Luke222

Hi Guys,

This is my first post, I don't in fact own a S2000, but I have been looking at them for a while. Not for the reason many of you may have. I'm going to use the heart and sole of a S2000 in my Locst build. I found a F20C1 engine with rod knock that was too good to pass up. Now I'm working on rebuilding it and integrating it into my design. A Locost 7 Build is a based of the Lotus 7 but built at home on a budget. Hence the name locost 7. Many use a totaled Miata in the Locost 7 builds in America. So not trying to re-invent the wheel I went out and bought a totaled NB 1999 Miata. Only to find out the engine was totally seized. So I sold off all my miata parts and decided to use a S2000 as a donor. Then I found the F20C1 with rod knock.

Just image a S2000 minus 1,500lbs, ITB's, longtube headers, and the stickiest street-legal tires....Sounds like a fun car right?

A little about the locost 7 I'm building. The goal is to make an enjoyable weekend car. I want something I can drive up the local mountain roads, or have fun driving to the beach and back. Living in California I have some great weather and amazing roads, I want to take advantage of that. What I'm not trying to do is build a race car, or set records. Impressing others isn't my goal. Having fun, making tire smoke, and enjoying an open environment car at lower speeds is my goal. Without killing myself, my savings, and reliably would be really nice as well. Hence my search for a reasonably affordable engine that can reliably make 250whp. I hope the F20C1 with a stroker kit can do this.

My plan so far is to rebuild the F20C1 engine and stroke it out to 2.4L.

1. Can a f24 reliably make 250whp on 91 pump gas?

2. This is my first rebuild so I need to do a lot of research, the last thing I want to do is throw money at the wrong parts. When rebuilding a S2000 engine with unknow miles what are things I should replace? Oil pump, water pump, timing chain, timing chain tensioner?

3. On a impulse I bought some OBX ITB's for the engine...maybe not the best decision but it happened.

I used to teach SolidWorks and have been designing the car for about a year (god where did the time go), below is some renderings of my progress. Note: I'm very far from completing the CAD model let alone the real build. This is where I'm at so far.

Luke

Conedodger

Welcome to the forum! I'm looking forward to your build. I bought an MNR Vortx RT with a Yamaha R1 drive train last year. 7 clones are a blast!

Luke222

I haven't posted in a while because the engine I bought had a rod knock. Rebuilding the engine was more than buying a K24a2. It was hard for me to spend thousands of dollars on a rebuild for an engine that will make less power (this is debatable but a k24 with k20 head seems like a superior engine).

So yesterday I bought a k24a2 around noon, then not 12 hours later I bought a k20z1 head, and the cherry on top is some TWM ITB's for the frank engine. Yesterday was an expensive day....

Chuck S

I've dreamed about a Seven for years (heck decades). Priced used and considered importing a rolling chassis from South Africa. Ohio will title replicas in the model year they represent. For example 1966. This makes them exempt from all the emissions (and safety) requirements of new cars. Good and bad. Almost flew to Chicago 3 years ago to buy one but it was sold out from under me. Bought a S2000 instead!

Only seen one (1) Seven on the road ever in all these years. Two summers ago when cruising thru a big state park in the S2000 when the rain started. Pulled over into a convenient wide spot and six seconds later we were snug and dry. A Seven had pulled in across the road a few minutes previously and was still putting his roof on the car. Pretty and very wet passenger did not look amused.

Still dream about one though! Have fun!

-- Chuck

Luke222

Buying an S2000 would make a ton of sense if I could fit. I can not. My head hits the roof and my legs are just too large, the steering wheel gets in the way. I also love how raw a Caterham 7 is, almost like a motorcycle with 4 wheels.

The Caterham 420R is pretty much my inspiration and motivation for this car I'm making

ISADE

Just be aware, with a stroker, you will HAVE to lower redline. The F20C1, when it was released was the fastest piston speed motor ever, I think it might actually still hold that crown. So, if you stroke it out you're pushing the envolope way too far if revved to 9k, or even 8k rpm. I'm sure you knew this already with the amount of time you're going to put into this and probably already have put in already.

This will be awesome no matter what, good luck to you and I hope the project goes quick.

rpg51

Is there a hard top available?

Luke222

A hard top will not be made for this car. A hardtop would add complexity and weight either I want in the car.
This is more of a car for that is only driven on sunny weekend days. If it's rainy or cold it would just stay in the garage. Its purpose in life is not broad enough to encompass rainy days.

Things like:
radio
heater
ac
Bluetooth
or navigation

None of that will be included. I am keeping a razor sharp focus on the driver experience and keeping things simple.

jonner