Modding the EJ-DE engine, cheaply!

Submitted by Siobhan G on

Forum: 

WAs just wondering what can be done to the EJ-DE engine to eke out some more power, on a tight budget. I'd like to think I'd have it turbo'd one day, but that'll cost me too much. I have also toyed with the idea of fitting bike carbs with either a home made manifold or silicon hoses and a home made flange, or a bespoke manifold from BoggBros. I think that would be the easiest option, but I dunno if the power gains, if any would be worth it. I know the induction noise would be more than worth it though. Smile

But looking at really cheap options, are there any that will give an increase in performance? Or is it better to leave it alone and focus on the suspension and brakes etc to improve handling? I'd definitley want to fit a nice sounding exhaust, but would fit a full straight through system and uprated manifold with a cat removal if it would give a significant power gain.
Any tips would be useful ta. The car BTW is a 99 Cuore L701, with added rusty bits. Biggrin

Hi, we all like to get the

Submitted by DaihatsuDave on

Hi, we all like to get the best out of out cars but sometimes it may be best to just sell the car and add the modding money and get what you really want power wise in an existing Daihatsu hothatch.

When i owned a Charade GTti so many wanted to add the Superb CB80 turbo engine to their standard models making them unsafe! Loads of power yeah but crap brakes and suspension.

If you really have to mod your beloved wheels then i'd start with Suspension - Brakes - Easy bolt on small power gainers like exhaust and air filter.
Maybe Nathan ( pocketrocket ) can suggest??

---------------------------------------------------
Current- 04 Silver YRV TURBO
Past- 91 Charade GTti, 89 Charade GTti, 98 1.3 Hi-Jet.
A friend in need is a friend indeed, a friend always in need, an Effin nuisance Wink

improving performance...

Submitted by Jonisaac on

Dave, is right. get the car handling right, and stopping well before playing with the engine. You are better off having 50bhp and being able to use every last ounce of power by having good handling than having 150bhp and not using a quarter of it. Pure HP wins in a straight line, but its the twisty bits that are the fun bit, and uk roads and tracks are not straight....

The cheapest way to improve performance is to get as much weight out of your can as you can, realistically. Only costs you the time it takes.
jon

at his happiest, sideways, in a forest at 80mph...

All you need to do with the

Submitted by Pocketrocket on

All you need to do with the exhaust for a bit of extra noise, is cut-out the centre silencer and clamp in a piece of straight pipe. It is dead easy and will cost no more than £15-20 to DIY. There is not even a hanger bracket on the box to worry about.

I fitted a custom made 2.5" tailpipe to mine, just a hidden clamp and you cant tell.

Do not waste money with a full custom system , It will not do anything but more noise.

Best to avoid the KYB gas

Submitted by Pocketrocket on

Best to avoid the KYB gas shocks if used with also lowered springs, It makes the ride so damn over firm on such a light car.

If the standard shocks seem OK (no knocking or leaks) and you are on a budget then just fit the springs to your existing shocks. The springs on their own stiffen it enough without being overkill, and take away the majority of body roll.

If you need shocks, You can get standard oil only shocks for only about £30-40 each from the likes of Monroe or KYB standard range.

BTW, Probably the best tyres you can get in the factory size, Are the new Yokohama BluEarth 155/65/13, Really good quiet ride and grip, Nice looking sidewall and only about £45 each. Plus it retains the "JDM" element being a japanese tyre!

Any engine mods will likely

Submitted by Pocketrocket on

Any engine mods will likely unsuccesful in gaining any power, Infact you will likely loose power with bolt-ons such as air cone or a custom exhaust. Everything is so well optimised out the factory for modern Naturally aspirated engines.

If you want to spend your money in the right place and actually notice a acceleration gain, Get a lightened flywheel. Standard one could be machineed lighter about 1.5-2kg easily enough at any decent local engineering shop.. Or a much lighter custom made one would be about £250-300, of course you would need to send a flywheel away for all the dimensions to be copied. Could get a spare flywheel off ebay.

Search on Google or YouTube

Submitted by kingswaydriving on

Search on Google or YouTube for 'mightycarmods' a TV programme from Australia.

Good fun, and they did a video on a Cuore (which they pronounce 'see-or'!!) into which they put a Sirion 1.3l engine (they show how) which was able to keep up with a V8!! BTW They call the Cuore 'The Blue Turd'

They even sawed the ends off the Sirions dashboard and crammed it into the Cuore..

Current cars:
2002 Perodua Kelisa 5spd Manual

2006 Daihatsu Charade 4sp Automatic (Nickname 'Noddy'!)
2006 Daihatsu Charade 5sp Manual (Noddy 2)

1980 MGB GT (ex South Africa) Looking for a new home

Cuore

Submitted by Weary on

Have just had to scrap my '99 Cuore as my daughter had run it into the ground! I took out the air filter just to see if it affected the 0-60 time, and it did improve it by about 1/2 second, but it wouldn't take long to lunch your engine!! I agree with the others - brakes first 'cos they are crap on the cuore. I thought the handling was fine, it just needed more rubber (maybe better rubber 'cos I had cheap tyres on it). I often used to race my workmate on the way home (he had a 1.6 Focus), and he was amazed I could (just about) keep up until I ran out of grip on the twisty bits.
Tempted to get another one and do the same as you, I really miss the old girl now - 8 1/2 years and she never missed a beat. My daughter misses it too as her Hyundai Getz 1.1 is a (more comfortable) slug by comparison.
Good luck, just keep changing the oil regularly (sorry to state the obvious, but some people do neglect this).

Weary

Ta guys. I don't expect to

Submitted by Siobhan G on

Ta guys. I don't expect to get a lot of power but some more would be nice. I'm already planning on upgrading the suspension,brakes and fitting some wider rubber at some point before I do anything else.
One thing I was wondering was how easy a swap would the slightly bigger 3 pot from the newer Sirion(can't remember chassis codes) be? Anyone know how similar they are and if it's possible to do?
I think they have about 68bhp or something and that would be a hard figure to eke out of my engine without big mods and bigger money, and I think it'd be enough power to have fun with. I can already keep up with my bro's new shape Fiesta 1.6 tdci up to about 70/75 mph in a drag race, so outright beating him would be ace. Smile
I love my little Cuore and longed to own one again, so I'd rather fettle this over time than buy something faster stright out of the box.
As it is, I am a skinty student and will be for another 4 1/2 years so i'll be keeping it for the forseeable future. And as money is tight any mods will be done only once i've saved the funds to buy the parts and fit them all at the same time. I don't see the point of upgrading the brakes and then waiting another few months to fit better suspension. That said, I think grafting on a cheap straight through silencer is on the cards. LOL Wink