l have heard that they are a great engine all you need is a computer that can handel variable valve timing. They come standard with extractors and Trik offroad have the adaption kit already made. Talk to Dean Williams from Rare Projects in Melbourne as he can put you onto a guy in S.A. who is running one on a modified standard computer. It is the same motor as the Diahatsu, and the way that Dean Williams lead Sealake by a good margin was impressive and all he had was a standard Diahatsu motor with motec. Brian Russel from Swan Hill is also putting one in his car as we speak so yes l think that they are the way to go.
In regards to the vvt, if its switch on/switch off like the silver top 20v pretty much any aftermarket computer can it, if its ECU adjustable like the black top or SR16 you may need a later model ECU. Motec would of course run it, as would an 8860 EMS (I believe!) but I'd check first incase you need to add a few more pennies for engine management to your budget.
Also check out the toymods forum and see what theyve got to say about them. There are alot of posers in there, but also some pretty knowledgable guys. Try and sort the wheat from the chaff. I'd even try a daihatsu forum too if you can find one...
I know the 1.6 daihatsu engine is a screamer - my wifes got a charade which I torture and ive only ever done oil and plug changes on it. Kick my dog won warialda a couple of years back with a 1.6 daihatsu. Rick's wife had a starlet (is this the same engine?) which he used to cane too. Come to think of it, big mick could prob comment on the echo motor... :) teehee...
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Green Sally up. Green Sally down. Lift and squat, gonna tear the ground.
Boyd, don't be afraid to run the Daihatsu 1300 HC-E engine. It has the same head and valves as my 1600, with the same rods etc...absolutely bullet proof and very cheap to modify. Try $360.00 for a cam, and all the other work you can do yourself. Not only that but the complete motor being alloy weighs only 80kgs...KMD
