B14 Cam upgrades

[Jason B]

I've not looked into engine swaps tbh - just know that the valver swap is very straightforward, I just wanted to give the brief reminder that from experience, lots of little expenses add up in the end and you realise that it is often actually cheaper to do the bigger upgrade that you thought you couldn't afford....

[volvosneverdie]

I've not looked into engine swaps tbh - just know that the valver swap is very straightforward, I just wanted to give the brief reminder that from experience, lots of little expenses add up in the end and you realise that it is often actually cheaper to do the bigger upgrade that you thought you couldn't afford....

good advice man.
and well said.

Valver FTW.
Soon as I can afford the insurance bump, get an ok from a reputable workshop to sign off on the work, have money to source parts, then thats the road to roll down.

Really interested in fiddling in between though too.
even if its just for something to do...........

[Chris_C]

I'm unconvinced about the garage signing off the work.... a month or two ago there was a lot about the new SVA being brought in, but most of the trouble was people not reading the document. The new sva (mba? bba? xba? c*ck knows) isn't required unless things are changed, exactly as per the old point schemes. Engine changes are still free.

Dan, bring the new carb round, I'll teach you how to do it. Preferably attached to a car mind FWIW, Jason is right, valver if done tightly to a budget will always give more bang per pound note, but I'd like to see a screaming 1.4. I reckon an exhaust, cam grind, and the thing running on SU's would be an awesome car, and if you played your cards right could be done for under 500notes. Valver conversion if you dont replace anything and have your hand on your wallet is going to cost 300 for engine and flipped manifold, cheaper by almost half if you can bribe someone to ali weld for you. Cheapness is always going to involved time, effort and bribery though.

[Bazboy]

To run SU's would i need to get a new inlet manifold, or would there be some way to bolt them to the current one? Also im down friday chris, so if your about i could pop round for a quick lesson in carb tuning.

Cheers Dan

[volvosneverdie]

I'm unconvinced about the garage signing off the work.... a month or two ago there was a lot about the new SVA being brought in, but most of the trouble was people not reading the document. The new sva (mba? bba? xba? c*ck knows) isn't required unless things are changed, exactly as per the old point schemes. Engine changes are still free.

Dan, bring the new carb round, I'll teach you how to do it. Preferably attached to a car mind FWIW, Jason is right, valver if done tightly to a budget will always give more bang per pound note, but I'd like to see a screaming 1.4. I reckon an exhaust, cam grind, and the thing running on SU's would be an awesome car, and if you played your cards right could be done for under 500notes. Valver conversion if you dont replace anything and have your hand on your wallet is going to cost 300 for engine and flipped manifold, cheaper by almost half if you can bribe someone to ali weld for you. Cheapness is always going to involved time, effort and bribery though.

having read all that chris, and saying as my 1.4 is so sweet, im starting to fancy a 1.4 screamer.
Because its something different from the norm,
im attatched to my block,
it can be done in stages, which doesnt rape you all in one go.

downside is i dont know what cam grinding or head porting IS, so yous'll be plagued by dipsh!t pleas for help/advice.

But I do fancy it.

500 notes isnt a fortune if you spread it out over a year....................................

*edit - and im sorry for crawling all over your thread like a hungry ant Dan. Im just really interested and enthused by the topic man. Didnt mean to hijack or deflect. appologies if ive overstepped good courtesy man.

[Chris_C]

To run SU's would i need to get a new inlet manifold, or would there be some way to bolt them to the current one? Also im down friday chris, so if your about i could pop round for a quick lesson in carb tuning.

Yup, new manifold buddy. I've fallen for variable choke carbs lately, they really are a pleasure to drive compared to weber/solex's (I never thought I'd say that..) Give me a bell tomorrow, if I'm around then you are most welcome but not sure when I'll leave work.

Ben, tuning the 1.4 if it's going to be a daily isn't really a practical suggestion. It's something that isn't documented (it may be on the Renault side, what you are basically looking at is building an R Alpine/Gordini engine. Doing it in stages is vaguely possible, but you need to remember that you need to fuel the car for the mods you make, and rolling roading the car at each stage isn't feasable on a budget.

Where I got £500 from, taking a stock 1.4. Finding a Renault cam thats vaguely hot £100, buying steel tubes to make exhaust manifold £100, rest of exhaust lumps £100, bodging 2 inlet manifolds to take SU's, couple of pints + the manifolds, one on engine already + one that comes from--- pair of SU's with manifold £50, taking car to someone who can actually tune SU's and suss where you are (with effort you've put in to work out needle and jet profiles to start) £150

With valver, again from a 1.4, 1.7 conversion bits £50, engine +ancilleries £150, inlet mani flip £50 (again, that will involve some beers though), converting to FI etc £50.

Both of those you'd want to spend a fair bit more to do a proper job though, and the valver will work straight out the box. The 1.4 will be a heck of a lot of mucking about for less gain, if you arn't keen on doing it for pure pimp value, it's not worth it. Plus, both of those set's of costs involve you doing everything, not buying in parts. Lots of learning required both ways

[volvosneverdie]

hmmmmmmm. I see man.
Thanks for getting specific on me.

Took a lot of typing dude, but i appreciate it.

Back to the 'not doing any drawing' board.
Hangfire for now then.

Cheers dude.
Again, good advice is FAR more valuable than the money we spend.

[Bazboy]

Sounds like a challenge chris, lol. hopefully over the summer when i get back to work and dont have tuition fees to pay, ill be getting a newer daily and having the old volve as a project. hoping to get her re-sprayed before retro rides. So a tuned 1.4 could be on the table, ill see how i feel when i get to it, for now i think ill see how much adam wants for his carb and maybe go that route for a bit with a exhaust.

I was mainly asking about the cam's to see how easily they could be obtained and fitted and seeing as not many people have gone this route im liking the idea of being one of the few

Ben your not hijacking the thread man, its great to have more people interested in a subject. I really do wanna have ago at getting a nippy 1.4 as it would be different and would be nice to have the original engine in the car.

And Chris ill ring you tomo when im heading down, should be in southampton about 5ish, cant remember when you finish work so will play it by ear and give you a text when im thinking of leaving.

Dan

[volvosneverdie]

Dan,
be a sweet, sweet thing to see, if you sorted a daily up front and the volvo on the side as a tweaked 1.4 hooligan.............

But seriously man. Dont paint it. with all the money in the world you couldnt buy back the patina on yours once its gone dude.

Actually, what am I saying?
Its YOUR car.

Best just to say I love it man.
And if it was mine, I wouldnt respray it.

Cream starsky and hutch stripe FTW man!
what ever happened to that?!

[Bazboy]

Yea i really dont wanna paint her, but im gonna start rust removing soon and when that happens they'll be spots i need to paint an because i cant get this color paint ill be pretty screwed, still trying to decide on a color for her, and i cant leave her looking patchy cause i dont like rat look that much lol

Dan

Also she has oil prints over her from my meddling fingers lol

[volvosneverdie]

I love the ratlook man, so much so that ive started destroying my paint.
But not on purpose.

Best to keep it sort of red though eh?
save doing the bay, bootfloor etc?
if youre going mental on it then beige FTW!
or flat thin yellow.

Hearing aid chic man. its the future.

[filthyjohn]

I vote satin burgundy.

[volvosneverdie]

I vote satin burgundy.

What he said!

fuggin pnnneuur!

thats the noise i make when im so exited i cant do words.

[filthyjohn]

The current paint effect could be replicated with the original colour and matting agent to take the gloss out. Speak to your mate Davemk1gti, he seems to know the score with painting.
Beige is also a choice for winners.

[Bazboy]

Yea we have talked loads about different paint choices, and i think i will probably go back to burgundy or maroon as its not that common, kinda like this:



I had toyed with going orange like his dolomite or a similarly bright color but id like to keep some of the cars character, and i reckon changing color completely would ruin this.

Dan