Originally Posted by foreverwhite
problem with this conversion is that it's equivalent to replacing a 1.0 fiat panda's engine with a 1.1 fiat chiquichento sporting engine.
both are about as quick as a sleeping, down syndrome, unconcious turtle.
Is it fuck, it's like replacing a 105bhp cvh with a 145bhp zetec. Nice useable reliable smooth power. Not gona eat gearboxes, won't need setting up every weekend and won't cost the earth if it goes wrong (which it probably won't). I had great fun in mine. You can hammer it everywhere.
Of course more power is available, but it depends on budget and what you want, and problems you anticipate having with it, and if you mind having it off the road half the time fixing/upgrading it.
I've got a zetec turbo in mine now on aftermarket management and I know for a fact it's gona need another gearbox, I'm gona turn the boost up, need a bigger cooler, need a better clutch, take the engine out, may as well do this, do that, management can run ALS, get a better turbo...
Should have left it alone, fun weekend car that always fired up, always ran sweet, always got ragged and always got me home, smiling.