Throttle Body Upgrade
Discussion
A bit of advice for a novice, please.
I have just acquired a Ginetta which I am hoping to compete in next season. The car currently runs a 1.8 Zetec with a single throttle body and produces approx 120bhp (so I am told).
My plan was to add throttle bodies to increase the bhp to circa 150 bhp. I see there are a number of suppliers offering complete kits as a package (inc ECU). I have heard of the Jenvey ones, which look nice but are not cheap.
Is this a good way forward, are any of the kits much better than others and could anyone confirm any other parts that would be required to do the conversion?
I have just acquired a Ginetta which I am hoping to compete in next season. The car currently runs a 1.8 Zetec with a single throttle body and produces approx 120bhp (so I am told).
My plan was to add throttle bodies to increase the bhp to circa 150 bhp. I see there are a number of suppliers offering complete kits as a package (inc ECU). I have heard of the Jenvey ones, which look nice but are not cheap.
Is this a good way forward, are any of the kits much better than others and could anyone confirm any other parts that would be required to do the conversion?
michael-x3hzp said:
A bit of advice for a novice, please.
I have just acquired a Ginetta which I am hoping to compete in next season. The car currently runs a 1.8 Zetec with a single throttle body and produces approx 120bhp (so I am told).
My plan was to add throttle bodies to increase the bhp to circa 150 bhp. I see there are a number of suppliers offering complete kits as a package (inc ECU). I have heard of the Jenvey ones, which look nice but are not cheap.
Is this a good way forward, are any of the kits much better than others and could anyone confirm any other parts that would be required to do the conversion?
Good advice from the poster above.I have just acquired a Ginetta which I am hoping to compete in next season. The car currently runs a 1.8 Zetec with a single throttle body and produces approx 120bhp (so I am told).
My plan was to add throttle bodies to increase the bhp to circa 150 bhp. I see there are a number of suppliers offering complete kits as a package (inc ECU). I have heard of the Jenvey ones, which look nice but are not cheap.
Is this a good way forward, are any of the kits much better than others and could anyone confirm any other parts that would be required to do the conversion?
If you go onto to proper Ginetta / Motorsport forums, there will be plenty of people out there who have solved this problem!
OldGermanHeaps said:
Why do you say that? Itbs and mapping make a huge difference.
depends if the engine has been already mapped for racing. If not then maybe 20 hp from the mapping and about 5-10 from bodies. Otherwise 5-10hp, with maybe a decent uplift in torque. Assuming the bodies are actually any good.OldGermanHeaps said:
BertBert said:
definitely check with the people who have done this. Also I'm not sure you'll go from 120bhp to 150bhp with just ITBs and nothing else. Could be wrong though.
Why do you say that? Itbs and mapping make a huge difference. Are zetecs s
te then? My 2 throttlebodied bodied cars were an x16xe astra on bike bodies and a megasquirt, and a 2.0 coscast redtop mk1 astra with jenvey/mbe and they both were transformed. The 2.0 did have a cam and verniers before the itbs though.
With motronic and the cams it ran like crap.
te then? My 2 throttlebodied bodied cars were an x16xe astra on bike bodies and a megasquirt, and a 2.0 coscast redtop mk1 astra with jenvey/mbe and they both were transformed. The 2.0 did have a cam and verniers before the itbs though.With motronic and the cams it ran like crap.
OldGermanHeaps said:
Are zetecs ste then? My 2 throttlebodied bodied cars were an x16xe astra on bike bodies and a megasquirt, and a 2.0 coscast redtop mk1 astra with jenvey/mbe and they both were transformed. The 2.0 did have a cam and verniers before the itbs though.
With motronic and the cams it ran like crap.
They take a bit of work to get em going but are strong. The 1.8 is a good base tho it revs better than the 2.0, I assume it’s the 130spec with solid lifters, if it is you Might just squeak 150bhp with a Webber kit that uses the standard manifold (Can’t remember if that’s black or silver top with solid lifters, I’ve forgotten more than I can remember about these)te then? My 2 throttlebodied bodied cars were an x16xe astra on bike bodies and a megasquirt, and a 2.0 coscast redtop mk1 astra with jenvey/mbe and they both were transformed. The 2.0 did have a cam and verniers before the itbs though.With motronic and the cams it ran like crap.
I assume it’s a race car not a road car? If so you’re bound by the regs of what you’re racing in.
If it’s a fast road car I’d forget what you’re doing and chuck a 2.0
Duratec on bodies in for a solid 200bhp. My buddy chucked the kitchen sink at his 1.8 zetec , Rods, jenveys, custom cams, all sorts, still only just squeaked over 200 and cost a bomb
Edited by What The Deuces on Tuesday 12th September 22:59
I’ve fitted around 250 sets of TBs to engines that previously ran on plenums, you probably wont see a 30BHP increase from just the TBs. I would upgrade the cams at the same time and time them carefully, I would also consider a decent long 4-2-1 exhaust manifold. You will need an aftermarket ECU, if it were me I would go with the Emerald, I’ve installed over 300 and they have been trouble free and flexible and there is a lot of expertise floating around the ‘net.
Jenvey make very good quality products but bear in mind there will be a number of other bits and bobs you will need to complete the installation, trumpets, filtration, fuel rail, maybe injectors, maybe fuel pressure regulator and throttle linkage. Ask for advice from others who have trodden the same path and resolved the issues you will face.
Dave
Jenvey make very good quality products but bear in mind there will be a number of other bits and bobs you will need to complete the installation, trumpets, filtration, fuel rail, maybe injectors, maybe fuel pressure regulator and throttle linkage. Ask for advice from others who have trodden the same path and resolved the issues you will face.
Dave
DVandrews said:
I’ve fitted around 250 sets of TBs to engines that previously ran on plenums, you probably wont see a 30BHP increase from just the TBs. I would upgrade the cams at the same time and time them carefully, I would also consider a decent long 4-2-1 exhaust manifold. You will need an aftermarket ECU, if it were me I would go with the Emerald, I’ve installed over 300 and they have been trouble free and flexible and there is a lot of expertise floating around the ‘net.
Jenvey make very good quality products but bear in mind there will be a number of other bits and bobs you will need to complete the installation, trumpets, filtration, fuel rail, maybe injectors, maybe fuel pressure regulator and throttle linkage. Ask for advice from others who have trodden the same path and resolved the issues you will face.
Dave
Did you used to write a bit in car mechanics magazine?Jenvey make very good quality products but bear in mind there will be a number of other bits and bobs you will need to complete the installation, trumpets, filtration, fuel rail, maybe injectors, maybe fuel pressure regulator and throttle linkage. Ask for advice from others who have trodden the same path and resolved the issues you will face.
Dave
DVandrews said:
Jenvey make very good quality products but bear in mind there will be a number of other bits and bobs you will need to complete the installation, trumpets, filtration, fuel rail, maybe injectors, maybe fuel pressure regulator and throttle linkage. Ask for advice from others who have trodden the same path and resolved the issues you will face.
Dave
Given that the Ginetta G40 runs throttle bodies on a Zetec 1.8, the OP may want to see if one of the teams has a set (with all the gubbins) to sell.Dave
Gassing Station | Engines & Drivetrain | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff