Alfa Nord engine

[Alfachick]

Ok sorry for the long post in advance.

My Alfa Spider has been in and out of the garage all year with overheating problems and whatnot, which understandably has been rubbish as I have not been able to drive her a huge amount this summer.

The mechanic has now had some time to run some diagnostics on her. It turns out that the "new and tested" engine that was fitted to the car last year by a different garage was actually a totally knackered old thing. After the head gasket being replaced a compression test was run and the cylinders are losing roughly 70%. So a rebore and whole engine rebuild is on the cards.
Since the whole engine is going to be getting rebuilt I have asked for some fast road goodies to be added into the mix.

So getting to the crux of my question, how much power can be extracted reliably from the 2l nord engine while running on electronic ignition and twin carbs? Am I dreaming if I am expecting 150bhp or more? What kinds of things should be getting done to the engine? An overbore is going to be occurring anyway and what else should I be looking at for the bottom end?

Cheers in advance to anyone with more knowledge of these things than me.

[Ali_T]

Depends hiw far you're willing to go. 150bhp is entirely possible but you either go down the lumpy cams, loud exhaust route or convert it to a twin spark (8v Twin Sparks are Nord engines) whick had your 150bhp as standard.

[arguti]

Depends on what you want - standard output for the 1962cc (2 litre) engine is 130bhp but more is achievable but it is a law of diminishing returns - use a decent head gasket like Spesso and make sure who ever builds it is familiar with the Nord engine.

I had my Bertone engine rebuilt by Alex Jupe Motorsport last year and it made 130 on the dyno - I run twinsparks in my other cars and to be honest IMHO 130bhp is enough for the 105 - sure you can ask Guy Croft alfaholics etc to try go for much higher but it is an engine design that harks back to the 50's - as a sobering thread read the following.

http://www.guy-croft.com/viewtopic.php?t=2574

I have 12 + Alfas of varying vintages and values and have spent enough to know where value for money lies- remember the old race engine building adage - "Fast, cheap and reliable - choose two of the three!"

Only my opinion and I am sure others hold different but equally valid opinions

For a good overview these are the best two books to start off with before you part with £££££

http://www.veloce.co.uk/shop/products/productDetai...

Nice chap and eminently readable

http://www.guy-croft.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=3...

The Bible of modifying Italian engines - one of the world experts on the Fiat/ Lancia Engines but very worth getting a copy of his 2nd edition book - one of the few motoring " textbooks" that will be worth more in ten years time - I have two brand new copies in storage for my two sons

Edited by arguti on Sunday 7th September 07:32

[jamieandthemagic]

See my reply to your classics thread