After some autocross and spirited summer driving, I am looking for a little bit more power. And before I begin, I don't want to take on an engine swap. I am looking to make some smaller changes that give respectable gains and don't require long periods of downtime for the car, since it is my dd. I know a stock m20b25 will be more powerful, but for a variety of reasons, I am not looking to do a full engine swap.
What I am looking at is an upgrade plan that will not require much down time, with different steps that can be spread out if need be.
I am considering doing three things:
1- Drill the oil passages in the journals and install an i cam and dual valve springs in a spare eta head, and match port the intake and exhaust ports to the i components, then, swap the head. The actual head swap should take an afternoon at most.
2- Convert from motronic 1.0 to 1.3, along with a 2.5L intake, throttle body, and i tach. I already have a complete I exhaust installed. I figure this process would take a day, or at most, a weekend to complete. Ideally, however, I would do it concurrently with the head swap.
3- Swap dual mass to single mass flywheel and install a taller limited slip rear end. Either of these steps can be done whenever I have the time/money for it.
I don't want to undergo a complete m20b25 swap, due to the time and amount of parts necessary. If I was going to do a complete one shot engine swap I would do an m30 or m50. I just don't have the time for a job like that right now, so my options are: motronic 1.3 with either an eta head with i cam, a 323 head, or an 885 head. From what I have read the gains between the eta and the 323 head are negligible. It looks like the size different in valves is minuscule. I have no intention of adding boost. That leaves me with the option of an 885 head or an i cam in an eta head.
Can anybody who has actual hands on experience with these swaps (keeping it limited to stock components; no megasquirt, straight pipes, one off chips, custom pistons, etc) weigh in? I know there are tons of threads on these options, but there is way too much "so and so said it was amazing" or "so and so said it will never run right" in them. Its hard to get a straight story with so much contradiction. I know this is not going to make a fire breathing monster, but as I understand it, there are gains to be had, and considering how cheap the parts are, it seems worth it.
Have you done this swap and been entirely underwhelmed, or worse? Is it a waste (as in, there was no improvement)?
What would be the best final drive? Is a 3.25 too short with the increased 6.7k redline? Is 4.10 too tall?
Is the dual to single mass flywheel swap worth it? With 230k on the car, I am fairly certain I can benefit from a new clutch regardless.
Please, let me hear your constructive thoughts. I know what the options are. I have read all sorts of contradicting second hand thoughts from people. I want to hear first hand knowledge and experience of this swap.
What I am looking at is an upgrade plan that will not require much down time, with different steps that can be spread out if need be.
I am considering doing three things:
1- Drill the oil passages in the journals and install an i cam and dual valve springs in a spare eta head, and match port the intake and exhaust ports to the i components, then, swap the head. The actual head swap should take an afternoon at most.
2- Convert from motronic 1.0 to 1.3, along with a 2.5L intake, throttle body, and i tach. I already have a complete I exhaust installed. I figure this process would take a day, or at most, a weekend to complete. Ideally, however, I would do it concurrently with the head swap.
3- Swap dual mass to single mass flywheel and install a taller limited slip rear end. Either of these steps can be done whenever I have the time/money for it.
I don't want to undergo a complete m20b25 swap, due to the time and amount of parts necessary. If I was going to do a complete one shot engine swap I would do an m30 or m50. I just don't have the time for a job like that right now, so my options are: motronic 1.3 with either an eta head with i cam, a 323 head, or an 885 head. From what I have read the gains between the eta and the 323 head are negligible. It looks like the size different in valves is minuscule. I have no intention of adding boost. That leaves me with the option of an 885 head or an i cam in an eta head.
Can anybody who has actual hands on experience with these swaps (keeping it limited to stock components; no megasquirt, straight pipes, one off chips, custom pistons, etc) weigh in? I know there are tons of threads on these options, but there is way too much "so and so said it was amazing" or "so and so said it will never run right" in them. Its hard to get a straight story with so much contradiction. I know this is not going to make a fire breathing monster, but as I understand it, there are gains to be had, and considering how cheap the parts are, it seems worth it.
Have you done this swap and been entirely underwhelmed, or worse? Is it a waste (as in, there was no improvement)?
What would be the best final drive? Is a 3.25 too short with the increased 6.7k redline? Is 4.10 too tall?
Is the dual to single mass flywheel swap worth it? With 230k on the car, I am fairly certain I can benefit from a new clutch regardless.
Please, let me hear your constructive thoughts. I know what the options are. I have read all sorts of contradicting second hand thoughts from people. I want to hear first hand knowledge and experience of this swap.
Comment