tuning options for 1.8cvh

[steve8274]

what tuning options do i have with my cvh engine. i have read that there isnt much available. is this true and will my engine be quick enough left as standard
thanks
steve

[Tatey]

There aren't many tuning options im afraid. However putting bike carbs on are supposed to give it a little bit more power. The car should still be plenty quick enough, and once you get used to the power you can just sell the engine and put in a nice 172bhp zetec .

[Big Vern]

The best and probably only realistic option is to replace it with a Zetec. Keep the sump and starter and get the flywheel modified to take the CVH clutch.
I think the engine mounts might even be the same?
Tuning the CVH can be done but finachially it's like trying to crack a peanut with a sledge hammer.
It can be done - a friend of mine did - 170+BHP 1680 CVH in an Escort van! It was a pig to drive 'cos of the lairy cam, did 0mpg and cost over £2000 more than 10 years ago.....
For a tenth of that money you can pick up a good zetec and have 150+BHP.

HTH BV.

[AshG]

it will have enough poke as standard. my 1600 pinto on bike carbs is no slouch although i have only driven it 3 times. go with what you have got to start with.

[Big Vern]

I totally agree - Start off with what you have and with the CVH it's a relatively simple job to upgrade to the zetec later. Just not worth spending mony on the CVH

BV.

[spud69]

All the tuning mods for the CVH were based on the 1600 escort version and there are very few mods for the 1.8 sierra version. The CVH is a good free revving engine and you'll have plenty of fun with it.

A good start would be to put it on bike carbs and megajolt, this will then bolt straight onto your zetec for later upgrade. All the parts you need for zetec upgrade are on the CVH, starter motor, flywheel, clutch, engine mounts, trigger wheel, will need a spigot bearing and make a new alternator bracket.

An easy upgrade for plenty of power.

[Big Vern]

The CVH is only worth bothering with if the one you have is in good order and your not bothered about tuning it up! (this thread was about tuning options of the CVH was it not?)
The car will still be fun to drive with the CVH But in my experience it isn't long before you'll want something more and the CVH aint worth spending ANY money on - I wouldn't even give it an oil change!!!
If it were me I'd find a pre-95 Zetec and build the car with that from the get go as the zetec would be worth it.

Note: The CVH flywheel does not fit straight onto a Zetec as the flywheel bolt sizes are different and there's no trigger ring machined in the back of the CVH flywheel.

HTH BV.

[spud69]

My Flywheel from the CVH fit straight on no problems, but yes you do have to relocate the trigger wheel onto the front pulley as it is on the CVH. Flywheel is also lighter than the Zetec one so no need to lighten it.

Mine is a phase 3 blacktop so maybe different to silvertop.

AndyH

[Big Vern]

That's a concern Spud as the flywheel bolts for CVH are M10 fine thread and the Zetec ones are M11 fine thread! As for the flywheel weight the 1.8 zetec and CVH flywheels are only a couple of pounds different and I wouldn't want to lighten a cast flywheel anyway.....
Black top Deffo M11 threads for the flywheel hope you used the right ones

[spud69]

Now you mention it Vern i did have them drilled out to 11mm (it was a long time ago), there's plenty over on the Locost site who have done exactly the same. 2.0L Zetec flywheel is 9.9kg and CVH is 6.5kg so a good weight saving to.

Anyway, Steve when i had my CVH in i bought a Haynes book called "rebuilding and tuning Ford's CVH engine". It's quite detailed and goes into all the options for cvh tuning, although it does concentrate more on the Escort and Orion version of the engines. If you like you can have it for postage as i have no use for it now.

Regards...AndyH