I'm new to this forum but wanted to post a question. I just bought a 78 spider to rebuild. It is running and drivable, but I am wanting to put in some performance parts. Overall I'm looking to spend about 5k on this little project. It currently has the 1800 engine. But I do have an opportunity to buy a 1983 spider FI with a running 2000 very cheap. I'm curious how much more power/performance the 2000 or the 2000/1800 head would provide than what I have now.
Keep in mind I'm a novice but am eager to dive in and learn. Also I really really want duel carbs, performance headers, possibly performance cams if recommended. What do you guys think?
Rebuild advice
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narfire
- Posts: 3959
- Joined: Sat Dec 27, 2008 2:14 am
- Your car is a: 1980 124 spider
- Location: Naramata B.C.
Re: Rebuild advice
OK, my opinion... If you have a $5000.00 budget, I'd mix between engine and suspension/brakes.
Suspension... I like Koni yellows and the aftermarket springs with a 1" front sway bar. Consider the braded steel lines to the calipers.
Engine.... I found the head/cams and adjustable cam wheels made the biggest improvement for my engine.
2L block with the 1800 head is arguably best combination. If you get after market cams, I believe the adjustable cam wheels are a must to get the true performance gain from the cams and then have the engine degreed in properly. Headers are great but the 4-2-1 exhaust manifold works well....perhaps a performance header at a later date??? $$$
As for carburation.... I'm by far an expert there but perhaps consider a carb like the 34 ADF or 32/36 the vendors sell with the single plane intake manifold from the 1800. Simple to setup by most compared to the dual down drafts and still a kick in the pants improvement over stock.
Need any more help spending your money
Chris
Suspension... I like Koni yellows and the aftermarket springs with a 1" front sway bar. Consider the braded steel lines to the calipers.
Engine.... I found the head/cams and adjustable cam wheels made the biggest improvement for my engine.
2L block with the 1800 head is arguably best combination. If you get after market cams, I believe the adjustable cam wheels are a must to get the true performance gain from the cams and then have the engine degreed in properly. Headers are great but the 4-2-1 exhaust manifold works well....perhaps a performance header at a later date??? $$$
As for carburation.... I'm by far an expert there but perhaps consider a carb like the 34 ADF or 32/36 the vendors sell with the single plane intake manifold from the 1800. Simple to setup by most compared to the dual down drafts and still a kick in the pants improvement over stock.
Need any more help spending your money
Chris
80 FI spider
72 work in progress
2017 Golf R ( APR Stg. 1)
2018 F350 crew long box
72 work in progress
2017 Golf R ( APR Stg. 1)
2018 F350 crew long box
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KenFarrar
Re: Rebuild advice
that's some of the info I was looking for. I have read many of the same things on parts pages but wanted to get some info from the guys who work on them for themselves. Suspension upgrades sound great too. I love the corners. I hope to get working on this before it gets too cold. Thanks for the advice, and any thing else you might want to add. I've been married once to many times, so it seems I'm always asking for help spending my money! Thanks again.
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sptcoupe
- Posts: 987
- Joined: Tue Mar 17, 2009 9:25 pm
- Your car is a: 1972 124 Sport Coupe
Re: Rebuild advice
Don't do the dual carbs unless you also do cams and squeeze the compression ratio to around 9.7:1, up to about 10:1 to be able to run it on pump premium gasoline.