Engine replacement options?

[ajroberts]

Hi,
Not sure if this question has been posed or not, probably has but I can't find straight answers.

I have a 2001 supersprint and the engine (1.6l vauxhall 8v) is lacking in life power and drinks fuel. I am looking to try and get 170/80 BHP and working my way through the car upgrading parts, engine, axle + brakes and suspension. I have got the caterham 6 speed in there too.

I want to change the engine for a new one and a lot of other parts in the car, I am thinking about a raceline Zetec r or focus engine and wondered if anyone has experience on these engines and thoughts, if there is a better one out there.

If anyone knows the cost too that would be fantastic.


AJ

[TeflonT]

Vauxhall 16v will utilise many of the parts to fit and give the required output.

[ajroberts]

I do want to change it to fuel injected with a dual map, one for road and one for the track.

[TeflonT]

If its on injection, and properly mapped, that map should be fine for both.

It sounds like you will not enjoy the MPG even a modest engine delivers using throttle bodies - my R400k only manages high 20's on the road when driven in "touring mode". It gives about 14mpg on track. Thats 165 bhp.

Single plenum does not give the spread of power, but does improve MPG.

Perhaps a K series with a 52mm throttle body is the way to go? Plenty of these about, factory designed to fit the Caterham. All parts available 2nd hand.

[Eugene7]

There is a bunch of us with Zetec conversion on 7-DNA.

See: http://www.7-dna.com/forums

I have one, and it's a great engine, and ideally suited to the 7.
210 BHP on twin 45 Webers.

[ajroberts]

In respect, my budget probably won't be able to go straight from carbs to FI, I have twin DCOE 40's on my VX engine would that limit the power too much, then later on change to Fuel injected.

[Aeroscreens]

I installed a Zetec on carbs when my x/flow went bang, but I stuck with the 40s rather than go for 45s as I intended to go for FI later. My new engine was specced for 45s but by keeping the 40s I was down by something like 20bhp. A year later I took the plunge and went FI and by simply changing from the 40s to TBs I 'found' another 30bhp.

[Steve-B]

The engine in a Mazda 626 is a Duratech and a very affordable option to grab at a wreckers yard. Not hard at all to clean up and tune to a lot more HP. The wiring loom would only need minimal changes, cut a new exhaust hole and you'd have a rock hard and stable engine.

The Toyota 4AGE is one the PRB boys in Oz use a lot and equally reliable and easily tuned.

[Mavic82]

Going to the vx c20xe red top seems the most straight forward route. Many parts will be common, the exhaust is on the right side, reliable, tunable and you could pick up a standard engine quite cheaply and run it until you are ready to tune it up.

[HustleRussell]

C20XE is the easiest option. I'm pretty sure it'll bolt up to the gearbox, even the starter motor is the same. It's a heavy engine but makes 150bhp out of the box with plenty of scope for tuning and it also has the added benefit of sounding great - much better than a Duratec.