Question for all.....

[IainB]

When you start modding your engines, do you look at the engine modifications as a whole, or in 'parts' i.e. Throttle bodies, change cam, port heads, change ecu but leave everything else std.
Only ask as I have been reading a thread over on the Noswizards board about a turbo calibra that ran 12's but had a totally std bottom end...... which got me thinking - if your pushing your engine that much, would you not build it to withstand the increased HP?
Hes building a new one now.... with a stronger bottom end
Just interested - and If I were to admit it, the first car I engine modded was all typical modding, with no regard for the bottom half, new engine is very very different though - cant afford to have that pop on its first run.
Any thoughts?
Cheers
Iain

[jon bda]

Depends how far you want to push it i suppose...if its just a tune up for a fast road motor then i would have no problem with a standard bottom end...but pushing big BHP and NOS, then i would be pulling it apart to get everything lightened and balanced, stronger rod bolts etc, steel rods if i won the lottery, etc...

[wilsonian]

if i was to use NOS on my car, i'd first get it stripped and re-tuned with something like a copper head gasket to take the pressure (even though its only a 1Ltr!) but i would use uprated piston rings, new cams etc.

[Lowe]

Depends how far you're going to push it doesn't it. Also depends on the engine. The GTT engine for example is near indestructable. 200bhp and you can still use the normal bottom end. Only once you start hitting 250bhp do you have to worry.

On crappy Ford and Vauxhall engines though I'm sure you'd need to do work a lot earlier.

[IainB]

Originally posted by wilsonian
if i was to use NOS on my car, i'd first get it stripped and re-tuned with something like a copper head gasket to take the pressure (even though its only a 1Ltr!) but i would use uprated piston rings, new cams etc.

If anything - I would save the money on the cam, and put this towards forged low compression pistons. A nitrous cam is only efficent when on the gas - and unless its for 1/4 mile use only, it would be down on power on the street.
Im just suprised that people stick a lot of power through std components, and wonder why they fail i.e. Rover V8 std rod bolts are OK to 6000 rpm, after that they start failing, but a simple upgrade to ARP bolts allows much higher rpm's - though the std rods then start having problems at 6500 - 7000.

[wilsonian]

is it true that the scooby block has aluminuim in it, so it can't take much more than 350Bhp?

[Maldonado]

Originally posted by Lowe
On crappy Ford and Vauxhall engines though I'm sure you'd need to do work a lot earlier.

ahem... i'm getting strengthened thingy bolts... can't remember their name. anyways, 300bhp is your daddy

[Lowe]

No, it's not my daddy cos your car's not done.

Also, I can't wait to see how you plan on putting 300bhp through the front wheels and being able to use it properly.

And yes, you will need your engine strengthening cos it's a blue oval.

[Maldonado]

lol, gonna have to learn to just be very easy with the accelerator through the first 3 gears! but spanking german cars on the motorway is gonna be fun

[[GSV]Trig]

Originally posted by Lowe
On crappy Ford and Vauxhall engines though I'm sure you'd need to do work a lot earlier.

Up yer chuff 1.4 boy!!!

[Lowe]