pinto 1.6 Performance ?

[craigbeal]

Whats the performance like on such a car compaired to my S1 1.8k Lotus for example?

Are they good engines or should i aim for something else?

[JeffC]

not wanting to urinate on anyones fire but for out and out performance  that would have to be one of the worst engines I can imagine fitting in a westy.    

the lofty leader had one in his westy and It went well on the right track and he did well with it but I reckon it  helps that he can drive a bit  

If you are looking for grunt go for something like a vx or a tuned zetec.  

[MK11]

I used to have a 1600 pinto in my first Westfield, it had the single downdraft Weber carb and was standard in all respects.  It certainly felt quicker than most things but what it was like compared to the Elise I don't know, definately slower in real life (rose tinted specs off and all that).

The Elise was the closest production car I have driven to the Westfield experience though.

Before people flame me, I know that a stock 1600 pinto isn't the lightest, most powerful or modern engine available but I loved that car, I did 38,000 miles in it!  Including a camping trip round Luxembourg towing a trailer with a detatchable towbar mounted off the RAC rollbar mounting points

Personally, I think I would go for a more modern engine now, especially with the current horsepower fettish that seem to have swept all before it.

[JeffC]

from what Ive seen on track an elise seems to equate to a 2.0 pinto westy in a straight line .  there doesnt seem to be a lot in it.

If I were In your boots ( reading your other post earlier )and with £7500 to spend I would be looking at a westy with a 16v motor. Personally My money would be on a Vx powered  as they have more grunt in standard form and more tuneable once you get the upgrade bug.    

[BLOGGY S7]

Depends if it standard or not and what kind of condition its in?? I have had a 1.6 pinto fitted in a seven, granted it wasn't standard ported and polished head and a piper 270 cam. It was a little quicker than a friends standard 2.0 pinto version. So there not a bad engine. They are certainly alot more reliable then the K series although they are heavy. A simple upgrade would be going for a 2.0 or a 2.1 pinto, after that you need to be looking at a zetec, or if funds permit a duratec.

[jbean]

I had a 1600 pinto, bored out to 1680 with twin 40 webers on it, polished ported head as vizards book, standard valves (don't think anything bigger will go in a 1600) Kent FR33 cam and vernier. Lightened and balanced bottom end with a steel flywheel, alloy rs sump, aldon dizzy. It had more torque than similar spec x flows, but not as much BHP. Very nice to drive, just a bit heavy.

[Hammy]

a 1600 pinto is a very easy & cheap swap for a 2000 pinto tho...

[SimonT]

I have an S1 Elise (K series) and Westy with a 2L Pinto with the down draft carb. In my experience, the Elise is quicker accelerating and has a faster top speed, but the Westy feels lighter and corners better. Both are great cars and a 1.6L pinto is going to be cheep as chips to look after. Swapping for the 2L will then allow you upgrade to 160hp or more which will out perform the Elise. I guess you could always get another K series and then do a direct comparison!  You could get discount then for double HGF !

[higgsti]

like jeff say s with 7.5k id be looking for a xe or zetec .

[cast iron]

I threw heaps of dosh at my 1600 Pinto, took about 3mm off the head, twin 40's, recut valves and lighly ported head,lumenition, fast road cam and vernier, HP pump lightenmed and balanced rods crank and flywheel - result 99BHP at the flywheel. then again it did pretty well for me in the speed series  

Swapped it for a Zetec SE and the rest is history