3000S engine rebuild .. more power please ;-)

[duncscz]

I've decided to take the plunge and while having the heads convertd to unleaded, invest in a full engine rebuild (~116K on the clock).

With a track day or two in mind (would be my first venture into such things), and with a reasonable (but not unlimited) budget, what changes are worth considering (necessary) to gain extra BHPs .. bringing her up to say 150-175 BHP ?

Thanks in advance ....

[thermister]

hi right now my engine is away getting the once over,one thing that will be done is converted to hydraulic cam followers.an interesting concept on a thirty year engine,followers that give a higher lift at a greater engine speed,basically variable engine timing,i think, thats as for as i under stand it

[duncscz]

Thanks ... I'll check them out ... maybe the 'icing on the cake' ...

My initial thoughts were to bring ~150BHP ?? are :

overbore
big valves
gas-flowed heads
steel timing gear

and allowing for some regrinding etc. of other parts
and a few other jobs while the engine's out ... recon/replace starter, check/replace core plugs.

[DavidY]

Wouldn't bother with the overbore unless it really needs doing, however a set of higher compression pistons wouldn't hurt (but you won't need this for 150-160bhp), would recommend getting the bottom end fully balanced.

davidy

[Adrian@]

DavidY said:

Wouldn't bother with the overbore unless it really needs doing, however a set of higher compression pistons wouldn't hurt (but you won't need this for 150-160bhp), would recommend getting the bottom end fully balanced.

davidy

The ability to rev higher is by balancing the rotating mass is critical add 1000 of RPM and you increase the cars speed by the per thousand gear ratio...21.7 MPH at least on the TVR, big valve unleaded heads require more than just standard seats put in, my advise would be that you speak to John at JW developements for him to do this.

[SuPaSpArK]

Mines being put together this week:

Burton big valve stage 3 heads and matched inlet manifold
Powermax high comp pistons +60
Polished conrods with ARP bolts
Steel timing gear
Roller rockers
Piper 270 cam
Balanced.
JW ported 38DGAS carb

Bought most of the bits from ebay...just been collecting for a while
Total inc fitting £1600

Hope it's going to make good BHP but won't know that until rolling road tune....

Supes.

Edited by SuPaSpArK on Monday 12th November 22:35

[kali]

@ thermister.

I too have an engine up at JW and am most likely going for the variable followers. If they can calm it down at low revs I'll be able to go for a stupider cam

John keeps on trying to talk me down on power but I think I'm going to go for about 180 . He's worried that I won't like that much when I'm driving in town.

Mines going into a Scimitar but I keep an eye out in here for essex posts.

You lot have answered a lot of questions for me without me having to ask.

Ta

Kali

[duncscz]

Thanks Supes ... food for thought ... are you planning other upgrades (ie brakes)? .. or are they already sorted ?

Keep us posted on the power improvement ....

[SuPaSpArK]

duncscz said:

Thanks Supes ... food for thought ... are you planning other upgrades (ie brakes)? .. or are they already sorted ?

Keep us posted on the power improvement ....

Fronts are pretty good...rear disc kit still to go on when I get chance.

[jellison]

duncscz said:

I've decided to take the plunge and while having the heads convertd to unleaded, invest in a full engine rebuild (~116K on the clock).

With a track day or two in mind (would be my first venture into such things), and with a reasonable (but not unlimited) budget, what changes are worth considering (necessary) to gain extra BHPs .. bringing her up to say 150-175 BHP ?

Thanks in advance ....

DON'T Bother with all this Unleaded Crap - it is totall pointless, if you do low miles per year you will have the possibility of the seat falling out (just one more thing that can happen). Better to have the heads and valve lapped in ever 3 - 4 years.

Doing this on my iron headed 200 (and a big buck TR race head that we are getting done now).

Flow the heads and a cam should give you 170 pretty easy.

[FHCNICK]

kali said:

@ thermister.

I too have an engine up at JW and am most likely going for the variable followers. If they can calm it down at low revs I'll be able to go for a stupider cam

John keeps on trying to talk me down on power but I think I'm going to go for about 180 . He's worried that I won't like that much when I'm driving in town.

Mines going into a Scimitar but I keep an eye out in here for essex posts.

You lot have answered a lot of questions for me without me having to ask.

Ta

Kali

totally agree that JW is the man to speak too, my Scimitar is sporting 165bhp thanks to his fettling

[jellison]

They aren't the most tuneable of engine - but we all know that - not really sure why?!

[Nick_F]

'Bowl-in-piston' means less than brilliant combustion chamber shape, and not being a true crossflow doesn't help either.

[Daftlad]

jellison said:

They aren't the most tuneable of engine - but we all know that - not really sure why?!

100 bhp /ton is avaialble N/A as I understand - which is not bad for a tractor engine.

Its not cheap, but its possible.

Edited by Daftlad on Saturday 24th November 09:15

[jellison]

Daftlad said:

jellison said:

They aren't the most tuneable of engine - but we all know that - not really sure why?!

100 bhp /ton is avaialble N/A as I understand - which is not bad for a tractor engine.

Its not cheap, but its possible.

Edited by Daftlad on Saturday 24th November 09:15

Maybe for the later 2.8 / 2.9's doubt (the Hotroad Mondeo Clone racers were around 100 bhp per litre (is that what you mean't not per ton?) it with the Essex. That would REALLY cost in an Essex, unless you are say a GA is effectively a special Essex (alot more than 100 bhp / ton there).

[SuPaSpArK]

jellison said:

Daftlad said:

jellison said:

They aren't the most tuneable of engine - but we all know that - not really sure why?!

100 bhp /ton is avaialble N/A as I understand - which is not bad for a tractor engine.

Its not cheap, but its possible.

Edited by Daftlad on Saturday 24th November 09:15

Maybe for the later 2.8 / 2.9's doubt (the Hotroad Mondeo Clone racers were around 100 bhp per litre (is that what you mean't not per ton?) it with the Essex. That would REALLY cost in an Essex, unless you are say a GA is effectively a special Essex (alot more than 100 bhp / ton there).

I think the Ric Wood alloy heads are somewhere around 100bhp/ltr....very expensive though but a must if you are dead serious.

edited to add: http://www.ricwood.com/cylinder_heads.htm

Edited by SuPaSpArK on Sunday 25th November 07:53

[Daftlad]

Apologies Jelli,
I did mean 100 bhp/litre (didnt say it was cheap though )

Edited by Daftlad on Sunday 25th November 08:38

[Jasper Gilder]

I've got about 180BHP and she drives beautifully - standard cam but much improved breathing....

[Daftlad]

Jasper Gilder said:

I've got about 180BHP and she drives beautifully - standard cam but much improved breathing....

That must be at the wheels Jasper? If its only 180 at the flywheel with those carbs it cant be too far off stock??

[jellison]

Daftlad said:

Jasper Gilder said:

I've got about 180BHP and she drives beautifully - standard cam but much improved breathing....

That must be at the wheels Jasper? If its only 180 at the flywheel with those carbs it cant be too far off stock??

Just bolting on some fancy carbs does not really mean it will get significant power hike.

They only made about 138 at the fly in a Capri and the TVR exhausts added less tha 10 when they were new. So 180 at th fly is pretty good (unless there has been stacks of tuning).

Yep 100bhp/litre is scray expensive I have about 98 - 99 bhp/ltr on my TR4 but the engine would be 12-15 if built by an external tuner