A GM Performance Tech just came into my store today with one of those little practice trees, but the ones that run in the car. Anyway, we started talking about what he was using it for etc, and happened to be for testing at Englishtown. Then I look at his shirt, and he had a Ecotec Team shirt.


Basicly, he said that that little engine is a power handler they were able to get 670 or so, but just recently with some tuning, got 750+hp out of it. As of today, their best run was a low 9, he said they are near into the 8's hopefully with the tuning.

Will find out more if he comes in again.


Ecotec

 

I heard they were making up to 1000hp

 

My question is, if the Ecotec is so great, why are they only looking at getting 200 HP out of it supercharged in the Ion? I'm sure those race 4 cylinders bear no resembalance whatsoever to the production version...still 700+ HP out of a 4 cylinder is rather impressive...

 

Would you want people to kill themselves? besides, after doing heads, cam, etc, you are talking money. I mean if competition has 200 hp, why do 300? esp since we are talking about econobox's here.

One thing we fail to remember is that most people dont really care about hp, but more looks etc. hell, they dont even know what hp is.

 

Emmisions. Reliability. Fuel consumption. But emissions and EPA regulations are proabably the biggest single obstacle to making giant HP. Cos without having to worry about emissions you can go hog wild and run sky high compression ratios (obviously not in the case of FI) crazy boosted FI cylinder pressures etc. (assuming the motor will take it) and not worry amongst others about ultra high combustion temperatures which produce more of the nasty poluting stuff.

That's why it always cracks me up when ricers bang on about their 4 cylinder engines being way better than our 'prehistoric' V8s. They forget that the 500 HP 4 bangers cars they are talking about are not emissions legal at all.

 

LPE is racing a overweight truck with a ecotec that is makin 1080 HP with a PRODUCTION BLOCK and reworked Production heads. There is also a little info on the new ecotec motor in the november issue of Chevy High Performance in the Fast talk section.

 

The 2.2 Ecotech has a lot of strength in the block area and can withstand a lot of abuse. GMPD has a lot of aftermarket parts such as copper head gaskets, forged rods, blank balance shafts, valves, camshaft blanks, etc.

Nevertheless, don't look for any high-output factory versions--their efforts are concentrated on aftermarket for the next few years. Right now, the GM Racing team is doing a fantastic job with Nelson Hoyos and his Cavalier. They are setting the FWD import drag scene on fire, nodody's even close in terms of making power. The same goes for John Lingenfelter in his RWD ex- Pro Stock truck chassis.

Unfortunately, this has not (and will not) easily translate into more power for production cars in the foreseeable future.

Your next best hope for a truly fast, affordable compact is the Neon SRT-4.

 

Stop it right there .... tell me more about the practice trees .... would it be like a G-tech or Tazzo with a drag tree??? Details pleeeeeease!!

 

Do we really want 300++hp in a FWD car that weighs about 2700 lbs?

 

Is this the one people are talking about??To get the 600hp, the fuel is Methanol. I guess it would be difficult to go mainstream for the diet of that fuel.

 

Nope, a Gtech or Tazzo is only like a meter you put on windshield and it gives you estimates, he actually came in with a mini small practice tree, that either hooked up to laptop or ecu in the car?