[hegg]

So the top end of my Elise needs to be rebuilt and, since I was planning on putting a supercharger kit on it anyway, I figure I'll do a few sensible upgrades in the meantime. I'm hoping I can get a bit o' feedback on what I'm thinking so far. This is a "Daily Driver" Elise for the most part and is not tracked.

(1) Uprated valve springs. The Eibach springs seem to be a 'must' for more power if you want to be sure the head will handle the power.

(2) Motor mounts. Already have a set of Manly's Motor Mounts that have been waiting to go in.

(3) Clutch / Flywheel. Already have the ACT HD clutch/pressure plate with a Fidanza flywheel.

(4) Moroso oil pan. This seems to be frequently recommended to combat the potentially poor oil management during hard cornering. Would you consider this a 'must' for a street car? I may take it to the track once or twice just for fun, but it would definitely be rare and probably would be "lightly" driven on the track anyway (never been on a track - I'm sure I'll be too scared to do much).

As far as parts for the head go, are the internals the same as all the Toyota parts? That is, can I just get the valves and such from a place like Find Toyota Parts at Discount Toyota Parts - DiscountToyotaParts.com or from my local dealership if I wanted? My understanding is that the ECU, intake, and exhaust are the only differences between a "Toyota" 2ZZ motor and the "Lotus" 2ZZ version.

I should also add that I don't really want to do any upgrades that would require a custom tune of the SC. I'd like it to be a "stock" upgrade, if that makes any sense.

Thanks in advance for the advice! I know there's plenty of it to go around

 

[Jim-C]

upgrade the valves

Monkey Wrench has a head ready to go with exchange. $1400.00

Kris at DRS can make you a fabulous head, ported and polished with all upgrades. $2600.00 + ~ -

I upgraded my springs but need to upgrade the valves. The valves are
fragile.

 

[Tracktimeplz]

Id consider the Moroso more of a must have for tracking/hard driving than any of the other parts you already mentioned.

Read up about how many cars have pop motors due to oil starvation on the track.....our stock valve train is fine if you dont over-rev the piss out of it.

 

[hegg]

upgrade the valves

Monkey Wrench has a head ready to go with exchange. $1400.00

Kris at DRS can make you a fabulous head, ported and polished with all upgrades. $2600.00 + ~ -

I upgraded my springs but need to upgrade the valves. The valves are
fragile.

Thanks, that's an excellent suggestion! I'm checking out Monkey Wrench's site now (Engines-Heads-Blocks - Monkeywrench Racing - Celica - MR2 Spyder - Corolla - Lotus Performance). I can't find a site about DRS right off - do you have a link?

 

[hegg]

Id consider the Moroso more of a must have for tracking/hard driving than any of the other parts you already mentioned.

Read up about how many cars have pop motors due to oil starvation on the track.....our stock valve train is fine if you dont over-rev the piss out of it.

Thanks for the info on the oil pan. Sounds like it's getting to the top of the list. Looks to be available at:
MOROSO OIL PANS LOTUS Elise ($499)
Moroso 20970 Oil Pan, Alum, Toyota/Lotus ($459)

 

[hegg]

Thanks, that's an excellent suggestion! I'm checking out Monkey Wrench's site now (Engines-Heads-Blocks - Monkeywrench Racing - Celica - MR2 Spyder - Corolla - Lotus Performance). I can't find a site about DRS right off - do you have a link?

I just priced out the Monkey Wrench head and that just seems like an excellent route to take. Although having a fully built / polished / ported head with flat valves and a performance cam would be sweet, I think I'll stick with the "stock" flow and compression ratio (albeit with the upgraded valves, springs, and retainers).

 

[toysport]

hey hegg,
i've been trying to get the manly motor mounts and emailed them for quite awhile but until now no response.do you have any idea if they still sell those? thanx.

 

[hegg]

hey hegg,
i've been trying to get the manly motor mounts and emailed them for quite awhile but until now no response.do you have any idea if they still sell those? thanx.

I bought them a few days ago from Lotus Elise Exige Engine Mount Inserts They showed up yesterday already. Great service for sure!

 

[toysport]

thanx. i will try again hopefully they'll respond.

 

[Illumiloti]

Thanks for the info on the oil pan. Sounds like it's getting to the top of the list. Looks to be available at:
MOROSO OIL PANS LOTUS Elise ($499)
Moroso 20970 Oil Pan, Alum, Toyota/Lotus ($459)

Hegg, I'm in the process of doing the same thing (recently blew my motor). Also should consider the Circuitworks oil pump gear. Also, re: the Moroso pan, there is a new, updated version that I believe is only avail at the moment through Moroso directly. Get that one.

 

[Kris from DRS]

Thanks, that's an excellent suggestion! I'm checking out Monkey Wrench's site now (Engines-Heads-Blocks - Monkeywrench Racing - Celica - MR2 Spyder - Corolla - Lotus Performance). I can't find a site about DRS right off - do you have a link?

Please go here Dynamic Racing Solutions - Ported & Polished Heads for 2ZZ

this new site is still under development. Please email me [email protected] and I can reply with the flow bench data / charts.

thanks
Kris

 

[hegg]

Hegg, I'm in the process of doing the same thing (recently blew my motor). Also should consider the Circuitworks oil pump gear. Also, re: the Moroso pan, there is a new, updated version that I believe is only avail at the moment through Moroso directly. Get that one.

Cool, thanks for the info. I called a local distributor and it looks to be $100-$150 more for the new one, but they indicated I'd have to order directly from Moroso as you said.

Just curious - how'd you blow your engine?

 

[Monkeywrench]

For any car seeing a lot of track use the MUSTS are:

1. Upgraded valves
2. Moroso oil pan
3. Circuitworx oil pump

The valves prove over and over that they snap off if run at high rpm for long enough. This is a catastrophic failure.

The oil pan prevents the oil starvation you will see in a long turn even on stock tires.

The oil pump gears prevent oil pump gear explosion which can happen because of a missed shift or even after extended high rpm use.


Upgrading the valve springs is good especially if you're increasing the rev limit but it not nearly as important as the three things listed above. A port job will increase horsepower a bit which is nice but of course has nothing to do with the durability of the engine.


We do keep a veriety of heads on the shelf ready to ship starting at $750 plus exchange so if you want one that is ready to bolt on we can help out with that. We can even install the cams and shim the valves for you.

 

[JungleJim]

Cool, thanks for the info. I called a local distributor and it looks to be $100-$150 more for the new one, but they indicated I'd have to order directly from Moroso as you said.

I just spoke to Moroso yesterday. They have recalled all the older style pans and are only shipping the new ones. He said anything you buy/get recently will be the new style. He could not tell me how to differentiate between old/new.
I just received mine today from your link to Race-Mart - Your Online Source for Performance Parts (saved some money-Thanks).

Thanks to Andy(APK919) for the following pan install info/tips.:bow:

There is no "gasket"; the factory pan and the Moroso use a high temperature RTV sealant.

There are a few complications, but nothing really very difficult:

1) It's a bit hard to get the old pan off... you've got to wedge something thin but strong between the pan and the block to pry them apart. Be careful not to score the aluminum block.

2) Seal the unused bungs with the RTV sealant before installing the Moroso pan.

3) You may have to remove the engine's windage tray. The pan has it's own windage tray, and there was interference between the two on my installation.

4) If you remove the windage tray, you'll have to remove the oil pump pickup from the oil pump. There's a gasket that Toyota's instructions recommends replacing if you do this. I didn't, but was very careful that the gasket wasn't damaged or disturbed.

5) You can't put all the pan studs in place before you attach the pan, but make sure you put the studs that are obscured by the pan's fore and aft extensions on. They're hard to get to once the pan is in place.

 

[dmh]

For any car seeing a lot of track use the MUSTS are:

1. Upgraded valves
2. Moroso oil pan
3. Circuitworx oil pump

The valves prove over and over that they snap off if run at high rpm for long enough. This is a catastrophic failure.

The oil pan prevents the oil starvation you will see in a long turn even on stock tires.

The oil pump gears prevent oil pump gear explosion which can happen because of a missed shift or even after extended high rpm use.


Upgrading the valve springs is good especially if you're increasing the rev limit but it not nearly as important as the three things listed above. A port job will increase horsepower a bit which is nice but of course has nothing to do with the durability of the engine.


We do keep a veriety of heads on the shelf ready to ship starting at $750 plus exchange so if you want one that is ready to bolt on we can help out with that. We can even install the cams and shim the valves for you.

MWR-

When did you begin selling the Moroso pan #20970? Moroso claims that about 6 months ago they changed the internal baffling and part number.

Thanks,
Don

 

[hegg]

MonkeyWrench - thanks for the information. I had actually already ordered the parts from you and am just trying to get my head off to send it to you. Nobody within a 1-million-mile radius sells a triple-square bit for getting the head bolts off (too scared to use a regular hex with that much torque), so I had to order one. Anyway, long story even longer, it should finally be here this week and I can get that head off!

One question though - where you say you can install the cams on the head, I'm confused as to how that would work. The cams have to be off in order to bolt the head on the block, don't they? So wouldn't I have to take the cams back off after I receive the head?

 

[hegg]

There is no "gasket"; the factory pan and the Moroso use a high temperature RTV sealant.

Is there a specific sealant I should be using? Should I get a tube from Dave Bean, the Toyota Dealership, or is something at Checker/AutoZone/Pep Boys sufficient?

 

[Kris from DRS]

Is there a specific sealant I should be using? Should I get a tube from Dave Bean, the Toyota Dealership, or is something at Checker/AutoZone/Pep Boys sufficient?

You can get the OEM sealant from Toyota. We usually have extra tubes; if you need one shipped in a hurry let me know.

Kris