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MG MGF Technical - VHPD?

What the hell is VHPD? i have my ptp price list (finally) and theres a lot of talk about vhpd is this an engine type? I was under the impression there was one version of the k-series other than the 1.4,1.6 ect
Help me im stupid, therfore i know nothing ;o)
Nick Lewis

Very High Power Derivative version of the k-series. 190bhp from memory.

Go look at Dave Andrew's engine pages (google for "Dave Andrews VHPD" should work).
You'll find all the techie details there.

It's used on Caterhams and Lotuses mainly.

P.
Paul Nothard

"Motorsport 190 VHPD: (190+bhp)
The 1.8i performance VHPD engine is now very well known. It is used in both road and race applications in many of today's highly desirable sports cars. Lotus Exige, 340R, Caterham superlight and the Westfield FW400 to name four. A very close relationship was used by Rover in their highly successful MGF cup single make series. The engine is available in fully built from only with an option of either hot test or full run and rate with performance curve supplied.

This seasons VHPD now incorporated the newly developed PTP Multi throttle inlet manifold and ITG air filter lifting the performance over 190bhp when used in conjunction with recommended intake and exhaust systems to optimise performance. Mechanical valve gear, Ultra lightweight flywheel, 8002 Crankshaft, forged pistons and con rods, uprated valves and spring application dependent, please contact us for further details."

It sounds the "ultimate" derivative of the 1.8 K-series. It's not. You can get better real-world engines for heavier cars like the 'F.

Or, you could get the new 2 litre K-series!! :o)

P.
Paul Nothard

It's also a race engine with race maintance requirements!
Will Munns

what 2litre k-series? would my head fit one or is it compleatly diffrent?
What's my best option? should i rebuild my bottom end or go for a larger capacity bottom end?
Hep its all so confusing and so many choices
Nick Lewis

Nope, the 2 litre is _very_ new, uses offset bores and almost all the parts are remachined.
Again it is a race engine with worse maintance requirements (3k rebuilds to stay in warrenty)
Will Munns

Two things to consider here: the VHPD head - and the VHPD engine.

The VHPD engine was the engine developed for the MGF Cup car, fitted with a dry sump, multiple throttle bodies and fruity cams. As Will says, this engine has quite a servicing requirement, which is probably one of the reasons why MGF Cup cars are so cheap at the moment.

But there is also a VHPD road engine - that fitted to the high performance derivatives of the Elise (and Exige). This is a good deal cheaper to service - although engines have run into problems thanks to:
1. poor standard cam timing: a set of verniers are almost mandatory
2. poor reliability increasingly linked to poor crankshaft and flywheel balance.

The VHPD head is effectively a VVC cylinder head but with the VVC cams and necessary castings to mount them removed and replaced with more conventional solid cams. It is pretty straight forward to emulate a VHPD by starting with a VVC head and using either Piper or Mike Satur solid cam conversion kit.

Hmm. 2.0litre K-series. These are available from a number of sources. JUDD do one. So do PTP. More recently, Scholar has also got into the act - although the 1.9 litre seems to be a more popular alternative - with very good initial results judging by what the Caterham 7 crowd are currently reporting :o)

Scholar may be the cheapest way into the world of 1.9/ 2.0 K-series.

Running costs may not necessarily be in the stratospheric league that Will mentions, but certainly you can expect increased running costs! LOL
Rob Bell

This thread was discussed on 18/03/2005

MG MGF Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGF Technical BBS is active now.