Engine Mods to 850 Reliant

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I should imagine so, they have in the past been used to run as water pump in deserts, where they plod along pulling up water, at very low revs, where torque is most important.

For Torque, a 4-2-1 exhaust manifold, and for the intake, a long intake tract, Multi bike carbs on a longer manifold would work well if you can keep them balanced, maybe even an up and over goosekneck type to keep the carb/s inline with the engine instead of sticking out.

Don't have a contact number, but I do know a firm called Autosport is somewhere in Brum, they can do cam regrinds, flywheel lightening, and crank and rod lighten and balances, and by all accounts where very reasonable. ISTR some of the Skoda boys used them in the past, and it was something like £60 for a crank balance and lighten, or a cam regrind, and somewhere between £30 and £60 for a flyhweel lighten.

i would imagine they would do some headwork too. Might be worth comparing someparts catalogues and see if you can go with a big valve head using off the shelf parts from other cars, one of the lads did a big valve conversion plus all the other stuff I mentioned and got 130BHP from his Favorit 1.3 and it was still very drivable. He used Rover V8 valves and Ford Escort Valve springs I think.

In general, no. Even pretty old engines will near match modern ones for peak torque output. And to make the spread greater without effecting maximum BHP means variable valve timing.

The only way for a meaningful increase in torque is to increase the capacity, or use forced induction. Or change the fuel used, of course. ;-)

Hi mate!

You are going to be struggling. Any conventional mod you make, that gives more power will increase the rev range. This means less torque normally.

Most "race" mods aim for power, which usually means reving them harder. This means less torque... Torque comes from cubes (where you are limited) and compression ratio. and mild cam timing etc.

For torque? Cubes (big bore - double it and you will have twice as much all things remaining equal.

Nitrous, HUGE torque increases! Turbos, lose torque at low RPM but improve it at high revs which is why they make good power. (Torque x RPM = HP) Bumping up the compression - Gains small amounts if your fuel can cope, and you dont get detonation probs from your fuel.

Not me...

have you any idea how much further could you bore and 850 reliant out to?

After reading your nitrous pages i was going to put that on but after a trip from brum to scotland highlighted a few probs (i would have to use quite a lot of nitrous to maintain the higher speeds..I Think) i could get my trike upto 70mph

i was okayish on flat roads but as soon as i hit hills 4th could not cope and i would have to rev it hard in third to maintain 65 -70 mph

i understand i am going to have to spend a bit of money on this, and if i cannot get it done then i may have to consider having a shaft drive bike engine fitted (if i have space) but i can see this costing a fair bit.

Yoda

Rover V-8. You know it makes sense.

But that would wreck the handling. Ha ha. Seriously though how can you go past a turbo Hayabusa motor.

Fraser

In article , snipped-for-privacy@blueyonder.co.uk spouted forth into uk.rec.cars.modifications...

BTW I think I mentioned before, have a look at Supercharging.

I'm sure the Liege kitcar uses a supercharged reliant lump?

That will give more power and torque throughout the whole rev range.

i did seriously take a look at supercharging it But it was way to expensive at least £500 for an old supercharger, then i would have to have a new manifold made up, and then new carbs ..so i think its out of my budget...unless anyone knows better? as i understand it supercharging puts a lot less strain on the engine than other 'performance' mods..is this right? (i could probably justify £600 to & £700, maybe a little more if it would sort it all out)

Yoda

Have a look on ebay for Eaton superchargers, there always seems to be a selection of them removed from delivery mileage Mini Coopers and sell for about £130. TBH if you want more torque, sell the car and buy something with a bigger engine.

It is an adapted trike and because i am disabled it was built around my disability so selling it is not an option.

Yoda

ok i have found a company M & T Race Developments (just outside warwick) who are going to have a look and make some suggestions now are there any specific things i should ask or watch out for? Cheers All

Yoda

You are about right. Problem is that it is not a very powerful engine! You could lower final drive a bit?