Upgrades for AMV8 - old school
Discussion
I wanted to kick off a thread - doing what PH'ers do best - discussing the best tweaks on the 70s-80's Aston V8's. I know there are a few of us here.
Coming back from Le Mans 2006 I was luckily parked in the chunnel train next to a guy (Des) from Aston Works. He made some suggestions regarding my V8 along these lines:
* Insulate intake air
* Go for bigger carb jets
* decoke heads - engine clean
* free flow the exhaust
So here goes and I'd be grateful to hear of members experiences in the objective of getting more horses outta this great 5.34 lump of aluminium. Cheers.
PS Also heard that Pagid make excellent pads to improve braking.
Coming back from Le Mans 2006 I was luckily parked in the chunnel train next to a guy (Des) from Aston Works. He made some suggestions regarding my V8 along these lines:
* Insulate intake air
* Go for bigger carb jets
* decoke heads - engine clean
* free flow the exhaust
So here goes and I'd be grateful to hear of members experiences in the objective of getting more horses outta this great 5.34 lump of aluminium. Cheers.
PS Also heard that Pagid make excellent pads to improve braking.
G'day Jock,
I have already been through all the mods to make the cars faster and more reliable. You can find most of them on my red "Kangaroo Stable Spec." Vantage here www.v8vantage.com/11992.htm Only other mods are coil over shocks with adjustable spring perches front and rear. I have these fitted on 2 of my other Vantages. Easiest way to get more power is by fitting the big bore airbox and filters. Next is the MSD ignition system, gives better power low down and improved combustion. All told you should find 20-40 more bhp to begin with.
Roo
I have already been through all the mods to make the cars faster and more reliable. You can find most of them on my red "Kangaroo Stable Spec." Vantage here www.v8vantage.com/11992.htm Only other mods are coil over shocks with adjustable spring perches front and rear. I have these fitted on 2 of my other Vantages. Easiest way to get more power is by fitting the big bore airbox and filters. Next is the MSD ignition system, gives better power low down and improved combustion. All told you should find 20-40 more bhp to begin with.
Roo
dr jock said:
I wanted to kick off a thread - doing what PH'ers do best - discussing the best tweaks on the 70s-80's Aston V8's. I know there are a few of us here.
Coming back from Le Mans 2006 I was luckily parked in the chunnel train next to a guy (Des) from Aston Works. He made some suggestions regarding my V8 along these lines:
* Insulate intake air
* Go for bigger carb jets
* decoke heads - engine clean
* free flow the exhaust
So here goes and I'd be grateful to hear of members experiences in the objective of getting more horses outta this great 5.34 lump of aluminium. Cheers.
PS Also heard that Pagid make excellent pads to improve braking.
Coming back from Le Mans 2006 I was luckily parked in the chunnel train next to a guy (Des) from Aston Works. He made some suggestions regarding my V8 along these lines:
* Insulate intake air
* Go for bigger carb jets
* decoke heads - engine clean
* free flow the exhaust
So here goes and I'd be grateful to hear of members experiences in the objective of getting more horses outta this great 5.34 lump of aluminium. Cheers.
PS Also heard that Pagid make excellent pads to improve braking.
Was it Des Smail, A big bloke driving a Audi
dr jock said:
Des was a young guy driving a Landrover stacked with Aston parts in support of the Chairman's Drive.
Thanks Roo I'll study your research & site.
Thanks Roo I'll study your research & site.
If you are looking for spares look at Desmand Smails web site he is a very helpfull bloke.
put in des smail on a search icon and you will find.
Hi Jock,
great to meet with you at le Mans.
With regards to tuning the Vantage- what more do yuo want? One thing ou might want to consider is the weight of the car- most of racing V8s use fibregalss bonnets and other panels to save a lot of weight. Not sure what the quality is, but I know the racing lot use them- might not be good enough quality for a car like yours though.
See? I didnt even mention dropping the carbs for a properly set up Bosch FI system...
great to meet with you at le Mans.
With regards to tuning the Vantage- what more do yuo want? One thing ou might want to consider is the weight of the car- most of racing V8s use fibregalss bonnets and other panels to save a lot of weight. Not sure what the quality is, but I know the racing lot use them- might not be good enough quality for a car like yours though.
See? I didnt even mention dropping the carbs for a properly set up Bosch FI system...
How many times did you have to suck oil outta your Big Red Bad Boy on the way to Le Mans?!! 
Good point on the weight though - he is overweight what with all the lead sound deadening etc. I have just ordered an alloy radiator to improve weight on the nose. Shop around though as prices differ by as much as £200.
Good point on the weight though - he is overweight what with all the lead sound deadening etc. I have just ordered an alloy radiator to improve weight on the nose. Shop around though as prices differ by as much as £200.
dr jock said:
How many times did you have to suck oil outta your Big Red Bad Boy on the way to Le Mans?!!
Good point on the weight though - he is overweight what with all the lead sound deadening etc. I have just ordered an alloy radiator to improve weight on the nose. Shop around though as prices differ by as much as £200.
Good point on the weight though - he is overweight what with all the lead sound deadening etc. I have just ordered an alloy radiator to improve weight on the nose. Shop around though as prices differ by as much as £200.
Only once- and that was in over 500 miles of motoring. Lucky, really... It was the alternator bracket which failed which left me REALLY stranded. Should have taken the mondeo, I know!
As for silverstone saturdya, yes I will be there but my car is filthy from le mans- the dust is off, but the interior needs a clean and polish. Think I'll park it out of the way somewhere...
Hi Jock - Nice to have a natter with you at Arnage.
Hi Roo – I’m intrigued by this big bore airbox malarkey. The one in the photo on your site looks externally the same as mine (as far as I know original std 1974), is there some other difference? I’ve been thinking about using the direct bolt-on RamFlo filters as an alternative. Also not quite sure what’s achieved by insulating the intakes? As for bigger jets I’ve upped the idles from 055 to 060 but haven’t experimented with other mains – it sucks in optimax like there’s no tomorrow anyway!
Hi Roo – I’m intrigued by this big bore airbox malarkey. The one in the photo on your site looks externally the same as mine (as far as I know original std 1974), is there some other difference? I’ve been thinking about using the direct bolt-on RamFlo filters as an alternative. Also not quite sure what’s achieved by insulating the intakes? As for bigger jets I’ve upped the idles from 055 to 060 but haven’t experimented with other mains – it sucks in optimax like there’s no tomorrow anyway!
Alanq said:
Hi Jock - Nice to have a natter with you at Arnage.
Hi Roo – I’m intrigued by this big bore airbox malarkey. The one in the photo on your site looks externally the same as mine (as far as I know original std 1974), is there some other difference? I’ve been thinking about using the direct bolt-on RamFlo filters as an alternative. Also not quite sure what’s achieved by insulating the intakes? As for bigger jets I’ve upped the idles from 055 to 060 but haven’t experimented with other mains – it sucks in optimax like there’s no tomorrow anyway!
Hi Roo – I’m intrigued by this big bore airbox malarkey. The one in the photo on your site looks externally the same as mine (as far as I know original std 1974), is there some other difference? I’ve been thinking about using the direct bolt-on RamFlo filters as an alternative. Also not quite sure what’s achieved by insulating the intakes? As for bigger jets I’ve upped the idles from 055 to 060 but haven’t experimented with other mains – it sucks in optimax like there’s no tomorrow anyway!
Nice looking car Alan.
Alanq said:
Hi Jock - Nice to have a natter with you at Arnage.
Hi Roo – I’m intrigued by this big bore airbox malarkey. The one in the photo on your site looks externally the same as mine (as far as I know original std 1974), is there some other difference? I’ve been thinking about using the direct bolt-on RamFlo filters as an alternative. Also not quite sure what’s achieved by insulating the intakes? As for bigger jets I’ve upped the idles from 055 to 060 but haven’t experimented with other mains – it sucks in optimax like there’s no tomorrow anyway!
Hi Roo – I’m intrigued by this big bore airbox malarkey. The one in the photo on your site looks externally the same as mine (as far as I know original std 1974), is there some other difference? I’ve been thinking about using the direct bolt-on RamFlo filters as an alternative. Also not quite sure what’s achieved by insulating the intakes? As for bigger jets I’ve upped the idles from 055 to 060 but haven’t experimented with other mains – it sucks in optimax like there’s no tomorrow anyway!
Good call Alan. Do you have any more sepcifics on this Roo, such as manufacturers and / or products. Do you suggest insul-wrapping the manifolds?
Alan - what are these bolt on air filters. Surely the best air would be ram fed in from the nose?
G'day Jock and AlanQ,
the airbox has larger 4" inlet trunking with the box enlarged on the sides. You can't see it in the shadow but I can post another photo if you need it. The air filter housing also has an extra 3" diameter hole in the side to allow more air to enter. These are all original factory mods developed for the very first Vantage in 1977 and tested on their dyno. My exhaust manifolds are all ceramic coated, has same effect as wrapping them but a lot easier to maintain. Haven't bothered with jets too much, getting an ample supply of air to the carbs is more than adequate. You can lead trunking down to the intakes of the lower valence if you want to ram in more air, only really effective at speed but can induce a pressure wave in the airbox if not done properly.
Roo
the airbox has larger 4" inlet trunking with the box enlarged on the sides. You can't see it in the shadow but I can post another photo if you need it. The air filter housing also has an extra 3" diameter hole in the side to allow more air to enter. These are all original factory mods developed for the very first Vantage in 1977 and tested on their dyno. My exhaust manifolds are all ceramic coated, has same effect as wrapping them but a lot easier to maintain. Haven't bothered with jets too much, getting an ample supply of air to the carbs is more than adequate. You can lead trunking down to the intakes of the lower valence if you want to ram in more air, only really effective at speed but can induce a pressure wave in the airbox if not done properly.
Roo
got my VV around Silverstone with several other V8 Vantage-rs last Sat. It was good fun indeed. I too have applied some of Roo suggestions with MSD ignition, bigger air box, lighter radiator, racing fuel filter (instead of that heavy lump of metal!)
and I am a happy bunny!
thank you Roo!
A67
and I am a happy bunny!
thank you Roo!
A67
aston67 said:
got my VV around Silverstone with several other V8 Vantage-rs last Sat. It was good fun indeed. I too have applied some of Roo suggestions with MSD ignition, bigger air box, lighter radiator, racing fuel filter (instead of that heavy lump of metal!)
and I am a happy bunny!
thank you Roo!
A67
and I am a happy bunny!
thank you Roo!
A67
Did i see you vantage at le-mans Aston 67
Steel Wings in the USA have just dynoed an V8 engine with and without the big bore airbox. The improvement over standard on a V8 with the Weber 42DCNF carbs was 20 bhp. RSW insulate the airbox trunking on the Lagonda but that is more to reduce intake noise than to increase power.
Roo
Roo
Hi A67 - what does the MSD ignition do & where did you get it, how much etc...? Also, same for bigger air box. My '81 airbox looks the same as Roo's.
One thing I will do is remove those square lamps as they block air flow & don't do much else!
Watch ebay for a few spare parts coming up this week (incl SS rear silencers in perfect cond, quality outdoor cover to fit any big V8, ...)
One thing I will do is remove those square lamps as they block air flow & don't do much else!
Watch ebay for a few spare parts coming up this week (incl SS rear silencers in perfect cond, quality outdoor cover to fit any big V8, ...)
v8vantage said:
Steel Wings in the USA have just dynoed an V8 engine with and without the big bore airbox. The improvement over standard on a V8 with the Weber 42DCNF carbs was 20 bhp. RSW insulate the airbox trunking on the Lagonda but that is more to reduce intake noise than to increase power.
Roo
Roo
Roo - Sounds awesome. Where do I get one! :crazy:
the MSD ignition is from Steel Wings (see their website via Google)
the "surgery" was done by Dr. Rikki Cann who takes care of my car
At Silverstone Purdey was the only Vantage Volante in Rolls Royce Royal Blue and no, I was not at LeMans
A67
the "surgery" was done by Dr. Rikki Cann
who takes care of my car At Silverstone Purdey was the only Vantage Volante in Rolls Royce Royal Blue and no, I was not at LeMans
A67
Edited by aston67 on Thursday 6th July 01:04
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