Modifying a 156 2.5 V6

Originally Posted by Pud237

I would stay away from Pirelli P6000s, I've got them on now and I so wish I'd stuck with the Kuhmos I had before. The Pirellis are as good in the dry, but awful in the wet. I don't have the confidence driving the car that I used to have anymore which is a shame, basically means the chances of having fun on the back roads before next summer is minimal.

As for brakes, I reckon if the stock discs are in good condition all you need is a set of Ferodo DS2500s or DS3000s on the front, standard pads and discs will do on the rear as they don't really do much anyway. Just make sure they're properly worn in.

I'd have a BMC CDA over the autodelta induction kit personally, I have a CDA on my JTD and it is the mutt's nuts. I've not tried the autodelta stuff but have heard mixed reviews.

A better exhaust will always be an improvement

Best of luck

Cheers Dan, so basically just upgrade the front pads to Ferodo's and job done? Are the discs alright then I assume. Gonna be honest, never really found much of a problem with the brakes on my 156 and I used to take that down the ring road often for a quick blast. They never cracked at least unlike my sodding Galant's!

If this is the case and I can get away with just upgrading the front pads and keeping the rest of the braking system stock that'll keep me quids in. Did you say they're about £100 for the pair?

Originally Posted by magicsy

yea p6000 not good in wet m8, had em on my old 306 hdi, spin like hell

Ah, shan't bother then, My mate Tom has Eagle F1's all round on his GTi and the handling is amazing, I have them on my Mondeo though and it spins out in the wet almost weekly. Never had that problem before hand with the NANKANG's!

What tyre is recommended then? Khumo?

Sort the brakes (Grooved and drilled discs, greenstuff pads, and braided hoses)
Sort the suspension
Get rid of any excess weight (not always viable if it's a daily driver)

The car will already be much, much quicker, point to point than you'd ever have achieved with low scale engine mods.

THEN do the engine work

Originally Posted by magicsy

yea p6000 not good in wet m8, had em on my old 306 hdi, spin like hell

I wish someone told me before I bought them..

What do we make of these then?

OMP Front Strut Brace ALFA ROMEO 156 1.8/2.0/2.5 V6 on eBay, also, Alfa Romeo, Car Parts, Cars, Parts Vehicles (end time 09-Dec-07 00:20:06 GMT)

The dreaded strut-brace,

I know they seriously reduce the re-sale value of a car, and although I have one on my Mondeo that's not made a blind bit of difference, do they make any difference to the 156's?

Has anyone had one fitted, or thought about it?

A strut brace is all well and good but its not going to hover above two invisible suspension struts by itself - get out there and find a car first, then we can get onto the business of the advantages and disadvantages of chassis stiffness vs liklihood of greater understeer..

You aint wrong Puddo me dear!!!

I am looking, but can't find anything!

eBay's not kicking up anything nearby OR half decent, autotrader is as useful as ever , and the local papers are crap.

Oh, and Pistonheads has people trying to sell their 1998 156's with 150,000 on the clock for £8000, So better steer clear from there!

Help me Dan, look for me,

Moved to Tuning Lounge

i have a 156 v6 for sale, comes with years mot. black, red leather 78k on the clock 800quid
just had cambelt done, tensioners, metal impellor water pump etc
but tapping from one of heads. drives and revs fine. only noticable on tick over. I have given it some stick last 1k miles, not missed a beat. I'd keep it but I have another one

£800 is a bargain depending on what the fault might be. What do you reckon is causing the tapping?

could be some of the hydro tappets, or cam slightly out on timing which i think is more likely. on a 98plate

I had P6000 on my VW golf and was happy to get rid of them. It is economy tyre that can do high mileage, it is wearing very slowly, but it is not grippy.

I have made a lot of external engine changes on my V6 and in all honesty I doubt its giving more than 10% extra power. If you want to make a worthwhile difference to power then you need to look at internal work - cams, capacity increase etc

The most enjoyable modification has been the suspension and brakes - uprated dampers have transformed the car and along with great brake pads these really are a big difference.

Of course the sound from the engine now is fantastic especially once you hit 4500revs

Cheers Pascs, sounds like some stellar advice their mate, what are your views on re-maps then? Worth it? And what do you reckon the BHP gain is?

The engine has carbon intake pipe, Squadra ECU and 45mm intake runners, GTA intake, Apexi air filter in the standard airbox, Novitec cat back exhaust.

The engine has a great sound and I dont think I'd want it any louder so I'm not sure that I'd want a CDA type air intake although it might give a bit more power.

The throttle response is much improved and there is more power and torque but its not a huge increase. I really like the Squadra kit - noticeable improvement and deeper intake roar from the intake runners - but it is a bit pricey - I think Squadra claim 20bhp but this at the top of the rev range, the increase in torque is more noticable

20BHP claimed BHP is pretty decent then, how much are they? As the AD ones are £365 inc VAT. And apparently add upto 13BHP.

What do you think of Nitrous? I was planning on installing a 25BHP shot as one of the final stages of the prject but don't wanna blow up the engine,

I'm not a fan out nitrous.. I've no doubt it works but theres all the hassle of fitting, refilling it, and possible long term damage to the engine.