K series upgrades
Discussion
I'm not wanting to start a debate about differing engines, I am sticking with a K for the time being and I've made the decision, changing to a Duratec will mean a raft of additional costs incl. gearbox etc I don't want to pursue as I may only be able to use the track car for the next couple of years and building the dream version would be wasted money potentially.
At the moment my SV has a 1.6k + Supersport cams, so about 135bhp and it's great fun, however I'd like more power of course and also recognise this is a long a winding road many have trodden before me. So I've a few questions . . .
- 4 into 1 or 4 - 2 - 1 exhaust - would I even notice the real world difference
- Easy to make a 1.6 a 1.8? Change the bottom end and then tune from there rather than start with 1.6?
- Forget that approach and try and find a VHPD 1.8 and then start
- Change bottom end, find VHPD head and then start
- DVA Power seems to be a great source of info and potentially for the work?
I will run Emerald as I run my TVR also on Emerald so it is familiar. It is already dry sumped, so it's really the tuning I want to develop. I have no out and out power needs or desires as I want to be able to use the power I have and 135 is great, but given it's an SV although a Superlight, given my 18 stone dressed driving up Kemmel was a long slow part of my lap, whilst I appreciate not every circuit is like Spa, I would like somewhere around 180bhp, which I hope finds the balance of reliability and my ability for the next couple of years, a passenger just compounds the issue to the point of comedy.
My goal isn't to be the quickest, its that I'm stuck behind cars through corners and then watch as they come past me down the straights to be stuck behind them in the next corner, I need enough to stay ahead or get past!
I am based in France, so being able to run the car through the year looking after it myself and without too much reliance on other suppliers is the aim aswell, hence a pragmatic view on power and reliability along with ease of use of the Emerald.
Any views appreciated . . .
At the moment my SV has a 1.6k + Supersport cams, so about 135bhp and it's great fun, however I'd like more power of course and also recognise this is a long a winding road many have trodden before me. So I've a few questions . . .
- 4 into 1 or 4 - 2 - 1 exhaust - would I even notice the real world difference
- Easy to make a 1.6 a 1.8? Change the bottom end and then tune from there rather than start with 1.6?
- Forget that approach and try and find a VHPD 1.8 and then start
- Change bottom end, find VHPD head and then start
- DVA Power seems to be a great source of info and potentially for the work?
I will run Emerald as I run my TVR also on Emerald so it is familiar. It is already dry sumped, so it's really the tuning I want to develop. I have no out and out power needs or desires as I want to be able to use the power I have and 135 is great, but given it's an SV although a Superlight, given my 18 stone dressed driving up Kemmel was a long slow part of my lap, whilst I appreciate not every circuit is like Spa, I would like somewhere around 180bhp, which I hope finds the balance of reliability and my ability for the next couple of years, a passenger just compounds the issue to the point of comedy.
My goal isn't to be the quickest, its that I'm stuck behind cars through corners and then watch as they come past me down the straights to be stuck behind them in the next corner, I need enough to stay ahead or get past!
I am based in France, so being able to run the car through the year looking after it myself and without too much reliance on other suppliers is the aim aswell, hence a pragmatic view on power and reliability along with ease of use of the Emerald.
Any views appreciated . . .
Hi, I had Dave (@DVA) fit his K16 SS upgrade kit last year.....totally transformed the power delivery, also had a session at Emerald afterwards.....torque is now much more constant through the rev range....
I am running a 1.6SS, 6 speed and a 4:2:1 exhaust upgrade.....
well worth the ££, (fingers crossed) has performed brilliantly through numerous track day sessions too !.....
enjoy Graham
I am running a 1.6SS, 6 speed and a 4:2:1 exhaust upgrade.....
well worth the ££, (fingers crossed) has performed brilliantly through numerous track day sessions too !.....
enjoy Graham
BertBert said:
so about £2k for 16bhp?
What was the bhp before though?Caterham quote 133bhp/110ft lbs but many don't make this figure as standard.
I know of a 1.8k ss that was only making 125bhp/110ft lbs before the upgrade. It made 151bhp/135ft lbs after so was 26bhp for £2k
The increase in torque through the rev range is what makes the most difference and as gpbox says its a big improvement in the driveability
Yep, 6 speed, LSD, wide track, dry sump ...
Had a good email exchange with Dave and have early formulation of a plan, ultimately will end up with the 1.6 as a spare engine .... There's always a good debate about budget regarding power gains, but I'm being realistic and getting to a reliqble 200bhp isn't really cheap, however, Daves initial view and estimate is very attractive and hits all of my targets and specs in a good number.
So it will become a 1.8 as I'd like the torque and it will run on Emerald, I'll update further as i go through the process. There's a lot of other stuff to do as well from suspension to body work etc
Had a good email exchange with Dave and have early formulation of a plan, ultimately will end up with the 1.6 as a spare engine .... There's always a good debate about budget regarding power gains, but I'm being realistic and getting to a reliqble 200bhp isn't really cheap, however, Daves initial view and estimate is very attractive and hits all of my targets and specs in a good number.
So it will become a 1.8 as I'd like the torque and it will run on Emerald, I'll update further as i go through the process. There's a lot of other stuff to do as well from suspension to body work etc
I'm notsure quite how useful a comparison that is as there's plenty that do make their quoted power.
VHPD said:
What was the bhp before though?
Caterham quote 133bhp/110ft lbs but many don't make this figure as standard.
I know of a 1.8k ss that was only making 125bhp/110ft lbs before the upgrade. It made 151bhp/135ft lbs after so was 26bhp for £2k
The increase in torque through the rev range is what makes the most difference and as gpbox says its a big improvement in the driveability
Caterham quote 133bhp/110ft lbs but many don't make this figure as standard.
I know of a 1.8k ss that was only making 125bhp/110ft lbs before the upgrade. It made 151bhp/135ft lbs after so was 26bhp for £2k
The increase in torque through the rev range is what makes the most difference and as gpbox says its a big improvement in the driveability
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