibs - as usual, you

[rocket63 136 1 Vehicles]

Genuinely excited about this Cant wait..............

[Cos 6 2 Vehicles]

Hi Mike

This is so exciting. DO IT MAN! I like you plan already.

Cos

[redshift 31 1 Vehicles]

Are my eyes deceiving me or is that turbo in the back ground a tad bigger than normal??

[alan 29]

Mike,

It would be very cool if you could get 200mph out of the 5th Gear car. It would set right a wrong and as Dan says above Top Gear would love it!

Alan

[Gipsy 0]

Are my eyes deceiving me or is that turbo in the back ground a tad bigger than normal??

Yes Pete, this turbo is very big !

If my memory is good, Mike told me that was a turbo for truck or tractor...

I saw bigger turbo during my old job... on railroad train, one of them had a diameter about 1 meter... very big... and very long to be in pressure

[mangel 0]

Looking forward to reading all about this one, Just wish I had my Discovery back or a new as I'd offer to pick the car up and bring it over.

Arse to bad timing!!!

[mike_sekinger 358 2 Vehicles]

That is a very generous thought.

Looking at transport options for a non-runner and prices are about 600-800 sterling +VAT.

Did some checking on the block and had it confirmed yesterday evening - the race blocks had a marginal

[Vulcan Grey 235 1 Vehicles]

I know a guy in the states who claimed to know where some of the GT1 specific engine parts were in Germany... Said he was offered them, but didn't take them.

[Tony94S4 0]

The car already has the GTO 5-speed upgraded gearbox, but I

[mike_sekinger 358 2 Vehicles]

Hi Guys,

@ Travis: I would be interested to get the contact details for the guy you mentioned. I wouldn

[hilly 1 1 Vehicles]

With the right exhaust a cross plane crank does sound good

Good work on the project, wish I had a garage like yours to tinker about in, I'll be keeping a close eye on this one.......

Hilly

[plumdeplakmuis 13 2 Vehicles]

@Travis and Mike

You can also check for old GT1 parts in Holland with the old Carsport team of Mr. Hezemans

as he used to run the Esprit GT1 and Elise GT1 in the BPR and FIA-GT.

I know that some parts where laying around in their old workshop in Eindhoven in 2001.

[Vulcan Grey 235 1 Vehicles]

Mike,

I got two replies from my friend this morning.

Travis;

I am in contact with my friends in Germany on a regular basis. I will be talking with them tomorrow morning. They built the engines for Lotus for the the GT1 Elise project, both the Lotus and the Chevy units. I will ask if they have any additional parts. I helped them clean out the "attic" there during a visit last year. I think that we may have disposed of all of the parts at that time, most of them on Ebay Germany. But I will ask when we talk.

Regards,

Ron

Then later

This may be your friend's lucky day.

As I am sure your friend is already aware, there are not that many parts available for GT1 Esprits, but luckily some very good ones are still available. These parts are left over from a project to put the GT1 engine into a Lola sports racer chassis for Le Mans. The project was stopped because 520 HP (with the required restrictors) was not deemed sufficient.

It would be possible to purchase parts out right or to speak with the current owner about the possibility of assembling an engine if sufficient parts and funding were in place (the current owner has a complete engine shop that specializes in very high performance engine building. He is also completely versed in the GT1 engine). Speaking from memory the following parts are still available to build a good engine:

- new billet crankshaft

- new crankcase (different to stock because it came unfinished direct from Lotus production foundry! Different threads for head studs, steel bearing caps etc.)

- new light tappets without hydraulic valve clearance parts, made from ARROW Precision

- new JE or CP Pistons (from memory, 85mm for 3,6l. Stock is 84mm for 3,5l)

- used H x-section connecting rods

- new and used cylinder liners (Aluminum with Nicasil coating)

- used original cast liners, with used pistons

- exhausts for twin turbo

- exhaust for mono turbo

- Valve covers, "cleaned", billlet milled for carrying engine mounts

- used heads in good condition with copper beryllium seats and 5,5mm or 6mm valves (Can't remember exactly)

- used camshafts, billet made

- used camshafts, cast

- many more miscellaneous parts

Mike, I will PM you my friend's email address.