As per the title lads n lasses
what sort of power can i realisticaly expect to see from the 1.8 zetec i am building.
i am fitting bike carbs and want to source a set of 2 litre cams.I just dont want to decide
next year i want more power than the 1.8 can give me.
Am i better off buying a 2 litre before going any further with the 1.8????

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Andy

I dont know what sort of power you will get but one thing i do know is that you will get used to the power and then you will want more.

Just my 2pence

Tommy

With stock injection etc. a 1.8 with 2litre cams should see 130bhp, along with a nice free exhaust and bike carbs I'd guess around 150-ish ?

ive just had my 1.8 ford CVH with bike carbs (1.6 head) on the rollers and got 146bhp out of it - still waitin to get registered so dont really know what that feels like yet?

a friend of mine has the 2ltr zetec with bike carbs & megajolt/sqirt thingy, has 165bhp but was told he will get more with a more free flowing exhaust,
personally i,d go for the 2ltr from the start.

andy

I recon you should see 150 - 160bhp so long as you have the higher power / 2L Ford cams. Head work later on will always give you the option for more (but i'd just buy a cheap bare 2L, get the porting and cams done on that, and then do the swap when its all ready - swapping flywheel, water pump, sump, alternator etc over) as the extra capacity is worth an extra 10bhp or so.

Anywhere between 140 and 160 brake i'd guess (depending on whose rollers you go to)

Whatever you end up with i guarantee you'll want more once you get used to it

Thanks for the advice lads, you are all
of course correct saying i will want more
when i get used to it.
When i built my indy it had a 1.6 pinto.
Though it was quicker than most of the
normal cars i soon wanted more and fitted a 2.0, that went loads quicker
Now i am used to that and still want more,
I suppose i should get a grip and just put the 1.8 in

Andy

[Edited on 11/7/09 by lotusmadandy]

yes, i have that feeling, i have 1.6pinto on bike carbs and free flowing exhaust, now in teh winter i am going 2.0duartec with bike throtttle boddies i think, so that should be a bit more pokey for me.lol seeing i am going to nearly tripling the horse power with a bit of luck.lol

stuart

Why don't you buy a complete 2 litre now use the cams in the 1.8, and start rebuilding the rest for next year.

thats a good idea Trident.I will
continue with the 1.8 build.Good advice
lads i know where i am going now.

Andy

i wouldnt bother with the 1.8 i thort they were 115bhp stock i would put a 2L in they are 130bhp,you could just run that stock as its the power of a mildly tuned 1.8.
then when you want more go for carbs bike carbs are very good, i had some on my vulcan pinto,good on fuel,
but if you want power webers are a little bit in front,
but i would stress just fit a 2L and then you have a good base to tune from

quote:

---

Originally posted by jpindy3
i wouldnt bother with the 1.8 i thort they were 115bhp stock i would put a 2L in they are 130bhp,you could just run that stock as its the power of a mildly tuned 1.8.
then when you want more go for carbs bike carbs are very good, i had some on my vulcan pinto,good on fuel,
but if you want power webers are a little bit in front,
but i would stress just fit a 2L and then you have a good base to tune from

---

Thing is why stop there? Go V8 and you'll have well more power to start with

If you can get a 2l go for it you'll be cursing yourself mid-overtake and then forever

I have had both 1.8 zetecs and now a 2 litre.I found the 1.8 fairly quick compared to a 1600 crossflow .I have now fitted a 2.0 blactop which has a lot more torque but is not massively faster than the 1.8 was with 2litre cams fitted ,probably 170bhp against 150 for the 1.8.
Paul