A Few More Horses

[Quarryman 1]

So I have a stock 1.6 gti and have started to think how to get a bit more power out of it.

 

What are the best bang for the buck modifications i can do?

[Goliath 94]

Best bang for buck modification would be an engine conversion, MI16 probably.

 

If you want to keep it 1.6 for now then I would suggest just giving it a good service, possibly adding some breathing/exhaust upgrades but other wise spending the money on keeping it 'fresh' and driving nice. For instance replacing the gear rods, engine mounts, suspension perishables etc. It's not all about power, having a nice 1.6 can be immense fun to drive

[Cameron 16]

I think if you don't want to go down the engine conversion route, there isn't much you can do on the cheap. You can spend a few quid here and there on a nice exhaust or air filter etc, but the gains are so slight you'll barely notice them so IMO it's kind of wasted money. If you're lacking grunt, make up for it by sorting the chassis. There's loads of cheap parts you can bolt on to make it go fast through the corners, you probably won't even have to search for it, just look in the for sale / brakes & suspension forums.

[Quarryman 1]

Thanks guys. Suits me fine to keep it stock, i didn't buy it for the power anyway.

 

I'll have look in the for sale section and long term maybe look at an MI 16 conversion someday...

Edited December 13, 2009 by Quarryman

[j_turnell 137 3 Cars]

Is the engine healthy to start with would be my first question?? You get quick ones and slow ones, so best off giving the engine a thorough going over and making sure its in good shape, as these days they are getting pretty tired!

[Quarryman 1]

Is the engine healthy to start with would be my first question?? You get quick ones and slow ones, so best off giving the engine a thorough going over and making sure its in good shape, as these days they are getting pretty tired!

 

Yeah. I've only had the car a few weeks so still need to get a proper feel for it. I also don't have another 205 i can compare it too.

 

But it pulls smoothly through all the gears and doesn't feel like its too much shy of the 90/100bhp or so it should be putting out.

 

Anything i can check to determine its health?

[j_turnell 137 3 Cars]

You could do a compression test, check cam and ignition timing also. But if the engine appears to run well then a good service if youve not done that already. Plugs, leads, dizzy cap, rotor arm, fuel filter, oil, oil filter, air filter. Clean all the induction hoses and check for any air leaks, then get it on a CO machine and see whats going on, in my experience setting them between 1.5-2.00 CO via the 5mm allen key on the afm gives good results. A low hydrocarbons is also a good sign its running well 100-200.

 

Also if theres no recent record of a cambelt change then i'd get that sorted along with tensioner and waterpump.

Edited December 13, 2009 by j_turnell

[boombang 2]

If it feels good, I wouldn't touch the AFM at all - if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

I'd set it up to run on super unleaded and get a touch more advance on there.

[Quarryman 1]

You could do a compression test, check cam and ignition timing also. But if the engine appears to run well then a good service if youve not done that already. Plugs, leads, dizzy cap, rotor arm, fuel filter, oil, oil filter, air filter. Clean all the induction hoses and check for any air leaks, then get it on a CO machine and see whats going on, in my experience setting them between 1.5-2.00 CO via the 5mm allen key on the afm gives good results. A low hydrocarbons is also a good sign its running well 100-200.

 

Also if theres no recent record of a cambelt change then i'd get that sorted along with tensioner and waterpump.

 

I just passed it through the NCT (Irish version of the MOT) and it gave a CO reading of 0.34%. This was after the idling was very poor and i put in new AFM to sort it, so i think its ok there. HC was ok too, 164ppm.

 

The timing belt needs a change alright, according to the service history its been about 50k since its been done.

 

I'll whip out the plugs and check them. New oil and filter probably.

 

What is the best way to check the timing?

 

thanks for the help guys.

[j_turnell 137 3 Cars]

The CO is very low IMO so you'll deffinately be sarcificing some top end grunt, HC is good, but would be low if your CO is only 0.34%, personally i'd adjust this, but up to you. The plugs should be a brownish colour if running nicely. If its running well then im sure your cam timing will be fine but worth checking your ignition timing with a strobe light.