What kinda money am I looking at spending to get a Pinto (standard bore) to 200bhp or over? Friend of mine has a Mk2 at 180bhp but we've to drive the tits clean off it to get 3rd in class, and 3rd isn't winning.

I've probably posted this in the wrong place, because I'm a tard.

A lot, can be done, but its expensive, get in touch with this guy:

http://www.davebrooks-engines.co.uk/

Think I've heard of 10.5k, but basically all steel, possibly dry sump, high compression, big valve head (something like 44.5or even 45.5mm inlet valves, say 38 on the exhaust), raised port chambers for better flow, a proper lumpy cam, and twin 48 cards (50s tend to slow down gas flow), oh and a good tubular manifold.

Must give him a ring tomorrow. Aye it's deffo not cheap, all the top cars in our class are running 220-230bhp!

Ye, are you allowed 16 valves in your class? Might be worth sticking a warrior head on it, you could also (provided you aint in an historic class) run throttle bodies instead of carbs

Nah have to stick with the 8 valve head, but doesn't say ya have to retain the original one! Might price a new performance head & very high performance cams from Burton power, see what power gains can be got. Bottom end is pretty much sorted bar a steel crank!

Yeah throttle bodies sounds like a good shout, motorbike throttle bodies wouldn't suffice for the time being?

not really that sure on bike throttle bodies really, they might but it you are already running on carbs then I cant see them being any better. A good head and cam combo sounds like a good idea, think for the power you want to run you'd probably need quite a wild cam, I'd deffo get in touch with someone like burton power (Jondel are good with a pinto too) to see what they recommend.

Aye probably, probably have to sacrifice some driveability to get more power, harder revving like. NA tuning, certainly not cheap!

aren't HPE the chaps to go to for big power pinto's?

http://www.hpemotorsport.co.uk/

Ye HPE are pretty good, and ye big power n/a aint the cheapest way of tuning, but you shoot up the classes if you use forced induction. If you can afford to live without the drivability then go for it I say, had a run in a mk2 some time ago with a dry sump 2.4, didn't idle well at all but give it a touch of throttle and it was well worth it!

HT Racing at brands,talk to Aaron,built me a couple of pinto's on 50's with reasonable drivability but massive top end!!

HPE are far cheaper than Dave Brooks and there is many more high power Pinto,s on the tracks than Dave Brooks stuff....

Been looking at a competitor in our class, new engine arrived a couple of weeks ago for next year. 225bhp pinto and I heard a £10.5k price being mentioned!

Doesn't surprise me!!! There was a guy doing road rallies in my area, had a mk2 with a Millington built alloy pinto, cost him £22k!!! Was a monster of an engine, cammy as hell though (do like the sound of a cammy pinto though)

One of those over here as well, running as a 00 car to try out the engine for Millington (new spec I was told). Animal of an engine, but shat itself on the 4th stage!

Been given a price of £7k for a 200bhp Pinto, or £12k for a 221bhp engine on throttle bodies. Putting it into context, £13.5k for a 301bhp 2 litre 16v engine apparently!

Christ alive! Which one you gonna go for? You could probably get a 240bhp Vauxhall redtop for not around 5k(ish), does the class rules dictate that you stick with the pinto? Or can you use any 8 valve, if any 8 valve is permitted, the Volvo 8 valve lumps are pretty good.

I've heard of £30k+ on brand new millies!

Stunning engines though.

The difference between a shit hot Pinto and a shit hot Millie is like night and day though.

Don't look at JRE

You'll cry if you see his prices.

Notice his old website is no more, there was a 2.5 XE on there £17k!!

Driver decided to stick to the Pinto, built it himself to 196bhp. Just going to drive the balls off it now! D Big result or big accident! haha

As for JRE, wouldn't look at him at all cause I heard tell he's gone bust! Millington do the best 2.5 and KGP Engineering the best 2 litre, from what I've seen over here. Look up Declan Gallagher and his Starlet, mental bastard has a 2 litre in it and is on the pace of WRC's!

JRE has gone bust allegedly with a lot of peoples money and engines

I'm very suprised at that, he's been going donkeys years.

Heard that alright, lad in our class sent his engine and a lot of money to JRE and it all disappeared. Not good!

Ye millingtons are immense! But you would probably be in a different class to them (hopefully!)

That's good going! Ye I've heard a bit of bad press of JRE, there was a discussion of it on rally forum, there are quite a few good engine builders out there, provided your wallet can take the hammering!

You can keep the st crank , use PEK rods and Pistons either Acculite , JE or Cp and brace of 48,s Tony Law manifold or Similar.

The rest of it is in the head if it was me id use Harris Race Engines there right up there in the Pinto and Crossflow builds.

Last time i got a quote for a head to support 180-200 hp it was around the 1500 mark that was complete ..... witch i thought was ok ...

That's not a bad spec at all^^^ Would give a great clubmans engine, and provide plenty of slides!