Stephen Pickard Posted July 14, 2011 Share Posted July 14, 2011 Does anyone know an engine tuner who could mildly tune my 2.0l Vauxhall carb engine. I want to retain the torquey characteristics and do not have that much to spend. I was thinking of about 190bhp for around £1000. Any ideas? I am based in West Yorkshire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miltec Posted July 14, 2011 Share Posted July 14, 2011 SBD are about the best I know of with Vauxhall engines but a long way away... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Fowler Posted July 14, 2011 Share Posted July 14, 2011 Quoting Miltec: SBD are about the best I know of with Vauxhall engines but a long way away... What he said!! Lee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan c Posted July 14, 2011 Share Posted July 14, 2011 Whilst it may not add power if you have not already done so I would recommend upgrading to a 3D ignition system. That upgrade made a huge change to my car. Failing that SBD or QED are a great start, both web sites have a fair amount of info. My car has about 190 and only changes were cams and ARP bolts to up the rev limit. Next steps for me would be better gas flow so manifolds and head work. Beyond that I think you need to change pistons to cope with cams with more lift. Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I reply to every thread Posted July 14, 2011 Share Posted July 14, 2011 Tick Tock, Tick Tock How about Field Motorsport? they got 700 bhp out of a an XE using standard crank, pistons and rods Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I reply to every thread Posted July 14, 2011 Share Posted July 14, 2011 Seriously, Mild cams, rejetting and an ECU (particularly 2nd hand) should easily get you 190 for a grand. From memory SBD reckon that a standard engine is around 200bhp with optimised map, inlet & exhaust. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheds Moderator Posted July 14, 2011 Share Posted July 14, 2011 Really? I was just thinking it was optimistic! The standard tintop 2.0 16V was 165 bhp, the 7 version with carbs had 175 (iirc) so how do you go from there to 200 simply by adding an ECU? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davedlr Posted July 14, 2011 Share Posted July 14, 2011 Do all VX 2.0 cars run an ECU? I'm fairly sure mine is proper old school and just has a dizzy, but it was a post build upgrade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miltec Posted July 14, 2011 Share Posted July 14, 2011 I think so, mine is a lowly 1600 8v and I do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I reply to every thread Posted July 14, 2011 Share Posted July 14, 2011 Pretty sure SBD said 208 on an absolutely optimised standard setup, which of course you'll never achieve in a Caterham particularly with the inlet manifold design. Certainly my standard VXi was transformed with Jenveys and an ECU Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul McKenzie Posted July 14, 2011 Share Posted July 14, 2011 Steve, As Aves indicated 'breathing' both out and particularly in (with the dog-leg Caterham inlet manifold) is the place to start...your choice then is to either ally weld and gas-flow the CC inlet manifold (say £150) or go to DTH throttle bodies and, on your budget, an ignition only ECU and mapping...but to be honest you'll already be well over budget. Remember also, that unless I'm wrong, SBD only supply the 'bits' these then need to be fitted... engine builders costs based on time are not inconsiderable. So to answer your question the first step is to consult an engine builder well-acquainted with these requirements. Over here a few of us use Dave Brookes in Crewe, but like all craftsmen, his services don't come cheap, but the results are there to see. If you're interested give him a call on 01270-661850 and have achat about what you want. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Deslandes Posted July 14, 2011 Share Posted July 14, 2011 going dry sump will liberate 10 - 15bhp. That's how the Caterham race Vx series cars were 190bhp, plus they had 48mm Webers. I think 208 kit SBDs figures are a bit optimistic and assume a dry sump engine. The standard Caterham Weber inlet manifold will restrict you to about 210 -215 but it can be gas flowed and matched to the carbs and head. Mine was done by Ultimate Performance without needing any welding and the engine has made over 250 (with lots of other mods too 😬) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Fowler Posted July 14, 2011 Share Posted July 14, 2011 Standard redtop was 150 bhp. We used to see on average 194 from the race engines and they were on 48's with fixed jets and MBE mapped ignition plus they had dry sump systems. With throotle bodies and dry sump you should see around 200 all day long. As Paul says standard manifold will stop you at around 210ish. Lee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EFA Posted July 15, 2011 Share Posted July 15, 2011 "SBD or QED are a great start" That depends........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k.russell Posted July 16, 2011 Share Posted July 16, 2011 direct to head jenveys, dry sump, tuned exhaust, sport cams(hydraulic) and my car makes around 195bhp on Northamptons rollers. but the rolling road alone will cost a third of your budget. each of the above upgrades with exeption of the cams is above your budget and that was a few years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EFA Posted July 16, 2011 Share Posted July 16, 2011 For £1000, the best you will do is: 48 DCOE's (up from 45's - you should be able to trade on Ebay, so cost to change is minimal) Uprate the cams to fast road (no valve cutouts on pistons) - again loads of these 2nd hand. Change your exhaust for a 2.4" collector outlet and fit a larger dia silencer. Get the carbs jetted on a rolling road. And if you have anything left over, get a 3d ECU with a throttle pot. And there are plenty on here to help you fit it together without the need to turn to engine builders etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EFA Posted July 16, 2011 Share Posted July 16, 2011 Also: "As Paul says standard manifold will stop you at around 210ish." I'd say this is the limit for a "235 Evo" but the JPE gives a good 225 on the std manifold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Morris Posted July 17, 2011 Share Posted July 17, 2011 I did this on my Vx Fitted a set of fast road cams (Q42H rings a bell??)NO modification required (circa £200 cams + cam belt kit £70)whilst retaining the hydraulic followers Popped it down to a local rolling road and after some simple rejetting she made 190bhp, rolling road said she would see 200 if I had 48 mm carbs but bottom end would not be so crisp. Limiting factor was the carbs and the fact that she was already on the max 41mm chokes. Car felt the same on bottom end, but pulled at the top end for approx another 500 rpm, made her quick enough to chase an SLR all over Wales and a blat soon afterwards inc some top speed antics. Rolling road was a very reputable local who builds all the Chevron race engines and is a webber agent. This was done 7 years ago and the car is still running fine (no longer my car) Total cost Cams 200 Belt 70 Rolling road 60 TOTAL 330 + a bit for inflation over last 7 years but stil within budget and not intrusive with reagrds to pistons or bottom end mods Edited by - Rob Morris on 17 Jul 2011 09:00:01 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheds Moderator Posted July 17, 2011 Share Posted July 17, 2011 That makes sense. That's a lot of performance for a very modest spend. Nice work Rob. Meanwhile on a parallel thread there are people seriously contemplating spending £5,000 (yes, five thousand pounds!) on a crossflow rebuild. OK gents, chacun a son gout, but £5k gets you a decent SH car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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