performance upgrade

[allys]

I have a series2 non vvc 1.8 with modified air intake/filter and a janspeed exhaust. I have started taking the car on track for club sprint events. Of course the inevitable has happened and i now want more from the engine as the car could do with better performance out of corners. Do I start tinkering or just bite the bullet and trade up to the toyota engined R ?

[cuzza]

Depends how much cash you have.

In terms of £s per second on track, working on the suspension tyres and brakes will be better value.

[shnozz]

cuzza said:

Depends how much cash you have. In terms of £s per second on track, working on driver training will be the first upgrade

seriously though, rich is spot on. Handling, grip and braking will probably be better for lap times than the difference in acceleration and top end speed.

More to the point, if you saw how quick some drivers can get a bog standard S2 elise (ok, so nitrons and Yokos) around a track you would rethink upgrading for more power and spend the money on tuition. Track day that Cuzza and myself did recently just went to highlight what a good driver can do with the most basic of elises. Its made me realise my car has a lot more performance than I am getting out of it.

[hbaumhardt]

Best VFM order to increase track fun;

0. Instruction
1. Brakes
2. Tyres
3. Suspension
4. Engine mods www.dvapower.co.uk

[Mark B]

From an engine point of view you could look at cams, there is no need to change the head so don't risk the HGF situation, probably get it done for £500 or so, when is the cambelt due, ideal time for this work to take place.

Otherwise, tuition, braided brake hoses, better brake pads will help to improve the car allround....

Schnozz, are you talking about a walshy day, or a track day???

[allys]

thanks to all---i will leave the engine to last

>> Edited by allys on Friday 28th October 13:51

[shnozz]

Mark B said:

From an engine point of view you could look at cams, there is no need to change the head so don't risk the HGF situation, probably get it done for £500 or so, when is the cambelt due, ideal time for this work to take place. Otherwise, tuition, braided brake hoses, better brake pads will help to improve the car allround.... Schnozz, are you talking about a walshy day, or a track day???

I already have the cams as part of the B&C 160 package. The previous owner shelled out £3k for that conversion and I would have said with 1 hour of track tuition I would be as quick in a standard car than without tuition in the 160..

Whatever driver trining you can get I guess is the answer. IIRC the original poster isnt in the UK so Walshy tuition is off the list anyway. I suppose its a case of getting some recommendations. I plan on getting tuition at every TD I do, plus I am going looking into getting some seperate tuition (on track), although it may be someone other than Andy Walsh. Similar idea though - on a track but just devoted to driver tuition rather than a standard TD.