best that can be got out of the 4.2
Discussion
How many horses can we reasonably chase out of the 4.2?
although remapping as standard apparantly isnt worth it, as the mapping isnt bad to begin, once decatted, would a remap start to become worth any horses? also has anyone successfully improved over the standard induction setup for the 4.2? the lucky 4.5ers always have the whirlwind option, no options for us 4.2 owners at all?
exhaust headers? anything improvements to be had on that front? is it the exact same fitment as the 4.5? i.e. could act's header upgrade for the 4.5 be used on the 4.2?
is there much likelihood of getting far beyond 350/360hp with this engine without incurring expense that would make it more feasible to swap for a 4.5?
although remapping as standard apparantly isnt worth it, as the mapping isnt bad to begin, once decatted, would a remap start to become worth any horses? also has anyone successfully improved over the standard induction setup for the 4.2? the lucky 4.5ers always have the whirlwind option, no options for us 4.2 owners at all?
exhaust headers? anything improvements to be had on that front? is it the exact same fitment as the 4.5? i.e. could act's header upgrade for the 4.5 be used on the 4.2?
is there much likelihood of getting far beyond 350/360hp with this engine without incurring expense that would make it more feasible to swap for a 4.5?
Alan , the best upgrade for any car is driver training.
After that foget power hikes, and look at a CR gearbox or a change to the diff.
You will spend thousands for very littleif you go for the power upgrade route.
Untill you can drive what you have to it's absolute limits, you don't need any more power.
After that foget power hikes, and look at a CR gearbox or a change to the diff.
You will spend thousands for very littleif you go for the power upgrade route.
Untill you can drive what you have to it's absolute limits, you don't need any more power.
volospian said:
lol, when a 4.5er asks "how can I chase more power?" they get answers like "decat, whirlwind, remap.." and so on.
When a 4.2er asks we seem to get told "I think you'll find that the stock 4.2 is more than enough for you!"
Shush - That's cos were faster than them already When a 4.2er asks we seem to get told "I think you'll find that the stock 4.2 is more than enough for you!"
Nickccc said:
Alan , the best upgrade for any car is driver training.
After that foget power hikes, and look at a CR gearbox or a change to the diff.
You will spend thousands for very littleif you go for the power upgrade route.
Untill you can drive what you have to it's absolute limits, you don't need any more power.
Good Advice.....After that foget power hikes, and look at a CR gearbox or a change to the diff.
You will spend thousands for very littleif you go for the power upgrade route.
Untill you can drive what you have to it's absolute limits, you don't need any more power.
It really is nothing to do with us 4.5 owners wanting all the power for ourselves
. The 4.2 is a sorted engine, it doesn't need anythingdoing to it. The cost of the induction kit and remap, in excess of £1000 gives, us an extra 15% power thats all, and you dont really notice that extra power in terms of increased performance, the main benefit is that the 4.5 is a bit lumpy in standard form, and the re-map makes it a lot smoother to drive, huge improvement. I'm being honest and objective now.....the 400+hp figure is just good for pure good humoured bragging rights after a few pints in the pub. No one drives there Cerbs to the limit every day anyway,
In the real world the 4.2 it is just as quick as the 4.5, spend your money on things like suspension upgrades and driver training, and then it will be quicker.
Edited by JensenA on Thursday 1st May 19:19
I regularly see 380 ish bhp from the 4.2 with inlet porting, a decent exhaust and remapping so there are gains to be had, just not as significant as on the 4.5. 40 hp gain on a 4.5 costs about 600 pounds, the same on the 4.2 can cost over 2 grand ( porting, SP exhaust plus fitting, remapping) ..
Nickccc said:
Alan , the best upgrade for any car is driver training.
After that foget power hikes, and look at a CR gearbox or a change to the diff.
You will spend thousands for very littleif you go for the power upgrade route.
Untill you can drive what you have to it's absolute limits, you don't need any more power.
After that foget power hikes, and look at a CR gearbox or a change to the diff.
You will spend thousands for very littleif you go for the power upgrade route.
Untill you can drive what you have to it's absolute limits, you don't need any more power.
Absolutely, the really noticeable power difference between the two engines doesn't become apparent until your well into speeds well over a ton, at the kind of speeds you can do on the road.Take even a standard 4.2 on a track and you start to realize there's quite a lot to learn in such a light, fast car with no electronic driver aids. Belive me, I've tracked it a few time, often when you think you have the measure of it, the car likes to remind you not to get too cocky in a manner conducive to severe pant soiling if your not careful.
As Nick says driver training is the best investment.
trackcar said:
I regularly see 380 ish bhp from the 4.2 with inlet porting, a decent exhaust and remapping so there are gains to be had, just not as significant as on the 4.5. 40 hp gain on a 4.5 costs about 600 pounds, the same on the 4.2 can cost over 2 grand ( porting, SP exhaust plus fitting, remapping) ..
do you think the whole air intake system design isn't too bad as standard on the 4.2 then?Hiya,
A 4.2 went on the rollers at Charlies place just before mine last year.
394 bhp (I think; definately over 390) - I had a big smile on my face thinking if that's what the 4.2 puts out mine is going to be 400+ (new owner thought process).
Anyhow, the guy just smiled and drove off whilst everyone else just looked at each other scratching their heads.
Mine only got 354, which I was told was pretty healthy for a standard 4.5 - didn't make me feel healthy after the previous 4.2 performance.
So I hope that adds nothing useful to the argument.
Donny
A 4.2 went on the rollers at Charlies place just before mine last year.
394 bhp (I think; definately over 390) - I had a big smile on my face thinking if that's what the 4.2 puts out mine is going to be 400+ (new owner thought process).
Anyhow, the guy just smiled and drove off whilst everyone else just looked at each other scratching their heads.
Mine only got 354, which I was told was pretty healthy for a standard 4.5 - didn't make me feel healthy after the previous 4.2 performance.
So I hope that adds nothing useful to the argument.
Donny
DonnyMac said:
Hiya,
A 4.2 went on the rollers at Charlies place just before mine last year.
394 bhp (I think; definately over 390) - I had a big smile on my face thinking if that's what the 4.2 puts out mine is going to be 400+ (new owner thought process).
Anyhow, the guy just smiled and drove off whilst everyone else just looked at each other scratching their heads.
Mine only got 354, which I was told was pretty healthy for a standard 4.5 - didn't make me feel healthy after the previous 4.2 performance.
So I hope that adds nothing useful to the argument.
Donny
Out of interest what colour was it, also was it a later plate 4.2 A 4.2 went on the rollers at Charlies place just before mine last year.
394 bhp (I think; definately over 390) - I had a big smile on my face thinking if that's what the 4.2 puts out mine is going to be 400+ (new owner thought process).
Anyhow, the guy just smiled and drove off whilst everyone else just looked at each other scratching their heads.
Mine only got 354, which I was told was pretty healthy for a standard 4.5 - didn't make me feel healthy after the previous 4.2 performance.
So I hope that adds nothing useful to the argument.
Donny
I rocked up to that day shortly after that car had left (but at least managed to witness Donny's disapointment 
) - from speaking with Charlie since then, pretty sure it was a late 4.2, meaning in all probability one of the factory 4.5 block/4.2 induction combos. Still don't know who's it was, not a pher I don't think.
) - from speaking with Charlie since then, pretty sure it was a late 4.2, meaning in all probability one of the factory 4.5 block/4.2 induction combos. Still don't know who's it was, not a pher I don't think.I was on a track day in Mondello last Monday and I can now say that the 4.2 Cerb in standard form is a bloody quick car and great fun when pushed to it's limits (and beyond 
).
There's a few pics and vids of me "playing" on the track over on www.octane.ie but here's a few comments from some of the others who were there
AndyT said From my vantage point on the pitwall? Fast. Ferrari-embarrassing fast. I knew that car was quick but I didn't expect it to be that quick.....
Toad (an instructor at the track) said that cerb is hard work, but makes you focus and was quicker than the 360 in a straight line, but the braking zones where terrifying, guessing if the next down change (Excellent shift btw) was going to lock up the rears, and if so which way would it step? It would make you a very good driver if you got out in it like that often enough.
Ferrari-embarrassing fast ..... yes it is.
All I need to do now is figure out how to keep ahead of a track-prepared Caterham.
).There's a few pics and vids of me "playing" on the track over on www.octane.ie but here's a few comments from some of the others who were there
AndyT said From my vantage point on the pitwall? Fast. Ferrari-embarrassing fast. I knew that car was quick but I didn't expect it to be that quick.....
Toad (an instructor at the track) said that cerb is hard work, but makes you focus and was quicker than the 360 in a straight line, but the braking zones where terrifying, guessing if the next down change (Excellent shift btw) was going to lock up the rears, and if so which way would it step? It would make you a very good driver if you got out in it like that often enough.
Ferrari-embarrassing fast ..... yes it is.
All I need to do now is figure out how to keep ahead of a track-prepared Caterham.
Ireland said:
I was on a track day in Mondello last Monday and I can now say that the 4.2 Cerb in standard form is a bloody quick car and great fun when pushed to it's limits (and beyond ).
There's a few pics and vids of me "playing" on the track over on www.octane.ie but here's a few comments from some of the others who were there
AndyT said From my vantage point on the pitwall? Fast. Ferrari-embarrassing fast. I knew that car was quick but I didn't expect it to be that quick.....
Toad (an instructor at the track) said that cerb is hard work, but makes you focus and was quicker than the 360 in a straight line, but the braking zones where terrifying, guessing if the next down change (Excellent shift btw) was going to lock up the rears, and if so which way would it step? It would make you a very good driver if you got out in it like that often enough.
Ferrari-embarrassing fast ..... yes it is.
All I need to do now is figure out how to keep ahead of a track-prepared Caterham.
Mondello's kind of tight and twisty track though, not really got very long stretches to get the higher speeds out of the cerb - doesn't a kart still hold track record at mondello? ).There's a few pics and vids of me "playing" on the track over on www.octane.ie but here's a few comments from some of the others who were there
AndyT said From my vantage point on the pitwall? Fast. Ferrari-embarrassing fast. I knew that car was quick but I didn't expect it to be that quick.....
Toad (an instructor at the track) said that cerb is hard work, but makes you focus and was quicker than the 360 in a straight line, but the braking zones where terrifying, guessing if the next down change (Excellent shift btw) was going to lock up the rears, and if so which way would it step? It would make you a very good driver if you got out in it like that often enough.
Ferrari-embarrassing fast ..... yes it is.
All I need to do now is figure out how to keep ahead of a track-prepared Caterham.
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