I have a 205 pinto that I am going to rebuild to replace the 165 in my locost when it passes (hopefully) SVA and gets an age related plate.

I have budgeted around £1,000 to spend on it and am reading Des Hammill's book "How to Power Tune Ford SOHC" at the moment.

I already have Dellorto DHLA 40's to go on it and my car already has a reasonable 4:1 exhaust so it is purely an engine thing but could include ignition upgrades.

I may push the budget up a bit while it's out of the car but not by that much. I could always do ignition upgrades at a later date.

I want to use it as a "summer" road car but also for the odd track day.

What do the wise ones think are the best things to spend my money on. I was thinking of

1) new cam shaft maybe kent fr32
2) overbore to 2.1 with lighter pistons
3) lighten crankshaft
4) porting inlet & exhaust
5) skimming the head/block

I have not much idea on cost at the moment other than adverts in the magazines.

Any thoughts would be usefull.

pajsh

You might want to consider

Lightening the flywheel

Dynamically balancing the crank flywheel clutch rods and pistons

Valve modification

Aldon dizzy

vernier cam pulley

I'm not sure lightening the crank on its own will do a lot better to lighten the flywheel and have the whole lot balanced.

The key to power from these engines is the cylinder head and valves so you should concentrate on these also.

The cam timing is critical so you need a vernier pulley

As the ignition won't be using the vacuum advance you will need a dizzy which has been specifically set up to run with no advance.

HTH

Mark

I generally agree with Mookaloid. However, rather than an Aldon dizzy, I would consider going for a cheap mappable ignition system ... it will pay dividends in driveability, and reduce your fuel consumption to boot. A Megajolt is by far the cheapest solution for this, and in combination with a "fixed" dizzy from a Sierra with electronic ignition, should work out no more expensive than the Aldon dizzy. More work though...

See here (http://www.jtccc.co.uk/index112.htm) for one approach to this.

For your lighter pistons, consider the v6 items. Not as good as forged, but a whole lot cheaper, and almost definately good enough for your intended use.

Also, pay attention to port matching the manifolds to the engine/carbs to maximise your airflow through the engine.

Cheers
Richard

[Edited on 21/8/05 by SixedUp]

Thanks guys.

I did mean lightening the flywheel rather than the crank. My mistake.

I also would get a vernier with a cam kit. I haven't stripped the engine yet and I bought it with the gearbox on it's own so I don't know the mileage. I still think a cam is first purchase on the list.

What do you think about boring out to 2.1. Is it worth it or should I just change the pistons for lightweight ones and concentrate on the head.

Also what is a "Megajolt" and where can I find out more about it. Currently I have a standard dizzy with the basic ignition ecu.

I am now looking at

1) Lighten flywheel & balance flywheel/crank say £100
2) Fit lighter pistons say £200
3) Port head say £250
4) Cam, springs, guides & vernier pully say £300
5) Ignition?? say £150

How do you think my budget stands at £1,000

I will send for the Burton Power catalogue to get some ideas on cost but any further info would be much appreciated.

SixedUp,

Sorry missed the thread on the megajolt and just looked it up now.

I will probably not start it for a couple of months while the weather is bad and the nights short so I have plenty of time to read up on it.

pajsh

Will second exactly whay mookaloid said, follow his advice.

He was too modest to mention it, but his pinto modified as per his advice is making serious power (dare I say it more than mine did) so is worth doing similar.

Mookaloid,

What do you mean by "Valve modification". Bigger I presume or do you mean porting and gas flowing or grinding set back angles as per Des Hammill.

All the other stuff I understand but just have to get someone reasonably local to do it.

I am planning to replace the pistons with lighter ones so maybe a rebore is worth doing at the same time.

The Aldon dizzy sounds a good option. 3D mapping looks scary stuff at the moment.

pajsh

Might be worth a scan thro this;

http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=23342

3D mapping - scary - i thought the same at first but its not as bad as you might think when you get into it. The hardware can be bought and the mapping is just software. Megajolt is very interesting and on my list of future mods along with bike carbs and a possible 2.2 conversion.


I rebuilt my own head. Almost as per Des Hammill book, i havent opened the throats up quite as much and only skimmed 40tho. Guides and valve seats were done professionally. FR32 cam fitted. I havent had the car out yet so cant comment on performance but from what ive heard it should have good mid-range torque improvements. I started with a injection head as well. It could be worth a try - keeps the budget down and allows the bottom end to be done well. You could always replace with stage 3 head in the future if you want to spread the cost out.

I used small nail gun compressor, die grinder and correct cutting tools. It took a while but was nice to do. I didnt touch the combustion chambers as these are a specialist area (other than smoothing off one of the sharp corner areas). All work was on the internal ports.

[Edited on 23/8/05 by DarrenW]

quote:

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Originally posted by pajsh
Mookaloid,

What do you mean by "Valve modification". Bigger I presume or do you mean porting and gas flowing or grinding set back angles as per Des Hammill.


pajsh

---

you are basically trying to thin the stem down a tad where is sits in the airflow, and flatten off the back of the valve to more of a disc than a cone.

Thanks again.

I will think about the Megajolt as the thought of plugging in the laptop at track days really appeals and to be able to mod things and feel the results at the click of a mouse is also cool. First things first though.

I have the 205 block and injection head but what I'm thinking of doing is pick up a head cheap from ebay and have a trial run with the dremel first.

Then either keep that if it's sucessful or then go back to the 205 head.

pajsh