tuning up a disco 1 v8

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nuts

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Hi all im looking to get more oomph out of my v8es 1997 it is running on lpg and an auto im not looking to pull the engine apart but i am willing to get it chipped and tuned ive had a look on google and cant fined much about it can some one on here give me any clues as to some one that could do this kind off work in the gloucestershire area and any advice as to anything i can do myself.
Thanks to all inadvance.
 
There isn't much, if anything tbh, you can do to improve things without ££££.

The easy option is decat, and then optimise your inlet, and whilst you're there strip down the whole top if the engine from the inlet manifold up (do not remove the manifold, just the plenum and trumpets) and all associated breather and pipework and clean everything out, checking carefully for perished hoses etc.

Set your igntion timing to 6 degrees BTDC or a dab more if you fancy and fit new NGK BPR6ES plugs.

Change your gearbox oil and engine oil a couple of times using a flushing agent also, but then use 15w40 semi synthetic, no thinner.

It's what id call a good old fashioned tune up.

Griffman could talk to you about Mark Adams' Tornado chip but again it's £££.

Cheers :)
 
What Sam said basically.

The important thing with any type of tuning on any engine is to look at how it gets more air into the engine. If you can't see how it gets more air in, then it probably doesn't and it won't make much more power at all. It's all about keeping the fire triangle balanced and throwing more fuel in will just reduce your MPG.

Tweaking the ignition timing will help but there's not a lot you can do with an old distributor based system as all you're really doing is moving two curves around.Bear in mind that too much basic ignition advance will bugger up your idle. This is especially important on an LPG'd car as the LPG requires a very strong spark and you're starting from a poor position using one coil and a dizzy based system.

LPG has a lower energy value than petrol but it has a much higher effective octane rating. This means that it IS actually possible to get decent power from LPG but it requires that you put an awful lot of the stuff in ( poor economy) and that you can tailor your ignition timing to exactly what you need ( that'll be an aftermarket ECU then )
 
PS Sam runs an aftermarket ECU on a V8 and I run a 3.9 ES on LPG. and that git, er I mean Sam also has an 8-2-1 exhaust manifold setup. Not that I'm jealous...
 
PPS

Sam mentioned De Catting. The MOT handbook states that any UK vehicle after Aug'92 must be capable of passing the cat equipped emissions test....

However.... Your car is LPG'd and if it is registered on your V5 as an LPG'd vehicle then it should be presented for MOT running on LPG and guess what? An LPG'd vehicle will fly through the emissions text without needing cats.

Bin the cats. Now!
 
nuts said:
Hi all im looking to get more oomph out of my v8es 1997 it is running on lpg and an auto im not looking to pull the engine apart but i am willing to get it chipped and tuned ive had a look on google and cant fined much about it can some one on here give me any clues as to some one that could do this kind off work in the gloucestershire area and any advice as to anything i can do myself.
Thanks to all inadvance.
Click to expand...

So what are you after performance wise? as i've never found my disco lacking, out of interest what's the recorded mileage of the vehicle?
 
discool said:
So what are you after performance wise? as i've never found my disco lacking, out of interest what's the recorded mileage of the vehicle?
Click to expand...

Hi its got 111ooo on the clock it has a single point italyan lpg and it does fluctuate on tickover. When on the motorway it lacks pace it cruses well on flat when it reaches a slight incline it dyes back rapidly i expected it to have more top end torque than it has and would like more without brakeing the bank as you can get lpg 4.6 ranges for not stupid money i have grown to like the disco though and have spent a bit on it this at the mow is my only niggle.
and it is running on 18" disco 3 wheels if that makes any differance to the torque,
 
Sounds like it needs an overhaul first to get it back to normal before thinking about tuning bit.
Normal in that you shouldn's slow down on inclines or even long motorway hills just put your foot down, but as is done that mileage there may be some serious engine component wear.
 
discool said:
Sounds like it needs an overhaul first to get it back to normal before thinking about tuning bit.
Normal in that you shouldn's slow down on inclines or even long motorway hills just put your foot down, but as is done that mileage there may be some serious engine component wear.
Click to expand...

I've read some of the threads on pulling thease things apart ouch! We're do you stop? The motor in general seams fine starts first time in the cold doesn't smoke does burn a little oil only talking once every 3 months or so and a little water half pint at same time. Not anuf to bother me im an ex farmer and have used allsorts of machinery that burnt oil kwiker than diesel including a range of series landrovers and a 200tdi wich was my last one. the lack of top end on lpg is more of a niggle than a must have could it be with the auto box that this is what you get? Never owned one of these before v8 or auto! Without driving a brand new one I suppose it would be difficult to tell.
 
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