Mk Indy engine
Discussion
Hi, I'm new to kit cars & recently bought an Mk Indy with a Pinto 2lt engine with 1400cc Kawasaki carbs, it goes well but I want more power & speed, is it worth me upgrading the engine, or would I be better off putting in a Zetek, I'm looking at the ST170 engine ! I'm also interested if there is anywhere near Kings Lynn that could do the work for me ? Any advise much appreciated
1400cc Kwaka carbs on a pinto seems to be a bit large. My 2.0l Zetec was pushing out 165hp and using ZX6 (600cc) carbs.
The St170 engine has variable valve that needs to be controlled. Chester Sportscars do a kit that include manifold, bike carbs, Nodiz ecu and VCT controller (they also do the ame kit minus the VCT controller for Zetec, Duratec and Zetec SE). And as previously said, everything is on the wrong side compared to a pinto.
The Duratec has everything on the correct side but is a more expensive option (needs ecu, manifold, bell housing, sump etc.) compared to modifying/setting up a Pinto or a Zetec, or there is the 1.6 Zetec SE (Sigma)which is again the right side exhaust etc.
I would suggest you first get the geometry set up correctly (can do wonders for a car handling), put decent tyres on it, get the pinto on a rolling road and set up correctly with the right jets/set up for the bike carbs and then drive it for a while to see how it goes. Other mods that will help on the road will include an LSD (Sierra IRS 3.62 cosworth/XR4, may need to swap the drive shafts if push in ones), a long first/close ratio gearbox (BGH, First motion etc.) and a decent set of brakes. On the road I think 150-170 hp is about the sweet spot for these cars, more for the track but on the road this is where the fun is.
Just my opinion, hope it is useful.
The St170 engine has variable valve that needs to be controlled. Chester Sportscars do a kit that include manifold, bike carbs, Nodiz ecu and VCT controller (they also do the ame kit minus the VCT controller for Zetec, Duratec and Zetec SE). And as previously said, everything is on the wrong side compared to a pinto.
The Duratec has everything on the correct side but is a more expensive option (needs ecu, manifold, bell housing, sump etc.) compared to modifying/setting up a Pinto or a Zetec, or there is the 1.6 Zetec SE (Sigma)which is again the right side exhaust etc.
I would suggest you first get the geometry set up correctly (can do wonders for a car handling), put decent tyres on it, get the pinto on a rolling road and set up correctly with the right jets/set up for the bike carbs and then drive it for a while to see how it goes. Other mods that will help on the road will include an LSD (Sierra IRS 3.62 cosworth/XR4, may need to swap the drive shafts if push in ones), a long first/close ratio gearbox (BGH, First motion etc.) and a decent set of brakes. On the road I think 150-170 hp is about the sweet spot for these cars, more for the track but on the road this is where the fun is.
Just my opinion, hope it is useful.
Which 1400 Kawasaki used carburetors? The GTR1400 and ZZR1400 are both fuel injected.
If fitting an ST170, were you intending to try to use the original ECU and deal with with the immobiliser etc. or run it on an aftermarket fuel injection system that supports the variable valve timing?
If fitting an ST170, were you intending to try to use the original ECU and deal with with the immobiliser etc. or run it on an aftermarket fuel injection system that supports the variable valve timing?
Edited by Mr2Mike on Monday 5th January 14:27
usually a 2l pinto pulls well!!
we need more input:
1. what wheels and tyres are fitted?
2. whats the diff-ratio?
big tyres and a long diff will destroy the acceleration of every car as long as you dont have a tuned rover v8 installed.
next i would check if the existing cam is not already an uprated one
next: check that the cam-timing is spot-on. maybe somebody changed the cambelt and didnt put it right. a pinto will not have valve-piston contact when timing is out. so it will still run but with lack of power
we need more input:
1. what wheels and tyres are fitted?
2. whats the diff-ratio?
big tyres and a long diff will destroy the acceleration of every car as long as you dont have a tuned rover v8 installed.
next i would check if the existing cam is not already an uprated one
next: check that the cam-timing is spot-on. maybe somebody changed the cambelt and didnt put it right. a pinto will not have valve-piston contact when timing is out. so it will still run but with lack of power
Sorry, a bit late, but just remembered Tiger Sports Cars are in Wisbech. They are "rivals" to MK but I am sure they do general maintenenace and tuning of cars other than their own.
http://www.tigerracing.com/
http://www.tigerracing.com/
you still havent provided the infos Lantrissant was requesting:
"1. what wheels and tyres are fitted?
2. whats the diff-ratio?
big tyres and a long diff will destroy the acceleration of every car"
IMO those are the first points to start with!!!
15 or 17inch wheels might look nice, but having immediate counter-productive effects on acceleration and agility of such a car.
"1. what wheels and tyres are fitted?
2. whats the diff-ratio?
big tyres and a long diff will destroy the acceleration of every car"
IMO those are the first points to start with!!!
15 or 17inch wheels might look nice, but having immediate counter-productive effects on acceleration and agility of such a car.
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