2.2T Engine Upgrade Feedback

jbell959 · 07:33 PM

I'm just about ready to take my basically stock 71T in for a new paint job. While it's being painted I want to rebuild/upgrade the engine.

The engine was last rebuild only 30K miles ago and it doesn't leak any oil. So... since I have 2 other projects going and this is a street car/daily driver I want to limit the upgrades to the top end.

Here is what I have:

- I'm running 40IDAs already
- I'm planning on replacing the P&Cs with good used 2.2E P&Cs.
- I had a set of heads ported to I36/E33 to give it a little more air.
- The camshaft selection is where I'm looking for some feedback based on what others have built. I have 3 sets of cams ready to go: E cams, Solex Cams, and DC30(Mod-Solex)

So the questions are:

- Which cams would you run?
- What size should I make the ports on the intake manifold (bottoms)?
- How should I setup the carbs?

Grady Clay · 10-21-2007, 05:01 PM

I would keep the ports small and use the ‘E’ cams. That will make for a great street engine. It will also allow for future mods if you want. (I suspect you won’t.)

Best,
Grady

jbell959 · 10-21-2007, 05:19 PM

Thanks Grady...

So are you suggesting I stick with the stock T heads I32/E32? or use the I36/E33 heads I have and go with 32mm ports on the bottom of the manifolds?

Bobboloo · Bobboloo's Garage

I agree with Grady. 2.2E pistons, E cams, 32/32mm ports for a street motor. (I'm sure he meant the T heads) If you get the urge to go deeper get a 70.4mm crank to go with the above to make a nice punchy 2.4E. You'll be faster than any 2.4S to 100mph.

I think 36mm ports on a 2.2 are not what I would call ideal for a street motor. Personally I don't see using 36mm ports on anything less than a 2.7L for a daily use street car.

Remember the 73'RS had a 2.7L with 36mm ports. The overwhelming popularity of that car had a lot to do with the combination of that displacement matched with the S cam and and 36mm S ports.

jbell959 · 10-21-2007, 08:18 PM

Hi Bobby - Thanks for the post.. sounds like that's the way to go.

Question - I already have the 36/33 heads rebuilt and ready to go. What is the effect if I go with the stock T manifolds (I think they are 32mm at the bottom) on these heads? I was trying to get all the parts ready to go so the rebuild would go quick without having to wait for parts to be machined. Or am I better off having the stock 32/32 heads rebuilt for this application?

Also... How would you suggest I setup the carbs?

Bobboloo · Bobboloo's Garage

`I don't have the first hand experience with such a combination but it doesn't sound ideal. The larger ports will counteract the efficiency of the "E" setup to perform well in it's designed torque range.

Think of it like this. Imagine you want to take a small sip of a drink. You use a thin straw to take small sips. If the straw had an en-largened area in the middle of it it would be harder to take that controlled sip.

Conversely if you want to take a large gulp you would use a large straw because it's too difficult to try and get that gulp through a thin straw. Even having an en-largened area in the middle of the straw would not help you take the gulp because you are still limited by the thin straw.

The thin straw is of course the E ports and the large straw is the S ports in this analogy. Having the 36mm ports with an otherwise E setup will not help you take big S gulps and will only work against the efficiency of the E setup.

Keep in mind it's just my opinion on what is ideal for a daily/street car. The 2.2S has the 36mm intake ports just like the 2.4S, 2.7RS and for that matter even the 2.0S. I just don't consider the 2.2S an ideal daily driver/street car. To me it's a track ready hot rod motor which is really cool and puts a big grin on your face when it hits 6500RPM but it's not my idea of a daily use street car.

P.S. Someone else can advise you on carb jetting. I've rebuilt carbs before which is easy but I otherwise don't know jack about jetting them. I remember Bruce Anderson had some good guidelines for jetting in his performance handbook.

304065 · 10-22-2007, 06:58 AM

Modify a 2,2

jbell959 · 10-22-2007, 11:24 AM

Hi John - Thanks for the link. I had read that thread in the past but it seemed as if he was after a different target then me. I ruled out swapping cranks since the bottom end is in great shape and this is purely a street car. I also want to retain the matching number engine since the car is being restored basically stock.

It sounds like E cams are the way to go based on the feedback thus far. The question now is whether or not I can use the heads that I had rebuilt and ported to I36/E33 or if I need to rebuild the stock T heads and leave the ports alone. The other area that I could use some wisdom in is a good starting point for the carb setup.

Thanks a bunch... Cheers

jbell959 · 10-24-2007, 04:13 AM

Throw out some idea on a good starting point for the carb setup..

Sounds like I may need to have my stock T heads rebuilt - Is that the best bet?

304065 · 10-24-2007, 07:08 AM

A few ideas.

If this is a Street car, Solexes. They have a little more zip than the "E," Solex have a 97 lobe center vs. 102 for the E. Or the DC30, that's a better lobe design I would expect.

Keep the ported heads, 46/40 valves with 36/33 ports is pretty close to the 71S with the same valves and 36/35. You might sacrifice a little low-end torque for high end power.

Reversion. What you DON'T want is a manifold ported bigger than the port in the head, e.g. a 911T head with a 32mm port and a ported manifold with a 33mm port. This is exactly the opposite of the optimum characteristic to contain reversion, which is a pressure wave formed when the intake valve closes. In your case, the port in the head is bigger than the manifold, 36mm diameter vs a 32mm port in the manifold, which means there's a "step" of 2mm on each side that will help contain the pulses in the intake port and keep them from pushing air backward through the carb. You may want to reduce the size of the step but only a little bit, ask the experts what they think is best.

Keep the 40IDAs and start with "E" jetting, common knowledge on the BBS. If they are not in perfect shape have them rebuilt-- if you don't know the exact diameter of each jet, get the jet gauge and measure.

jbell959 · 09:24 AM

Thanks John... That is very helpful.

I'm torn between the E cams and Solex cams. I've had experts and enthusiasts push both ways. I guess in the end it is a matter or preference. I would say more are probably in favor of the E cams for a street car. I have all 3 sets - fresh regrinds from John Dougherty. Here are the specs from his site.

The webers I have are fresh rebuilds from Harry Bieker so I just need to set them up.

I have a set of stock manifolds as well as a set PMO manifolds that are 40mm at the top and about 34mm at the bottom. I'd like to use one of those along with the 36/33 heads since I have those ready to go. The PMO manifolds I have are a little taller than the stock manifolds but not as tall as the tall PMOs. I'll post a picture.

304065 · 10-24-2007, 09:36 AM

What's not to love about the DC30? The duration and lift of the Solex with the lobe center and reduced overlap of the E.

Bieker did mine too, gorgeous.

Sounds like the PMO manifolds will work fine, make sure they clear the stock aircleaner.

Zeke · 10-24-2007, 09:37 AM

Why not ask Dougherty about his thoughts? I bet he has some good insight.

jbell959 · 10-24-2007, 09:54 AM

Hi Milt.. I did (since he built all the cams for me). His first suggestion was the E cams. But he said the Solex would also be nice. Don't think I talk to him about the DC30s for this engine.

jbell959 · 10-25-2007, 09:34 AM

Here are a few pictures of the carbs. One is on the PMO manifold and the other on a stock manifold. If looks like the overall height is about 12mm more on the PMO manifold.

Zeke · 10-25-2007, 04:19 PM

That's some pretty stuff.

jbell959 · 10-25-2007, 09:32 PM

Thanks Milt... I've been stocking parts away for this rebuild for a while.

Anyone else have an opinion on using a 34mm manifold on top of a 36mm intake port?

TimT · 10-25-2007, 10:02 PM

You could spend a few hours with a die grinder and port match the manifolds to the heads....The PMO manifold are aluminum and will take a bit of effort to match, the Porsche manifolds are magnesium and are easy peasy to match.

I'd spend the time and remove the 34mm bottleneck

jbell959 · 10-27-2007, 09:51 AM

Hi Tim, The reason I was considering going with the 32mm or 34mm manifolds is because several have suggested that I would be happier with the smaller ports on this engine. I was hoping to use the manifolds as a way of restricting the air (since the heads have already been ported to 36mm and rebuilt). I think I would agree that 36mm is probably to big with E cams for a street engine.

Any other thought on this setup?

jbell959 · 10-27-2007, 10:44 AM

I may have another potential issue. I just looked at those "beautiful" CNC'd velocity stacks and they are only 42mm at the bottom. The stock weber stacks are 46mm and the tops of the carbs are also 46mm.