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I figure this is a better way to document individual questions we all have with the honda swap.
I have a question about the fuel system and how to handle that in the lotus chassis.
From what I have read the OE chassis for the K series (RSX, TSX etc) are "headless" fuel systems. Here is an excerpt from a honda-tuning article to explain more.
The K series has a "headless" fuel system, meaning the regulator and return line are actually in the tank. There is no fuel return from under the hood. This gives Honda the advantage of building the pump, regulator, return and fuel level sensor all in one unit. It also helps reduce evaporative emissions.
Vargas tells us the down side to this type of system is it becomes very difficult to build extra fuel pressure. It used to be that adding a fuel pressure regulator would build enough additional pressure from the stock pump to make forced induction or big nitrous applications relatively simple. The way the K series' fuel is supplied makes building adequate pressure much more difficult.
Unfortunately, there is no simple workaround for this problem. The stock fuel pump is capable of about 55 lbs of pressure, adequate for a low-horsepower (40 hp or so) nitrous system or very low-pressure turbo or supercharger. Any higher and the system will run very lean-`a dangerous condition that could result in a blown engine.
For higher horsepower applications, a return line will have to be run, meaning the single-piece fuel pump/regulator/return/level sender assembly in the tank will have to be separated into individual components. This is an expensive and time-consuming process that would make a bolt-in kit a more difficult proposition. Of course, that hasn't kept HKS, GReddy and Jackson Racing from continuing to develop kits. Racing applications that need more than just a few pounds of boost are still in the future.
Read more: Honda Civic Si, CRV & Acura RSX New K-Series Engines - Honda Tuning Magazine
The thing that got this whole question rolling was the innovative fuel plate that's now available:
CorSport: Lotus - 2005+ Lotus Elise/Exige - 50902
I'm assuming that the Lotus fuel system is also headless? This plate is only required if you need more fuel pressure/flow and want to run an external fuel pump, correct?
If we can sort this out I'd like to make a parts list of items required if you're running a lower-hp NA swap, or a higher hp forced induction swap:
NA / Low HP Required Parts
Fuel Rail?
Lines?
Fittings?
Injectors: OEM K20/K24, RDX (P/N16450-RWC-A01)
Forced Induction / High HP Required Parts
Fuel Rail?
Lines?
Fittings?
External Pump?
Pressure Regulator?
Let's pool resources here and help piece this together. I'll edit this post as we learn more.
I have a question about the fuel system and how to handle that in the lotus chassis.
From what I have read the OE chassis for the K series (RSX, TSX etc) are "headless" fuel systems. Here is an excerpt from a honda-tuning article to explain more.
The K series has a "headless" fuel system, meaning the regulator and return line are actually in the tank. There is no fuel return from under the hood. This gives Honda the advantage of building the pump, regulator, return and fuel level sensor all in one unit. It also helps reduce evaporative emissions.
Vargas tells us the down side to this type of system is it becomes very difficult to build extra fuel pressure. It used to be that adding a fuel pressure regulator would build enough additional pressure from the stock pump to make forced induction or big nitrous applications relatively simple. The way the K series' fuel is supplied makes building adequate pressure much more difficult.
Unfortunately, there is no simple workaround for this problem. The stock fuel pump is capable of about 55 lbs of pressure, adequate for a low-horsepower (40 hp or so) nitrous system or very low-pressure turbo or supercharger. Any higher and the system will run very lean-`a dangerous condition that could result in a blown engine.
For higher horsepower applications, a return line will have to be run, meaning the single-piece fuel pump/regulator/return/level sender assembly in the tank will have to be separated into individual components. This is an expensive and time-consuming process that would make a bolt-in kit a more difficult proposition. Of course, that hasn't kept HKS, GReddy and Jackson Racing from continuing to develop kits. Racing applications that need more than just a few pounds of boost are still in the future.
Read more: Honda Civic Si, CRV & Acura RSX New K-Series Engines - Honda Tuning Magazine
The thing that got this whole question rolling was the innovative fuel plate that's now available:
CorSport: Lotus - 2005+ Lotus Elise/Exige - 50902
I'm assuming that the Lotus fuel system is also headless? This plate is only required if you need more fuel pressure/flow and want to run an external fuel pump, correct?
If we can sort this out I'd like to make a parts list of items required if you're running a lower-hp NA swap, or a higher hp forced induction swap:
NA / Low HP Required Parts
Fuel Rail?
Lines?
Fittings?
Injectors: OEM K20/K24, RDX (P/N16450-RWC-A01)
Forced Induction / High HP Required Parts
Fuel Rail?
Lines?
Fittings?
External Pump?
Pressure Regulator?
Let's pool resources here and help piece this together. I'll edit this post as we learn more.
