8V engine improvements.

[Waspy]

So this is just a thread putting my thoughts down and asking all your opinions. My 8v has started burning oil (max line to min line in about 800/1000 miles) and I was thinking about having the head rebuilt. I haven't done a compression test on it or anything yet, although I plan to.

I was thinking while the head was off maybe I should make some improvements. I love the way the car drives, and have a lot of fun in it, but who doesn't want a few more ponies ay? In all fairness though I am not too bothered about top speed, I rarely hit the top speed as it is (if ever) so I would rather improve the 0-60, make those chavs in corsas cry even more at the lights.

So with that in mind here are just some of the things i have been considering and reading up on. From the inexpensive to the more expensive.

Fast Road Cam - Is it worth it for my aim? I drive my car pretty much evenly in town and motorway, but have read that a non-stock cam can make it a bit undrivable in stop-start. I have no experience with them, so its hard for me to judge.

Just head work - So the initial plan was just to have the head refurb back to its former glory, but then started reading about crossflow heads and porting and all sorts. A standard refurb look like it is about £300 give or take, so is an extra 125 for TSRs pack A worth it? And will it bolt straight on, or do I have to change manifolds and things?

EMS - Some people seem to get good gains from megasquirt and the likes, I am not sure how capable I am though. But then again, that is what megasquirt is all about, learning, right?

2 litre conversion - Looks like a good conversion. Anyone with experience?

ABF - Now this is the biggy, I couldn't do this by myself, and although I have friends with garages who would discount it it would still be more than if I were able to do it myself. This would also give me a lot more power than those mentioned above but would it lose the character of the car? And also I have a feeling insurance would be an issue, although someone in the insurance board assured me not.

I am on a budget although I do think I could afford all of the things above, but I would rather value for money. I.e I don't want to spend £1k on 1 horse. This is a (most) daily driver, not a track car.

So have any of you got experience with the above, or any advice for me. Anything I haven't mentioned? I am pretty happy with it as is, but at some point I will want to up the game, and I though while work was being done anyway, maybe now is the time.

Thanks guys. *Holy sh!t just previewed it and this post is huge! TL;DR What's the best way to make a 8v quicker off the mark?

[Sgt_Lemon]

I don't think a abf bottom end would be good if you want the low down power as it would need higher revs. I drive with a TSR P&P head with a kent fast road cam and it is just great off the line, the 8v gearbox 1st gear is very short and with how long the gear changes are its a hindrance when pulling away fast however second gets you to 80mph before red lining. The ecu doesn't do enough on digi to have a huge difference with a custom ecu map like megasquirt, it leans out slightly a top end is all. I read a post a few months ago about potentially increasing fuel pressure and leaning the mixture so it doesn't lean out at top end, not sure how it went.

[Waspy]

Thanks for the response, really helpful! The p&p tsr head is like £900 isn't it? Pricing me out a little.

Was also wondering what effect a different cam has on fuel. I get about 38mph ATM, I know I can't have everything but I don't fancy taking too much of a hit on petrol, since like I say it's my daily

[Mr Blue]

I don't think a abf bottom end would be good if you want the low down power as it would need higher revs. I drive with a TSR P&P head with a kent fast road cam and it is just great off the line, the 8v gearbox 1st gear is very short and with how long the gear changes are its a hindrance when pulling away fast however second gets you to 80mph before red lining. The ecu doesn't do enough on digi to have a huge difference with a custom ecu map like megasquirt, it leans out slightly a top end is all. I read a post a few months ago about potentially increasing fuel pressure and leaning the mixture so it doesn't lean out at top end, not sure how it went.

80mph in 2nd. Wouldn't trust those old clocks bud.

[Wayne]

I would go for the ABF swap if you can, no matter what you do to the 8v it will still lack what an ABF will provide.

[Sgt_Lemon]

80mph in 2nd. Wouldn't trust those old clocks bud.

It must of been close, bouncing off the rev limiter there, not the recommended range. Will do a satnav speed test 

[weazgti]

Abf ticks all your boxes.

[Waspy]

I would go for the ABF swap if you can, no matter what you do to the 8v it will still lack what an ABF will provide.

Abf ticks all your boxes.

I was hoping you guys wouldn't say that! As it is something I will have to wait to do (would need time off work etc) and is the most expensive one, plus my insurance worries... However I guess even if I tuned the 8v as far as it would go I would still find myself wanting more.

Still looking for opinions guys, thanks for all so far though, really helping me out!

[matty1664]

Abf ticks all your boxes.

how much do you think it will cost to get the ABF done?

[Gambit]

2.0 2e bottom end conversion with p&p head plus cam - is the cheapest, easiest, most cost effective solution on an 8v