thanks for all the responses so far. I have to say I am now more confused than before but in a good way :-)

I was assuming that because people like SBD and Cosworth had fitted these upgrades to the same engines in similar cars (Caterham...I know this will get a reaction but think engine compartment and bonnet not 100 years of history !) then the kits will be proven. However I feel I need to be a competent engine tuner to really understand this or go somewhere that they have done this before ?

So my questions now are:-

1. Should I really go to a specialist tuner to get the best out of these ?
2. Are they really competition parts with the associated fragility of use/constant tuning ?
3. Should I just go on a diet to get similar performance upgrade ?

Answers to 1 and 2 welcomed