Scott Tully Posted September 11, 2002 Share Posted September 11, 2002 What is the cheapest and easiest way to get more horse power from my MG-Rover K series 1.8 140bhp engine? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cdg Posted September 11, 2002 Share Posted September 11, 2002 Run it on Methanol... 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red SLR Posted September 11, 2002 Share Posted September 11, 2002 LOL!!! Throttle boddies, ECU, cams, porting - then more expensive stuff is pistons, crank, exhaust etc etc. I have heard some good reports of people changing to 4-2-1 exhaust and a decent ECU. That will prob cost about 800 - 1000. Then you would be all ready for a set of TBs at about 500 quid. All the above is DIY - apart from the mapping. If you live near south london you are 😬 X777CAT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnty Lyons Posted September 11, 2002 Share Posted September 11, 2002 A decent exhaust either 4to 1 or if your really keen 4-2-1 and an Emerald. 😬 jj N.I. L7C AO. Membership No.3927. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scooby dooby doo Posted September 11, 2002 Share Posted September 11, 2002 agree with Johnty. the exhaust should be one where four pipes come out the side then nerge to 1 pipe. the type that does this in the car should have been put down at birth. The caterham one is well over 500 quid. for about 500 somebody like powerspeed will make you a superior item. This could be worth upto 10 bhp. A mappable ECU is the next step - the caterham ECU for the std 1.8 is (or used to be - i presume the "Xpower" lark hasn't changed it) desgined for a shopping metro not a caterham. an Emerald ECU is the one to get and is about 600 quid. This can be mapped properly to make the car more drivable and has resulted in BIG low down torque increases as well (up to 15 ft lbs i think in one case). After this you can really play and just tweak the ECU to make use of the changes. without the ECU then throttle bodies, cams etc are total waste of time. HOOPY R706KGU CYCLE WINGS AEROSCREEN K SERIES CUCUMBER Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oilyhands Posted September 12, 2002 Share Posted September 12, 2002 *definitely* replace the exhaust manifold if its the short one, then have a look here. Oily Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewD Posted September 12, 2002 Share Posted September 12, 2002 Oily, whereabouts are you in Milton Keynes? I am in a small village near to Winslow so not far away and am thinking about tinkering with my Superlight R over the winter... Andrew Yellow SLR T777XXX Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oilyhands Posted September 12, 2002 Share Posted September 12, 2002 I'm at MK13 0PP, which is 200 yards from the A5 trunk road, Full address 4 Hadrians Drive Bancroft MK13 0PP Have a look in www.streetmap.co.uk. Oily Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mole Posted September 12, 2002 Share Posted September 12, 2002 I think it's worth mentioning that if you have an EU3 k-series engine there is no simple way of upgrading to an Emerald ECU as there isn't one that is plug-compatible with the EU3 loom. ☹️. This is being worked on but it isn't clear when it will be available. So to all of those who keep posting that upgrading to the Emerald ECU is the way to go, show some consideration for the growing number of k-series owners who just can't do this ☹️ ☹️ ☹️. SV 52 CAT - the Mole is flying Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JP Posted September 12, 2002 Share Posted September 12, 2002 Just seen Oily's link - mmmmmm...toys! 😬 😬 Is fitting an Emerald AND getting it running well a DIY job? (1.6KSS with long primary manifold)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JP Posted September 12, 2002 Share Posted September 12, 2002 Just seen Oily's link - mmmmmm...toys! 😬 😬 Is fitting an Emerald AND getting it running well a DIY job? (1.6KSS with long primary manifold)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oilyhands Posted September 12, 2002 Share Posted September 12, 2002 Moves are afoot to produce an adaptor loom to allow the M3DK to work with an EU3 loom, getting an Emerald ECU installed and working is a straightforward DIY operation, there is a library of maps for the K from mild to wild, you will need to calibrate the throttle pot (5 mins) and play a little with the idle settings but then with the correct map it should run acceptably well. If you are keen you can book a RR mapping session at Emerald. Oily Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red SLR Posted September 12, 2002 Share Posted September 12, 2002 I would be more than interested in that conversion plug... 😬 X777CAT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewD Posted September 12, 2002 Share Posted September 12, 2002 My car is a May 99 one, SLR number 50 in fact, so I'm guessing I don't fall foul of this but how could I tell (bear in mind I am almost completely ignorant of the hot oily bits under the bonnet) Andrew Yellow SLR T777XXX Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V7 SLR Posted September 12, 2002 Share Posted September 12, 2002 Andrew, your SLR will be plug compatible with the M3DK. I have SLR0077 (Dec 99) and am running the M3DK. What's your plan for upgrading? Worcs L7 club joint AO.//Membership No. 4379//Azure Blue SLR No. 0077//Se7ens List Tours Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewD Posted September 12, 2002 Share Posted September 12, 2002 Not sure. Was thinking about replacing the VHPD induction with roller barrels and also looking at the engine management unit. I've heard the VHPD cams are reasonable so not sure whether it would be worth starting down the route of looking at cams, head, valves and bottom end. I think my aim is to squeeze perhaps another 20-30 reliable bhp out of the car, but not to make it an undriveable beast. I'd also like to look at ways of quietening it without robbing too much power - it's currently about 102-103dB on 3/4 throttle (no cat, with 4-2-1 exhaust). Andrew Yellow SLR T777XXX Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Carmichael Posted September 12, 2002 Share Posted September 12, 2002 250bhp K-series can be eminently driveable... (I seem to remember) Don't be distracted by the roller barrel throttle bodies. They aren't that well designed and all you need are properly lined up butterfly valved throttle bodies to get the desired power. The roller barrels probably give you 2 bhp at most. On the VHPD it is the manifold that is at fault. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V7 SLR Posted September 12, 2002 Share Posted September 12, 2002 Mine has the original throttle bodies and cams and produced 204bhp last time I RR'd it. It's had a top-dollar head job (by Mr DVAPower) which is screaming for me to install the new 1227 cams I've got in the garage. Then it's likely to be approaching 220bhp. I really don't think the throttle bodies are your limiting factor yet, and you certainly don't need to touch the bottom end to squeeze 20-30bhp more as long as you can achieve that gain by staying under 8000rpm which is exactly what I intend to do. In your shoes I'd change the ECU and get a set of vernier pulleys. Properly timed and mapped you should see 200bhp. I did. In addition, the roller barrels, whilst nice and pretty to look at, do nothing more than a set of Jenvey direct to head throttle bodies do at considerably less £££ (although they've risen in price recently, quite sharply too). Mine's easy to drive very powerful and torquey. There's no reason to believe it'll be any different once the new cams are installed. Enough people have the spec I'm incrementally crawling towards and theirs are fine on the road. As you appear to be close to Oily, I'd arrange a chat with him. No-one knows more about tuning the K in many people's opinion (including mine). Worcs L7 club joint AO.//Membership No. 4379//Azure Blue SLR No. 0077//Se7ens List Tours Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewD Posted September 12, 2002 Share Posted September 12, 2002 Thanks for the advice, could save me the cost of the rb's! I will have a chat with Dave. Reliable and driveable 220bhp seems a nice target. Are the verniers a direct performance enhancement or do you have them to help setting cam timing? Andrew Yellow SLR T777XXX Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oilyhands Posted September 12, 2002 Share Posted September 12, 2002 The verniers allow you to set the cam timing *properly* both with the exisiting cams and any replacements. In my experience the VHPD cams are timed way off the mark, this costs performance and tractability. I will shortly be supplying an upgrade kit consisting of Emerald ECU, verniers and fitting/cam timing for the VHPD. Oily Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V7 SLR Posted September 12, 2002 Share Posted September 12, 2002 I will shortly be supplying an upgrade kit consisting of Emerald ECU, verniers and fitting/cam timing for the VHPD.In my opinion and experience this should be the first port of call for all SLR owners. At least then you positively know that your engine is supplying as much power as it can with the current parts fitted. I would like to see someone crack the MBE ECU password supplied by Caterham for the R400's next, so that they can be mapped properly too, in conjunction a pair of vernier pulleys. Worcs L7 club joint AO.//Membership No. 4379//Azure Blue SLR No. 0077//Se7ens List Tours Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F355GTS Posted September 12, 2002 Share Posted September 12, 2002 Dave Aside from the 'other project' of mine in your garage, give me a shout when you have the Emerald/ Vernier kit, definite purchase Mark Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewD Posted September 12, 2002 Share Posted September 12, 2002 Dave Sounds like I should give you a call shortly then! Andrew Yellow SLR T777XXX Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinwhitcher Posted September 12, 2002 Share Posted September 12, 2002 I feel Oily has the right formula here....... *thumbup* Martin MW 51 CAT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oilyhands Posted September 12, 2002 Share Posted September 12, 2002 The kit is now outlined here. Oily Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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