Tiger kit car performance

[dellyend1]

Hi All,

As you will see this is a really newbie question but having been googling for a couple of hours can't find an answer. My question is :

What is the sort of performance that can be had from a standard 1.8 pinto engine on single webber in a Tiger E1 car ?

I know it is subjective and there are lots of variables but having had a TVR Chimaera I'm just trying to get a feel for the 0-60 times , not that fussed about top speed as long as I can get to 70 mph + for main road traffic.

Anybody out there that can help ?

With Thanks

Jeremy

[greengreenwood7]

jeremey, cant help with a precise figure, none of the guys i know with tigers have 1.8 pintos, a few have or have swapped from 2.0 to zetec - those that had them were nippy enough when out for blats, those that have changed to zetec suggest there's a noticeable difference. Obviously gearing will play a part - especially if you arent fussed about top end speed.At a guess between 7-8 sec's, i think a standard 2.0 zetec is supposed to be around 5-6 sec's.

[GinG15]

you can have a tuned 2l in the enginebay and "destroy" all the power with a long diff.-ratio.

with the given information (1.8pinto) its definately impossible to figure out any performance-information.

[dellyend1]

HI, thank you both for the replies. I guess I am trying to get a handle on what the BHP for the 1.8 on single webber is to work out a bhp / tonne figure. I am contemplating buying a tiger with a 1.8 knowing that at some point I will probably swap the engine but won't do this until the winter at the earliest. The 1.8 tiger looks a really nice example that is well made and it is a good price,so where the head says just hold out for a 2.0 tiger I feel that having a useable car for the summer and then doing a engine swap will be more cost effective than holding out for a 2.0 as the variance in intial cost between the two would cover the engine upgrade work

Any thoughts gratefully received

Jeremy

[singlecoil]

If you fancy the car and the price is good, then buy it. If you find that the performance isn't good enough (it probably will be to start with though) then change it for something more interesting (NOT a 2L pinto) eventually. A lot of people who want more power aren't using all they've already got.

[greengreenwood7]

Jeremy, i'm afraid that the answers to your questions are a bit subjective. Will a 1.8 rip your face off, nope, but it'll feel pretty rapaid with the wind in your hair ( especially if its aeroscreened ). No idea what the cost differential is between this one you've seen and 2.0 zetecs, i mention zetec's as logically folks are moving away from pinto power - moreover with a tiger changing pinto to zetec means that the exhaust changes sides, which in turn means sorting out the existing hole in the side of the car. As mentioned above many owners don't use all the grunt that their cars have, possibly as you made reference to a TVR that you own(ed) that may not be the case.
As a tip, from my own experiences ( and as i'm not mechanically minded ) it's a better bet to buy the best spec car that you can rather than making upgrades later.
If you're keen on Tigers key things to look for ( if they havent been done doesnt make it a wrong car, just be aware of potential costs if you want to upgrade ).
1/ brakes - wilwood/hi-spec front brakes are about £400.
2/ rear disc conversion ( can add another £400 )
3/ seats - swapping from basic pads to plain fibreglass seats = £200, Tiger type seats = £350 (ish)
4/ going injection from carbs = does the car have a suitable fuel tank or will you have to add a swirl pot.
5/ as above - what ecu/management system does it have.
6/ exhaust - a standard tiger one sounds lovely but will prob fall foul of noise levels for track days.

moreover if you can buy one that either has a solid build history available to the new purchaser or is a known car to members of the Club that can be reassuring.

good luck and why not delve into tigerownersclub.co.uk for additional info

[Antony Moxey]

dellyend1 said:

The 1.8 tiger looks a really nice example that is well made and it is a good price,so where the head says just hold out for a 2.0 tiger

Hold out for a 2ltr Zetec. If you're going from Pinto to Zetec you'll need to factor in at least a grand to make it happen, plus the exhaust is on the other side so you've got a new hole to cut and and old hole to block.

As for doing the work over the winter - what's wrong with driving it over the winter! Oh, go for a Six instead of a Cat too, much better looking...;)

[Sam_68]

dellyend1 said:

...but having had a TVR Chimaera I'm just trying to get a feel for the 0-60 times , not that fussed about top speed as long as I can get to 70 mph + for main road traffic.

I'd agree with the estimate of 7-8 seconds for 0-60 time, but I think you need to recognise the aerodynamic limitations of 7-type cars, if you're wanting to make any sort of comparison with a Chimp.

A standard Pinto-engined 'Seven' will struggle to top a genuine 110mph and by high A-road cruising/overtaking speeds (>70mph) will be absorbing enough of its limited horsepower in aerodynamic drag that the overtaking acceleration will be pretty blunted.

... whereas I know with my old Griffith, whatever criticisms you leveled at it, mid-range punch wasn't a shortcoming!

[Wacky Racer]

I had a Tiger Supersix fitted with a 2l Pinto and twin 40 Webbers.

Performance was brisk, but not shattering, around 6 secs 0-60.

Plenty fast enough to have some fun though...

Biggest snag was the poor sump/road ground clearance over speed humps etc, even though the sump had been modified.