Tuning a 1.4RT Engine

[donsrno1]

I am now considering this as the best option all round for insurance etc and just had a few questions. I believe that the engine is good for about 110-120BHP with headwork, cams, laguna throttle bodies and chipped (maybe some other stuff but I can't remember LOL)

I believe that the headwork is very expensive for the amount required and just wondered roughly how much that is likely to set me back?

Without headwork how much gain in power is feasible with the likes of cams, throttle bodies and chipped?

Would it be possible to do some of the work such as fitting the cams and throttle bodies myself bearing in mind that I don't have any real experience of this work - but plenty interest in learning how to do it?

I'll no doubt think of some other questions in a minute but that's about it for now. If anyone can help answer these questions it would be great.

Thanks.

 

[Lunner]

There was a thread not long ago about tuning a 1.4 .....do a search

 

[donsrno1]

Yeah I know mate - I had a few posts in it myself but it didn't really answer the questions I have listed above.

P.S 1000 Posts

 

[edde]

I believe that the headwork is very expensive for the amount required and just wondered roughly how much that is likely to set me back?

Without headwork how much gain in power is feasible with the likes of cams, throttle bodies and chipped?

Would it be possible to do some of the work such as fitting the cams and throttle bodies myself bearing in mind that I don't have any real experience of this work - but plenty interest in learning how to do it?

I'll no doubt think of some other questions in a minute but that's about it for now. If anyone can help answer these questions it would be great.

Headwork is about £4~600 depends how many valves. Its expensive unfortunatly there is somone on a Renault forum ChrisH I think whho will tell you what you need to do removal wise the tolls arn't much its the skills you pay for and knowing which bits to touch which makes the difference if you do the job badly you'll loose flow (ie power).
A remap is about £300.
You could try fitting the cams and throttle bodies but I wouldn't recomend it if you've never tried anything remotly like this or have none else you can call to help.
Have you spoke to your insurance company though? I'd always recomend swopping the whole engine for a bigger one a 1.8 would IMO be a better and more cost effective tunning solution and have a better gearbox and more reliability and potential. Plus its easier than tunning IMO. The mmounts are ths ame you just have to swop bits.

 

[donsrno1]

When you say the mounts are the same is that for a 1.8 16v or 1.8 RSi? or both? If the mounts are the same then what needs changing? I believe the driveshafts shoudl be the same if it's an RSi and that the suspension should be OK but could possibly do with higher poundage springs.

I've also just noticed in another thread I had a wee while ago that there is a 1.6 bottom end that is a direct fit - what engine would that be from and what sort of gains would that alone give me?

If the tuning work on the 1.4 would be as expensive as you say then TBH I probably wouldn't bother with it and if I was putting a 1.8 in I would probably be as well just buying a standard 1.8 clio instead of farting about with the current car. I might be interested in the 1.6 bottom end though if it's exactly the same as the current bottom end but with a bigger capacity.

 

[The Big Yin]

Sell it and buy a 16v with the money you'd spend tuning it up mate makes more sense long term

 

[patty]

i wouldnt sell my baby to buy a valver... u can put a valver engine in an rt for around 1k

 

[FincH]

I asked about the 1.6e bottom end with a 1.4 head on here a while back and yes it does fit but apparently wouldn't run very well.

The engine is from a Megane and is a K7M iirc.

Could always give it a go and coupled with headwork, cams and a full remap it might all gel together.

 

[donsrno1]

i wouldnt sell my baby to buy a valver... u can put a valver engine in an rt for around 1k

Yeah the thing is though that youre car has had loads of body mods where as mine hasn't got any mods reall apart from alloys and an exhaust - so it would probably be cheaper to buy a 16v. The reason I was considering the 1.4 tuning was simply that insurance would be cheaper than a 16v or and rsi but if I put one of those engines in then the insurance would probably be the same or more.

 

[The Big Yin]

You would be surprised , you may find that even thought the 1.4 has not got the same power because its modified it could be harder to insure and more expensive

 

[donsrno1]

You would be surprised , you may find that even thought the 1.4 has not got the same power because its modified it could be harder to insure and more expensive

But what if they are all internal mods that you can't tell are there

 

[dannyboy]

mate you should tell the insurance company everything!

 

[donsrno1]

I know you should and I have all mods etc on my car declared but do you think an insurance assesor is going to take the engine to pieces to check if it's been modified internally and even if he does do you think he will be able to tell as from what I have heard on here unless you know the enignes inside out then your not going to be any the wiser.

 

[edde]

You want to risk them taking your engine to pices.
Anyway unless you map the engine you won't get any more power and may damage the engine running it lean then this different ECU mapping is noticable by a crash engineer in a few seconds.
All Clios run the same amounts hence why a 172 engine can go in your car. The difference is the bonnet cannot be closed.

 

[donsrno1]

You want to risk them taking your engine to pices.
Anyway unless you map the engine you won't get any more power and may damage the engine running it lean then this different ECU mapping is noticable by a crash engineer in a few seconds.
All Clios run the same amounts hence why a 172 engine can go in your car. The difference is the bonnet cannot be closed.

Fair enough then - I stand corrected.

I thought there wasn't really any way of telling. I would have declared the chip to my insurance as I know they can check them though.

 

[u33db]

I am now considering this as the best option all round for insurance etc and just had a few questions. I believe that the engine is good for about 110-120BHP with headwork, cams, laguna throttle bodies and chipped (maybe some other stuff but I can't remember LOL)

I believe that the headwork is very expensive for the amount required and just wondered roughly how much that is likely to set me back?

Without headwork how much gain in power is feasible with the likes of cams, throttle bodies and chipped?

Would it be possible to do some of the work such as fitting the cams and throttle bodies myself bearing in mind that I don't have any real experience of this work - but plenty interest in learning how to do it?

I'll no doubt think of some other questions in a minute but that's about it for now. If anyone can help answer these questions it would be great.

Thanks.

I answered most of this in your other thread mate.

No point doing cam and 1.8 TB without headwork as the greatest gain will come from the headwork and since the head needs to come off anyway to fit a cam, you may as well do everything in one go. As i said, speak to Chris H as he won't charge you ktec prices (i.e mega bucks) and will get you noticable improvements. It'll depend on what head you have as IIRC he said there was slightly different versions of the 1.4 energy...the earliest ones giving more of a gain.

1.6 BE comes from a megane 1 1.6e and yes the engine code is K7M. This BE is a direct fit and there is no reason why it wouldn't run well.

Remap...well you can get a hillpower chip for your car which is about 200 new or 70ish s/h. Again, wouldn't be too fussed about remapping as the ECU doesn't really do too much since your on a carb...easy enough to modify the mixture and as Chris H says, your 1.4 will rev until it explodes.

Declaring to insurance is an age old argument on here...depending who you speak to insurance companies either severly scrutinise a crashed vehicle or be fairly lax...certainly in my experience i've gotten away with extremely obvious modifications come an inspection. However, you take your chances and i'm not going to say one way or the other to risk it. One thing i would say is be realistic...if you've got an externally standard looking engine and a somewhat unchavved car then chances are you'll be fine *dons flamesuit*.

Costs from last time...catcam is about 250, 1.8 TB is about 50 s/h, 1.6 BE about 80 s/h, headwork free if done yourself or a surprisingly decent amount from Chris H.

Easy as.

 

[donsrno1]

I answered most of this in your other thread mate.

No point doing cam and 1.8 TB without headwork as the greatest gain will come from the headwork and since the head needs to come off anyway to fit a cam, you may as well do everything in one go. As i said, speak to Chris H as he won't charge you ktec prices (i.e mega bucks) and will get you noticable improvements. It'll depend on what head you have as IIRC he said there was slightly different versions of the 1.4 energy...the earliest ones giving more of a gain.

1.6 BE comes from a megane 1 1.6e and yes the engine code is K7M. This BE is a direct fit and there is no reason why it wouldn't run well.

Remap...well you can get a hillpower chip for your c...ar which is about 200 new or 70ish s/h. Again, wouldn't be too fussed about remapping as the ECU doesn't really do too much since your on a carb...easy enough to modify the mixture and as Chris H says, your 1.4 will rev until it explodes.

Declaring to i...nsurance is an age old argument on here...depending who you speak to i...nsurance companies either severly scrutinise a crashed v...ehicle or be fairly lax...certainly in my experience i've gotten away with extremely obvious modifications come an inspection. However, you take your chances and i'm not going to say one way or the other to risk it. One thing i would say is be realistic...if you've got an externally standard looking engine and a somewhat unchavved c...ar then chances are you'll be fine *dons flamesuit*.

Costs from last time...catcam is about 250, 1.8 TB is about 50 s/h, 1.6 BE about 80 s/h, headwork free if done yourself or a surprisingly decent amount from Chris H.

Easy as.

Thanks mate.

I've PM'd ChrisH already and just haven't got round to sending him another one to get a quote for how much the work would cost. He is just about 50 minutes from where I live anyway so that would be usefull. I would probably rather have chris do the headwork as he would know exactly what needs doing to it.

 

[u33db]

Even better if hes close to you then!

I'm up in Aberdeen and am away to send a 1.2 head down for him to work some magic on...should be good!

 

[donsrno1]

Yeah, makes a nice change having someone close as I'm in Edinburgh. Could you PM (if you don't mind) roughly what he is charging you mate as I am waiting to hear back from him about the sort of cost the headwork would be.

If I were to put a 1.6BE, throttle bodies, chipped, cams and headwork could I even be looking at 120 - 130 BHP do you think as I believe 110-120 is possible with the above but not a 1.6BE?

 

[theduck]

if 120-130 is available from cams throttle body, headwork and chip where do i sign? Thats a BIG gain on that engine as it only runs 90bhp as standard, i know, i have one in my clio have to say decating that engine seemed release loads of power, just need to refit mine!

 

[donsrno1]

if 120-130 is available from cams throttle body, headwork and chip where do i sign? Thats a BIG gain on that engine as it only runs 90bhp as standard, i know, i have one in my clio have to say decating that engine seemed release loads of power, just need to refit mine!

I would just need to save up some £££ now

I believe that what you mentioned is good for about 110-120 but a 1.6 bottom end should be good for another 10hp i'm hoping.

 

[theduck]

i have the 1.6e engine in my clio, its a rare Mk2 ph1 RXE and came with the 1.6e engine as standard, standard bhp is 90, so cant see a 40bhp gain from what you've listed, i maybe wrong though

 

[donsrno1]

sorry mate - I thought you meant you had a 1.4. I know it doesn't seem likely but headwork can release about 15bhp on these engines alone according to people I have spoken to and when combined with the other mods it can give significant power increases - so I've been told anyway.

 

[theduck]

To get that much from headwork you'd need a remap to make the most of it, unless your on carbs. think i might start looking into this for me though