Engine tinkering

[GI]

If you read my other post, you'll know I parked my V8 in a flood last week.

Even though I avoided major damage it seems, the engine has to be partly stripped (as is my understanding from afar) to put new injectors in and so forth.

Now, from reading other peep's posts about taking advantage of any sundry engine work to improve and refine it, I'm doing a bit of pondering: shall I consider a mod or two?

And if so, that begs the question of what exactly. I'm not looking to spend hundreds but if there's some things I can do to improve the power delivery, torque or whatever whilst the engine is in bits, I'd quite like to investigate them.

What is the first thing that one should consider as a basic engine modification with noticeable benefit? Cam? Hoses?

I'm thinking < £200.


Thanks for your help.


Graham
Owner Of A Soggy Tiv - which could be a rather tedious Yes song that appears on every single 'Rock Anthem' compilation known to bored drivers everywhere

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UPDATE: Oh yes, I remembered I posted on something similar a while back! www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t=245837

Anyway, suggestions still appreciated!
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>> Edited by GI on Friday 7th April 13:17

[GreenV8S]

GI said:

the engine has to be partly stripped (as is my understanding from afar) to put new injectors in and so forth.

Worth clarifying how far it is being stripped. If the whirly bits (stop me if I get too technical) are OK then you are just look at ancilliary bits such as the AFM. I would question the need to replace the injectors unless you have managed to get water inside the fuel rail which would be quite a good trick. However, this would be a quick and eay job that is done from the outside.

If they're stripping the engine then it would be a good time to consider replacing the cam and clutch. It depends on condition though, might be a waste of time if the ones you have are OK.

If you are thinking of spending money on tuning then now is as good a time as any, but even a simple cam+heads change will cost quite a bit and then you will want to have the engine remapped to suit which adds more cost. Not a path you want to start down casually.

[Wildfire]

While it's out as Peter says, cam and clutch. If you can change the hoses to Silicone, becaucse they are a lot more reliable and come in cool colours. You could always have the heads ported but then you are talking bigger money.

[GI]

To be honest, while the chap at the garage explained it all to me, I am not THAT familiar with the whirly-bang-bang-rumble bits. I don't think water got into the fuel rail (which I am assuming is a bit of metal tube on the engine to supply fuel to each of the cylinders?) but I am happy to have the injectors and anything else replaced to avoid problems later, particularly as it seems I'm not picking up the bill.

I'm not interested in trying to pull a fast one on the insurance comp but I reckon it needs to be done properly covering all the potential future failures, and it seems the chap at Dulford knows what he's talking about so I am leaving it in his hands.

The remapping is what I feared would be needed, and kind of puts mods out of my budget at the moment then.

As for the clutch, having never driven another V8S it is hard for me to know quite how it's supposed to feel - I only know how mine feels and it feels ok. I don't get slippage. I may mention it to Richard.

I have a crack in the leading edge of my drivers door that I want him to look at, so if that costs an arm and a leg to put right, the engine can wait. Hopefully with the repaired or replaced manifold, and the new or cleaned injectors and the general sprucing up of stuff, the engine should feel stronger anyway.

If you take a look at this image:

http://community.webshots.com/photo/5

that's where the crack is, just below the metal plate that holds the window runner on. Apologies for nicking that pic, whoever the owner is - just can't find another even remotely showing what I want!

This I think has been caused by the chrome runner 'pulling out' due to the airflow behind it at > 60mph because the doors can't be adjusted any better.

[V8Smith]

A pretty simple mod that will improve the breathing and of course torque is the C/F flared ACT trumpets?? about £250 and as they will be putting in the old ones anyway shouldnt be any labour? Other than that I agree with the boys above, I had the same dilemma when my cam went, so I went for a better Cam, ported heads, larger 5ltr inlet manifolds ported and the larger flared trumpets, the difference is amazing, it picks up all the way to 6K and doesnt run out of puff like it did before???

Chris good to see you again this morning, hope the car is fine and look forward to catching up at the next event.

IMHO

Mike

[GI]

What benefit would those trumpets be on an unmodified (AFAIK) engine though?


I think I wait now and try to save up and have a new cam and chip fitted in the autumn.

First, after a bit of thought, it would be prudent for me to improve the brakes. They've always seemed a bit lacklustre.