DIRTY DEEDS
...Sound familiar?
Dear Dirty Deeds,
Since I was 16 I've wanted to own a Corolla GTi or SX, but instead I had to settle for a 1992 Holden Nova. The engine sounds like a washing machine. My question is about fitting a 4A-GZE, but with a turbo. Is this possible? I have around $10, 000 to spend. Am I better of buying a real GTi or SX?
If you're keen on a turbo 4A-GE, then personally I'd recommend running just the turbo and no supercharger, as this will make the conversion far simpler and produce the same power in the top end anyway. Start with a 4A-GZE so you have the right injectors and compression, then sell the supercharger, fit a normal inlet manifold and have a manifold made to mount a turbo. This should all be well within your budget, leaving money for a good clutch, better brakes, suspension and so on. The Nova is literally built by Toyota, so the swap is no different to doing the same with a corolla. Buying a GTi or Sx is robably a more sensible option, as you get a better interior, better brakes, better looks and stronger resale value. If you care more about these things than performance, then thats how you should spend your money. If you dont care, then the lighter Nova with a turbo 4A-GE would be more fun, provided you fit SX brakes and good suspension.
Dear Dirty Deeds,
I spent last year building a Westfield SeiW Clubman. I registered it in January and have used it for daily 80km commutes and weeked club meets all year. It is a surprisingly reliable, efficent and comfortable (except for rain and frost) mode of transport. Of course, with a 570kg kerb weight and over 120kW from a 4A-GE 20-valve, it is a fun drive as well. The car has the original factory computer and a 2.5 inch exhaust, but is otherwise standard. Acceleration is in a different league than any other car I have driven, and any sane person would be quite satisfied. However, the old adage, 'there aint no such thing as too much horsepower', leads me to enquire as to various tuning approaches. Minor mods I have had suggested include a variable fuel pressure regulator, a K&N air filter pod and Champion Gold spark plugs. More serious mods would include hotter cams , and after market computer and forced induction (with a decompression plate), and/or new extractors, I would prefer to keep the existing motor as any larger one would require major surgery to fit in the space frame, plus it has such an excellent rev range. Any suggestions as to the relative merits of the above or other concepts would be gratefully received.
Its really hard to say what you should do without a budget to work with. I mean, if you really want to spin the Cluban backwards into a tree, then turbo charging is certainly the gun option. Forget about a decompression plate, though. Get proper low compression pistons fitted, possibly 4A-GZE types or forged after market. Fitting a decompression plate doubles your chances of blowing a head gasket and can present problems with value timing. A custom turbo setup on that engine, with a ball bearing T28 turbo, intercooler and aftermarket computer could easily raise power to over 160kW, but to do the job right your talking over $8, 000. Still thats quite a bargain when your getting a power to rate ratio to match a Ferrari F40. If you want to stick to simpler mods then yes, there are angrier cams available, from TRD for a start, but to fit these you will definetly need an aftermarket computer: Porperlt dialled in an tuned this should make a noticable difference to top end power. A good air intake with a good air filter is also a good idea. Id look at enlarging the plenum chamber to if you have the room, (which I suppose you probably dont in a clubman). I wouldnt bother with the pressure regulator as by itself this would achieve little. You are better off spending your money on the aftermarket engine management. I am not sure what extractors you are using now, being a north south engine mounting, so I cant say if changing them would help, though a tuned four into one design would suit this engine best. As for the plugs, your engine has very high compression, so you will need to check if Champion Golds come in the right heat range to suit it.