Who here is intersted in engine performance mods?

[zaggy]

I'm an engine freak.....
Now thats out of the way. On another forum I'm doing a series of mods and tests using the 1.6/8v as a test engine.
Anyone here interested in that kind of thing?

If I get enough interest I can duplicate the info overe here.

Zag

[purple95]

I have the 1.6 16v in my 95 JX. I am verry interested in any info you could give me on bolt on performance parts ie, turboes,egnishion systems, and so on.

[sicvitara]

BRING IT ALL ON, THERE'S NEVER ENOUGH POWER, I'VE ALSO GOT 1.6L 16V, TELL US ALL YOU KNOW.

[zaggy]

Well for the 1.6/16v..............

These engines respond well to the very basic stuff first.

On my wifes 1992 that we bought a few years ago I did a few things after driving it a week and checking the hi way gas mileage. (34 mpg @ 120km on 600km round trip)

1) Tune up, good (NGK my fav) wires and plugs
2) K/N Relacement airfilter
3) 2' full exhaust from manifold back using a "Turbo"
muffler.

Results.....
- Noticiably more power city and hi way
- 38 mpg on the same 600km round trip a week later.

If you 16v's are stock this is a great place to start, if I had it to do again I would have gone to a 2 1/8" exhasut though.

All you really need to remember when building for a little more performance is that ALL engines are no more than air pumps....the easier is to get air in and out the more power it will make.

Most of the real hi po stuff I've been doing is on the 8v but now I'm starting to play more with the 16v.

As soon as I get all the parts made for the 2.0L conversion on my wifes 4dr I'll have a good 1.6/16v to play with.

Zag

[bikemon ("Trent")]

I have 2 90 8vlv and would be interested. I have already been comparing headers and exhaust and would be interested in snorkels. would a k&n get muddy at the top of a snorkle? or would the snorkle impede air flow too much?

p.s. I have an sohc brand new head in the box for sale

[zaggy]

Hi Bikemon
My experience is that at a low level of mod the headers are all about the same performance wise.
Just be sure to get good quality, think flanges, mandrel bent tubes.
The optimum exhaust I've messed with for the road is a 2 1/8 system with "Turbo" type muffler and if you are in the land of emissions find a good used CAT with the the same diamemter inlet and out let and install it as well.
Snorkels cost power and fuel economy, I haven't had a need to run one but everyone I've talked to tells me the same thing from experience. If you're doing deep water it's a compromise you have to make. You can minimize the loss by going to the biggest diameter you can fit.
Though call on the KN, darn good filter, but it may or may not get muddy depending on how you mount it and where you drive

Good luck

Zag

[bikemon ("Trent")]

Zag, Other than rocky road and cal mini do you know of any other quality header exhaust companies and comparative prices? several months ago, I don't remember the web site but I saw a header for close to $500 that advertised some type of ceramic coating. Do you know anything about that stuff?
your impressive 38 mpg is what I had in mind. with the better exhaust and more power are you still stoking about 4k rpm @ 70mph?
what does gnk have to offer over bosch platinum?

While I was in AR for business, I met a guy whose lifted zuke was "ported" and "polished" with stock intake and exhaust. In his little town of zuke collectors they were all impressed with his take off and top end.

Are there any mods for the ignition? MSD? jacobs?

[zaggy]

Hi again
I run a modified Calmini ceramic coated header on my airboat and airplane. The flanges and workmanship are great and the ceramic coating will make them last much longer. My header was around 175.00us from Calmini.
For lower level performance almost all the headers are good, just make sure the flanges are at least 1/4 at the heade and that they have square ports, some manufacturers are trying to past off round ones.
If you're putting on a header do the rest of the exhaust, 2 1/8 is what I recommend with a good Turbo type muffler.
Port MATCHING is a wothwhile mod at the lower performance level, making sure that the intake and exhaust ports on the manifold and the head match as perfectly as possible. Making sure the runners don't have obvious restrictions is also worthwhile.
My experience is the extensive polishing of the ports and runners (like on a full tilt race engine) can actually harm performance on a lower rpm engine.
Ignition Mods at the lower levels, IMHO are also not enough of a benefit at lower levels of modification. If you system is working properly you will have all the spark you need. Save your money for other stuff that will get more bang for the buck.
I've been testing 1" and 2" TBI spacers with some friends and they are proving to be good bang for the buck. Low restriction Aircleaner/Filter assembies also help.

On sparkplugs, most of it is personal preferance, NGK's have always been really good to me in Japanese vehicles and they are relatively inexpensive.

On gearaing, our 4dr is stock and turns around 4000 at 120km (about 72mph)

Good Luck

Zag

[austin]

zaggy;

don't know if you saw my posts about headers and the fitting thereof ,but i was was wondering how you got a calmini header to fit ,as the one i had, the tubes did not exit parallel to the drivetrain. To perhaps answer my own question i'm getting the idea that you have to custom fab the whole system.

[bikemon ("Trent")]

I am interested in the tbi spacers. and other performance mods [e-mail]