535 HP+ Lancia Delta HF integrale 

It took years and months of hard work and now it’s done. Lancia Delta integrale is back on track. Young mechanic was always dreaming about very fast car and after some years his dream has became true. As most Redlines reviewed cars this one doesn’t have leather seats or air conditioner, but it has one really good thing – FUN!

Driving this Lancia is really fun! I can say it’s not so easy, but it’s fun. Woopy 535 Hp pushing very light car body at straits is like a joke, but turning on a full throttle becomes real challenge!

2 liter 16 valve turbocharged engine grips the ground through “all wheel drive” transmission. Where is one interesting point on this Lancia – engine cooling system. Typically cooling radiator is located at front of the car. Here we don’t see radiator, because it’s hidden in the back of this car. If you have seen integrale’s engine compartment so you have noticed that exhaust manifold is almost touching cooling radiator and sometimes, especially in summer, car gets very hot. Making custom equal length exhaust manifold and fitting big turbocharger is very hard and sometimes impossible (depend on how big the turbo is) because of tight free space under the hood. Taking cooling to the back of the car in this point of view makes a lot of sense.

After this cooling “mod” Lancia has two steel tubes going from the engine to the back of the car were cooling radiator is relocated. Fresh and cold air is going through the holes in top of the cars roof. Two large aluminum tubes feed enough cold air to the radiator core, so heat is not a problem.

Moving radiator to the back of the car made a lot of free space in front, so Alexander was able to fit big intercooler and truck turbocharger. One of the biggest Holset turbochargers can pump tons of air. Turbo is mounted on a custom exhaust manifold and cold turbo side is looking strait to the front through the bumper. Where is no air filter, so nothing restricts incoming air.

Racing camshafts were made by locally well-known rally specialist “Kiwert Sport”. Camshafts are the same as in our previously reviewed 505 Hp Alfa Romeo 155 Q4. Adjustable cam gears give precise valve timing and extra power. Of course strong head bolts and sport gasket supports over 2 Bar turbo boost, so power potential is huge.

As you can see in the pictures exhaust system is very simple only half-meter exhaust pipe going through the bumper in front of the left wheel. While engine idles exhaust sound is acceptable, because turbocharger restricts bigger part of exhaust sound. But then throttle is fully open it sounds like thunder, while in gear change fireballs are rushing out through exhaust.

Very big Holset HX-50 turbocharger produces airflow of 0.75 kg/s. Manufacturer suggest this turbocharger to use on engines which capacity is 10 – 15 liters! and power output exceeds 1000 Hp. Turbocharger weights about 20 kilos. While turbo system boost slightly over 2 Bar at full throttle, excess boost on gear change is goes out through special Turbonetics “Godzilla” blow-off valve. “Godzilla” has 45 mm diameter piston, so it can blow off any high boost.

Air-to-air intercooler mounted in front cools compressed air. After intercooler air reaches the engine through modified intake manifold. Special manifold construction wouldn’t be possible on stock car because of big air heater box. The main goal of this intake manifold is equal air distribution to all cylinders.

For the engine management Finish engine management system “Hestec” was chosen. Hestec is very popular EMS in north countries. It’s not easy to tune Hestec (it doesn’t have “auto tune” function , but it gives good results. Precise ignition and injection mapping squeezes every horsepower from the metal. Also this system has anti-lag for boosting turbo on low throttle.

Massive engine power and torque puts lot of stress on transmission. This car has 5-gear mechanical gearbox that splits torque to front and rear wheels. Stock transmission was modified with “Turbo power’s” tricks and now it’s good for big power. While car is almost street legal it has street legal BFGoodrich tires.

Then I was taking pictures and looking around the car Alexander was fitting direct port nitrous system. It’s not working yet, but with nitrous power curve could jump over 700 Hp mark. For this moment nitrous is just for fun or for a good look.

It is possible that Turbo Power Lancia can climb to the first place in Redlines POWER TOP 5, but I have some promises from Sweden, that our Ferrari killer is upgrading some parts and preparing to push 900 Hp without nitrous. Good luck for Turbo Power!