It all started in 2005 when I created the Carburetor Forum for enthusiasts of the 4G1-series engine, with 1,300 and 1,500 cc engine car owners consisting of mainly Malaysian-made cars which are highly affordable, have durable engines and an abundance of spare parts.

Proton Iswara 1.5- powered by Mitsubishi’s durable 1,468cc 4G15 SOHC.

Before 2005, I’ve gone through several Sagas, Iswaras and Satrias and I have meddled extensively with the engine internals. It went to an extent that in one particular year I had to change more than three engines! For more than 10 years, the 4G1-series single cam engine has been in my bloodline. I once converted to the Mitsubishi 4G9-series engine but it wasn’t meant to be. Due to certain family commitments, I had to revert back to a year 1999 Wira 1.5(A).

However, this was by no means a downgrade. I have been successfully campaigning this car in GRA ( Grassroots Racing Autosports) competitions since year 2006 and at one time was placed as high as second against a field of competitors with cars that were much more highly regarded, much to my competitors’ embarassment. I have also been active in many motorsports events over the years.

Fred in action at GRA.

The 4G1 Series forum was started by me to give all members a chance to understand this underrated but wonderfully versatile engine which can dish out a minimum of 99 hp with the right modifications that are both affordable and compliant with the strict regulations of our road transport department. With the help of all other car modders in our forum, we provide a sense of belonging to 4G1-series owners since this humble single cam engine has been already replaced by Campro engines.

Currently, we have 150 active members nationwide including some from East Malaysia. Our members are involved in the whole range of modifications that are available for the 4G1-series, from performance carburettor, naturally aspirated and force induction. Our community organizes regular meet-ups and outings of various kinds to keep each other engaged in our passion.

We welcome the participation of more owners of the 4G1-series engine in its various incarnations to join our small but vibrant community.

Fred Foong
4G1 Series Forum

Editorial Note:

Before switching to the Waja, my previous ride was a 2002 Iswara 1.5 auto, shown in the picture above. I went to that car after three years driving a Wira 1.6 XLi(A), and let’s just say that the transition wasn’t very pleasant. For a start, I hated the archaic 3-speed automatic transmission, which meant that I had a car which clocks the same kind of FC in urban and highway driving.

However, as time went on, my feelings for the car began to warm. It might not be particularly fast, but it was a willing workhorse. The engine was a smooth revver, and archaic as it might be, that auto gearbox can take tons of abuse without showing any signs of breaking down. Best thing I liked about that car was its maneuverability. There are times, when I attempt to squeeze through tight spaces in my Lotus-tuned Waja, I think back to the humble Iswara which would have wiggled through the gap quite easily. – KON

Armed with a pair of media passes, this writer and his companion were given free access to the paddock and pits for the 5th round of the 2008 Sepang Drag Battle.

For Round 5, participating cars were divided into seven categories, labelled A to F. Category A was defined as the Open Category (read: no-holds barred) where teams are not restricted in terms of the modifications they perform to the car. Cars playing in this category are the meanest of the lot, with extensive powertrain and chassis modifications.

Some cars in Category A were observed to have had their complicated multi-link rear axles stripped and replaced by a solid axle in the name of weight saving. The winner of the category was Lai Wee Sing of Team R-Engineering in his Proton Satria. With this victory, Wee Sing was crowned overall winner of the Sepang Drag Battle season for 2008.

It was the same story in Category B – 2WD Forced Induction, with Wee Sing’s Team R teammate, Mohd Zamri Ahmad, who won both the round and the season, though unlike Wee Sing, Zamri had sealed his crown much earlier in the season. Category B cars are limited to 3,000cc engine capacity and can only have one of either turbocharging, supercharging or NOS.

In Category C – 2WD Natural Aspirated, cars with engines up to 2,000cc are allowed. The engines can be equipped with variable valve timing systems, but must not be fitted with NOS or forced induction systems. The title in this category went to Mohd Maziz Ahmad, who could afford to skip the round and make way for Ahmad Firdaus Ahmad to win the race on the night.

The regulations are further tightened in Category D – 2WD Limited, with maximum engine capacity shrunk to 1,600cc and variable valve timing prohibited altogether. Ismail Mutalib won it for this category and thus sealing the Category D title for himself.

Category E – K-Car was the playground of all the souped up Kancils and Kelisas. These are Peroduas that you don’t want to mess with, as I personally timed a couple of them to have clocked 12 – 13 seconds during their practice lap. To put that figure into perspective, that’s the territory of cars like the BMW M5, Ferrari 612 and Mercedes “55 AMG” variants.

It should be noted that, these cars were given the option of turbocharging or supercharging, with minimum weights of 650kg (NA) or 750kg (forced induction) invoked on the cars. The Category E winner on the night was Azlee Awang, who came in ahead of season champion Azery Mohd Norazli.

Category F – Avantech On The Road Class was a playground filled mainly by Hondas and Satrias. Split into VTEC and non-VTEC subcategories, cars in this category battle it out only as a one-off, with no season titles at stake. The technical restrictions are almost identical to that for Category C in addition to the cars needing to be road legal and having their exteriors and interiors intact. Zainal Abidin Abdul Rashed and Kamarul Azeman Arshad won it for the VTEC and non-VTEC categories respectively.

The final category was Category G – Campro, where, you guessed it, Campro-powered cars contest amongst each other in yet another one-off. This category was originally opened to 4G18 and 4G92 powered Protons before the organisers changed their minds and renamed this category to be the Campro Drag Battle.

Participants in this category see far more technical restrictions than the rest. For a start, the cars must be powered by Campro engines displacing no more than 1,601cc. Participants are free to modify their transmissions, brakes, suspension and ECU, but the car must weigh more than 1,500kg (excluding driver). It was even stipulated that the front and rear passenger seats were to be in place – not that I saw there were any.

Indeed, it made me wonder if the engine capacity restrictions were adhered to. The stock Campro already displaces 1,597cc and a simple reboring or restroking by just half a millimetre would already increase the engine capacity to 1,618cc or 1,606cc respectively - that’s just half a millimetre. I know for a fact that there are tuners who have rebored and restroked Campros up to nearly 1,700cc.

Winning the Campro Drag Battle, was Mark Darwin, who drove the only Proton Waja on the day, beating a score of Gen.2s and Neos. Further down the pecking order are a couple of Proton Personas who participated under the banner of the The Persona Club.

With the end of Round 5, the Sepang Drag Battle 2008 concludes. However, the action at Sepang did not end there, as there is the A1 GP this coming weekend to look forward to!

Reference:  News | Sepang Circuit

Pictures courtesy of Mr. H.C. Gui.

This is one mean Satria.

Solid rear axle, with drum brakes!

The VTEC army ready to take on Cat F

Cat G participants pit here – for Campro Drag Battle.

Poor Gen.2 stripped to bits.

Stock-standard looking Persona

The Kancils mean business too. Many of them clocked 12-13 secs for the quarter mile.

Cars lining for the first practice.

…and off they go!

It all went past us in a blur.

The sun sets, but the action goes on.

All the Hondas jockeying for positions.

Beauty shot of the grandstand.

Malaysian dragsters

Check out those massive tyres…

Visitors from Singapore also present.

Crouching camera, hidden power.

Crowd and cars together.