Austin Allegro 1500 E Series Tuning? (Seriously)

[Death Monkey Man]

I think this will be the only place to attempt this? -

Just got my dream motor, 78 Allegro Estate 1500 SDL? sad but true.

Anyway, obviously it needs to go a bit quicker - two choices lay before me:

1 - the all out balls on the table option: 2l K20 Honda Vtec, retro looks, 200bhp on tap as standard. A proper Wolf in a pink poof of a sheeps outfit!

My obvious favorite but very expensive.

2 - the retro, subtle tuning of the Austin E series motor: Maybe head swap with bigger valves (if an option exists?) at least porting, polishing, twin webbers or EFi? not massively fast but with its own charm.

The big question is though: does anyone have any experience or knowledge of tuning an E series lump?

Any help gratefully received

Cheers

Monkey Man

[spannerman]

Part of me thinks you are taking the Micheal, no in fact all of me thinks you are....

[scruffy]

want all out nonsense, or just try and bolt in a dolomite sprint engine...?

bolting stuff in is easy...

everything else is 'not for people with girlfriends'

see what i did there...?

[v8ian]

Montego Turbo engine would bolt straight in in mounts, same seried block, as for where the turbo will hit would be pure speculation

[SplatSpeed]

800 rover turbo lump????

[rev-erend]

NO2.

Job done

[vrooom]

Doesnt that car have A-series as standard? i think you can fit vauxhall engine, but i personally would fit rover turbo engines in it.

[Death Monkey Man]

Some Allegro's had 1275 A series lumps but not mine.

Not sure as to why I would make all the effort to change the motor just to put in a rover gasket blower?

It's sounding like a Vtec all the way.

[GavinPearson]

If you want to make the car go faster then I think there are two good options that make the car faster and remain period.

One good route would be to take a secondhand 1750 engine and tear it down. Rebore & hone, grind crank. Lighten flywheel & balance entire bottom end. Gas flow the head, send cam to Piper and have a fast road profile ground. Make a tubular manifold and fit twin SU carbs. Using Lumenition ignition set up dizzy and needles on rolling road, car will be noticeably faster.

Another route would be to fit a 2200 E series & 'box, tune as the 1750 and it would be even faster.

I would avoid swaps of non-E series engines just because of the huge amount of extra work.

[PJR]

This post really reminds me of the kind of thing I read about in PPC a lot. Might even be worth you asking on their forums too? http://ppcmag.co.uk/
Either way, its a good car mag and is full of projects like this.

P,

[Plank]

The 1750 E series is the same bore but a longer stroke crank. The Maxi HLS has a better cam better manifolds and twin SU carbs, So you need an HLS engine, you can keep the same block if you need to keep the 1500 engine number. Also the Montego O and R series are an updated E series with a different head so you have many options.

[Fat Richie]

Plank said:

The 1750 E series is the same bore but a longer stroke crank. The Maxi HLS has a better cam better manifolds and twin SU carbs, So you need an HLS engine, you can keep the same block if you need to keep the 1500 engine number. Also the Montego O and R series are an updated E series with a different head so you have many options.

And following on from the O and R is the T-series as used in the Rover 220 / 420 / 620 / 820GSi models. Lovely engine, 140bhp in stock form and god knows how much in turbo and chipped trim!

[BB-Q]

One thing you must do whatever you decide in your engine choice. Put a roll cage in it. A welded one, not some bolt-in rubbish.
The reason is that the All-aggro shell is incredibly weak (and they handle appallingly. I've met several people who've put one on it's roof). Tales of the rear screens popping out when you jack them up are not uncommon.

Other than that, go for it. It's cool to be different!

Edited by BB-Q on Monday 10th March 10:41

[Death Monkey Man]

Well after the "I find the 1500 engine to be perfectly sufficient for the Allegro" response from the bobble hat brigade on other forums I have been inspired to look for a 2 ltr Vauxhall lump (red top or not either or really).

I will be looking at the brakes first though LOL.

As for the roll cage I have some pro's and con's in that I want it to look almost standard to the untrained eye - BUT, and this is a propper BIG BUT - I jacked up the drivers side to sort the front wheel out etc and noticed that when I did, the drivers door would not open? WTF.

I think I may have spotted the very reasoning behind Euro Ncap testing etc. A very good reason for the roll cage.

Should be a nice project though.

[dougc]

Might be worth a read

http://www.pistonheads.com/doc.asp?c=52&i=1679...
http://www.pistonheads.com/doc.asp?c=52&i=1718...

[Death Monkey Man]

I've seen that earlier this year, looks like an awesome project.

I have considered a 2 litre rover lump, just to keep it in the family sort of thing. Who knows, depends on what I can get at the time.

[simon p]

or

[Death Monkey Man]

Mmmmmmm

Probably a bit further than I really want to go, but looks fking awesome.

From the Allegro racing workshops I believe?

[simon p]

If you mean Allegromotorsport then you are indeed right. The mads Allegro guys wanted a nutter Allergo and after a few ideas chucked around my 'shop and quick look at my other projects, we came up with this. Sometimes though, i think you have the right idea!

www.suffolkcountymantas.co.uk