Just wanting your opinions on upgrades to my a15 (Standard from van apart from extractors and a 1.75inch exhaust). I only want to get it up to 95-100 horsepower and i want to narrow my options down in regards to price, fuel economy ( ), power and reliability ( i know i'm not asking much!!). Options as i see it are
1. Slight overbore, new cam, port head, standard carb
2. Turbo with low boost
3. EFI
4. Change engine to 4age
hoping to spend between $2-3000 in NZD, although i realise swapping engines will probably work out more by the time i purchase all the bits etc. Opinions and other options i've left off are welcome, especially from those who have done it. I have already upgraded brakes to s13 discs and calipers, new shocks etc, i left the horsepower to last

I know this is a little off topic but what size rims/tyres are you running under your new braking system? and what was the new setup costs?

14's with 185/55/14 tyres. Really good braking, just using master cylinder from 1200 disk brake model. To get caliper brackets cut, hub machined, etc was $2-300 I think from memory. The most expensive part was getting it certified (minimum $400 to get modifications certified where i live)

oh yeh that sounds pretty good. So you got your rims certified as well.

cheap and nasty and easy way to get about a hundred ponies would have to be a jpipe turbo setup thru the standard carb.

If you make most of the stuff yourself i think someone got it down to about $300.

But with a budget of 2-3000k you can do it all properly.

I would just go with a new cam, get the head ported and use a 32/36 webber. Your fuel economy will suffer a little, but in reality you cant have power, realibilty and economy all in the same sentance without making someone laugh.

I wouldnt be concerned about overboring unless you have to. You wont gain much. Its one of those things tht you do when its part of a whole package, which you dont want.

Quote:A man who clearly knows how to prioretise.
Sadly, too many want to stuff the power in first & fix up the chassis later. You have my respect.

As for a modest boost in power my personal suggestion is simply 'modest boost.'
Even at low boost pressures torque will rise quite noticeably & with a simple suck through system you can utilise readily available carburetion without too much hassle & the intake temperature rise will be minimal.
The standard cam timing will be boost friendly, but the exhaust will need to be opened up to keep it working properly.

A small turbo will be less expensive, since nobody want's them, & should give you 4 to 7 psi without drama, & being both smaller & with lighter rotating mass, should spool up quicker than a large one cutting any lag time to a minimum.
For a street hack, this will be a fair dose of bang for bugger-all bucks.

yeah, included rims in certification-keeps insurance company happy. Turbo seems to be winning at the moment, have always liked the idea personally. Might have to look into this a bit closer...oh and thanks dodgeman, i like my ute and dont want to wrap it round a tree first time out!!