Lotus Excel?

There's a cheap Lotus Excel nearby me, with a blown engine. This is the '80s model with the fibreglass body (and galvanised chassis, apparently), and Toyota gearbox, axles and diff. I'm not going to buy it, but for interests sake, how feasible of an idea is this: - remove expensive-to-fix Lotus engine, and replace with cheap, readily available Toyota motor. Whatever bolts up to the W58 gearbox, I suppose. Or, perhaps ideally, a 4AGZE or 20V 4AGE, (which would require at least a custom bell housing.)

The desired result would be an exotic looking sports car, with a Lotus badge, and a reliable powerplant, (and hopefully the performance to at least match the original 912 engine.)

This car was a UK import, by the way. I've never seen one in Australia, and I don't think they were ever sold in America.

Awesome. You need that.

Aren't those early to mid 80's Supra wheels on it? That looks pretty cool by the way!

You said that you weren't going to buy it, and it was cheap.

Sooo... where is it located, and how cheap are we talking? I need my own personal hell in my garage.

93celicaGT2 wrote: You said that you weren't going to buy it, and it was cheap. Sooo... where is it located, and how cheap are we talking? I need my own personal hell in my garage.

Australia

The Brown Stig wrote:

93celicaGT2 wrote: You said that you weren't going to buy it, and it was cheap. Sooo... where is it located, and how cheap are we talking? I need my own personal hell in my garage.

Australia

Oh duh. Man, i'm not doing real well today.

All the research i did was type "Lotus Excel" into google images, look at one picture, and my brain immediately said to me: "You need that. Yesterday."

And now i can't have one.

Yup, Toyota wheels. Lotus used them for awhile in the 80s on some models.

I'd think given how much Toyota they used already on those, putting a Toyota engine in should be relatively simple. But I'm just guessing.

I thought this was going to be a comparo of Lotus123 and Excel.

You'll find alot of Toyota items on an Excel. The entire drivetrain minus the engine, door handles, and wheels are shared with the 2nd gen Celica Supra.

I think the Excel is the best looking of the Excel, Elite, and Eclat, but would take any one of the 3 on any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

Why not just put an r154 supra transmission in it which has a wider range of bellhousings available for it.

I always liked the hatchback one of the three...

There's one in Kiwiland with a 1uzfe in it. I think a 3SGTE or 3SGE would be pretty cool. They even slant the same way as that 907 motor.

Excels/Elites/Eclats generally go for $500 in the natural state (parked 10 years ago, headlights popped up, interrior shot.) "Running" for about $1500-2500. Should you come across one in the natural state, it is best to not try to start it as the timing belt tensioner on that particular version of the motor isn't exactly the best and you could turn a $100 new timing belt job into a $4K new 8-16 valves and a top end job real easy.

I thought about getting one of those. They have a back seat for the dog. Some came with an auto transmission, also Toyota, I think. I thought it would be a cool DD, but I wanted FWD for snow days.

Dr. Hess wrote: I thought about getting one of those. They have a back seat for the dog. Some came with an auto transmission, also Toyota, I think. I thought it would be a cool DD, but I wanted FWD for snow days.

We never got these in the US, did we?

MiatarPowar wrote:

Dr. Hess wrote: I thought about getting one of those. They have a back seat for the dog. Some came with an auto transmission, also Toyota, I think. I thought it would be a cool DD, but I wanted FWD for snow days.

We never got these in the US, did we?

Excel, no. But we did get the Eclat and Elite.

we did? I have never seen one here in the states

Eclat and Elite are here (in fact there is an Eclat that has been for sale for some months now local to me), but are so ugly I don't know why anyone would want one. The Excel is much better looking...

I'd rock an Eclat easily. I could even "force" myself into an Elite.

What are the details ont he Eclat local to you, WilD?

ah.. it was the elite that was the "shooting brake" style... for some strange reason, I like those

The 4 seat Elite would make an unusual DD. Notice I didn't say attractive. I had a chance to buy one a couple years ago, running and driving, for $2k, good 907 motor and 5 speed etc. The big soft bumpers were toast and ridiculously expensive, so I passed it up.

I do not really fit into them, but I would still rock one.

MiatarPowar wrote:

Dr. Hess wrote: I thought about getting one of those. They have a back seat for the dog. Some came with an auto transmission, also Toyota, I think. I thought it would be a cool DD, but I wanted FWD for snow days.

We never got these in the US, did we?

No, but there is a legal one for sale here, at least think it's still for sale. Me loves Excels, especially the later years.

I like the 3SGE idea. 1uzfe sounds powerful, but that's a fairly long engine, right? Wouldn't want to upset the Lotus balance.

This one was laid up due to a broken timing belt, (and bent valves), btw. It'd definitely make for a neat project, but I've got nowhere to keep it.

And, FWIW, I actually prefer the look of the Eclat. It's got that cool '70s vibe going on. Here's an expensive-ish one in California - http://www.lotusbuzz.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1797

Luke wrote: I like the 3SGE idea. 1uzfe sounds powerful, but that's a fairly long engine, right? Wouldn't want to upset the Lotus balance. This one was laid up due to a broken timing belt, (and bent valves), btw. It'd definitely make for a neat project, but I've got nowhere to keep it. And, FWIW, I actually prefer the look of the Eclat. It's got that cool '70s vibe going on. Here's an expensive-ish one in California - http://www.lotusbuzz.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1797

Long is relative. It's shorter than a 2jz.

BEAMS blacktop 3sge would be the Bob Costas's meow, though.

1uzfe isn't going to be significantly longer than a 3SG(T)E, probably not much heavier either. I've posted the dimensions before and I have them in a file at home, having measured my 1uzfe, one day. I think it was like 25" cubed, with the AC compressor clutch sticking out front a bit more, maybe an inch. It looked like it would just barely fit in my Esprit, which uses the 910 engine (same block, head, etc. as the Elite/Eclat but with a TURBO). Google that kiwi one with the 1uzfe. Looks like it fits in just fine.

Hasbro wrote:

MiatarPowar wrote: We never got these in the US, did we?

No, but there is a legal one for sale here, at least think it's still for sale. Me loves Excels, especially the later years.

Details?