Hi, Lotus with a heartbeat

[Menace]

I figured I better post on here before changing the topic on another thread. I don't have a Cobalt but I do have the entire drivetrain from a 2009 SS/TC with no miles on it. It's currently sitting on my Lotus Elise chassis since I could no longer stand the 2ZZ motor it came with. GM paid Lotus to design a car for them, the VX220 which shares the same chassis as my Elise and the Lotus Europa. The VX220 and Europa both have an Ecotec in them. Lotus had a hand in some of the engineering in the Ecotec so that's another key factor for me. I'm am a huge Ecotec fan because of it's performance, reliability and hardware. The direct injection, sodium filled exhaust valves, twin scroll, and oh yeah, all that torque that is easily extracted at low rpm. I've had my Lotus for about 3.5 years and can't wait to be done with swap. I'm 31 and I'm on my 37th vehicle with examples such as a Viper, Maserati Spyder, M3, a couple H2 SUT's, 3- Z4's, .... I get my funding from buying and selling cars, and working in the military and having a wife that can make sacrifices for cars. My car shares a garage with a 90 ZR-1(my Dad's just during the swap) so I'm pretty aware of the awesome power of a GM-Lotus combination. My sister has an LNF Solstice Phila. autocross car but to this date I have not had a chance to experience the Ecotec... but hopefully in a few months.
Somebody noted that the wheels are too skinny for tires that can deal with the LNF and don't worry they are going. I may even go with a five lug hub which is where I'm at now.
I joined this site because of the wealth of knowledge you guys have on this motor and for the used parts.
Here's a pic of my car in CA, I was stationed in Vegas last year and I just brought it back to PA recently. I did a lot of body work as I've been a body guy for years and because I used to let my wife drive it. Cheers

[deftonesfan867]

Welcome!

[SillyBILLY.]

Flawless Victory.

[I XsTaT1c I]

OH MY Welcome.

[Menace]

Thanks! There are a handful of LSJ Elise/Exige's out there as Secant Engineering offered that conversion for $21k!! I believe I will have the only LNF Lotus in the world and so far I have about $1k in it after the sale of the 2zz. Ihope to get it all done under $5k with atleast a GMS1 or bigwheel to start.

[qwikredline]

secant had Steve Carlson ex GM, a genius with software for LSJ.....GMS1 is your smart choice...and resist the temptation for more. Refine the chassis after that...imho

[Omiotek]

good stuff. i know your interested in part so send me over a list ill price it all together for ya man. we can get pretty much anything and everything and i have my sources for any oem parts aswell that i can supply with good prices.

[chevysssc]

welcome to the crazy house my friend! look foward to seeing it finished!

[Spike]

welcome

and Me can has car?

[Shadowbane42]

now THIS is what the hybrid section is for.

welcome to the site, I hope the build goes well!

[Zdeuce4]

welcome..very nice car.

[loki141]

F'n cool!!

[F_Imports_09tc]

Welcome and very nice build. I bet that car will be a blast to drive.

[Menace]

Thanks guys. Omiotek, next I'll be looking for axles which I believe stock will be fine to start with. Why does it have to be so cold and dark every evening, it's hard to make progress in the winter.

[F_Imports_09tc]

Thanks guys. Omiotek, next I'll be looking for axles which I believe stock will be fine to start with. Why does it have to be so cold and dark every evening, it's hard to make progress in the winter.

Stock LNF axles are very good. Very beefy and difficult to break unless you're really beating the crap out of it.

[Steddy]

Thanks! There are a handful of LSJ Elise/Exige's out there as Secant Engineering offered that conversion for $21k!! I believe I will have the only LNF Lotus in the world and so far I have about $1k in it after the sale of the 2zz. Ihope to get it all done under $5k with atleast a GMS1 or bigwheel to start.

the bigwheel really isn't worth the money, and one thought you have to take into consideration is overpowering the chassis.

You can easily get there without GMS1, but with a solid tune with HPT.

My suggestion is this:

If you never plan on swapping the turbo out, don't get GMS1, but run a solid tune instead. Running the stock turbo past 21-22 lbs is pointless.

If down the road you plan on running a larger turbo and more boost then get GMS1

If you want more power than stock but stock like drivability then get GMS1 and stick with it.

[cmiller8006]

This is gonna be cool. Even with gms1 you will have roughly the power to weight of a stock z06. Get real aggressive and you can get close to zr1 acceleration. Thats just amazing lol

Edit: I was doing whp for the balt and flywheel for the vette. You will out accelerate a z06 or zr1. Thats crazy

[jmarie]

welcome!

[F_Imports_09tc]

How big of a rear tire can you fit without major modifications? Even with stock LNF power it may be difficult to put that power down depending how much rubber you can get under it.

[Menace]

These wheels are history, I can no longer stand them. As far as how wide of a tire will depend on which wheel I go with, which will depend on if I swap over the five lug from the Cobalt,(which I'm leaning towards). The five lug hub had more unsprung weight to it and I haven't heard of to many 4 lug failures, but the wheel selection is limited to non staggered types and Honda oriented wheels.

There's a guy (which I think I've seen an old post about on here) in the Lotus community that runs a compound charged 2ZZ with a turbo and a supercharger and he's around 520whp. I would be happy in the GMS1 power range for a little while.