1.7 conversion

AFJuvat · 09-01-2002, 02:00 PM

Hi all,

I've recently sold my 76 2.0 and am now looking at buying a 73 1.7. The 73 has had the suspension modified for street and track use (bigger torsion bars, front and rear swaybars etc.)

My question is, what are some sensible modifications that can be done to squeeze some more HP out of the engine. The engine has 85K original miles and has the fuel injection system intact.

Will be picking up the car for about $3500, and looking to spend up to $1500 in engine modifications and adding a center console

Thanks

AFJuvat

anthony · 09-01-2002, 02:27 PM

I don't know what prices are in your neck of the woods but for $1500 you could get a complete good running 2L engine.

Ron Meier · 09-01-2002, 03:32 PM

It is not how fast one goes, but how well one goes fast.

With the stock fuel injection, you're going to be a little hampered in your performance increase due to air flow restrictions, available fuel flow, and the injection timing that is based on the stock cam.

You, as Anthony put it, would be better off getting a stock 2.0 (if you wanna stay stock).

If you go to larger pistons & cylinders, the block and heads will have to be machined.

You could add a 2L crank and rods with no machiining, but would still require new P & Cs because of the stroke increase.

You could mill (flycut) the heads for slightly higher compression, add larger valves and "street" port the heads. I don't really know how much increase you would get and you would probably have to mess with the FI to get a little richer mixture.

Wenn Ein schnelle, kubische Dollar gehen will, helfen werden.

Racer Chris · Racer Chris's Garage

The Tangerine Racing, Super Header Exhaust System will add significant torque and power to your stock, injected engine. No other modifications necessary! http://www.tangerineracing.com

Dave at Pelican Parts · Dave at Pelican Parts's Garage

Yup, that's what it will do! It will also eat up the entire engine mod budget to get a coated (highly recommended!) header with Phase 9 silencer (streetable, I think). The good news is that you can move it to the next four-cylinder motor if you get one. Did I mention that it's a real work of art??

You lose all pretense of cabin heat. Not too bad of an issue for FL, but losing the defogger may be a bit ugly in the rainy season. (That's the one that lasts for 12 months, right?

)

You will likely have to tweak the FI a little bit to keep the mixture in the right area.

You can still get an improvement (lesser, to be sure, but still there!) with the cheaper Kerry Hunter setup. http://www.kerryhunterenterprise.com They will be loud, and they will leak, according to what I have heard. But they work and they are cheaper.

EuroRace makes a four-into-one setup that is supposed to be between the K-H and Tangerine headers in price and in performance. I know they are still pretty loud with a Flowmaster muffler on them. Triad (see earlier posts about Triad) makes a header that is supposed to be similar to the EuroRace one in price and performance.

If you have to have heat or don't want to go for the race headers, you can try a higher-flow muffler. The Triad mufflers are supposed to be very good, the people on this BBS who have tried them seem to really like them. I hear they have a dyno sheet that shows an improvement in power over the Bursch, which is the usual choice for a performance muffler that bolts to the stock exchangers. We do carry the Bursch...

--DD

mr914 · 09-03-2002, 07:34 PM

The only substitue for cubic inches is rectangular dollars.

I would find a donor 2.0.

campbellcj · 09-03-2002, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dave at Pelican Parts
EuroRace makes a four-into-one setup that is supposed to be between the K-H and Tangerine headers in price and in performance. I know they are still pretty loud with a Flowmaster muffler on them.

I'M SORRY DAVE, I CAN'T HEAR YOU, WHATDIDYASAY?

Yeah, the car is somewhat loud (Eurorace header, straight-thru Dynomax race muffler...) The Flowmaster Delta-40 would actually quiet it down a fair amount. Might be necessary at certain tracks.

The main issue I have with this header (I didn't buy it, was on the car already) is that it leaves little or no clearance at the sump cover. It may not be installed/oriented exactly right, but from the looks of it there is no room for a tuna can or deep sump. (If there is, it would be a fraction of an inch from one of the pipes). That worries me. Other than that, seems like a quality piece.