Just want a little more power

[andybranscum]

Ive had a 84 pininfarina for about a year now and its truely a blast to drive. With a very limited budget, are there any basic upgrades i can do to get just a little more power?

[divace73]

I guess that is like asking 'how long is a piece of string?'
You might want to start with a 'flexible budget' and see what you can get.
Being a FI model you may want to Megasquirt it, larger injectors and Wideband sensor, with proper tune that should get you some.
Anybody else? Bueller?... Bueller?... Bueller?

[Daniel]

I guess that is like asking 'how long is a piece of string?'
You might want to start with a 'flexible budget' and see what you can get.
Being a FI model you may want to Megasquirt it, larger injectors and Wideband sensor, with proper tune that should get you some.

While i like how David started this off i'll have to disagree with the larger injectors on a stock 2L Engine or
even slightly modified the Bosch Injectors will do just fine if they are compatible with the MS ECU ?

andybranscum

If you want to make this easy post what you think is a reasonable budget $400, $800, $1,500 ? and then you might get
some better info or ideals as for a shot gun approach like this your going to hear all kinds of ideals but some might be
over kill for you, some members of FS.com don't do budget mods lol it's both feet in !

Just my insight after being a member around here for a few years .


Daniel

[jfrawley]

OK, so maybe it's all in my head, but I always thought my '82 ran out of power above 4,500 rpms and seemed like it was starving for air. I took a hole saw and cut a 3 inch hole in the front of the air box under the filter. Now it sounds much better and I swear it rev's right past 4,500 and wants to just really get up and go. How's that for cheap fun?

[narfire]

post what you think is a reasonable budget $400, $800, $1,500 ?

Good point , what is reasonable? I have somewhere north of 2 G's in my engine,budget, for me, nope, took a year to build as $$ became available. Bolt on options? head work? engine work, re-bore ect?
The FI engine is wonderfull with some mods and can still remain drivable in traffic and accelerate well on the open road.
Chris

[So Cal Mark]

since you still have to smog that car and with the stock FI, you're a bit limited. You could just swap in an earlier rear axle with the 4.30 ratio and pick up lots of acceleration. Getting more air in and more exhaust out can be done fairly easily. But having a number on that budget will give us a starting point.

During some dyno testing we picked up a few hp just by swapping the stock air box for a cone type filter, and a few more by tweaking the AFM. You might also consider tweaking the dist and changing the advance to all mechanical. Those mods showed gains of 7-10hp on the dyno between a couple of different cars

[andybranscum]

Ok well, to start, no more than $500, thats all i have for it right now. at first i was thinking of the cone filter, but for that, youd have to make a custom bracket to hold up the sensor right? i mean its pretty heavy, to be floating around in there.

You could just swap in an earlier rear axle with the 4.30 ratio and pick up lots of acceleration.

Approximately how much will that cost, excluding installation?

[So Cal Mark]

you would need a bracket for the cone filter

a used rear axle normally sells for $150-250

[TX82FIAT]

The cone bracket is a very simple L braket. A trip to home depot for the right size L bracket and a couple properly placed drill holes. $2 plus cost of cone. You can also buy the kit that comes with the cone and bracket from some of the Fiat vendors. As far as the megasquirt mentioned previously, there are some benefits. However, I'm a few months into the megaSquirt project and have had to reach out for professional help from one of our Fiat vendors offering service in Texas. A little humbling to say the least. While the cost of the megaSquirt system is low. the time and expertise on this DIY system are substantial in my opinion to get the mapping and all systems functioning as intended in a reliable fasion. When the system is complete I intend to post more information. Hell, it could just be my lack of electrical ability.

With all that said, if your an electrically strong person with a lot of time on your hands the megasquirt will help overcome some limitations of the Bosh fuel system designed almost exclusively for fuel economy.

Ray

[meangreenspider]

On my 82 I installed a K&N cone filter with a 3" tube to grill to supply cool air. I also installed a header and eliminated the cat and resonator with just a dual tip muffler at the rear. It may all be in my mind but I noticed a pleasant increase in power from 3500-5000 RPMs. The car is quite loud so may have some type of resonator installed. I didn't fabricate my own air cleaner bracket and I came in just under $500 for these upgrades.

[andybranscum]

While the megasquirt idea sounds promising, im not electrically strong, or mechanically for that matter. anyways, seeing as i dont have much time with school and everything, simpler modifications are preferable. im thinking of going for the cone filter with the l bracket - that seems pretty easy.

I also installed a header and eliminated the cat and resonator with just a dual tip muffler at the rear.

im not entirely sure what this means but i would guess it concerns the exhaust?... how difficult would that be to do that?

[divace73]

I'm sure the cat protection society may not be impressed with cats being eliminated. LOL
The headers are a fabricated exhaust manifold that allows the exhaust gases to flow more freely. The 'cat' is catalytic convertor while by nature they restrict a system, but are used to reduce pollution. I understand in some US states they are quite strict with removing it?
A resonator (sometime called a hot dog) often sits in line in the exhaust (usually just before the diff) that reduces some noise, as does the muffler. After market units (if matched properly) can allow the car to breathe better, having your car set up like meangreenspider, it should sound and go great.
A before and after dyno test will prove the results.
There are heaps of US vendors that could assist you in that.
But that does mean having a bigger budget.....

I'm also in the middle of megasquirting mine, with limited time and family commitments it does sit on the back burner for a while.

[Tobi]

I drilled the whole in the box (good sound, feels faster), cleaned out the cat (good sound and faster) but not a good idea in CA. I installed 185/60 13 tires (better acceleration) and the car felt like a race car. You probably have 14" or 15" wheels on your car so the would not be an option either.
I have to agree with Mark on the rear axle. That is for sure the best way for a better acceleration at low cost. It can be annoying for some people when they travel a lot at higher speed.

What ever you do, at the end it's never enough because humans get used to everything.

[divace73]

What ever you do, at the end it's never enough because humans get used to everything.

agree with tobi

[Daniel]

What ever you do, at the end it's never enough because humans get used to everything.

For me getting beat while entering a free way by a KIA is just embarassing so a little more performance to
keep that from happening is a good thing ! and if they know i'm driving an Italian Sports Car ! it doesn't give the
owner a reason laugh at me as he is passing my right side with a evil little grin thinking to himself
he (me) just got owned !

Daniel