Mill the head?

AZKick

39
0
Gender:
It's paid for now, I can break it.

Hey all, I got a bone stock 1.6 8v in my 92 Kick. I also got a engine builder who owes me a favor. Putting some counter tops and shelves in has car hauling trailer. Anyway, looking to step up the performance a bit and wondering what's the best way to call in my marker with the engine guy would be. This is my daily driver and it sees alot of off road. Any ideas?

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AZKick

39
0
Gender:
It's paid for now, I can break it.

Re: Mill the head?

« Reply #1 on: May 24, 2005, 06:43:58 PM »

List of stuff coming up for the 92 JS;
K&N air filter (in already)
Header and all new exhust
Custom 3 (or 4) core radiator
Oil cooler
Trans and t-case (Thanks real_red_wagon)
Front end (also real_red_wagon)
2.5" lift
Maybe a 1 or 2" body lift
New rims and tires
And a few other goodies

Got a growing pile of parts in the shop so hope to have this all done in a few weeks

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zaggy

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Re: Mill the head?

« Reply #2 on: May 25, 2005, 02:19:15 AM »

Your plans sound good but what are the basics like?

- How many miles on the engine?
- Whats the compression like?
- Any oil consumption?

If it's a real sweet low miler, good compression, runs well the stuff you're planning is a great place to start and will give you some great engine results for the dollar.
But if it's a high mile, oil burner you will need to take care of basics first.
I really like these engines and they have alot of potential (see wildgoody's website).

Zag

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92 Sidekick 4dr, Suzuki Powered Airplane

Proud2bCDN

Re: Mill the head?

« Reply #3 on: May 25, 2005, 06:34:05 AM »

The head on mine has been milled .010, the intakes and exhausts ported. Pistons are .010 over. Calmini cam, Calmini full exhaust. Free flowing air intake and throttle body spacer. It definitely has more jump than a stock 8v. I still have to play with the cam timing a bit to move the power up into the higher RPMs for freeway driveablilty. Also considering an underdrive pulley.

I have an auto tranny to install which would allow me to run 31" tires with the stock 5spd gearing (5.12's) but I'm still not 100% convinced that is the direction I want to take.

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AZKick

39
0
Gender:
It's paid for now, I can break it.

Re: Mill the head?

« Reply #4 on: May 25, 2005, 12:08:29 PM »

Engine has like 65,000 on it (second engine in this Kick). Runs like a top. No oil consumption. Maybe 1/4 quart every 3,000 miles. Don't know about the compression but I bet it's good. I stay on top of everything and do all maintenance. The Sidekick has over 183,000 miles on it and over all is in great shape.
Not ready to do cam and pistons right now, maybe next year or two on all that. Running out of bucks with what I have already.

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AZKick

39
0
Gender:
It's paid for now, I can break it.

Re: Mill the head?

« Reply #5 on: May 25, 2005, 12:13:35 PM »

Does the underdrive pully hurt the charging or water flow at low rpm? I've heard the alternator works better with underdrive or last longer anyway. But what about the water pump? I want to get as much cooling out of the kick that I can get.

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zaggy

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Re: Mill the head?

« Reply #6 on: May 25, 2005, 05:02:38 PM »

Sounds like a good little engine and the stuff you plan is most likely going to get the bulk of what's avaiable without tearing down or swapping out the engine.
Under drives are generally for the high rpm street crowd, they slow both the alternator and the water pump down. At high rpm not a big deal as you have more than enough cooling and charging capacity. Down at low rpm you might have a problem because it's now even lower at the alt and w/p than it was stock. Depends on how you drive I guess.

Zag

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92 Sidekick 4dr, Suzuki Powered Airplane