Elan +2 engine options ?

[MartinL]

Just bought a +2 complete car minus engine, went to view with a zetec conversion in mind but the car is so original and complete it seems a shame to bastardise it with anything but a well sorted twin cam...........................but then the extra performance and reliability from a fuel injected zetec would be nice.....................or a strong well tuned crossflow is an option (an engine I really like tuning and working on) Any other ideas ??

 

Anyone got a twink lying about to sell ??

[jonwat]

Why not fit a Zetec engine & box 'temporarily' while you keep you eye open for a suitable twin can?

It's not as though fitting the Ford lump is irreversible :-)

[MartinL]

john, you may have just given me a plan.

mmmmmm 2.0 zetec on webbers or bike carbs, no messing with electrics or fuel systems, easy straight swop when a twink comes along, sounds great .............think again, need a chassis change or at least major alterations by a very good welder to fit the zetec.

1760 crossflow here we go !!!

[jonwat]

Get a brand new block & head from QED & it'll go like shit off a shovel. 

[MartinL]

john your ideas are brilliant, ..................

now who would like to buy my sport 350 to fund this all new engine from QED ??

[USAndretti42]

Way back when, I had a Plus 2 with a cross flow fitted. It was a nice car. I have to admits it was nicer after I fitted a TwinCam but having a cross flow in it wasn't a disaster by any means.

[MartinL]

Searched the garage and sheds, just about got a full crossflow engine box of bits, now just need to source a good AX  South African block and we can start building a 1900 engine, with a nice KC234 cam running twin 40s should be good for lots of torqe and 130-140bhp, stronger and more reliable than a twink.................untill I can find a good twin cam to rebuild.

[Doug Ashley]

Just resurrecting this as I have a desire to fill the space in my garage with a long term project...

Rescuing a neglected Elan+2 in need of an engine would be an appealing prospect, and fitting a Ford lump as a stop-gap appeals.

Some options/thoughts:

- Zetec 2.0 or Ecoboost 1.6 4 cylinders (these seem to be used in lots of kit cars)

- Ecoboost 1.5 3 cylinder (lightweight, powerful, interesting sound, but likely to be problematic with modern electrics & gearbox fitting)

- An MX5 engine/gearbox

Has anyone got any experience of an engine swap in a +2, and/or any general wisdom?  (other than 'that's a terrible idea'! 😉)

 

[Doug Ashley]

(deleted)

[Laika]

I did an engine swap to Toyota 4age, I looked at zetec, duratec, mx5 and s2000

i would recommend you spend your time and money building a twincam

 

once you get your replacement engine, do all the ignition and wiring changes, brake and damper upgrades, gearbox mating/replacement, custom mounts, chassis mods, cooling mods , prop shaft and diff changes and gauge rebuilds, you may as well do a new original engine with Weber classic look injection from scratch

Edited August 7, 2022 by Laika

[The Modifier]

Find a good twin cam and put it back to original, it used to make sense to go down the Zetec route ten years ago or more, it used to make financial sense as well as making a nice resto mod car, but now Zetec is old hat and expensive to do properly, ask me how i know? I have a Zetec +2 and a Duratec Elan S4..... both full Spyder conversions, very expensive to do now.

 

 

[Doug Ashley]

Thanks both, yes it seems restoring one with an original engine is the most sensible choice at the moment.  Especially considering performance isn't really a concern for how I'd be using it.

Cheers,