Need More Power!?!

[aldo56 0]

Ive got a 1988 1.6, which currently has a pipercross air filter and a shiney new exhaust system, all be it standard. Its fast but im getting used to the power, i used to have an xs . I need more power, i can do most work my self exept machining, helps when ure dad used to be a mechanic and you work in a garage part time lol. Is there any mods that can be done relativeley cheaply etc, not relaly looking to spend mega money on a full engine rebuild !!

 

any thoughts would be appreciated!!

[aeinstein 0]

there's lots of answers to this question imo, but if you want to go a bit faster for not much money and a bit of work, put a 1.9 in.

 

if you want to go a lot faster, and don't mind a bit of work, the mi16 is the way to go. just check most peoples signatures on this forum!

 

or to be different, turbo it. there is any amount of opinions on whether the different delivery of 1.6 to 1.9 is worth the work, the 1.6 revs happier and the 1.9 is lazier, but if i was to look at doing headwork, cam etc, i'd probly buy a 1.9 and do the work to that, than try to improve the 1.6.

 

just one mans opinion though, and you'll have to decide how much work you want, and how expensive you want to go.

 

al

[j-16 1]

Stronger brakes

 

Less weight

 

Better traction

 

Possibly suspension mods

 

Driving course

 

 

These mods will have the effect of making you faster and are more in tune with a 205 which is never going to be hugely fast in a straight line compared to other modded cars. Also if you do have to have more power some of the above are a good idea first anyway.

[aldo56 0]

hey, thanks, i just read all the other posts about it, sorry for posting really lol therei s so much stuff already on

[Dream Weaver 2]

.......more in tune with a 205 which is never going to be hugely fast in a straight line compared to other modded cars.

 

I beg to differ

[j-16 1]

I beg to differ

 

 

O.k, I guess my Mi isnt too slow either but if you look at strip times (from what I can remember) 205s don't seem to come off too well against say modded vauxhalls and VWs. At least you must agree the above would be more cost effective? Getting big power from an Mi isn't cheap.

[taffycrook 2]

If you want more power and cheaply then the 1.9 is the answer.

I would if funds allow, fit a lairy cam along with the correct head work.

Don't expect massive gains as they are pretty much in fast road spec from the factory but you might squeeze 130 bhp out of a good un.

The good thing about these mods is they work just as well on a 1.9 so you could bolt that lot on a 1900 block for the next step up the tuning ladder.

[j_turnell 137 3 Cars]

I prefer making a 1.6 as quick as a 1.9 and find it much more satisfying when people say " yours a 1.9 then i take it". If you get some good headwork, 3 angle seats, porting etc and a decent cam then you can easy keep with a 1.9 if not faster. Although it lacks the low down grunt it loves to rev. I have 3 angles seats, lots of porting work and ran a standard phase2 1.6 cam. It was very responsive between 3-5 then went mental after that all the way to the limiter. Unfortunetly my oil spray bar got blocked so one of my lobes was worn almost round lol but at this point easily matched a mates healthy 1.9 on a 1.6 box.

 

Its far to easy just to chuck a 1.9 engine in and tbh most of them are low on power and a normal 1.6 will keep up anyway.

[j-16 1]

"Its far too easy just to chuck a 1.9 engine in and tbh most of them are low on power and a normal 1.6 will keep up anyway"

 

This completely depends on how well maintained the car is - far too many variables on a 15+ y/o car to say the above! A decent XS will 'keep up' with a 1.6 anyway but we don't all drive around in 1.4s! A decent 1.9 is faster than a decent 1.6 but if you are going down the conversion route obviously it makes more sence to go for 16v + you could do this for the price of a lairy cam + decent headwork. Then if you want the 'satisfaction' keep your 1600 badges!

 

 

 

By the way j_turnell - your sorrento and mine were seperated at birth - I like your style!

Edited June 29, 2006 by j-16

[j_turnell 137 3 Cars]

I agree it does depend on how well theyve been maintained. Although you find a lot of the tidy examples seem slow as they havent been driven properly. I work on these 5 days a week and drive lots on a daily basis and find the 1.6's to be much better power wise than most 1.9s.

 

Any pics of your car j-16??

[j-16 1]

No but there'll be some pics in a few weeks. Its on axel stands at the minute for a bit of surgery, been off the road for a couple of years while I turned to the dark side of a big boring S3. It'll be back to its former glory soon, thing is the more problems I fix the more I create - its never ending! It literally looks identical to yours except the tyres are 50 profile on diamond cut speedlines. I've been drooling over the photos of yours all evening, good work!

[Pug_101 0]

I am doing a Bosch Motronic 3.1 engine management conversion at the moment which gets rid of the AFM and dizzy, anyone got experience of how much of a difference this could make to performance. I am fitting it so the car is ready for 16V conversion, but will it make much difference to the 8V engines?

It does not seem to hard a job to install (fingers crossed as mine is not running yet ).

Cheers

[24seven 104]

what about supercharging it? if VW got 130bhp out of supercharging a fairly uninspiring 1.3 to create the G40, what would a G40 charger do to a 1.6?

[Pug_101 0]

what about supercharging it? if VW got 130bhp out of supercharging a fairly uninspiring 1.3 to create the G40, what would a G40 charger do to a 1.6?

 

Plenty of people seem to have turbo'd the XU engine on here. There would be more support from members if you went that way. Insurance may well go up a lot with a turbo/supercharge conversion though.

[24seven 104]

I'm actually very curious about this. might even consider it as a possible alternative to an Mi conversion in the future.

[richsmells 2]

I am doing a Bosch Motronic 3.1 engine management conversion at the moment which gets rid of the AFM and dizzy, anyone got experience of how much of a difference this could make to performance. I am fitting it so the car is ready for 16V conversion, but will it make much difference to the 8V engines?

It does not seem to hard a job to install (fingers crossed as mine is not running yet ).

Cheers

 

 

If you're fitting the ZX Volcane 1.9 ECU you should see a wee bit more power and better driving experience, idle etc. Mapped ignition will always usually help the engine produce decent power as long as the engine is healthy in the first place. Anything beats dodgy clockwork jetronic.

[Cameron 16]

Yeah its all very well that you can make a 1.6 as fast as a 1.9 if you spend a fair bit of money on it.. but then what if you did that work to a 1.9 engine instead? Theres no replacement for displacement

[24seven 104]

Not everyone can afford 1.9 insurance, nor does everyone like the characteristics of the 1.9. Plus, I'm sure everyone would enjoy the look on some people faces when you tell them the car you just pissed on them with, is just a 1.6. That's what makes old 1275 Minis so fun .

[j-16 1]

.............but obviously 24Seven you would be declaring any mods you might make to th 1.6 to your insurance company?

Edited July 1, 2006 by j-16

[dodsworth_gti 11]

dont forget the 1.9 is only 15bhp more than a 1.6!!!

 

my tuned 1.6 does shift!!!,would say they are the best car for wanting to go fast in a straight line,i would personally do a small amount of tuning andthen look into suspension!!