Zetec tuning options (Tiger E1)

[nickpan]

Dear all,

I have a 2002 Tiger E1 with a 1.8 Ford Zetec engine. I've just had it serviced and discovered what I thought were Webbers (see pic) are in fact just for show as the engine does not operate with carburetors due to its injetion system.

Besides this, the mechanic noted that when test driving it, he wasn't too impressed with the performance of the car despite it being mechanically sound. The previous owner has left a print out from a rolling road he conducted showing 150hp which sounds plenty fast. However, I would like more power.

What are my options chaps?

Thank you,

Nick

[singlecoil]

First thing to do is to find the ECU and identify it, then contact a rolling road, make sure they can cope with that particular type of ECU, then get it on the rollers and see what's what. Until you've done that you are very much in the dark, as you won't know whether what you have already got is working properly or not.

[nickpan]

Thank you.

I have an Emerald ECU that sits in the pasenger footwell.

Does anyone have any recommendations for a rolling road in London?

Kind regards,

Nick

[singlecoil]

nickpan said:

Thank you.

I have an Emerald ECU that sits in the pasenger footwell.

Does anyone have any recommendations for a rolling road in London?

Kind regards,

Nick

You need to ask that in General Gassing, I expect you will get a number of suggestions, might be a good idea to be more specific about your area too.

[CorseChris]

Interesting find. The 'carbs' aren't strictly just for show though - they are acting as your throttle bodies. Be interesting to know what size chokes they have in them.

TBH, 150bhp for a stock 1800 on TBs and a half-decent exhaust sounds pretty much on the money. If it's not stock, that's another matter. It should be reasonably lively at that, so sound advice to go have it checked out. Initially, go for a quick power run if nothing else, just to make sure it's giving what it should. If you then find it's down on power you can start thinking about what might be wrong.

Good luck with the car

[nickpan]

Thanks guys.

Lets make the assumption that I take it to a rolling road and confirm the power output is c.150bhp and all is running well.

My question is - what are my tuning options? There may be none, so then I'm in the market for a new kit car or a new engine. Turbos? Re-mapping? A different exhaust? New injectors?

I'm basically trying to determine whether my car has got any more to give (taking into consideration safety / reliability) or should I be replacing it.

Kind regards,

Nick

Edited by nickpan on Wednesday 30th June 15:01

Edited by nickpan on Wednesday 30th June 15:02

[singlecoil]

nickpan said:

Thanks guys.

Lets make the assumption that I take it to a rolling road and confirm the power output is c.150bhp and all is running well.

My question is - what are my tuning options? There may be none, so then I'm in the market for a new kit car or a new engine. Turbos? Re-mapping? A different exhaust? New injectors?

I'm basically trying to determine whether my car has got any more to give (taking into consideration safety / reliability) or should I be replacing it.

Kind regards,

Nick

Edited by nickpan on Wednesday 30th June 15:01

Edited by nickpan on Wednesday 30th June 15:02

Continuing your let's suppose, and assuming it is 150bhp, how much do you think you would need? The question is vital because the answer to your question (how best to go about getting more power) depends utterly on the answer to how much do you want?

If it's 250bhp, then a good turbo installation will give that, you will need new rods and pistons, but your existing ECU can be remapped to suit , would probably be your cheapest option, especially if you are happy with the rest of the car as is.

[greengreenwood7]

Nick, pals of mine with standard 2.0 zetec's have between 160-170bhp, so you are close to that if its still making 150bhp. I know zero about whats possible with tuning a 1.8, so cant help uyou there - my advice is as above - what do you want, why do you want it....etc.
yeah i know we all want 'more'....but in your own case why? I've got 230 from a highly tuned zetec, on teh road my pals are generally there or thereabouts unless i go silly, on the track sure thats a different story. So look at your useage and work out what you think you want/why....
cost wise tuning anything is in my opinion/experience not a cheap pastime - hence wanting to get it right.
is there a reason why you dont think its quick enough? in which case perhaps a decent tune / remap may make it more driveable - looking at the photos the trumpets seems very short, others on here may comment ....i thought that the optimum length for torque on a zetec was about 90mm? those look like 45/50mm? so little things like that may make it feel a bit livlier?
Try ATSpeed rolling road, dont know if they do Emerald - they're west essex - rayleigh? Or Steve/Steve at Track n Road at Purfleet, or the man himself Dave Edwards - up in Norfolk.
have fun and hope to see you on a run one day.....
mark

[nickpan]

Thanks Mark - sound advice.

I will get it onto a rolling road ASAP...!

Kind regards,

Nick

[Lost my mojo]

I understand these people to have a good reputation http://www.tracknroad.com/

For tuning http://www.raceline.co.uk/

[CorseChris]

FWIW, apart from some DIY throttle bodies (38mm from a GSXR 600) and the Westfield exhaust, the box-stock 2.0 silver top Zetec in our car makes 168bhp@6458/147lbft@5260 and goes well enough....but 'well enough' is a pretty subjective thing.