Expert: Dan Liddy - 8/4/2010

Question
QUESTION: i have a 1991 toyota corolla 1500cc  which am presently rebuilding the engine to run on the quarter mile circuit i need to know are there any minor mods i can do to increase my horsepower and o-60 time and am running a four speed manual transmission with 15 inch rims street and slick tyres and fully original suspension. thanks in advance for your answer

ANSWER: Hi:

The answer to your question is yes-- - and no.  Minor modifications wont help much, but there are several major things you can do while you have the engine torn down. It would start with a very careful inspection of the parts you will reuse like the crankshaft and rods. Then you can substitute high compression pistons, modified camshafts, larger valves, cylinder head porting and combustion chamber modifications. Special racing piston rings can also be used, the internal assembly can be balanced, the flywheel lightened.

All this takes is MONEY.

There simply isn't room in this venue to give you all the details. Go to your local book store and look for engine modification books in the automotive department, Be careful what you buy because many of them are devoted entirely to Chevy and Ford V-8 engines.  Look for one that discusses smaller foreign cars. There are many many books on the subject snd I'm sure you'll find more information than I could ever give you her.

Best of luck !!

Dan Liddy
Sarasota, Florida

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: those books yo are referring to dont exist in my part of the
world.  are there any advice or websites you  can give to help
me out and i would love to know more about the modified
camshafts and the combustion chamber mods. thanks again

Answer
Go to Amazon.com and in the search window , type in Honda Engine Modification , They list about 5 or 6 books there , most in the $15.00 range. Of course you'll have shipping and import taxes, I guess that's the price you pay for living in Paradise !

Wish I could offer more !

Dan Liddy
Sarasota, Florida