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Ford Sigma BHP Upgrade Cost!
Zagato - 5/4/13 at 02:22 PM

Caterham charge £2500 to upgrade from 125BHP to 140BHP on a 1.6 Sigma engine. Isn't this upgrade just a re-map and can't you do itself by going to an independent specialist... isn't that what they do. Re-maps are about £800 if I recall for a Defender...you could probably buy a whole new engine for 3.5K!!

[Edited on 5/4/13 by Zagato]

twybrow - 5/4/13 at 02:24 PM

Sigma tuning guide

Cams, and a decent zorst/filter should see you in excess of 150bhp.

Other useful reading:

LCB Thread

Shawspeed options

Premier Power Tuning

[Edited on 5/4/13 by twybrow]

DH2 - 5/4/13 at 02:52 PM

I doubt the 2.5k is just a remap - I suspect that might include a set of throttle bodies also. Don't be too surprised that Caterham costs are a bit on the eye-watering side - all that heritage costs y'know

There are options, but tuning any engine is not cheap. I am building mine to 180bhp-spec, which is about as far as you can go on the standard bottom end / 8krpm, but it will cost more than 2.5k... though I have been lucky in picking up second-hand parts over time.

DH2

[Edited on 5/4/13 by DH2]

snapper - 5/4/13 at 03:07 PM

I did a full build on a pinto
Rods, pistons, 93mm bore, can, head and all new pumps and bearings over a lkng period of time.
When I added it all up..... 2k.
For a pinto
I must be mad

monkeyarms - 5/4/13 at 04:59 PM

Eveyone loves this youtube video of Paul Collingwoods Sylva Riot - 191bhp from 1.6 sigma!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOdwjYP3rnk

theprisioner - 5/4/13 at 05:05 PM

I did an upgrade on my Sigma 1.7 (which had done 71,000 miles). I used a company called Sitec Racing in Rostyh in Scotland. Simon did a complete refresh of the engine (oil pump + water pump + big end shells) + lightened flywheel and cluch + high lift cams + Racing puma plenum + ported the head = £2800.00 I still have to get the new mapping installed once passed IVA and run in.

Zagato - 5/4/13 at 06:55 PM

Thanks for the replies and links... a few hundred quid remap is out then. I'll leave it and just stay with the 125 BHP, it will cost enough as it is... too much to be honest. Have to say I was a bit disappointed with the thought of paying 25K hard earned savings for one (buying and selling cars/boats over the years) It's only a go cart with an engine you could probably buy for 3.5K. I could go second hand for a quicker one but for me it's mostly about wanting to build one and I will mostly only be touring in it.

I'm still going to get one, havn't found anything else I like....... yet! Have a few more months to look around

Paul Turner - 6/4/13 at 07:45 AM

Why not get a starter kit from Caterham along with all the packages to build a rolling chassis. Then go to SPC and get one of his helical close ratio gear boxes and go to Raceline and buy a brand new Zetec Blacktop and installation kit. You will then have basically the same car that I have. About 175 bhp for way less than £25K.

beaver34 - 6/4/13 at 08:57 AM

as said 2.5k will see you 175bhp-180bhp from shawspeed thats what i used to run

do you really need that power though? what are you using the car for as with 125 bhp it will be faster than your normal hot matchs like golf gti etc....

Zagato - 6/4/13 at 09:17 AM

Thanks I'll look into the starter kit idea again. The same spec starter kit as the complete knockdown kit is actually a bit more according to the parts bloke but maybe getting a different engine/box etc as you say may be cheaper.

It's the IVA I worry about when putting in non factory spec parts, as long as they are new I won't have a Q plate but the recent scare of European rule trying to get kit cars off the road is still a concern. The attraction with a complete knockdown kit is that it is classed as a proper production car so if they change the rules about modification in the future it won't be a worry.

I will only be touring in it and have never been a speed freak but that's the point of these motors especially when putting up with hard ride, lack of space etc. The test drive was on bendy country roads for about 1 mile and then through town so there wasn't much opportunity to stick your foot down (probably why they choose that route!). When the salesman booted it for about 3-4 sec it seemed to go well. I dropped it down a gear but again there wasn't the room and I probably didn't really hoof it hard enough. 0-60 of probably 6.5 sec (SV model is 25KG more plus 15 stone bloke!!) should be OK for me... Really need a proper test drive... I'll ask one of the guys at a local meet to take me out in one of theirs. I will be on my own mostly also so no extra weight of a passneger

Paul Turner - 6/4/13 at 12:38 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Zagato

It's the IVA I worry about when putting in non factory spec parts, as long as they are new I won't have a Q plate



If you used a SPC gearbox and a new raceling engine you would not get a Q plate since only the gearbox casing would be a recycled part.

quote:
Originally posted by Zagato

the recent scare of European rule trying to get kit cars off the road is still a concern.



Once a kit is on the road they cannot retrospectively outlaw it.

quote:
Originally posted by Zagato

I will only be touring in it and have never been a speed freak but that's the point of these motors especially when putting up with hard ride, lack of space etc.



If lack of space bothers you don't buy a Caterham or similar but as for ride, having owned 2 over the past 25 years I can categorically state that a de-dion with sensible spring rates on 185/60 profile tyres rides better than many modern hatches on stupid rubber band tyres.

Zagato - 6/4/13 at 01:33 PM

Thanks for that Paul.

Just looking at the figures, 6 seconds has got to be quick, (for me anyway) it's a shame I couldn't have experienced the car in anger.

1.6cc 125 BHP Caterham 5.9 secs
2.2cc Diesel Turbo 120 BHP SAAB 9.9secs (current daily drive, will never get a diesel again!)

Think my old SAAB turbo was about 7.5 seconds which was OK nothing shattering but quick enough, you don't get the surge of power though with these Ford variable valve engines - just have to change down I suppose to get the instant oomph! I'm sure 5.9 secs will be fine for my needs... BUT I know I would always hanker after the 140 BHP 5 second engine . Can't afford another 2.5K unless I look into your suggestion - thanks.

inkafone - 14/6/13 at 02:08 PM

Don't know whether this has been posted before but the ZSOC has a write up on an ultimate sigma engine - here.

nickm - 14/6/13 at 06:29 PM

I think only the 1.7 was variable valve i had one in a Puma and it was a cracking engine that pulled/punched well above its weight. The 1.7 is 126bhp in the Puma but i know vv engines can be a pain to tune etc.
I have a 1.6 in my build, Emerald reckon if you port the head cams and throttle bodies (ecu) its good for 180bhp with no internal changes, dont think i will push it that far though just in case.
Fast Ford did a zetec se tuning guide dec 2012 might give u some rough prices
I bought it for its lightweight trying to build a 500kg Sylva. 70KG ?

Nick M

beaver34 - 14/6/13 at 07:49 PM

quote:
Originally posted by inkafone
Don't know whether this has been posted before but the ZSOC has a write up on an ultimate sigma engine - here.


thats mine

inkafone - 14/6/13 at 10:40 PM

quote:

thats mine


That did make for an interesting read - hope it's still holding together.

beaver34 - 15/6/13 at 05:07 AM

quote:
Originally posted by inkafone
quote:

thats mine


That did make for an interesting read - hope it's still holding together.


nothing broke, but i do have a engine issue which has lead to it being stripped down.

there was no reduction in its performance just the fact that it was blowing oil into cyl 4 for some unknow reason that im yet to solve!

nickm - 15/6/13 at 07:39 PM

The bhp wouldnt happen to be 183 would it as that is the map ive got to get it running ?