Hi all.
Nice forums

I have just been given a TP Manual EFI Sedan.
308000ks on the clock, and feeling a bit tired (still got an amusingly large amount of torque dispite its lack of compession) im thinking of a DIY Rebuild project.
It will mainly get used for hillclimbs and some other club motorsport so i would like some more power and it needs to be a fairly robust build.

What do you reckon is worth doing?
At the least i was thinking a good rebuild (get some compression back!), some tougher valve springs (i have seen astron valve springs go bang when worked hard, and for $90 from RPW it seems a good thing to do) An Exhaust, a diy CAI, some port cleaning up and a mildish cam

A wilder dream includes a turbo setup, i was hoping to make my own manifold and use a digital fuel adjuster from www.autospeed.com (the source of most of my ideas!) and some old import turbo and 'cooler.
Im guessing fuel and injectors would need work.
All i want is a fairly low boost setup with good torque and that wont blow up my engine!

how are the manual TP gearboxes? will they stand up to it?

Also any ideas for suspension work i might want to do? Comfort is NOT an Issue.

I dont mind spending a fair bit of money on this, it will just have to be done slowly. (im poor! :cry: )

Phew... what a post..

Gotta say, really love that 2.6 motor...

its a decent engine, yet for power, u might want to go for a more agressive cam, and u can rather cheaply get rid of efi and go carby instead, use as 4.1L XF webber, full exhuast systems, better valve springs like you suggested, some ppl are shaving there heads about 25 thous and getting gains in tourque, take out the balacing shafts using the $40 kit this will let the engine rev a bit better and add a bit of power at the sacrifice of vibration in the cabin

and u can rather cheaply get rid of efi and go carby instead,

Dub tee efff??? isnt that going backwards in power rather then forewards??? :shock:

Not to mention XF weber + corners = float problems = loss of power.

yeah its goin backwards, yet its cheaper to get more power out of a carby than it is to get a custom ecu, and from what ive seen driving a modifyed first gen with webber this is some cut out yet nothign to serious

or if not carby then everything else i suggested plus a custom ecu

The TP manual boxes are quite strong, unless you do something REALLY stupid.

As for the rest, the ECI computer occasionally has issues with cams, but will appreciate the rest.

Thanks for all the advice.
Well. im not going carby, this is my first EFI car and i like it!
This Interceptor i will get (the DFA) will do load based fuel adjustment so i reckon that should allow me to run a fairly hot cam (but i have no way of doing timing)

ah balance shafts, good idea, has anyone taken theres out and can tell me how it is?

Genrally any thing that will make it feel a little more rev happy would be nice (by my calculations if i can hold peak power torque to 5500rpm i will have 106kw right there)

Well looks like its time to get out the torque wrench and engine hoist and get cracking!

also, what is the fix for the infamous magna tacho failure, new gauge cluster?

Well, i reckon im going to have a real laugh with this, and prob'ly no traction! :badgrin: (damn expensive LSDs :cry: )

Also is the Sigma Rockers a good idea?
Seems like it would be good to chuck the slack hydro tappets (rooted anyway) for something with a bit more control

The TP manual boxes are quite strong, unless you do something REALLY stupid.

As for the rest, the ECI computer occasionally has issues with cams, but will appreciate the rest.

Yep gearboxes are strong, My TN one is holding around 150-170kw@ wheels. But i dont go dropping burnouts and launching it.... I learnt my lesson blowing up a $700 VR4 Box..


Well, i reckon im going to have a real laugh with this, and prob'ly no traction! (damn expensive LSDs )

you'll get traction...Just not in the wet, specially hill starts. Thats where i struggle lol

you'll get traction...Just not in the wet, specially hill starts. Thats where i struggle lol
release the handbrake perhaps and stop doing drifto's lol
post up pics as you go.
sounds good.
be interesting to see how it turns out.

Will do, was thinking of finding some free webhosting to post a diary and photos of the build (this build is going to take a looong time, damn lack of $$$!)

sigma astron 2 rockers a big yes! ask any machanic whos worked on an ashtron they replace the hydrolic ones & can be F*&^ed again in as little as 2 weeks, just dont gap them to sigma spec 8 intake 10 exhaust as it will tick like hell intake is fine i had to go down to 7 on my exhaust.

So, does anyone have the solution the the magna tacho problem?
IS it the gauge cluster?
I want to go buy one asap but i want to know it is the problem

(will buy an indicator too, broken when parking behind my other car at night :( had really long rubber bumper pads that line up with the magna indicators and cant be seen :rant: )

Here are some pics... yep its in a sorry state, it kind of hit a few kangaroos before i got it, a bit of diy panel beating has been done (by me) on the nose cone, but im going to get all new front panels when i have the $$$

but there was one good reason to pick this one over other 1st gens (or ANY car)
It cost me NOTHING :D

Any idea how much sigma rockers cost btw?

Piccies

Edit: ****, thats the last time i use MS paint to resize, well... if you want pics of the top left corner of the magna maybe :rant: :P

Photoshop tiem!

Edit#2: Yay. works now.. use strech/shrink in ms paint

bloody M$ paint :rant:

Put a new skirt/bumper on (i had a spare, that only needed a little work, god bless cable ties :) ) will post pics soon...
anyone wave any ideas about the type of turbo i might put on this car?
i want bulk torque and good response.

Also any idea how the handbrake works, and how do get it to work better?, Im gonna motorkhana the thing and the handbrake is pretty lame, disc brakes :( (its already adjusted close)

The handbrake is cable operated. It uses the rear brake calipers onto the disc, instead of a separate shoe, etc. Makes holding a car with no brakes on a slight slope a real exercise...

i would be intesrested in hearing hwo to tighten up the cable too as i accidentally hit a cvar last week coz the stupid freaking handbrake didnt engage properly after i pulled it - thank goodness it was only $200 worth of damage but could have so easily have been more....