Hello everyone, I just baught a 91 laser 2WD for 300$ ( and no it is not stolen )
It is in perfect condition except the engine. The timing belt went and snapped the valves and a few other things. So I am rebuilding the entire engine. Need help on what to buy to rebuild this engine to get to 300 horsepower at the wheel. I know this is possible with this engine becuase it was done to a ford focus ZETEC (305whp to be exact)and ran 12.4 in the quarter mile.

So I am familar with engine talk just not familar with the 1G 4G63 capabilities.

I would really like some advise or direction on were to start.

I have read good things about the 2.3 block (massive torque). and am looking were to get a cheap one.

All the negative and positive feed back would be appreciated.

Not without going turbo you won't. Search through the forum, you'll find all the info you'll need for doing a tubro conversion.

That would be pretty cool. 300whp is kinda tough, but i've seen 240-260whp. You may want to start with a 2.4l block, bore it, get some high compression pistons, port and polish head, cams, sheetmetal intake, fuel, basically every trick in the book to make power. Followed by tuning and some hopes n dreams. Remember to base any power of the 4g63, it'll be at REALLY high rpms, so an MSD, some HKS titanium valve springs, good bearings, large plenum and long runner intake, and other basics would be a neccessity. If all else fails, just get a nice fogger system before the maf, problem solved. Any half whit can put a 16g on and make that power, but N/A power in a light ass Laser or Colt would make the car a absolute BLAST to drive. Theres a guy I know, Tim Brown who is local and has attempted the N/A challenge. Hes on the 4g61t.com forum, nickname Beresko, talk to him.

EDIT: actually Tim Brown is on this board to once in a while.

Jonny

To achieve 300hp your cheapest route would be to convert it to a turbo and then mod it. If your going for N/A hp its going to cost alot more $$ than it would to turbo it.

I know this is going to be alot of money. I am willing to spend 4 - 6 g if I have to . I know it can be done but. I just need to find the right parts. JE pistons have already responding to me for 12.5 : 1 high dome pistons for any application I need.

I guess what I need help with or direction with is rebuilding the head. the vavle springs and the titanium retainers are a given but the camshafts and valve job I need help with . How much of a valve job can I get away with
and with the block how much can this be bored out?

thanks for the info so far gents

and what sort of engine control system?

That is one of things I need to know . I am having trouble creating this application because everything is for turbo and low compression.

Basically I want to treat this like I am modifing half of a small block V8

with the physics of it...I should be able to do this and also I have the actual application for the ford 2.0 ZETEC that is NA.....so I know it can be done...

I am just at a stand still because this is basically a rice burner made to rev high and run hot...

so the ecu I would suspect any would be fine but the timing is going to be a precise and serious part for this application

Simple. 14.1-16.1 static CR, super light pistons and rods, lightened crank. Whole rotating assembly balanced. HUGE lift and duration {to bleed off cylinder pressure for low RPM pump gas cruising} It has to make power from 5000-10000 RPM. Your car can only weigh 2300 Lbs wet and for your 18-20K investment you'll run low 13s. Hmmmm How about a bolt-on Garrett?? Run 12s for 2k. THATS why nobody bothers with 121 CID NA motors. If you want NA power bulid a small block V8 from ford, chevy or mopar. Or a VTEC honda in an acid dipped CRX.

ok mister dream shatter

lol

how much does anyone think I can get N/A?
I am planning to keep this for a while.
I mabey able to build a 13's car and I would be satisfied with that.

High 14's if you're lucky.

The amount you'll have to spend to get that NT into the 13's is insane, especially when you could go turbo and get thoes 13's for a fraction of the cost!

I can understand someone going through this trouble for another platform (ie. the Focus), because adding a turbo may be just as expensive to do.

But for a DSM?!

In other words.... Why bother?

The 3000lb weigh in is the killer

Well that is what I needed to know before I start this project. All in all though I am glad to see the response I got with this post.

So you all convinced me . The only reason for what I was trying to do, is I wanted a car that is going to be reliable.

So if any parts that is recommend for my rebuild. Feel free to let me know. I already am in the process of getting the DSM High performance Coil on plug set up.

But for the head rebuild . I have heard nothing but horror stories with the head gasket and the timing belt.

HK$ and the proper hardware, your pistons will melt before you blow the headgasket.

And you think a 13sec FWD NT can be reliable?

hehe..

All else being equal, the 13sec NT would be far worst off than a 12sec turbo.

I have a Galant with the NT motor run a 16.1. That is so far the fastest 1/4mile time I've seen on the board for an NT. (Stock engine, Free flow exhaust, balance shaft removed, K&N and proper tuning for higher ignition timing and 94 octane fuel.) Estimates put it in the 150-155hp range (a healthy jump from the stock 135)

Figured if it was a 200lbs lighter and more aerodynamic Talon, you could possible dip into the mid-high 15s with the same motor & driver.

You could slap in a 2.4 (4G63 or a G4CS with a Twincam head, turbo injectors and something to control them) and run 10+:1 pistons and make a healthy does of power that would probably get you down into the low 15s and high 14s. But IMO, 13s would be asking too much. THat way you should still have some resemblance of reliability.

But really, if you want fast. Buy a turbo.

You could always just build it tuff and hit it with a 150 shot of nitrous. If it can survive it you'll see your 13s.

Just curious

is there anyone with a NT that is over 200whp?

http://www.nyccdsm.com/content/
Read that...

The 3400lbs is probably the gross weight, but it should be higher than that. My AWD with me, and half a tank of gas is only 3200lbs on a scale. NT's are a fair bit lighter.

You not need a huge turbo to get you into 13's a evo3 16g would be more than enough

A 14B is plenty to get 13's. 16Gs can get you 12's.

Yeah I was just about to say... If you play your cards right a 14b turbo is plenty.

Weight reduction: "dont look for 100 places to lose a pound, look for 16 places to lose an ounce". Lose the rear seat {no room for sitting in it anyway} the rear and fron bumper re-bars, the a/c condenser, ABS, spare tire, jack, junk, then start shaving the ounces. 100 lbs in reduction is equal to a tenth in the 1/4 mile.

My Project is G4CS 10:1 DOHC 274/274 Cams, MAFT, No Bshaftand specially programmed ECU and Stuffedinto a 2200lbs Colt I'm hoping for 190hp I gotta get it out to a machine shop to get finished...

I am not against turbo's .....I just no nothing about them and where to start to covert this thing.

Any direction for learning about this car and were to get the parts on the east coast would help alot.


I am expecting to put 2 years into this rebuild so I am going all out and would like to do it right the first time

sell car and get a TURBO CAR