N/A Power?

**Janiel** · 04-07-2003, 10:23 AM

Ok guys I'am going to build a motor for my 89' LX-i. I don't have the money to do turbo, But i do want to build a N/A high compression motor for about 200hp. I have a prefect a20a3 sitting around at my house. I plan on a good head job with a full port and polish, 3 angle vavle job, new vavle seals, and sending my cam to delta cams for a wild grind. Now for my question, Will my rods hold that kind of power? I'am going to put .020 over cast aluminum pistons with new chrome piston rings. Also main and rod bearings will be changed with a new oil pump. I was also looking at high flow injectors with the fuel rail and the AEM F/P regulator. I'am looking at geting around 11:1 compression ratio. To reach my goal I'am going to shave the head around.020. The only concern is that the vavles might touch the piston and there goes a new engine! Well just let me know if what i plan on doing will work right and if it will create the power i want. One more thing DC headers.

**AccordEpicenter** · 04-07-2003, 12:06 PM

hmm i dont think youd get quit to 200hp with that set up... probably more like 160-170. I bet the stock rods will be fine as long as you dont overrev the engine or exceed the factory redline too much... (ie stay out of 7k+ on your tach)

**AccordSi** · 04-07-2003, 12:37 PM

It's an interesting profect but 200hp is a tall order on a small budget. Getting a naturally aspirated 200hp from the A20A, it may well be easier building your bottom end and going turbo. I'm not trying to daunt but I can tell you it's not as easy as the projected figures that you called there.
Also it may not be very streetable.

**Morpheus** · 04-07-2003, 01:36 PM

I'd go with another engine. Or figure out how to get some B-series heads on it.

**AccordEpicenter** · 04-07-2003, 06:02 PM

i bet it could be possible to get that kind of power but you need to get more radical then that... = more $$$. Turbo is more effective for less $$$ at that point

***A20A1*** · 04-07-2003, 07:55 PM

I can't tell you how much the stock internals will hold, once you up the compression ratio.
You may want to look at getting Seans ECU upgrade if it allows the use of sensors that will keep the engine safe from detonation. and also maybe get the ITB (individual throttle bodies) from TWM. or get a B18c5 Intake manifold and a bigger Throttle body.

**Grant2k** · 04-07-2003, 07:59 PM

there is no way a N/A 200hp A20 is going to be streetable. you'd probably have to run higher than 11:1 and use race gas to even get into the 160-170 range.

**IWLSF** · 04-07-2003, 08:26 PM

Yeah, what I'm thinking too. Include rebuilds on the motor every few weeks as well.

**Grant2k** · 04-07-2003, 08:42 PM

plus whatever cam you use would be so wild it wouldn't idle very nice for extended periods. your car would probably good for a burnout and 1/4 mile run before you had to turn it off.

***A20A1*** · 04-07-2003, 08:46 PM

I don't think the regrind would be good to make the extra power to reach 200... a hard weld should be the way to go then get better valve's, valve springs, and retainers.

True about the rough idle... and It may be even harder to deal with on an EFI motor.

**IWLSF** · 04-07-2003, 08:48 PM

LoL, ya, those racing only cams are pretty freakin crazy. Leaving the car running for an extended period of time (like stop and go driving) with that serious of a cam may actually be detrimental to the motor. If the idle is really low, and I mean LOPING, the engine oil wont properly lubricate the motor. There wont be enough oil pressure to circulate around. I would like to see those racing cams for our carb'd motor though. Wonder how good they are.

**AccordEpicenter** · 04-08-2003, 05:18 AM

it might be able to be done, but youd need some SERIOUS head work

**wprocomp** · 04-08-2003, 09:30 AM

some really good head work would be the main part and getting enough fuel to the motor would help too,I would upgrade the fuel pump....dont know if the head gasket would last though you would blow them like crazy without getting a custom made copper one hmm.....

**Janiel** · 04-08-2003, 10:03 AM

About that b18 manifold? What mods have to be done to the manifold to be fitted on my head? What advantages does that maniold have over a ported stock one? I'am trying to get the hp at the flywheel not the wheels. I couldn't see that happening from an a20. If the wild grind would compromise my idle than what do you recomend for my project? One more question, could this motor hold a 50 shot without taking a crap on me? Sorry about the questions I just want to know what I'am geting in to before I start buy parts. Thanx again.

**Grant2k** · 04-08-2003, 10:13 AM

Originally posted by Janiel
About that b18 manifold? What mods have to be done to the manifold to be fitted on my head? What advantages does that maniold have over a ported stock one?

the b16 manifolds have been discussed a thousand times. use the search button. the stock manifold is just terribly restrictive

If the wild grind would compromise my idle than what do you recomend for my project?

not an A20. as much as i love them, i just don't see them making that power streetably. Openloop made 140whp, so look into everything they did.
https://www.3geez.com/showthread.php?...t=dyno+results

**AccordSi** · 04-08-2003, 10:33 AM

You shouldn't even look for a larger throttlebody just go all out with TWM or Toda quad throttles. Much like a DCOE set up but made for EFI. Way better performance and horsepower increase......but again budget and street driven issues come to the front.

**Morpheus** · 04-08-2003, 11:27 AM

Originally posted by IWLSF
LoL, ya, those racing only cams are pretty freakin crazy. Leaving the car running for an extended period of time (like stop and go driving) with that serious of a cam may actually be detrimental to the motor. If the idle is really low, and I mean LOPING, the engine oil wont properly lubricate the motor. There wont be enough oil pressure to circulate around. I would like to see those racing cams for our carb'd motor though. Wonder how good they are.

Can u adjust the idle so you can run race-only cams and not kill your motor idling? I want to get some pure top-end cams for any motor I swap in.

1988starter · 04-08-2003, 11:37 AM

200 hpat the crank should not bee too tough with a full internal rebuild open loop make a 160 or so at the crank with stock internals imagine with an 11 to 1 compression and a portede head also they were using the stock intake manifold.

1988starter · 04-08-2003, 11:39 AM

Originally posted by Grant2k
there is no way a N/A 200hp A20 is going to be streetable. you'd probably have to run higher than 11:1 and use race gas to even get into the 160-170 range.

Open loop had 160 with just boltons stock internals.

**Grant2k** · 04-08-2003, 02:13 PM

i stand corrected. but i was thinking more of 160-170whp, but obviously that's not too far off once you get to openloop's point.

1988starter · 04-08-2003, 02:16 PM

Yea and besides if you did surpass open loop you could probably run 14's easy as I believe that coup runs 15.2

**Grant2k** · 04-08-2003, 02:21 PM

and the coupe's set up for autocross. if you set up that engine with a suspension set up for drag with slicks and everything you may end up in the very high 14s not far from 13s.

1988starter · 04-08-2003, 02:26 PM

Very true and more torque at 3k than a b16 at 7k

**joker2** · 04-09-2003, 05:10 AM

Yeah, I just saw this post and was thinking the same thing and in fact my build up is pretty much the same except I'm running a b16 mani....... I don't recommend running a wild cam on that setup, just get the street cam from Delta and you should be fine...... I think with that setup you should be in the 160 range, with the proper tuning but if you're looking to top the 200 mark then you're gonna have to run a bottle as well....... A 50 shot is not going to hurt your engine, if it's setup right and it will give you that extra punch.......

**Sabz5150** · 04-09-2003, 10:24 AM

Balance the lower internals... crank, pistons, rods, all of it. Beef up the ignition. A lightened flywheel combined with the balancing will make it ungodly rev happy. Go with forged pistons if you can afford them. You've got an LX-i, see if Openloop can get you an ITB setup for your intake (your piggybank is sweating bullets by now). Up the fuel pressure, get some higher flow injectors, go with the P&P and valve grinds you planned, camshaft, etc etc. Drop for an adjustable cam gear while you're at it. Afterwards, get a nice flowing exhaust, maybe a little nitrous... it'll move.

-5150