Lotus V8 from the Esprit in an Excel

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rogbmw
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Lotus V8 from the Esprit in an Excel

Post by rogbmw »

Will the V8 from an Esprit V8 fit into an Excel size wise?
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Marten
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Re: Lotus V8 from the Esprit in an Excel

Post by Marten »

rogbmw wrote: Sat Nov 15, 2025 14:09 Will the V8 from an Esprit V8 fit into an Excel size wise?
A Rover V8 fits, an OHC engine will have wider and taller cilinderheads. If you compare the engines you might get an idea if the camdrive will clear the bonnet
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Pete Boole
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Re: Lotus V8 from the Esprit in an Excel

Post by Pete Boole »

A Chevy LS1 fits - with some attention to the transmision tunnel. A Lotus v8 was my first choise for my track car until I saw how much it costs to sort one out. Fitting the turbos in is especially difficult. You could always have some cams made and run it naturally aspirated.

Pete
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Re: Lotus V8 from the Esprit in an Excel

Post by Marten »

Pete Boole wrote: Sat Nov 15, 2025 20:17 A Chevy LS1 fits - with some attention to the transmision tunnel. A Lotus v8 was my first choise for my track car until I saw how much it costs to sort one out. Fitting the turbos in is especially difficult. You could always have some cams made and run it naturally aspirated.

Pete
Toyota V8? Matches brakes , gearbox... ;)
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AndrewWebber
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Re: Lotus V8 from the Esprit in an Excel

Post by AndrewWebber »

There was a Toyota V8 powered Excel at 'Lotus Remembered' this year. Looked to fit well, others on here might know more about it?

Andy
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Pete Boole
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Re: Lotus V8 from the Esprit in an Excel

Post by Pete Boole »

I know of a lovely Toyota V8-engined Eclat and Neil in SA is building his Excel, of course.

Pete
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dancroft1984
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Re: Lotus V8 from the Esprit in an Excel

Post by dancroft1984 »

Pete Boole wrote: Sun Nov 16, 2025 11:33 I know of a lovely Toyota V8-engined Eclat and Neil in SA is building his Excel, of course.

Pete
If my engine ever lets go in a big way I'd definitely be considering that route. Though plan A is to prevent that happening!
1985 Lotus Excel dug out of a hedge
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Gray14
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Re: Lotus V8 from the Esprit in an Excel

Post by Gray14 »

Details of a 290bhp supercharged, injected S1 Eclat that sold at auction earlier this year for £19,000. Rotrex supercharger, engine bay pics.

https://www.handh.co.uk/auction/lot/lot ... 61829&sd=1

Enjoy.
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Zag
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Re: Lotus V8 from the Esprit in an Excel

Post by Zag »

https://forums.thelotusforums.com/topic ... nt-1056731

Shame this didn't go anywhere.

Often thought an na version revving to 8.5k and abot 290bhp would be good. Did read somewhere that this was planned and would be sold as the "new rover v8" to be used by any small volume manufacturer that could come up with the money but porosity of the blocks and wrong sealant for the bore liners royally fecked that idea
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