Swindon tune?

[Stuart Wallace]

I've had my 91 HPC for over a year now and I still don't quite know what I have. I part exchanged my bike (T955)for it almost on impulse, joined the club and have had no regrets. I would like to know if I have a good base for further development. The car was advertised with a Swindon 225 engine built by Haans Motors and Eric at Swindon confirm they suppied a 225 kit to Haans for the car. Can anyone tell me what I need to do to get the best from the car with out sending mega bucks? I have the invoice for the work Haans did on the car, here is a list of the work done and the parts supplied.

 

Details of work undertaken

Remove engine, remove cylinder head & pistons

Refitted modified head & pistons. Fitted steel oil

Pump gears. Refit engine.

Supply and fit modified ignition ECU/loom

 

Components used Description Qty

 

90466638 Gasket 1

90411386 Gasket 1

90324060 Head bolt 10

90397813 Gasket set 1

90233809 Washer 10

CP3431 Clutch centre 1

90305059 Clutch diaphragm 1

AB890 Release bearing 1

92060519 O/P hsg. Gasket 1

GFE210 Oil filter 1

225 Build 225 head 1

SK0127A Rod bolt 8

SK8009 Carb spacer kit 1

SK5160 Breather tube 1

SK5162 Breather tube 1

PP1226 Core plug 1

SK0046 Top cover breather 1

EC2069 ECU 1

VP2 Deepen valve pkt 4

C59YC Spark plug 4

CTP Convert tappet 16

SK0071 Tappet shim 16

V-P11-IN-IRON Inlet camshaft 1

V-P02-EX-MECH Exhaust camshaft 1

90409456 Gasket 1

90322032 Valve spring 16

SK0186 Steel retainer 16

90215296 Valve stem seal 16

PP0303 Roll pin 2

90106924 Manifold stud 12

SK0054 Platform phase 2 16

SK0109 Top ring 4

SK0110 2nd ring 4

SK0111 Oil control ring 4

90297321 Rod bearing 4

SK8100 PRV assembly 1

SK0029 Inner o/p gear 1

160 Main Jet 4

SW0452 150 air jet 4

60FD 60fd idle jet 4

 

I know it has been converted to sild tappets, it produces 152@6800rpm at the wheels

 

Thanks in advance

 

 

Stuart

 

[Jason Plato]

Where is Arnie when you need him ??

teeth.gif

[Peter Carmichael]

Gosh. Doesn't it take a lot of bits to get a Vauxhall to produce 225 bhp?

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Ignore the at the wheels reading. Get a corrected at the flywheel reading, produced using a coastdown test. At the wheels means "after the tyres have deformed over a tight radius roller, unlike anything encountered on the road".

[Stuart Wallace]

Thanks Peter I'll do that.

 

Can anyone understand those part numbers and tell me if the spec is good or bad? And can you tell from the list what the rev limit should be, Swindon's chart shows it gives peak power @7750!! I think the ECU is a Weber Alfa but I am not sure, can anyone tell by the part number?

 

Thanks

 

Stuart

 

Edited by - Stuart Wallace on 11 Feb 2001 18:01:32

 

Edited by - Stuart Wallace on 11 Feb 2001 18:02:23

[Jason Plato]

Stuart ,

Get it rolling roaded to determne the approx flywheel bhp , this will tell you if its a good spec and provide peace of mind into the bargin - all ready for a good summer thrashing !!

Dave

[CHRIS CLARK]

Dave.

 

Have you any idea when this 'good summer' will start so I can be prepared and book the right couple of days off work ?

[EFA]

Stuart, Im here.

 

You have a Swindon 225 kit.

 

This will absolutely give 225 bhp with an exhaust manuafctured to Swindons dimensional spec, and also the correct inlet manifold.

 

Caterham, when they sold the 225 Evo did neither of these things. My Caterham 235 Evo only produced 202 bhp. It produced 243bhp on the same dyno with a decent exhaust and Jenvey Throttle Bodies.

 

I know the setup you have well.

 

Are you sure the cams you have are P11 and P02 - I would expect the Exhaust Cam to be a P07 in a 225 spec engine. These are good cams!!!

 

The head could be proted more by Swindon to 235 spec which is pretty much as per the JPE - pretty big ports! This is best done by Swindon, and they charge £750 to machine the head from a std one so expect a significant reduction in cost.....

 

The ECU you have is likely MBE - fits onto the Caterham loom above the drivers right knee. If its MBE its approx 4 inches by 3 inches by 1 inch thick. If its anything else it will likely be larger - the MBE units are unique in their size.

 

To really transform this engien I would:

 

Get a P07 ex cam if you do not already have one.

 

Your valve gear is plenty strong enough if you have the steel retainers, but duplex (double) valve springs might be a good idea if you want to go for 8500rpm.

 

To take the engine over 7800rpm you need steel (forged) conrods - Farndon are fine and can be brought for around £600 a set

 

Then, and here's the bit that will make the most significant difference, ditch the carbs, the ecu and buy an MBE or DTA ecu and Jenvey Throttle bodies.

 

You will need a K series tank with the integral pump and a few other bits, but all this will cost about £2500

 

Then you will have a car with around 235 genuine horsepower, and around 200 at the wheels, but more importantly loads of torque and massive driveability. I had this setup oin my car for around 2 years and it is simply fantastic. (Of course upgraditis is incurable and i've gone well beyond this spec since...)

 

Its much easier to talk about this than type it so if you want to talk, send me an email and I'll send you my number....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arnie Webb

The Fat Bloke blush.gif in a Slow Old Vauxhall wink.gif

[Stuart Wallace]

Thanks Arnie e-mail on its way!