Upgrades to 1.6K series engine_feedback please

[willmac]

Hi All,

Just looking for some feedback from anyone who has carried out upgrades to their 1.6 K series , as per title.

My car is standard 1.6K and listed as Academy / Roadsport. So I am assuming the output when new would have been around 115 bhp ? Engine only covered 9300 miles from new in 2002.

So would like to hear from anyone who has hiked a similar output up and what you had done, by whom and do you think it is worth the expense compared to maybe trading up to a more powerful car ?

I have not long had the car, and am in no way fed up with it, but I am continually looking for projects and what I may look into over the winter months, so hence the query.

Thanks in advance for replies

[Tom_C76]

Have a look at the DVA Power website for all you could ever want to know about tuning a k-series. I fitted Piper 633 cams and verniers to my 05 Academy car, and it filled out the torque curve nicely, but could benefit from a remap to get the best from it. Should get maybe 135BHP now if I get really lucky on the remap.

For more power than that you're looking at head work, reprogammable ECU such as an emerald, DTH throttle bodies etc. Depending on budget you could do a lot...

[Seven Smiles]

Or the cheap option of dropping in a secondhand VVC / Trophy 160 bhp engine.

[Dave J]

I went to 210bhp with my 1600k, then it was chopped for a 1900k and then duratec

[Red Seven]

As Tom C76 says, swapping the cams for Piper 633's works well. I did this to my own car about eight years ago, along with a self ported head. It worked very well, but max power was just above the standard 6800 rev limit. I then exchanged the ECU for a Supersport ECU, which continues to work very well. Once the wilder cams are fitted, you're more likely to notice a reduction in low and mid range torque. Fitting either a long 4-1, or a 4-2-1 exhaust manifold restores some of this lost torque.

A modified 1600 is always going to need to rev to get the power, and the 5 speed gearbox becomes a hinderance. The six speed 'box really improves the driving experience when pressing on.

However, from a financial point of view, rather than modifying your existing car, I'd think seriously about exchanging your car for one that already has most of the different parts fitted.

[willmac]

Thanks for all your replies.

Yes I think best not to get too carried away with the mods. I'm sure there is a lot of satisfaction derived from seeing your car improve. But when you start to add up the costs and use a sensible head, then probably best to be satisfied with what I have and look to trade up some time in the future.

Cheers

[Incorrigible]

Seven Smiles said:

Or the cheap option of dropping in a secondhand VVC / Trophy 160 bhp engine.

^^this for the value for money option

[willmac]

Incorrigible said:

^this for the value for money option

Thanks for the info.

Is it a fairly straight forward swap for the 1.6 K series ?
I suppose I just need to keep an eye open for a VVC engine cropping up some time.

Cheers

[Incorrigible]

Best thing to do IMHO, look out for a crash damaged MGZR 160 trophy, you'll need the ECU and a fair few other bits that can cost a fortune to buy separately.

We've just picked one up for about the same cost as just the engines seem to go for on e-bay

[Tom_C76]

Red Seven said:

As Tom C76 says, swapping the cams for Piper 633's works well. I did this to my own car about eight years ago, along with a self ported head. It worked very well, but max power was just above the standard 6800 rev limit. I then exchanged the ECU for a Supersport ECU, which continues to work very well. Once the wilder cams are fitted, you're more likely to notice a reduction in low and mid range torque. Fitting either a long 4-1, or a 4-2-1 exhaust manifold restores some of this lost torque.

A modified 1600 is always going to need to rev to get the power, and the 5 speed gearbox becomes a hinderance. The six speed 'box really improves the driving experience when pressing on.

However, from a financial point of view, rather than modifying your existing car, I'd think seriously about exchanging your car for one that already has most of the different parts fitted.

Should have added I'd already fitted a Powerspeed 4-2-1 exhaust to mine, which probably halps things along quite a bit.

[willmac]

Thanks for all the info.
As you can tell , I am a complete novice with Caterhams and most things mechanical .
But you are never too old to learn I say. So all info through forums is being soaked up at the moment.

Cheers