SPICA 2L Performance

**Richard2** · #1 (**permalink**) 02-25-2008, 08:41 PM

If I do up a SPICA 2L with stage 1 head with 11mm intake cam, stock exhaust cam and SPICA rebuilt to match the head, stock pistons,can I expect 150-155HP?

**George Willet** · #2 (**permalink**) 02-25-2008, 08:47 PM

Richard: Yes.

BUT. you'll need to mill the head to increase the compression pressures.

AND you'll need slightly more lift on the exhaust with similar opening and closing events. The stock cam is short on lift.

**Alfar7** · #3 (**permalink**) 02-25-2008, 08:59 PM

Describing head work as stage one means what?
11mm cam? there are 11mm cams that are all over the board as to ramp rate, duration, lobe design...
To get that HP out of a "Spica" motor will require attention to a lot of head work and cam selection, and injection pump improvements..

As a rule of thumb, be vigilant on items described as "stage one . two etc.", and cams ranked by the old Alfa Ricambi/Shankle ratings.
Demand details! No one can guaranty power levels by parts sold. Buyers can ususally cobble them up!
Questions with specifics can get relatively decent answers however...

**George Willet** · #4 (**permalink**) 02-25-2008, 09:10 PM

Hi Richard J.

Poor Richard2 is working off of the generic terms that the Alfisti in the Great Pacific Northwest have come to accept as the understood norms, so we know what we are talking about.

If you want, move up here and we can try to convert you into one of us having fun with Alfas, and then leave the exactitude of hard core racing to guys like you and me.

**Richard2** · #5 (**permalink**) 02-25-2008, 09:43 PM

Well, I'd hate to see the 2 of you argue over my stupidity

The head and pump would go to Wes Ingram. Wes sends the head out to someone in Tacoma. The cam would probably be a Delta cam. Wes would match the pump to the head.

**Alfar7** · #6 (**permalink**) 02-25-2008, 10:58 PM

I love the Northwest!
But have a machinist to a Rockwell test on those cams!!

**davbert** · #7 (**permalink**) 02-26-2008, 09:46 AM

yes wes sends them to delta and the heads to hannaford

u r in bellingham? ever check out the VRI in WWU?

youll find some interesting things laying around in the bone yard. old SAE cars, turbo rotory power lotus, citreon ds, saab sonet, solar vehicles etc...

stroll around inside you'll find, prototype 4 valve heads for Chrysler ,Subaru flat4, peripheral port rotaries, all developed in the 70's and 80's long before the factories offerings. many of these project's where sponsored and financed by the oem's themselves.

other recent scratch built motors include various themovoltaic generators, a custom built formula SAE 600cc 32v V8 with sequential transaxle incorporating inboard brake calipers built into carbon fiber transmission case itself to a few ounces. Being an old school group 7 racer, the former director Dr Seal built a carbon fiber block 2.0l 48v V12 for no other reason except he likes the "sound".

since retiring, he's been certified as a registered nurse to operated a kidney dialysis for his late lovely wife. Installing it in the front compartment of his Ferrari 360, he claims its world's fastest kidney dialysis machine on wheels.

good bless the man

db

iachella · #8 (**permalink**) 03-01-2008, 10:01 AM

Shouldn't Wes be the best one to tell you what power to expect? He does seem to be the one doing or sub-ing out most the work right? He will ask you what cam you intend to use in order build the pump.

In fact, you don't even need to ask him. When it's ready, the expected hp figure will be stamped on the pump.

genericwood · #9 (**permalink**) 03-01-2008, 06:23 PM

My street car has a head/pump combination from Wes. I've never had it on a dyno, but it is strong. It has a modified pump, oversize throttle bodies, 10.0:1 Motronic pistons, oversize intake valves, stock exhaust header, and 12mm/11mm intake/exhaust valves. With these mods, I've always assumed it had around 160hp. I do know it will run a 3:04 lap at Road America with street tires and pretty much stock suspension!

Erik

**Richard2** · #10 (**permalink**) 03-01-2008, 08:04 PM

The engine is from a 1978 Alfetta and is going in a 1973 Berlina, so it probably won't run 3.04...especially if I'm driving

I don't know if it's worth the extra expense for pistons, extra cam and extra head machine work for the valves for 5-10 HP on a Berlina.

From my very limited knowledge, I need to swap the pan, oil pump and crank. Anything else?

genericwood · #11 (**permalink**) 03-01-2008, 09:57 PM

No reason a Berlina shouldn't be nearly as quick as a GTV! Not much heavier if I recall? You may not have to replace the crank. Some of the Alfetta cranks seem to have been drilled for the pilot bushing. If not, any competent machine shop can do it.

Erik

**Alfar7** · #12 (**permalink**) 03-02-2008, 09:27 AM

Eric, How large are your Throttle Bodies? I know Wes list 40s(mm), but are yours bigger.
Below are the 43.5s I built to attach to a modified Bosch manifold to use EFI easily.
The brass bullerfly laying in one port is a 40mm for comparison...
Rj

genericwood · #13 (**permalink**) 03-02-2008, 08:15 PM

Richard, I think mine are probably the 40's. They are whatever Wes was selling 5 years ago for the oversized ones.

Erik

180OUT · #14 (**permalink**) 03-02-2008, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Eric, How large are your Throttle Bodies? I know Wes list 40s(mm), but are yours bigger. Below are the 43.5s I built to attach to a modified Bosch manifold to use EFI easily. The brass bullerfly laying in one port is a 40mm for comparison...