max power from 400?
Discussion
hi there, there are lots of threads on here at the mo regarding power increases on 500's but what’s the realistic limit for a 400 keeping it naturally aspirated? I chose the 400 firstly cos i got it really, really cheap and another its my every day driver and i’ve heard storys of the larger engine models getting very hot and i had visions of being stuck in traffic jams every day in the summer and things melting lol, i have a stealth cam, carbon trumpets, airflow meter (not sure which but it was expensive), magnicor leads, hydraulic, lifters, smooth bore hoses eprom chip and induction kit and it was mapped and rolling roaded to get 253bhp, now ive looked at various websites and seen stage 4 heads, ACT double and triple plenum kits etc, will those bits make much difference? How much extra could i get from them? Or is it not worth it? Any other options?? Thanks for your input
Andy
Andy
Anything 'radical' done to a non-HC 400 would require new pistons with valve pockets - you'd as well upgrade to a 4.6 bottom end at the same time. Before that, you can forget about big/multi-throttle plenums, 45 mm ported intake manifold, bigger AMMs et al, as they won't make any real difference. The 'sensible' upgrade is the usual - carbon superflare trumpets, induction hose kit, plenum insulator between intake manifold and trumpet base; you'll get about 15 extra bhp/lbs.ft on a healthy engine.
Beyond that level and assuming engine in good condition, I'd seriously consider making it an SC (supercharged) 400.
Beyond that level and assuming engine in good condition, I'd seriously consider making it an SC (supercharged) 400.
900T-R said:
Anything 'radical' done to a non-HC 400 would require new pistons with valve pockets - you'd as well upgrade to a 4.6 bottom end at the same time. Before that, you can forget about big/multi-throttle plenums, 45 mm ported intake manifold, bigger AMMs et al, as they won't make any real difference. The 'sensible' upgrade is the usual - carbon superflare trumpets, induction hose kit, plenum insulator between intake manifold and trumpet base; you'll get about 15 extra bhp/lbs.ft on a healthy engine.
Beyond that level and assuming engine in good condition, I'd seriously consider making it an SC (supercharged) 400.
well i have those things done you suggested, as for the SC, is that a good idea for an every day chim? cos i thought super chargers generated loads of heat? and chims get hot enough any way dont they?Beyond that level and assuming engine in good condition, I'd seriously consider making it an SC (supercharged) 400.
Ah, read your post more closely and see that you have a Stealth cam in - that would indicate that you already have pocketed pistons as I wouldn't have thought the Stealth is compatible with the std flat tops - Rob??
253 bhp is a very good result for a 400, either way.
I'd say the low boost supercharger installation would be uncritical when the engine including cooling system are in perfect working order (I think there's quite a bit of heat management stuff going on in the installation to begin with), and it will probably be a nicer everyday car than a 500 or something else with big cam, big ports, big valves etc. Also you can always add an intercooler if you want a bit 'more' (safely). It would need bespoke mapping due to the upgrades already made to your engine, though.
253 bhp is a very good result for a 400, either way.
I'd say the low boost supercharger installation would be uncritical when the engine including cooling system are in perfect working order (I think there's quite a bit of heat management stuff going on in the installation to begin with), and it will probably be a nicer everyday car than a 500 or something else with big cam, big ports, big valves etc. Also you can always add an intercooler if you want a bit 'more' (safely). It would need bespoke mapping due to the upgrades already made to your engine, though.
You could get well over 300 if you were prepared to have custom (very) high comp pistons and cam to suit, but you are starting to get race engine characteristics.. Where you set the bar on manners can be personal as well as mitigated somewhat by modern fuel & spark ecus + throttle bodies. Whatever / whichever it starts to get expensive.... (ie making ACT goodies look very cheap)
Depends on how fastidious you are I suppose - cost was never much of an object wehen maintaining/upgrading the Chimaera but the prospect of getting a Cerbera to the sort of level where I can be long-term satisfied with its reliability and handling scares me no end - they're much more complicated beasts than the RV8 cars.
Besides the roof doesn't come off...
Besides the roof doesn't come off...
900T-R said:
Depends on how fastidious you are I suppose - cost was never much of an object wehen maintaining/upgrading the Chimaera but the prospect of getting a Cerbera to the sort of level where I can be long-term satisfied with its reliability and handling scares me no end - they're much more complicated beasts than the RV8 cars.
Besides the roof doesn't come off...
Nah they are easy cars if you can wield a spanner there still just nuts and bolts at the end of the day.Besides the roof doesn't come off...
Handling mine is light years ahead of my old chimaera which i spent a fair ££££ on shock polly bush's good tyres anti roll bar drop links and so on. the longer chassis is so good on our bad road surfaces and the level of grip is miles apart from the chim and less skitish in the bumpy bends.
I do miss the sound of the sleeved RV8 and with this weather having a roof suck
I do miss my Chim in ways, power is not everything. I now know it's more about grin factor than power speed, The cerb is on the limit for the road if driving it the way it want to be driven. I had just as much if not more fun in the Chim over the 3 years i had it. speed and power is not everything.
Andy chimaera said:
... i’ve heard storys of the larger engine models getting very hot and i had visions of being stuck in traffic jams every day in the summer and things melting ...
Roughly, power = heat. A greater engine capacity does not necessarily mean more heat. It's how you handle the heat created that's important. Probably.
900T-R said:
Depends on how fastidious you are I suppose - cost was never much of an object wehen maintaining/upgrading the Chimaera but the prospect of getting a Cerbera to the sort of level where I can be long-term satisfied with its reliability and handling scares me no end - they're much more complicated beasts than the RV8 cars.
Besides the roof doesn't come off...
i was thinking of a cerb before i got the chim, i know they are much quicker but the garage i take mine to said you'd need deep pockets for a cerb, also i was checking out the cerbera forum here and there was a thread about how cerbs arent very good every day cars, now if owners say that then ill stick with this one and i think these sound nicer :-), and the roof comes off this one ;-)Besides the roof doesn't come off...
Andy chimaera said:
i was thinking of a cerb before i got the chim, i know they are much quicker but the garage i take mine to said you'd need deep pockets for a cerb, also i was checking out the cerbera forum here and there was a thread about how cerbs arent very good every day cars, now if owners say that then ill stick with this one and i think these sound nicer :-), and the roof comes off this one ;-)
If anything my Cerb is a better daily drive than my old Chim cost wise i think there much the same for now bit worse on fuel i see around 15/16mpg most of the time but that is not being nice to it at all and just short runs. The Chims do sound good but a Cerb on over run is one of the best sounds ever and the roof off at this time of year i do miss.If anything my Cerb is a better daily drive than my old Chim cost wise i think there much the same for now bit worse on fuel i see around 15/16mpg most of the time but that is not being nice to it at all and just short runs. The Chims do sound good but a Cerb on over run is one of the best sounds ever and the roof off at this time of year i do miss.
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maybe you were lucky? every mechanic i spoke to at dulford said they are very costly and when they quoted prices for general componets, brakes, cluches etc my jaw dropped and accoring to the cerb forum they eat cluches every 15k, ill stick to the little chim, id just like to try and screw more power from it, so just wondered what options there were
[/quote]
maybe you were lucky? every mechanic i spoke to at dulford said they are very costly and when they quoted prices for general componets, brakes, cluches etc my jaw dropped and accoring to the cerb forum they eat cluches every 15k, ill stick to the little chim, id just like to try and screw more power from it, so just wondered what options there were
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