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MG MGF Technical - MGF upgrade to MGTF spec

I want to upgrade my F to TF spec / F Trophy spec. I have already upgraded the brakes and the suspension (in part). I want to fit vehicle handling solutions bracing kit (any thougts on this) and either a Trophy rear spolier or a TF boot lid (any ideas on what might be best?). How did MG up the power of the FVVC from 145bhp to 160? I know about and have fitted the throttle body and have already improved the breathing and exhaust. Did they remap the ECU? Is this something that can be done to an FVVC and if so is it value for money? What power increase does it lead to? I recall that the Trophy and TF heads have some "toolings" on them (like a poor mans porting) and this adds a bit of poke too. For regulation reasons I cant port my head - is there any way that I can replicate the tooling or replace the bit tooled with a bit from a Trophy or TF? What does this add power wise and would it be value for money? Im sure Ive seen some pictures of the tooling - Mr Bell, was it on your website? Thanks. ps its Marc H not the fictional anti spammer M Abbot.
m abbott

Fitting the F Trophy front and rear spoilers will improve aerodynamics that reduce the overall drag of the car. In fact they reduce the CD (Drag Co-efficient)level to a slightly lower level than that found on TFs. High speed stability which is really what they were designed to do is much improved.

Steve
Steve P

yep got the front spoiler already and that has made a noticeable difference. I see from elsewhere on the BB that a rear lip spoiler is favoured more than the trophy spoiler and as I cant run with one of those I thought the TF boot integral spoiler may be better than the trophy spoiler as its more similar to a lip spoiler.
m abbott

One of the things which differs from the 'standard F' is that the Trophy (and TFs) have twin coil ignition systems - and this system is also fitted to some MK2 MGFs from the time that the MEMS3 ECU was fitted.

Unfortunately I only discovered after I bought a set of Magnecor leads for my Mk2 VVC that my car is one of these (><)

ummm ...anyone want an unused set of Magnecor ignition leads for a VVC?
Al

Hi Marc

>> I want to fit vehicle handling solutions bracing kit (any thougts on this) <<

This is on my shopping list too - will hopefully be able to get this done in the new year. Can't comment on its effectiveness, but since this has been developed by the guys to developed the TF, it has an excellent provenance!

>> and either a Trophy rear spolier or a TF boot lid (any ideas on what might be best?). <<

I seem to recall that the Trophy spoiler has the wrong angle of attack for optimal performance. Have a chat with Alan at VHS about this. When I spoke to him, he reckoned that a TF boot lid with a lip spoiler will possibly work best - probably somewhat similar to that developed on the TF 200HPD.

The chaps at Mira are interested in selling these on the after market - might be worth jigging them on a bit...

>> How did MG up the power of the FVVC from 145bhp to 160? I know about and have fitted the throttle body and have already improved the breathing and exhaust. Did they remap the ECU? <<

The major difference between the 145 and 160 PS VVC is in the cylinder head - the latter head has the inlet and exhaust pockets machined out to improve breathing at low valve lifts - see http://www.mgf.ultimatemg.com/group2/engines/index.htm
There may well be detail differences in the mapping of the 160's ECU - but these aren't likely to mount to much more than a bhp or two here and there - certainly not worth the expense of replacing. Plus, bear in mind that as Alan says, there is a big difference in the engine wiring loom between EU2 and EU3 compliant engines.

>> Is this something that can be done to an FVVC and if so is it value for money? What power increase does it lead to? <<

Modest gains from optimising breathing and exhaust extraction - so opt for the best enclosed filter, 52mm throttle body, 4-2-1 exhaust manifold and a good exhaust back box (most of the above I think you've done already).

For the real gains, you need the cylinder head porting... as MG Rover showed themselves.

>> I recall that the Trophy and TF heads have some "toolings" on them (like a poor mans porting) and this adds a bit of poke too. <<

Yes - and you're right, pix on website on link mentioned above :o)

>> For regulation reasons I cant port my head - is there any way that I can replicate the tooling or replace the bit tooled with a bit from a Trophy or TF? What does this add power wise and would it be value for money? <<

Value for money depends on how much you can buy the appropriate head for. VVC heads already command quite a premium over the standard 1.8 head because of the superiority of the casting design (it's effectively a VHPD head with extra gubbins to take the VVC cams) - and a 160 head probably has a premium above the standard head for obvious reasons. Shop around and see what is available and at what price. If a replacement second hand head costs more than 300 quid, then it is more cost effective to visit Mr Andrew's emporium...
Rob Bell

thanks rob - all the answers as per usual!
m hanson

Hi Rob,

As an aside, after reading your (excellent) site, one of the reasons Rover don't extend the same valve seat machining used on the VVC 160 to the regular MPi head is that to do so would enlarge the combustion chamber beyond the bore size of the 1400cc variant. The heads for the 1400, 1600 and 1800 are all machined identically and need to be interchangeable.

It's also worth noting that the reprofiled VVC exhaust cam offered by Piper is a 633(or as close as makes no difference) profile rather than a BP270.

Dave
Dave Andrews

Dave, thanks for the compliment, and thanks too for the additional information and correction regarding the Piper VVC exhaust cam! :o)

As you can see - it is still very much work in progress...

Cheers
Rob Bell

just to clarify, so if I change my standard F VVC head for a TF VVC head I would get the benefit of the better breathing exhaust valves? ps I can "bead blast " the head under my regs - what does that mean? Does anyone do it? Does it work?
m hanson

>> just to clarify, so if I change my standard F VVC head for a TF VVC head I would get the benefit of the better breathing exhaust valves? <<

Yes :o)

>> ps I can "bead blast " the head under my regs - what does that mean? <<

This is just a cleaning procedure - no performance enhancement, but good for de-coking a head! (Not especially relevant to a K-series cylinder head)
Rob Bell

This thread was discussed between 19/12/2005 and 23/12/2005

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