is it possible to swap the engine an elise/exige for something like the 2.4L in the current camry? not that the 1.8 is not sufficient for such a light vehicle. I know places like sector111 work on these but has anyone ever gotten massive hp out of the 1.8? i have really been looking at a white exige.

 

there is a 3.5L swap that was recently completed - same engine used in the Evora

the engine isn't the issue for power it's the transmission - good for about 280whp and that's it

 

280 whp is a lot in such a light car. thats well over 300 crank, can that be achieved on the stock internals with the 1.8?

 

Not with stock internals. Mine is 276 Wheel horsepower, Round 180TQ. The V6 is too heavy and kills the handling. Heat is an issue too.
A stock Elise dynos around 165-168. The engine can go up to around 250-260 with stock internals but you are playing with fire. Most including me opt for some forged pistons, and beefier Valves and springs. When the intercooler comes out for my BOE kit I sould be somewhere around 400HP. There isn't much that passes me at the track, GT3's and Stock Z06's no problem. Cup cars and fully race prepped cars still leave me in the dust but I have Air Conditioning and a stereo lol