Hi Folks,
I'm scheduled to buy a 1981 X1/9 next week and I've seen a lot of threads on potential engine swaps, but nothing about preserving a stock transmission on a more highly tuned engine.
To get into the specifics, the car has the 1500 and a 5 speed. I'm looking to boost the power of the stock motor, since it's in good shape for it's age and it would be a shame to scrap it, and because I like the high-revving sort of characteristic it has (although VTEC is tempting there). Current plan is an E85 conversion and maybe a small supercharger if it doesn't make enough power on corn juice. The issue I'm running into is that people have been telling me that the stock transmission gets very fragile above around 100 HP.
Is there any way to preserve the transmission for boosted power outputs? Or god forbid a drop in replacement that's a bit tougher? Or is this a lost cause?
My best backup plan is to drop a smaller Honda engine in (not K20, that's gotten quite expensive for my taste), but that requires throwing out a lot of decent components, and a good bit of extra work.
Thanks in advance for any advice.
I'm scheduled to buy a 1981 X1/9 next week and I've seen a lot of threads on potential engine swaps, but nothing about preserving a stock transmission on a more highly tuned engine.
To get into the specifics, the car has the 1500 and a 5 speed. I'm looking to boost the power of the stock motor, since it's in good shape for it's age and it would be a shame to scrap it, and because I like the high-revving sort of characteristic it has (although VTEC is tempting there). Current plan is an E85 conversion and maybe a small supercharger if it doesn't make enough power on corn juice. The issue I'm running into is that people have been telling me that the stock transmission gets very fragile above around 100 HP.
Is there any way to preserve the transmission for boosted power outputs? Or god forbid a drop in replacement that's a bit tougher? Or is this a lost cause?
My best backup plan is to drop a smaller Honda engine in (not K20, that's gotten quite expensive for my taste), but that requires throwing out a lot of decent components, and a good bit of extra work.
Thanks in advance for any advice.