1997 Hyundai Elantra 2.7 V6 6-speed MT

Hyundai

Lantra

1997

0

Signup or Login to like and comment

Mods

Engine: 2.7L V6 Engine Swap from a 2003 Hyundai Tuscani (Tiburon) with 6-speed manual, Custom engine cross member, Battery relocation to below front left fender

Intake: Custom intake system with cone filter, Hyundai Santa Fe Mu intake manifold swap

Exhaust: Ebay long-tube headers, Custom 2.5 in. stainless exhaust with 24 in. resonator, Nismo Weldina muffler

Drivetrain: Ebay Stage 1 clutch with single mass flywheel, OBX LSD, Ralco short shifter

Cooling: Honda Civic 2-row Full Aluminum Radiator, Nissan Urvan auxiliary radiator, Aftermarket Oil Cooler, Hyundai Santa Fe power steering cooler

Suspension: KYB Excel-G shocks for Hyundai Tuscani (Tiburon), H-R Lowering Springs for Hyundai Tuscani (Tiburon), Ultra Racing rear anti-roll bar

Brakes: Tuscani Elisa (Tiburon SE) Aluminum front brake calipers, 5-lug brake conversion

Wheels and tires: Hyundai Santa Fe 17in. OEM wheels or Hyundai Elantra 16in. OEM wheels, GT Radial Champiro SX2 Tires (205/50-16 or 235/40-17)

Body: HID projector retrofit front headlights, Custom fender flares, Custom fiberglass hood with air vent

Interior: Hyundai Santa Fe instrument cluster, Hyundai Tuscani (Tiburon) front seats, Lazada shift light, Semi-custom center console

Build story

Thank you very much for making us finalists in Tuner Taste, Super Modified, and Fastest Buck categories in the 2021 Deboss Garage ICS! For more information about our builds, check out our social media accounts!

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/kuholTV
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kuholgarage
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/khlmotorsport/

-----------------------

This 1997 Hyundai Elantra was a car owned by my family since new. Much sentimental attachment made me decide to modify it in order to justify keeping it as forever as possible. This will probably be its final iteration, pending a respray and perhaps a rethink of the existing body kit.

This car had to be a comfy, streetable machine that can keep up with Civic EG hatchbacks with B20VTEC swaps in Philippine roads. I decided that the all-alloy 2.7L V6 from a Hyundai Tuscani (Tiburon) with its optional 6-speed manual transmission would be the best fit for purpose.

I was not enthused to find the engine to not bolt on (thanks Internet). But with lots of effort, we managed to shoehorn it in the tight engine bay. It took a custom crossmember and lots of adjustments on all four engine supports to make it bolt on. Much effort was made to use the V6 axle shafts without shortening them.

The intake system is pretty custom, starting from the open element conical filter towards the G6EA Mu intake manifold. A set of Ebay race headers is coupled with a custom 2.5in. stainless steel exhaust, reasonably muffled with a locally-sourced resonator and a Nismo Weldina muffler (that was oddly previously mounted under a Subaru!)

A challenge was to retain airconditioning while at the same time managing the engine temps. The staggered radiator setup consisting of a Civic half radiator and a small auxiliary exhanger from a Nissan Urvan is able to cool down the big engine even in the sweltering tropical heat and horrendous standstill traffic.

The car previously had coilovers, but getting a good deal on both H-R lowering springs and new shocks to match got us to a stockish ride with spring rates fit to more sporting pretentions. Converting to 5x114 wheel bolt pattern brakes allowed us to use the uprated Tuscani Elisa brakes and have more choices in OEM wheels. My tire of choice right now happens to be GT Radial SX2s, reverse staggered sizing front and rear.

We did add custom fender flares on the front to accommodate wider wheels. We might go back to a stock look to make this car a total sleeper. The ratty exterior and decals package make me look like a wannabe ricer. But when they hear the V6 roar, a very uncommon engine note in a land filled with 4-bangers, they stand to notice.

I drive the car cocooned in Hyundai Tiburon front seats, with excellent lateral support given my wide posterior. The same Santa Fe that gave up its Mu intake manifold also gave this Elantra its instrument cluster and steering wheel. Theres a cheapo shift light that isnt as rev accurate as it should be. I adjusted it in a way that makes me shift appropriately only from first gear, as it is so easy to hit the low 6500 rpm fuel cut in first.

All things considered, this is not that fast of a car if comparing to really power mad cars out here in the PH. But, with its tractable torque, Hyundai ruggedness, and awesome engine sound, its a pretty good commuter car, assuming I can afford the fuel consumption. A great car to keep as long as possible.

More information about the build can be found on this YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvDs6qWx1kmhMnViOO1KtoSWZiYNHyQEp

[BRACKETRY]

We are most proud of increasing cooling capacity by adding a sub-radiator in front of the Honda Civic half-radiator.

Fitting the Civic radiator diagonally was due to us not willing to modify the radiators lower outlet. However, frontal area for the radiator may be a limiting factor. The radiator fan is able to control temps in idle or standstill traffic condition. But when you push the car on extended periods, like high-speed driving on expressways, it tends to overheat.

So we finagled a sub-radiator to the car. Like a joey to a kangaroo, the sub is mounted in front of the main. the same mounts that hold the radiator fan were also utilized to hold the sub, with custom brackets made of flat bar stock.

The sub is fed by the heater hose outlets. We dont need a heater in the Philippines. Temporarily, the hoses used are PE, but will swap them with EPDM as soon as I find some.

As you can see, its a tight squeeze for the sub-radiator. But it fits! Its a solution that holds up to hard driving so far.

[SUPER MODIFIED]

The car is far removed from stock. So maybe that makes it Super Modified? The external appearance doesnt seem to be as polished as I would have liked, given that the body kit it currently wears is slowly breaking apart.

I have the option to revert to the stock body panels. But I am partial to the existing custom front flares. The reason it had them originally was for me to easily fit larger and wider tires on the front end.

When budget and time allow, my hope is to make a firm decision to either make it look stock, or maintain and maybe slightly improve the body kit. Then it would look as clean as what this category implies to require.

Comments

To leave a comment on 1997 Hyundai Elantra 2.7 V6 6-speed MT:

Login or Signup