Sweet spot HP road use upgrade...130hp...140hp...

[73CS1592]

Hi all,

What is for you the sweet spot regarding HP upgrade for road use only? How did you achieve it if you did it?

Cheers

[DieselSpider]

Depends on your view of whats sweet. To me it was the torquey 1.8 Liter Isuzu Turbo Diesel at around 80/90 hp that gives enough zip to be fun while giving decent fuel economy around 40 mpg in the city. Its not very sweet to be driving a car with a 10 gallon fuel tank that gets less than 25 mpg.

[joelittel]

Not many people reach the 130-140 hp benchmark.

I’ve got somewhere just North of 100hp at the rear wheels and consider my car to be sweet, and reliable. To me “sweet” is energetic enough to navigate Chicago freeways (easily) but reliable enough that I don’t have to worry about what type of gas goes in it or struggle to keep it running at idle.

I’d love to see everyone (who wants to) get their naturally aspirated cars over the 130hp mark, but in the nine years I’ve been watching very few people have proven that they actually did. Lots of speculation that it is possible though. There are a couple people with mustang dyno readouts to document their achievements, but again, not many.

I think you should supercharge the car and let the rest of us live vicariously through your write up of the build!

[chrisg]

the fun factor is based on a ratio of power to weight, so you can reach into the funner zone with that in mind still revving horsepowers that papaw's camry laughs at.

[SteinOnkel]

Tough question to answer, I would say.

My 1600lbs VW had 50hp a long time ago and now it has 150hp. It was always barrels full of monkeys to drive though! More so now, surely. Reliability wise...ho boy. Took me the better part of two years to get all the gremlins out of the new drivetrain.

As for my Fiat, it should be knocking around with about 90hp. An absolute delight to drive. The reason my Fiat stays showroom stock (apart from plug & play upgrades like electronic ignition, bigger carburetor) is specifically because I don't want to chase down gremlins on this thing.

[JohnMc]

My thoughts are to make my current 1970 124 as reliable as possible - this is my third. Put in the electronic ignition, new single real Weber bigger carb, relay, new suspension with lowering spring, big sticky tires (Toyo Proxes RA1 205/60/13). Darned thing starts up and purrs nicely - and a bit peppier and handles really well. I love the sound as I do have a racing header and ANSA exhaust that came with car. Have not had the top up in years and love the looks. Mine can do top speed of 95 to 100 - but does take a long time to get there and do not keep it at that speed long as it is near red lined.

But Fiat 124's weren't fast cars even in their day but they handled good and looked good. I had a 69 124 in college in 1973 and was great - but not fast. Faster than MGB's and 914's to about 70 mph but not of course the dreaded 914/6.

If I want to go fast now I borrow my son's Mustang or Ducati then scare myself sufficiently and go back to my SUV and 124.

[73CS1592]

If I want to go fast now I borrow my son's Mustang or Ducati then scare myself sufficiently and go back to my SUV and 124.

[silvadw]

i'm with John McC
big weber, single plane intake, lowered to euro spec & sticky hoops.
if i want FAST, i go to Germany and take a rental down the Autobahn.
Still, i hate getting passed by the Porsche 911 GTS's
Oh well....c'est la vie

[md88plt]

I have 2.0 with high compression pistons, high duration exhaust cam, single plane manifold and 34 ADF. No dyno data but fun to drive. Also when I rebuilt the motor, I had machine shop balance the rotating assembly and clutch. It’s a great little engine but wish I had a lighter fly wheel and modified head.!