philwaters

Started having problems with the old lump again, wondering if anyone can suggest whats causing it. When the car is started it runs fine and ticks over very happily. However when approaching junctions under braking and upon putting the clutch in the engine revs drop severely to such an extend that I have to blip the throttle to keep the engine going. Once caught, the engine will tend to sit and rev at 1000rpm happily. I also had this problem (on the lists Haggis hunt) to the extend that it cut the engine which would then not re-start at all, just turn over. This only happened when pulling away and changing up to 2nd gear, at the point of putting the clutch pedal down. It is pretty intermitant so is hard to trace, made worse by th fact that 2 mins after it stops it starts first time and is fine...aarrghhh sad.gif Any idea guys... I'm planning on a Zetec upgrade next year so don't want huge expence, but would like a reliable car in the mean time. Phil Waters Q181 ABL - 1600X/F

Thank guys, given me plenty to mull over whilst I 'try' to get the money together. I like the idea of the 1.8l Zetec, would be more insurance friendly for me as well as being able to be tuned beyond my axle if I want more later, but is 100 to 150 bhp enough of a jump - hehehe oh no the power bug's bitten! Phil Waters Q181 ABL - 1600X/F

I agree, and with my sort of driving I feel that a Zetec is most suited, being most suited to higher gear cruising when I'm in the lazy mood, or on a long trip. My concerns about fitted 'hotter' cams to get the urgent engine feels is that I don't want more power than 160bhp odd as I am concerned about the life of my axle and can't afford to start replacing both engine and axle at the same time. Hence the 1.8l with hotter cams might give me similar power to a std 2.0l but with the urgent feel? or does it - anyone out there got one and can tell me? Phil Waters Q181 ABL - 1600X/F

Thanks guys, I intend trying as much as I can before the winter...and am waiting to hear if the Fireblade engine is retro-fittable - or will that be a tad extreme for the cruising road use mine gets.... Phil Waters Q181 ABL - 1600X/F

Hi, new here so be gentle :-) My current 100bhp 1.6 x/f in no longer enough so I am looking around for possible replacements. Top of the list is currently the 2.0l Zetec with around 160bhp - more than enough for me and as I'm only 24 I have to think of th insurance! A friend has recently done thing, using Dunnell, and is happy except that he says he misses the x/f feeling about 4000rpm. So my question does any one kno if the 1.8l tuned to the same power output produce a more peeky power delivery akin to the X/flow or am I making a fuss about nothing? OR has anyone converted a live axle x/f Caterham to K-series? is it possible? will it be too expensive compared to the Zetec? Phil Waters Q181 ABL - 1600X/F