Best tip for more power...

[redroadster]

So if I stop drinking beer and lose 20lbs. My car will have 2 more horsepower?

No but you will

[greydog]

So, if I want 2 liter Solex performance in the 69 1600, all I've gotta do is eliminate 600 lbs and have the engine run like new.
If I just toss the body I'll be most of the way there.
We're not talking about a '72 Buick wagon here, meaningful weight reduction is not as practical as an engine swap.
Dan

[Curtis]

More power: buy modern lightweight car with big fuel injected, turbo'd, or supercharged engine. Or a damn Tesla.

[mraitch]

+1 on the diet
not sure on the wax - unless friction - only noticeable 145+
+1 on go faster stripes - the more the merrier - just make sure they are horizontal - not those annoying slow down 45 degree BRE stripes, or even Paul Gabriels- subtle under paint ones , not impressed.

[Mackn367]

So, if I want 2 liter Solex performance in the 69 1600, all I've gotta do is eliminate 600 lbs and have the engine run like new.
If I just toss the body I'll be most of the way there.
We're not talking about a '72 Buick wagon here, meaningful weight reduction is not as practical as an engine swap.
Dan

Weight reduction is not as practical as an engine swap? Hahaha sorry but I have to disagree.

Weight reduction = free
New engine swap = a lot more than free

Also I wasn't comparing my 1600 to a 2 liter solex so I'm not sure how that got thrown in. I simply said weight reduction is a great tip for "increasing" your hp

[JT68]

Keith mentioned rotating mass. Nick that is a major reason your engine is so fun.

I doubt it’s making more than SAE100hp and unless you are on a highway in Montana, you never using that..

It's torque in the useful powerband 3k-6500 that makes it so fun on the street and a very light rotating assembly

Your engine’s rotating and reciprocating mass are much less than 90% of other 1600’s and 99% of U and H20’s. Makes a huge difference in the way it accelerates.

You are certainly right that shedding weight is helpful where possible.

[redroadster]

Weight reduction was central to the approach of Lotus. You don't need 500hp to push around a 1400lb car. Helps in the corners too!

But weight keeps you from sliding off the road (public roads )and sure braking
Low Lbs per square inch on tires racing around
My 86 Subaru XT turbo coupe ...I put 80 series wide tires on it ...had 13" alloy s
It would slide braking when you weren't expecting .taking a long curve a bit to fast , it slid 9" where a heavier only 2-3 "

[Daryl Smith]

"Your engine’s rotating and reciprocating mass are much less than 90% of other 1600’s and 99% of U and H20’s. Makes a huge difference in the way it accelerates."

^ This. Modern equivalents of pistons/rods in engines of similar displacements as the 1600 and 2000 engines in our cars are near half the weight or LESS!
The difference this makes in performance cannot be overstated. It is a night and day difference. There are no downsides. It also makes for a smoother running engine with the reduction in reciprocating weight. Combined with a lightweight flywheel, even with no other changes, the engine with the lightweight parts will have a big advantage.

[Mackn367]

Keith mentioned rotating mass. Nick that is a major reason your engine is so fun.

I doubt it’s making more than SAE100hp and unless you are on a highway in Montana, you never using that..

It's torque in the useful powerband 3k-6500 that makes it so fun on the street and a very light rotating assembly

Your engine’s rotating and reciprocating mass are much less than 90% of other 1600’s and 99% of U and H20’s. Makes a huge difference in the way it accelerates.

You are certainly right that shedding weight is helpful where possible.

Right I also completely agree with that - which is why I had to opt in for your lightened flywheel

I'm going to do a few test runs on a straight closed road to see what kind of times I am getting (maybe 1/4 mile, 0-60, etc). Technically I have only once gone full throttle from 0-70 and I was VERY happy with how it felt. But that was not timed at all so who knows maybe it just felt really good lol. Thanks again JT for all the great work you put into this engine