Safe Engine Enhancements

[kevinswan007]

I read alot about guys modding their 2.5 turbo engines, and diesel engines etc, but what about us 1.6 engine guys?

I have a stock standard 1.6 Ford Focus (2007) and once my warranty is over (another 15 000km's) I would love to safely enhance the engines power output.

I have heard horror stores of guys upgrading their engines, only to have it seize 6 months later.

Could someone explain the steps needed (first step, 2nd step etc) and explain the advantages/disadvantages of each step.
I will want to upgrade my engine in steps every few months and hopefully gain +- 15kw is possible (safely)

 

[Gnome]

Is it Naturally Aspirated or Turbo charged?

Naturally Aspirated you're better of talking to Ford guys because not all engines are equally tune-able.

If it's Turbo charged it's simple, you turn up the boost.

Naturally Aspirated my advice would be to just get a bigger engine, not sure what the deal with Fords are but on a Opel you can get a 2L 16V 125kW engine + gearbox + management for R10 000 (Around R5K - R7K more for what is needed to fit it) which is much cheaper than all the mods you would do for N/A just to get 15kW.

Other option is Turbo Charger, some engines handle it better, once again on a Opel 1.4 you'd only need a MLS steel head gasket and stronger gudgeon pins and it can boost up to around 110kW but it'll cost around R15 000 which you can clearly see is costing around the same as a engine change except for one little thing, Turbo charged engines are always less reliable than N/A.

N/A is really hard to increase power

 

[ALFAHOLIC]

Yep...don't mod N/A...I've spent monies on imported map that works well in the UK where its from, and paid doubly for botched exhaust set ups...but the map don't mean a thing when I have not removed the cats or changed the manifold...just get a Focus ST and trade your car...easier!

 

[kevinswan007]

Any idea's where I could purchase a replacement engine for my car? Going through the dealers would surely be pricey (after their 300% markup!)

I would gladly pay R10 000 for a 2L

 

[Gnome]

Sorry I have no idea, I just know Opel and used it as an example, it could be more expensive or less expensive on a Ford. Also I have no idea if it is even possible to do a engine swap on that car, all Opel Corsa/Astra can be fitted with any of the Opel I4 or V6 engines (and yes it is possible to fit a 3.2L V6 in a Corsa Lite ) but that doesn't mean it's the case for Ford.

 

[blaaislaai]

On a 1.6, let me see..

Performance airfilter,
Branch and freeflow exhaust
276 Degree camshaft with vernier pulley.

Those are the basics to do. You should gain about 25kw depending on the engine and how its tuned. On some newer Cars, the ECU needs to be remapped etc etc..

 

[kevinswan007]

On a 1.6, let me see..

Performance airfilter,
Branch and freeflow exhaust
276 Degree camshaft with vernier pulley.

Those are the basics to do. You should gain about 25kw depending on the engine and how its tuned. On some newer Cars, the ECU needs to be remapped etc etc..

Cool thanks, where in Cape Town could I buy/install these things?

 

[ALFAHOLIC]

Steve's Auto Clinic...

But i'd recomend GSR developments in CT...they do everything.

 

[Dolby]

20% increase in an NA engine ... ?

 

[Slootvreter]

Steve's Auto Clinic...

 

[Slootvreter]

On a 1.6, let me see..

Performance airfilter,
Branch and freeflow exhaust
276 Degree camshaft with vernier pulley.

Those are the basics to do. You should gain about 25kw depending on the engine and how its tuned. On some newer Cars, the ECU needs to be remapped etc etc..

25kw? The airfilter and the exhaust make more of a noise than anything else. I'm so sick of the sound of a cone filter. Camshaft and pulley change MIGHT give you some, but not 25kw!

 

[blaaislaai]

Cool thanks, where in Cape Town could I buy/install these things?

The cheapest place I have seen is Brackenfell's Dynotech.

They will be able to tell you what can be done on that car of yours, and what cannot.

They quoted me R6500 to:


Gasflow ,polish and port the head of my 1.8i engine.
Vernier pulley with 272 degree camshaft.
This includes labour, and will take uptoo 2 weeks to complete.

Rather give them a call and ask them what can be done on your car,

021 9819170

 

[blaaislaai]

25kw? The airfilter and the exhaust make more of a noise than anything else. I'm so sick of the sound of a cone filter. Camshaft and pulley change MIGHT give you some, but not 25kw!

Like I said, depending on the engine. A dyno will determine the real increase though

 

[ALFAHOLIC]

The cheapest place I have seen is Brackenfell's Dynotech.

They will be able to tell you what can be done on that car of yours, and what cannot.

They quoted me R6500 to:


Gasflow ,polish and port the head of my 1.8i engine.
Vernier pulley with 272 degree camshaft.
This includes labour, and will take uptoo 2 weeks to complete.

Rather give them a call and ask them what can be done on your car,

021 9819170

1.8i what engine from what car?

That's cheap!!!

 

[Gnome]

Like I said ask on the Ford forum, just because person X got 25kW by doing a list of things to his engine that isn't even the same as your doesn't mean you will get any performance increase.

Example: A Corsa 1.4 engine gains power from some of the stuff above whereas a Opel C20XE (2L 16valve) will gain 5kW from the same mods, Reason: The engine is already highly tuned directly from the factory.

Things like flowing the head and porting only help if the head was a restriction from the factory. Some cars don't like cone air filters or any other air filter for that matter (Opel Corsa for example). Also many newer cars already have exhaust manifolds that outperform anything else you can buy aftermarket.

Finally there is the almighty camshaft. Luckily you are in CT because then you might see some benefits but camshaft change only usually helps if you already have done other mods. What's more the best cam depends on the engine, Corsa's work best with 270/272 cams for example but that is different for another engine, guys who already know your engine would know better.

There is no universal answer, except Turbo or Engine change Both will definitely increase output.

 

[BCO]

How reliable are aftermarket turbos? Let's say we're talking relatively low boost here, not for extereme performance, but just an overall power increase.

 

[ALFAHOLIC]

No...turbo's are reliable if installed correctly AND if you keep the boost fairly minimal...

Cars with stock internals, rods, crank, pistons, and with stock compression can still be turbo'd but would need that turbo to boost very low about 0.5 is the max on stock internals. You'll need to increase the fuel supply though so more injectors or bigger injectors and high pressure fuel pump if yours is old or not very potent to deliver the much needed feul now. Also i think a new or uprated clutch. but its fairly reliable...but with that bost your expecting a 25-35% increase in power AT MOST! This is SAFE usable power.

 

[StrongTurd]

By far the best bang for your buck is a squirt of NOS. Many moons ago I used to run a Mk 1 Golf with a stock Jetta CLX 1.8 motor with only a branch and pipe. I made up my own nitrous system using a fire extinguisher, a couple of solenoids and a fogger plate that went between the carb and manifold. I did my own refueling from a big mofo Afrox N2O bottle that I had in my garage. I jetted the whole kit for about 50 horses.

That thing used to run like you won't believe. It had instant throttle response and mountains of torque. In two years of constant running the only thing that ever broke on that setup was when I once snapped a sideshaft while seeing off a BMW 328i. Apart from that I never had a day's trouble with it.

People have this misconception that nitrous oxide will break your motor. Well, that's just simply not so. As long as you stay conservative on your jet sizes, don't use NOS at very low RPM and not run out of gas while on boost it'll never give you any crap. It is only when people start getting greedy and try to use 200 horse jets on a 1600 that it'll ever break. Trust me, a 50 horse shot on that little 1600 will make it fly. The best bang for your buck by far.

The only reason that I ever stopped using NOS was because it is so damned addictive. With me it got to the point where I actually started leaving the bottle at home when on my daily commute so that I wouldn't succumb to the temptation of using it at the slightest opportunity. Coming off NOS is like quitting smoking - very hard!

 

[blaaislaai]

1.8i what engine from what car?

That's cheap!!!

Jetta mk3 CLX - 8v engine, fuel injected

But I havent went for that deal though, because I need my car. Won't be able to live without it for 2 weeks.

At the moment I only have a flat simota filter, branch and freeflow exhaust

 

[ALFAHOLIC]

LOL N20 ftw!!!yep NOS is considered a quiters way to win...but hey, so is chip modding!

Ja, try NOS, but nos is instantanious, kinda like a lapdance from a stripper, its cool that 1minute...what then? The OP wants more power continuously I suppose...so NOS aint viable, becuase he WILL succumb and use it when he must go buy groceries!