Tuning 1.2 8v Uprated Cam or Engine Swap?

[u33db]

Hello,


My parents recently got a new car so I've now got their old car to use for going to work...its a 1.2 8V with only 50k on the clock.


Its great on fuel but with 60 ish hp its slightly (!) underpowered for dual carriageway work so I'm wondering if there is anything significant that can be done to improve this?


I was thinking along the lines of an uprated camshaft or engine swap to a 16v or 1.4 if that was a plug and play job on wiring.


I appreciate this question may get asked a lot (I know it does on other forums) and the answer is usually "buy a faster car" - however, my weekend car is a Corsa turbo so I've got that covered...I just want to know if there is anything relatively cheap (couple hundred max) that could boost this commuter by 5-10hp and make it slightly better on the open road while still keeping the mpg about 40.


I am good mechanically so camshaft/engine swap would not be a major issue for me, especially considering the space under the bonnet compared to my Corsa.


Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[BFG]

I think that some one asked about tuning a 1.2 8v be for on this site and some one said they would only get about 3 hp more but I stand to be corrected I can't see why the 1.4 would not go in but you would have to swap the wiring harness as the cam sensor is diff also I think you would have to buy a virginised ecu but some one with more experience with Fiats will advise better than me good look

 

[u33db]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply.

Would it be possible to just bolt a 1.4 8v bottom end on and run it on the 1.2 ECU? I assume that'd negate the need to mess with the wiring and would give near enough the same power/torque as the 1.4?

I reckon i could get a 1.4 from a breaker for under 200 so it'd be doable at that price.

 

[BFG]

I can't see why not but I ham not 100% sure as I have looked at a 1.2 head and a 1.4 and I can't see any diff apart from the cam sensor but may be some one on this site may know best see if Andy Monty can give you any advise or any of the other members have you checked with some of the companys that do remaps what they could upgrade to.

 

[u33db]

Hi,


I'm in the NE of Scotland so there are not that many places do remaps around here...those that do are franchises like Quantum so aren't what you'd call specialists, and certainly wouldn't have touched a 1.2 Fiat engine.


I actually did enquire the other day but it was a ridiculous amount for just doing the 1.2 as-is and it only gained 5/6bhp...around £300!


TBH at that amount I'd rather go the 1.4 bottom end and have the satisfaction of knowing that I'd done the work myself for virtually the same gain.


I'll give this Andy Monte guy a shout and see what he says about the BE swap...I guess he's one of the more knowledgeable members?

 

[BFG]

Andy is one of the moderated on this site and i have met up with him twice in person and he as put a lot of guides on the site so good look

 

[dombooth]

Andy Monty