2.3 20v engine upgrades

[caliper]

Hi, Iam an new visitor of this page and I couldn`t find much info, how to upgrade 7A engines. So if here are anybody, who has done something with the engine, to add more power, so I hope that you share it with us. Or where to get good and relieble stuff for 7A engine. I`ve got a coupe quattro and I am hearing everything useful.
Thanks

[Knight Rider S4]

Have a read here

https://www.20v.org

Welcome

[Azman]

Def get a acone filter the sound of the car is awesome with one fitted....

[caliper]

I´ve spent much time by reading 20v.org page but there is not basicly nothing useful. what I ment is what can be changed on engine, like different injector caps, change ignition to electrical, fuel pressure regulator, maybe better camshafts(sport version), and so on. has anyone done some of those things in my list. Then, maybe a little pit free exsaust. I´ve seen picture where some guys switched injectorcaps into Hitachi ones, and it gived little more power. does anyone know, can 7A engine ECU reprogram, is it possible. thanks

[AUDI COUPE 20V]

i think the standard injectors are hitachi ones, a decat system back and tubular manifold helps and sounds fantastic. i think shrick did some camshafts as i was after some .

[mcandmar]

Ok here goes

Most important thing with a 7A is getting it running right to start with, the standard injectors are Hitachi and there very prone to failure. The ones that came out of mine looked like a drunk going for a pee on the flow bench. 034efi have a kit using bosch injectors i think, anybody who has fitted them noticed a good improvement.

Rubber crank case breather is prone to cracking and falling apart, usually on the underside you can’t see, was replaced with a metal version. Distributer gear can wear and rattle around giving rather random ignition timing. Fix all three of those and it will make a world of difference.

After that fit an early 5-1 Manifold (if you have a 1990 or later model), de-cat helps a bit top end, same for the intake, and exhaust system. They make a difference but don’t expect anything spectacular.

Cone filter sounds amazing but it’s very very loud. I went back to the stock airbox as every time you open the throttle the entire world knows about it. Was good fun sneaking up behind pedestrians and making them jump with fright when you open the throttle

Port and polish work on the head made a big difference to mine in the mid range, engine also runs much smoother throughout the rev range. Prob not worth doing for the cost vs gains but if you ever have the head off go for it.

Last mod i tried on mine was a generic ebay.de chip for the 7A, and much to my amazement it transformed the car, much better throttle response, no flat spot around 3000rpms, and smoother top end.

Some US owners have also changed the MAF sensor for a Hitachi unit off a late model 2.8 V6 as it has a larger bore. If you look at the standard Maf it has a tiny hole for the air to pass though.

Big project i always wanted to do was to dump the stock intake/ecu and go for multi throttle bodys with a stand alone ecu. I'm convinced the 7A would be a fantastic motor if it wasn’t held back by the cheap Hitachi crap.

/end brain dump

[S2central.net]

Mark - good info there though I'm not sure the MAF swap is a good idea unless the ECU is remapped accordingly. You idea for a stand alone ECU would be a great project - you could use Emerald for this and probably ditch the MAF altogether.

Oh but I can't believe how lucky you were with those eBay chips for your car. Pretty risky man.

Paul

[Azman]

Ar ditch the hitachi and go for CARBS...... Mmmmm now that wold sound great...

[Azman]

Or you could always find a way of supercharging it.............

[mcandmar]

Yes there is a difference in the signal from the maf so a remap is required. I've heard of folks getting around that by fitting a resistor inline ...Ebay tuning eh!

I don’t see a chip doing that much harm to a NA engine, if it were bad enough to matter i would have thought it would be obvious. Though the description field in vagcom would have you running away screaming like a girl

Mark - good info there though I'm not sure the MAF swap is a good idea unless the ECU is remapped accordingly. You idea for a stand alone ECU would be a great project - you could use Emerald for this and probably ditch the MAF altogether.

Oh but I can't believe how lucky you were with those eBay chips for your car. Pretty risky man.

Paul

[Acidburn]

Still wish I had mine, sounds lovely with an airfilter on RamAir one is brilliant as well.

[S2central.net]

Yes there is a difference in the signal from the maf so a remap is required. I've heard of folks getting around that by fitting a resistor inline ...Ebay tuning eh!

I don’t see a chip doing that much harm to a NA engine, if it were bad enough to matter i would have thought it would be obvious. Though the description field in vagcom would have you running away screaming like a girl

Well a bad chip could cause damage if it was running too lean... You would need to keep an eye on spark plugs to be sure they stay nice tan/brown colour.

Laughing at that resistor 'mod' BTW

I wouldn't mind a wee look at those 7A chips and compare them with stock just to see what can be learnt. The original source might be MTM or another decent tuner and some idiot has then hacked the signature visible to VAGCOM to make them 'special'.

Paul

[Acidburn]

I wouldn't mind a wee look at those 7A chips and compare them with stock just to see what can be learnt. The original source might be MTM or another decent tuner and some idiot has then hacked the signature visible to VAGCOM to make them 'special'.

Paul

If it was a worthwhile increase do you think if allowed you could replicate them?

[S2central.net]

I could do that, but I'd want to check them over thoroughly first of all. Watch this space. Would also be nice for someone to get a dyno run on them before and after - also with wideband AFR readings.

Paul

[caliper]

does anyone know how much weights the original 7A wlywheel.