916SPS engine in 748

[Master Of Reality]

Hi,

Thinking of buying a 2000 748 that has had a 916SPS transplant. I'm pretty familiar with the standard 916 engine - is there anything to identify an engine externally as an SPS - does it it a different ECU for example?

thanks in advance,
Adam..

[DukeDesmo]

The 916SPS was a 996cc, so it probably has a '996' engine no? anyway AFAIK the main differences are; Titanium conrods, larger (inlet) valves, different cams and higher compression (none of which are visible unless you 'crack' the engine) but visibly it has a P8 ECU to fire twin injectors per cylinder and the (3mm) wider head stud spacings of the 996 over the 916, it should have 50mm exhaust system - but that could have been swapped by now anyway.

You could contact Ducati with the engine number for confirmation.

[Master Of Reality]

Thanks for the reply.

Can I assume that as it is 2 injectors per cylinder and a different ECU - the bike will have had a wiring loom transplant to make all this work?

Cheers,
Adam..

[DukeDesmo]

Originally Posted by Master Of Reality

Thanks for the reply.

Can I assume that as it is 2 injectors per cylinder and a different ECU - the bike will have had a wiring loom transplant to make all this work?

Cheers,
Adam..

Hopefully, I don't know if it would run on a 748/996 ECU, unless they changed alot of parts or it's 'only' a standard 996 engine (996 engines also have 2 injectors but run the 1.6 ECU), I think P8 engines have different flywheel pickup points for spark etc and also different rev counter, although they probably look the same, without dismantling.

As you are no doubt aware a 916SPS should make significantly more power than a 916 or 996 but that may be hard to appreciate on a test ride.

I think the best proof is to run the engine number by Ducati, they could tell you.

[DC]

I converted my 748 to 996 sps,

Everything has pretty much already been covered in the thread so far.


I was lucky enough to come across a crashed 996sps. I swapped over the engine, injectors, exhaust pipework, alloy subframe, rev counter and P8 ECU with the two power amplifiers that sit next to the P8 on the subframe.

The rev counter for the sps has a different pulse rate from the 1.6 ECU as I found out. The part numbers are different for the two. Its expensive new and I was lucky to get one from e bay after much trail and error.

The looms are swap-able but you will need the 996sps part of the loom that fits to the P8 ECU and the injectors part of the loom. ( I cant remember if you can get away with the 748 part for this as it was ages ago that I converted mine.) Um, Coils and other bits are all ok for the conversion. Including headlamp and battery looms.

Im sure that there are other ways of doing this but this is the way I went for ease of swapping over. The 916sps or 996sps have the two pick up points on the alternator side, hence the P8.

Hope this helps?

P.S. I ya check out my gallery pictures, you can see me setting up the engine for squish etc and doing a quick rebuild/refresh on the old girl.

I know that you are looking at a bike that has already been converted so if its done right, then it should be like a "sps" with no tag on the yoke really.

DC.

[Master Of Reality]

Thanks for all the info.

I didn't buy the bike in the end - it was not all it seemed once I got there. It was some kind of hybrid, and probably a race bike that just needed getting rid of. There was no way it was road legal.

Turned out to be a bog standard 916 with twin injector throttle bodies on it and a P8 ECU (not sure how that works, but it started and ran ok).

The ECU was cable tied in and packed underneath with a carrier bag to stop it ratting in the frame. The whole rear seat unit was only held onto the bike with one cable tie.

Bits of wiring loom missing (completely missing at the front), rear sub-frame had been hack-sawed (and the edges left to rust - not even painted over). The wiring that was present was joined by twisting ends together and insulation taped over.

Absolutely no provenence for the engine, but claimed it was out of a Foggy Rep. No receipt or anything.

Claimed she rode it most of last year, but a check with DVLA shows it has not been taxed since 2005.

A dog's breakfast.

It's on ebay again - so beware.

Cheers.

[Master Of Reality]

Looks like its in the classifieds on here now by a new member - ducatichick

[sheepdip]

Guess who got it?

It was far worse that even I thought and a lot worse than your 1st impressions, a complete bollocks up and it was falling apart, you should see the list of repairs and replacements Ive done!! but its on the road to recovery and just done anglesea trackday on it..