BRM modification

[joe_589]

hi, i am interestingin buying a rover brm but..... i awnt to tweak the engine (quite a lot!!) i want a lot more power out of this car.

how much power can you get out of this engine?
What modifications are they?
How much does it cost?
Is it a DIY job or specialist?

thanks alot for your help.

Joe

[tommyk]

It can be very pricey to get more power from the k-series. check out dva power (http://www.dvapower.co.uk/) for a price list of getting it to over 180 bhp.

Other options (which I think are more expensive) are to put a t16 engine in or to go the throttle bodies route.

[Jon_A]

Its also possible to supercharge the engine, but again pricey and a specialist job.

[Dom]

if you're feeling a tad extreme - reyland motorsport offer an audi 1.8T conversion. Probably more expensive but on the whole a better option than the T16, simply for being a more modern engine and easy to get power from.

[tommyk]

if you're feeling a tad extreme - reyland motorsport offer an audi 1.8T conversion. Probably more expensive but on the whole a better option than the T16, simply for being a more modern engine and easy to get power from.

how much does this one set you back?

[Dom]

not sure... 3k was banded about but I never investigated it to check.

[brmatty]

the other option is a kv6 lump,190bhp zt lump conversion...seen a bubble with one at castle coombe..crazy!!

[spankyban]

to stick with the stock engine - you would potentially be better going for a EU3 K series - the MG Zr 160 version - would say £1800 - £2000 for the conversion.

You could T series Turbo - prob same cost as above..with 200hp +

then you have the as above mentioned conversions - DVA , Audi and KV6.. all pricey.

Personally IF you are prepared to spend the cash and want useable power get a 1.8 K NON VVC and start to tune that - ZR160 piston's, and internal mods - be prepared to pay money for aftermarket management - i.e Emerald ecu but if you have the cash and paitence you could see a good 190 - 200 horses.

[Frekkel]

to stick with the stock engine - you would potentially be better going for a EU3 K series - the MG Zr 160 version - would say £1800 - £2000 for the conversion.

why spend 1800£ for an engine that is 70% identical to the mems2 vvc? and for what? for the 52mm TB? you buy them for 100£ or cheaper. For the slightly better in and outlet ports?? No because you can spend 700£ for a DVA job that will be a lot better then standard zr 160 head. for the Mems 3 Ecu then?? No because when you decide to go further you need an Emerald or something like that.
So for the 2000£ you would spend on a standard engine with 15 bhp more you can buy more or less: full janspeed (1000£), pipercross viper (200£), FSE PBV (50£) 52mm TB (100£) DVA head job (700£). Those mods gave someone in the MGF club on his mems 2 vvc around 165bhp at the wheels.

Personally IF you are prepared to spend the cash and want useable power get a 1.8 K NON VVC and start to tune that - ZR160 piston's, and internal mods - be prepared to pay money for aftermarket management - i.e Emerald ecu but if you have the cash and paitence you could see a good 190 - 200 horses.

again, no because when you start with a 1.8 non vvc there will be a moment that you need a vvc head because of the larger valves. It's easyer to take a vvc engine and take the vvc mech out and put in some solid piper cams.

correct me if I'm wrong ;)

[chubbybeats]

One thing I have learnt over the past view years with the K series is that it’s an absolute pig to tune if you keep it normally aspirated.
To start with I put a full exhaust system from the manifold back, FSE pbv and induction kit. The stages were then as follows:
I have tried the non vvc head ported and piper 270 cams with throttle bodies and emerald ecu. It only made 160 bhp. Cost £2000
Then moved on to the vvc head, got it ported and polished. Removed the vvc mech and replaced with solid QED fast road cams. I still kept the throttle bodies and emerald ecu. Made 175 bhp. Cost £2000
Now I ditched the throttle bodies and stuck in a rotrex supercharger with the standard vvc inlet manifold with a 52 mm TB, upgraded injectors and fuel pump etc. Made 220 Bhp on very low boost. Cost £2500

I guess what I am trying to say here is before you start to tune your engine sit down and have a hard think of were you want the engine to go and how much power you really want because realistically to get the K to over 200 BHP for NA is very hard and expensive. If I had know it was going to be this tricky from the start I would of either supercharged it straight away or put in T16 engine in.

[Frekkel]

One thing I have learnt over the past view years with the K series is that it’s an absolute pig to tune if you keep it normally aspirated.
To start with I put a full exhaust system from the manifold back, FSE pbv and induction kit. The stages were then as follows:
I have tried the non vvc head ported and piper 270 cams with throttle bodies and emerald ecu. It only made 160 bhp. Cost £2000
Then moved on to the vvc head, got it ported and polished. Removed the vvc mech and replaced with solid QED fast road cams. I still kept the throttle bodies and emerald ecu. Made 175 bhp. Cost £2000
Now I ditched the throttle bodies and stuck in a rotrex supercharger with the standard vvc inlet manifold with a 52 mm TB, upgraded injectors and fuel pump etc. Made 220 Bhp on very low boost. Cost £2500

I guess what I am trying to say here is before you start to tune your engine sit down and have a hard think of were you want the engine to go and how much power you really want because realistically to get the K to over 200 BHP for NA is very hard and expensive. If I had know it was going to be this tricky from the start I would of either supercharged it straight away or put in T16 engine in.


but then you'll had a very heavy nose with a lot of understeer

[pfgascoigne]

chubbybeats,

Tell me more about the supercharger conversion please.