1.2 tuning

[nick c]

hi all,ive got a 1.2 nova and was wondering if they are tuneable or is it not worth the bother.

[Timmy]

yeah you can tune them and cheap'll , try first a GTE mana fold with system ,
then find a 1.3sr inlet with a 32/34 carb. and then a 1.3 or 1.4 sr cam , that about it unless you wanna go big bucks

[nick c]

cheers mate,will the gte manifold and system bolt straight on.

[Ash]

I was about to say use the search, but it's useless lol

You can tune a 1.2, but:

Insurance? If you tune a 1.2 it will cost you more than a 1.4SR on insurance.

Power to weight - You better off losing weight, better P2W ratio, will also improve handling :thumb:

Handling - Better brakes, suspension and tyres will dramatically improve speed through corners, so you don't need the power to pull out of a corner after losing all your speed one the way in.

[Jack]

There was a long thread about this previously, and general consensus is its never really worth it. Sure, there are a few cheap bits and bobs you can do as Timmy suggested, but in terms of insurance and overall cost/effort you'd be better off spending less money on a 1.3/1.4 engine transplant.

[nick c]

that was an option,tune the 1200 or put in a 1.4 and tune it a bit,what sort of money would a 1400 set me back and is this an engine worthy of tuning,ive not had much experience with novas so sorry if im sounding dumb.

[Timmy]

well i found doing thoese little bit made my 1.2 pull and drive really well and didn't sting my insurance much. i had done bigger brakes and lowerd it before had though. i nver got around to fitting a cam so can't say much about the effects on that. if insurcae is something to worry about go the small tuning rount unitll you have no clames and buy a bigger engine is worth it, eunning a stanrd 1.3sr are fast and worth tuning with cam's and T40 as with the 1.4 you can use parts like a 1.3 inlet and 1.2 head do give a good power for the money out of a 1.4sr. sorry not sure what insurance is like.

[Stuart]

1.4 engines should largely be "free" to purchase lol

[Adam]

What he said/\

You cant even give them away.

[meritlover]

do what is said re cams. 40 thou skim, light porting, grind back valve guides, remove the crap and the groove behind the valve seats, valve grind, set up the carb, play with the weights/springs in the distributor to give an earlier advance. itl rev to the moon and go a hell of a lot better ;) itl even have a better note.

[nick c]

cheers for the replys guys, timmy did you mean use a 1.2 head on a 1.4 engine,does the 1.2 head have bigger valves or something.

[Stuart]

has a better flowing head, BUT the CR might be too high.

there is a 1.4 tuning guide in my sig link

[nick c]

cool cheers mate.

[Timmy]

stuart it your guild i followed when building my car up lol. you need to do one for the 1.6 8v boys!!!!

[Stuart]

replace 1.4 with 1.6 in that guide then ;)

[Ash]

or use THE 'build manual' (group A)

[mikey14sr]

yeah you can tune them and cheap'll , try first a GTE mana fold with system ,
then find a 1.3sr inlet with a 32/34 carb. and then a 1.3 or 1.4 sr cam , that about it unless you wanna go big bucks

For Carbed 1.2,

32/34 weber with 1.3 inlet manifold (manifold can be opened up a little where the carb mounts to improve flow).

A 1.3 or 1.4 twin-downpipe exhaust manifold and system might be easier to get hold of.

A 1.4 Carb camshaft, has highest lift of the standard vauxhall cams.

With a worked on 1.2 head and a good tune-up, I've seen the above make close to 80bhp, quite an improvement from standard, but only you can decide whether it's worth doing.

On a 1.2i,

forget it, they're just complete poo.

[nick c]

its a 1.2 carb,thanks for the info guys.

[matt_vaughan]

just a quick question guys.

Is there a problem distributor wise when replacing a 1.2 carb cam with a 1.4 sr one?

Or will it just slot straight in?

I'v read somewhere on another site their is but cant really tell if thats true.

Anyone clear this up for me??

Cheers

[Welsh Dan]

1.2+1,3 use a slot in the cam to drive the dizzy, the 1.4 uses a pin.*

*it could be the other way around, but they are different.

[matt_vaughan]

Cheers dan, you've just saved me from buying a 1400 cam for mine lol

Good stuff....I like people who are straight to the point :P

[Welsh Dan]

Buy the 1400 cam, cut a slot into it, then time up the dizzy :).