I've got a 1300 x-flow and would appreciate advice on how to set a few more horses free, without spending a fortune.
I know I ought to get a bigger engine, but the insurance is ridiculously low, plus cheap tax makes the car 'practical'!
Cheers
Pete
Hi,
I've got a 1300 x-flow and would appreciate advice on how to set a few more horses free, without spending a fortune.
I know I ought to get a bigger engine, but the insurance is ridiculously low, plus cheap tax makes the car 'practical'!
Cheers
Pete
What carbs/exhaust/cam etc are you running-or is it all standard?
Realistically, tuning the 1300 xflow will produce results, but its far easier to drop in a 1600 xflow, and will be far more reliable for equivalent
power outputs too.
I doubt that your insurance will go up by much because of the extra cc. And yes, at present it means cheaper tax, but with a bigger engine you get
more smiles per mile
The 1300 has the benefit of running and is already in the car. It is completly standard as far as I can tell, although the exhaust only has one small
silencer on it. The air filter has been replaced with an aftermarket one, junking the ford plastic housing.
I had the impression that 1600 x-flos were rare/not cheap?
PeetBee,
The 1600 x/Flow is only not cheap because they are getting rare. With perseverance you would probably find a decent runner for less than £100. I know
thats a lot for a £250 budget car but a camkit for the 1300 will cost more.
There are many books on tuning X'Flow's, it's probably been tuned more than any other engine in history but it isn't cheap to do.
A Kent BCF3 cam is about as big as you can go without modifying pistons but would show a fair degree of improvement. A twin choke Weber, an inlet
manifold off a 1600 X'Flow and a four branch exhaust would also help. With these fitted you would probably see 80 bhp.
Serious X'Flow tuning costs serious money.
[Edited on 23/12/02 by david walker]
Ditto what David said. Ultimately it will be far better to spend your hard earned on installing a 1600, (the 1300 you can sell, and recoup some of the
costs) and it will show more bang per buck if you decide to tune that....and you probably will
Guys, I don't agree with the logic.
OK with a 1600 you start out with more power, but the scarecity of parts and cost of mods is identical on both. In fact the x-flow has stacks of
engine parts suppliers due to hot rod / locost etc. Stu, GT cams can be had for £35 or race spec ones for £45
Here's a link on how to tune the x-flow
http://www.pumaracing.co.uk/cflow.htm
and here's a link showing what can be done (spot the 187 bhp)
http://www.vulcanengines.com/brochure/index3.html
John, like you say, you start with more power with the 1600. It is also less stressed in producing an equivelent output compared to a 1300, so in theory at least, reliability should be better. And as your say tuning goodies are available (and mostly the same) but for an equivelent part i.e. a high lift cam the 1600 will show more gain.
John,
Sorry but the logic is sound. X'Flows cost serious money to tune. If you can't afford the few quid to buy a used 1600 lump, you can't afford to tune
one.
I raced 1300 tuned X'Flows years ago and to get much over 120 bhp cost a fortune and I do everything myself, including the machining. The National Hod
Rods stopped using X'Flows about 10 years ago principally because of cost. 190 bhp, 1800 X'Flows were costing £7to £8k then. They switched to
restricted tune XE Vauxhalls and got a lot more power for less money.
The argument isn't what can or can't be done to a 1300 it is that the biggest power hike comes from buying a 1600, and for pounds per bhp it is the
cheapest way to do it.
Merry Christmas to all!
Dave W
A well reasoned argument. I agree with all you've said.
I was pointing out the contradiction of saying choose the 1600 over the 1300 due to cost / availability of spares, when the cost and availability is
the same.
I think we are all saying the same thing though.
Thanks guys, sounds like I run the 1300 a bit longer whilst saving up for an engine swap, this could take a bit longer than planned as my central
heating just packed up! 
Merry Christmas !!
how about a 1750, fully tuned engine, currently £155.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=27377&item=3101870769
With some carefull plumbing, you could heat the house with it
Now there's a thought, buy that then use the 1300 to heat the house!!