performance boost for 2000 FI

ldhall49 · Post by **ldhall49** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 11:15 am

OK - I'm a newbie to fiats and just got an 81 2000 FI. So what's the best low to midrange performance boost I can do while keeping mind I'll have to re-smog in 2 years (aside from converting to carb). Will exhaust change work? Easy to replace for testing... I'm looking to autocross so want better torque...
thanks

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 3:10 pm

put an early rear end with the 430 gears in place of your 390s

ldhall49 · Post by **ldhall49** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 3:37 pm

hmmm... hadn't thought of that - how will it affect upper speeds like highway driving? maybe get more of gear whining at higher speeds?

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 3:40 pm

depending on your tire diameter, it'll take about 4000 rpms to go 70-75mph. Pretty hard to stay within smog specs, boost low to mid range perf and keep mileage and top end

ldhall49 · Post by **ldhall49** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 4:09 pm

Mark - yeah, that's kinda what I figured. I'm not concerned about mileage, had a couple of hot rods, so know about 5 mpg. If there's a way to remove (or bypass) some of the smog stuff, and be able to put back easily, then that's what I'm looking for. That's kind of why I thought maybe free flow exhaust might be good as well. How much performance improvement can be had by upgrading the iginition system to something like pertronix?
thanks for your input too!!

bran100 · Post by **bran100** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 3:43 pm

I had asked a similar question in another post but haven't gotten a reply. Any performance boost for my 82 FI related to the smog equipment?

You're headers are pretty sexy Mark, if I may say so. Will removing the catalytic converter and running your headers with hi-flow mufflers be a good move? What about removing some of the other smog equipment? Where I'm located, I don't think it will be an issue with State regulations.

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 6:04 pm

on the FI cars there isn't any smog equipment that hurts performance except for the catalytic converter. You could replace it with a test pipe if you wanted to keep the stock system for smog reasons.
My header and exhaust system improves mid-range and top end substantially, even with a cat installed. I use 2 1/4" tubing from the collector with a high-flow cat and Magnaflow muffler. The cat also acts as a resonator and helps keep the exhaust noise at an acceptable level

You already have a decent electronic dist, replacing the pickup with a Petronix won't give any improvement.
You could install a free flow air cleaner such as a K & N type. Some owners have gone to a larger AFM, either Alfa or BMW units but I haven't experimented with that.

performance boost for 2000 FI

performance boost for 2000 FI

good idea -