PERFORMANCE UPGRADES FOR 2.0 EFI ENGINE

[SquadraFiatDriver]

I am having a 1984 Pinin Spider restored and want to have perfromance upgrades done at the same time.

I am looking for recommendations, BASED ON EXPERIENCE, for obtaining maximum STREETABLE HP and TORQUE from the 2L DOHC EFI engine. Modifications may include, but not necessarily be limited to, head swap, cams, valves, rods and pistons, intake and exhaust, including headers, ignition, aftermarket fuel injection etc etc.

Recommendations for transmission and differential/axle mods to compliment the engine mods are also welcome

I know there is always more than one approach to achieve the same objective and while differences in opinions are expected and welcome, Please don't turn this into a "my way is better than yours" debate.

I must stress that am looking for a performance road car and NOT A RACER but may indulge in the occasional club solo events such as slaloms, autocross and similar.

I will address suspension, steering, wheels and tires a little later in a separate post

Thanks

[So Cal Mark]

unlimited budget?

[narfire]

Mark nailed it... what kind of loot are you looking at? $5000.00 would be a good starting point....

re-bored with oversized pistons.
Balanced
Head work
Headers and larger exhaust
lightened flywheel
aftermarket cams
adjustable cam wheels
upgraded ignition

I like the idea of sourcing another 2L engine and building that over time and then swap out keeping the stock engine under wraps until you ever sell the car.
I found another 25-30 hp made the car a gas to drive. I upgraded the shocks, springs and front sway bar to help the already good handling as well.

[SquadraFiatDriver]

unlimited budget?

Unlimited is a scary term Mark! I like adequate far better.

In any event, you and I already have a direct dialogue going, No disagreement with what you have suggested. I posted here looking for different opinions and approaches from non-professionals who have been there-done that!

Thnx

Gord

[toplessexpat]

I quite like the 2L with HC... gives it longer legs at the top end. Now if only someone made a 5th gear replacement.....

My fiddling I've kept to my 1800. 42/82 cams, adjustable cam wheels, 38ADL carb, dizzyless ignition, abarth header, straight through exhaust to magnaflow muffler - it's a blast to drive, and well behaved on the road. Oh, and the overtly obnoxious alternate hood with the overkill lighting that was done "because it could be done"....

[toplessexpat]

I quite like the 2L with HC... gives it longer legs at the top end. Now if only someone made a 5th gear replacement.....

My fiddling I've kept to my 1800. 42/82 cams, adjustable cam wheels, 38ADL carb, dizzyless ignition, abarth header, straight through exhaust to magnaflow muffler - it's a blast to drive, and well behaved on the road. Oh, and the overtly obnoxious alternate hood with the overkill lighting that was done "because it could be done"....

...back to the 2L. I've always thought that an improvement could be made with the EFI computer - although I've never found anyone that's actually done it, and the unit is a pretty much closed circuit...

[vandor]

In 1998 I built a hi-po 2000 engine. It had the stock EFI and made 130-135 HP (dynoed against a stock Spider, so the figure is pretty accurate). The mods were: 9.8:1 CR, 40-80 cams on both sides, ported head with large valves, adjustable cam gears and a high-flow air filter. I was on a budget, and this was all I could afford. It had the stock EFI exhaust manifold and downpipe, but the downpipe ended in a 2" pipe that went all the way back to the muffler.
One could add aluminum crank pulley and flywheel for less rotating mass. A better ignition system would help. If you don't mind spending a lot of time tuning then a programmable FI system might eek out a few more HP, but from what I've seen 50% of people who install these never get the tuning right.