Astra4 1.6 16v on TB's...power?

[CoupeUK]

A friend just asked me where can he get TB's from for his missus Astra4 1.6 16v SXi. He reckons he'll see over 200bhp from TB's alone on an otherwise standard car (he's just read it in TV apparently).

Is he right or wrong before I abuse him for being silly?

Paul

[keithcdb]

I think he must have read the one about the XE running jenvey's By adding TB's alone he would not go very fast at all, He would need TB's, stand alone management, bigger valves (head work), new uprated exuast manifold and system, RR set up. Prob forgot some stuff but 200+ plus nope

[vxlgsi]

you can get 200bhp, but you need more than just tb's

[Sten]

Ripping the engine out and replacing it with a Z20LET would be the most cost/pain effective way of getting 200 horses.

[AJBek]

Ripping the engine out and replacing it with a Z20LET would be the most cost/pain effective way of getting 200 horses.

agree, my corsa had a 1.6 16V on TBs, management etc made about 150bhp, changed to a 2.0 XE on TBs which made 198 bhp and now have a Z20let in an astra gsi with a std 200bhp. The 2.0 corsa was faster 0-60 but the astra is much more drivable on the road due to the torque and feels faster most of the time. Don't let that put you off TB's they are great fun and sound mental, but if I was doing it again I would go turbo right from the start. There are plenty of TB lovers who would disagre with that however and I would not put someone off getting them but don't expect to magically get 100bhp or (particuarly) 100lb/ft.

edit: just saw the car is a mk4 astra. I would definately recommend turbo as they are not particularly light cars, and the extra torque from the turbo would certainly help compared with TBs. The TB'd 1.6 16V works very well in a nova however due to light weight e.g. lee303's old car.

[CraigGreen]

Cams & high comp pistons are the ingredients to get a 1.6 on TB's over 200bhp.
As said above, the engine wouldnt really suit an astra tbh due to the weight.

Turbo is definately the way to go, more driveable, plus the fact an essentially std road going engine has better manners for cold starts & traffic situation etc.

LOL @ recommending a race tuned engine for the girlfriend!

[CoupeUK]

Right, cheers for that....

He told me that he could just buy a set of TB's and 'throw' them on for an instant 200bhp, I told him that they are not easy to fit, plus you'll need managment, mapping, RR tune, bigger brakes, exhaust, etc etc

I did suggest a turbo conversion, but he's still set on this magical 200hp TB kit lol

I did also mention that his girlfriend will need more experience driving, ie she can't just get in a 200bhp car and know how to drive it instantly!

Thanks again, im armed now