Actually, your reply suggests you're a bit different than most of the folks that go down this path. At least you're aware of what you're doing.

Me, I found that reengineering the F20C to permit it to perform under the sorts of very abusive conditions found on the track was more trouble than it was worth. I gave up when it became clear that custom cams were likely the next thing I'd need to do. That seemed more trouble than it was worth. The guy I sold the car to had it for a few months before (likely turning up the boost) and blowing the motor.

I've not missed the car for a moment, but that's also b/c the Lotus was really what I wanted in the first place, and the S2000 was the "closest" thing available in the fall of 2000 when I bought the car. The Lotus isn't nearly as fast on the straights and it's only a bit faster in corners, but it's a thing of handling-beauty. It all depends on what you want, really.

By the way, there are ways to lower EGT without installing custom cams, but they require a truly sophisticated understanding of EMS and cam gear timing. Contact Giles Gilbert (you can reach Giles via PM at gilbertg on this board) to ask for his input. He'll charge you for the time he spends helping you out (this is a business for him), but the cost will be worth the time. He actually flies all over the country doing tuning and has his own dyno. In the end, you'll save yourself a ton of time and money by buying his advice. He's been down this path with his own car and with probably two dozen others since we first got our Speedcraft turbo kits installed in early 2002.

If you want to chat offline about any of this, feel free to PM me. And I meant what I'd said: good luck and post back to let us know how it goes for you.

CB

 

Yeah, I can see you've been there done that and sound like a valuable source of info. I'm kind of new to the S2K, got it last June as a leftover, it's an '05. My boss and one of my best friends have Porsches and of course they were buggin me to get one so I started researching roadsters as I was determined not to get a Porsche but a car that would hang with them. The Elise was way up on the list (I got to drive a bunch of different 2 seaters as may search widened) but being that I'm 6'3" at 200 lbs I just couldn't fit that car well enough to consider it. It's really too bad that us bigger people don't have the options our smaller brethren enjoy. Even dirt bikes, I have to sink a bunch of $$ into them before even riding just to get them set up for my size. So I was surprised that I could actually fit in the S and be COMFORTABLE, well not so much at first but I beat the hell out of my seat until I could sit closer to the floor and widened the seat pan a bit for my 36" waist. I even have gotten heel/toeing down to where it's second nature.

I really appreciate your offer with infomation and advice, I could use it. I'm one of those guys who pretty much decides to do something and then does it without regard for what it takes to get it done though I try and not attempt things blindly. Also I tend to make my own paths simply so I can learn, learn learn, not always the best way but I'm not a complete idiot and will usually figure things out. Even if someone tells me "you have to do it this way" I may try it another way just to figure out why it "has" to be done a "that" way. Often times there are many ways to the same goal, if I always take the known or easiest way how am I ever going to become an "expert" at anything??

Ah, you know what I mean, it's just another project.

So have I seen you and you Lotus around town? Is it Dark green or Yellow?

Thanks again, look forward to actually meeting you someday, maybe after I make a mess of my S you can help me make it better

 

Probably not unless you go to the track. It's dark gray, IIRC.

Hey Chris, speaking of Lotus, I can't wait to see what Pete's Exige S is going to be like.

 

Quote: I just couldn't fit that car well enough to consider it.

The Elise really isn't good for very much and it's awful in terms of fit for anyone other than someone about 5'9" and 165lbs (my size). It's loud, buzzy, has no creature comforts, drones, is twitchy, cannot be driven carelessly, will rotate in a heartbeat, is a pain to get in/out of, and has to be driven incredibly defensively. People simply don't SEE it. But for one purpose and one purpose only, it's a thing of absolute beauty, and there's nothing more rewarding. Sure, there are faster cars out there, but there's nothing that's as much fun or as rich in terms of rewarding good driving. But for a commuter, particularly for a guy your height, fuhgettaboutit.

Quote: I even have gotten heel/toeing down to where it's second nature.

You should come to the track someday. I used to encourage the PDX S2K community to come out and learn to drive, but so few owners actually ever tried it that I gave up. I teach for all the clubs that run at PIR, so you'll often find me there.

Quote: I really appreciate your offer with infomation and advice, I could use it.

I'll PM you my coordinates.
Quote: So have I seen you and you Lotus around town? Is it Dark green or Yellow?

No, my car pretty much lives on the lift in my garage when it's not being driven to/from the track. It's graphite gray (dark gray), most times with a hard top on it. Wheels are powdercoated dark metallic gray.

Quote: Thanks again, look forward to actually meeting you someday, maybe after I make a mess of my S you can help me make it better

Most welcome, but you'll be happier if you do it the right way from the get-go and spend a bit of money buying a few hours of Gile's time/advice.

Hi Mike:

I think Pete decided NOT to buy the Exige S and elected instead to have his engine built (still NA, but lots of new parts with an AEM EMS for fuel tuning) with the objective of getting 250 crank-hp from it.

CB

 

Thanks, I hadn't heard that. Maybe that means he couldn't sell the Cayman? I know that was supposed to finance the Exige S.

I'm a little disappointed, though. It won't seem like it's really Pete if he doesn't show up in a different car every time I see him. It would be unsufferable except that he's such a nice guy.

Getting closer to being back on topic, you'll have to see what I did with my car. It's sort of a hybrid right now -- basically a stock interior up to the seats, and no interior from the seats aft. Everything is gutted (including the softtop) and I have a welded roll bar. I'm looking forward to our next track day together.

 

Good for you. For a car that's going to see track-time, not having a rollbar's a calculated risk and an analytical appreciation for the "odds" tends not be very comforting if you're the one going end-over-end. I look forward to seeing how it turned out. I'm assuming you've got a 6-point harness, properly setup, and a HANS?

I'd agree with you about Pete. He truly is a decent guy. But he and I seem to represent the opposite ends of a spectrum, despite the fact that I started out being willing to change most everything about what I was driving. Maybe I learned something from my S? In any event, as long as we're all happy. Me, I've done a few minor things to the Elise, but it's just about perfect right out of the box.

 

Yup.

 

Good on ya mate....

 

In my opinion, it is impossible to have a roll bar that provides a significant benefit over stock in the S2000 and still retain the softtop operation. I did not install a roll bar until I made the commitment to remove the softtop.

 

I mentioned earlier this year that I would be interested in coming out to the track for you to "show" me a few things. I would really like to get out on the track for a little fun and to learn more about my car. For me it is kind of intimadating thinking of going out to the track. I don't know how the whole scene works and not sure about all the rules and what requirements there are. If you are willing to show me the ropes I will be out there this next year.

I love my car just to go cruising and don't really intend to become a tracky but I bet everybody says that their first time

Mistman- I can't wait to see your setup and for your ambition to do things on your own.

Brandon