V50 1.8 Petrol Sport (2006) - ECU Upgrade?

[yellowbenzene]

Hello forum folks, I have a quick question. I'd like to investigate adding a little more power to my V50. I think it's got the Ford Duratec 1.8 engine, but I can't find any useful information on Volvo tuning sites as to how to get an ECU upgrade/reprog.

Am I better off looking on Ford sites? I know I'd be really better off buying a T5 but that'll have to wait a couple of years.

[Daim]

So you want to gain more power out of a non turbo engine by tuning the software? What are you expecting? 100 hp more? ECU tune will do about 3-4 hp! Maybe 1 or 2 lbft more torque. To tune a 1.8 properly you need cams, intakes, manifolds, throttle body, etc. 40 hp cost around £800 plus fine tune via software.

[Axionknight]

Where do those bits come from Daim? Never seen cams available for the N/A engines.

You'll struggle to gain anything great with a simple remap I'm afraid, I think Daims figures are a little low, but you certainly won't be seeing much at all, maybe 6-8bhp.

If standard exhausts aren't available and I doubt they are, you' need custom ones, same with the manifolds and the throttle bodies (could port these depending on how much meat there is on 'em)...... This along with a custom tune won't be cheap as it's never easy to extract power from a lower end N/A car unfortunatly.

You'd have been better off with a 2.0 diesel, perhaps even the old 16 valve 1.6d which can be mapped to give another 30bhp or so on average.

[jasonb]

I was going to do the same investigation but ultimately where do you stop?
If you look for a decent T5, you might actually break even if you sell yours first then trade up!

[Daim]

Originally Posted by Axionknight

Where do those bits come from Daim? Never seen cams available for the N/A engines.

You'll struggle to gain anything great with a simple remap I'm afraid, I think Daims figures are a little low, but you certainly won't be seeing much at all, maybe 6-8bhp.

If standard exhausts aren't available and I doubt they are, you' need custom ones, same with the manifolds and the throttle bodies (could port these depending on how much meat there is on 'em)...... This along with a custom tune won't be cheap as it's never easy to extract power from a lower end N/A car unfortunatly.

You'd have been better off with a 2.0 diesel, perhaps even the old 16 valve 1.6d which can be mapped to give another 30bhp or so on average.

Cosworth, Kent Cams, BurtonPower,...

The figure is actually quite accurate, as the 1.8 doesn't have the mechanical reserves the 2.0 has.

There are loads of parts for these engines... The 2.0l can go up to 250 hp as an N/A and if you want, Turbo and Compressor kits are available to get around 350-400 hp. The 1.8 though can't get that far, as it isn't as "revy" nor as robust.

[Daim]

Originally Posted by jasonb

I was going to do the same investigation but ultimately where do you stop?
If you look for a decent T5, you might actually break even if you sell yours first then trade up!

Yeah, a T5 might be clever, but it automatically uses more fuel. If you tune a 1.8/2.0 right, you keep current low end power making it a great everyday driver but gain loads of high end power to make it a reving sportster...

[yellowbenzene]

Originally Posted by Daim

So you want to gain more power out of a non turbo engine by tuning the software? What are you expecting? 100 hp more? ECU tune will do about 3-4 hp! Maybe 1 or 2 lbft more torque. To tune a 1.8 properly you need cams, intakes, manifolds, throttle body, etc. 40 hp cost around £800 plus fine tune via software.

As I feared. I'm just wondering whether or not to keep this 1.8 for a while, but put up with the relative lack of power, or to spend a bit on a couple of upgrades. Sounds like that won't be practicable though.

Think I'll wait for a couple of years and try to find a T5 or maybe even an '05 V70R.

[t5_monkey]

Originally Posted by yellowbenzene

Hello forum folks, I have a quick question. I'd like to investigate adding a little more power to my V50. I think it's got the Ford Duratec 1.8 engine, but I can't find any useful information on Volvo tuning sites as to how to get an ECU upgrade/reprog.

Am I better off looking on Ford sites? I know I'd be really better off buying a T5 but that'll have to wait a couple of years.

Hey Mate I just left glasgow last week you could have had a ride in my T5!

tuning a 1.8.... not worth it ....

get the suspension done on it then you can trans the parts over to a T5 when you get it.

[yellowbenzene]

Originally Posted by t5_monkey

Hey Mate I just left glasgow last week you could have had a ride in my T5!

tuning a 1.8.... not worth it ....

get the suspension done on it then you can trans the parts over to a T5 when you get it.

Shame! Where have you moved to? Don't have the space for another V50 just now otherwise I'd get another one and swap some bits!