W0rd up

[gordo]

mikuni said:

From what I have seen even the XE engines with 'forged pistons' aren't super strong. The guys overseas uprate them, so I won't be loosing too much. Also, I'm looking into using a singlecam bottom end, as the xev isn't able to be rwd mounted. Do you have any info on this conversion at all, as I'm unsure of the type of pistons the singlecam used? I know you need to use the oilflow restrictor from the twincam. If it turns out to be different I may just import some strong bottom end internals to begin with to put them into a singlecam block and then go from there.

As far as head design I realise the coscast engines are superior, but there is more to it than smaller valves. The XE actually has a relatively restrictive valve design. The xev has narrower valve stems allowing better flow and a more effecient head. Granted power won't be as easy to extract due to the narrower intake/exhaust valve angle and smaller valves, but I still believe it is available.

However, If you believe I'm barking up the wrong tree I appreciate you telling me so! haha

Main reason for aftermarket pistons, I believe, is the higher compression and the valve clearance notches as standard - not an OEM option.
Are you sure about the rear wheel drive bit with the XEV? In the front wheel drive cars they seem to swap boxes around quite happily.
A couple of sites that should be able to help you.
www.chevettes.com/forum/
www.chevetteownersgroup.co.uk/
www.clubcalibra.com/index.php - engine related?
www.chevetterallycar.bravehost.com/
www.tjmotorsport.co.uk/products.php?cat=7&PHPSESSID=7b6d3e842b6b969866fbdfc53b7352a1
www.sbdev.co.uk/Main.htm - engine related - check out the 208hp option ;D
www.qednet.demon.co.uk/
www.jenvey.co.uk/~Enginfo.htm - these guys make the SBD throttle bodies.

Anyway, should be enough to get you started.

[mikuni]

gordo said:

Main reason for aftermarket pistons, I believe, is the higher compression and the valve clearance notches as standard - not an OEM option.
Are you sure about the rear wheel drive bit with the XEV? In the front wheel drive cars they seem to swap boxes around quite happily.
A couple of sites that should be able to help you.
www.chevettes.com/forum/
www.chevetteownersgroup.co.uk/
www.clubcalibra.com/index.php - engine related?
www.chevetterallycar.bravehost.com/
www.tjmotorsport.co.uk/products.php?cat=7&PHPSESSID=7b6d3e842b6b969866fbdfc53b7352a1
www.sbdev.co.uk/Main.htm - engine related - check out the 208hp option ;D
www.qednet.demon.co.uk/
www.jenvey.co.uk/~Enginfo.htm - these guys make the SBD throttle bodies.

Anyway, should be enough to get you started.

Cool thanks for that. I already had links to a couple of them, but theres a few there that I'm keen to check out. Cheers!

The only reason the xev isn't able to be rwd mounted is because of the sump. It sits right where the crossmember should go at the front of the engine. I thought perhaps I could put it infront of the crossmember but it messes with the steering and sits far to far forward. I decided to change to sump to rear like the singlecam engines but it turns out the xev has a big fuk off oil pump hanging out the bottom that runs off the crank and can't be removed unless I dry sump or put an external oil pump on and change the crank. Fuk that! haha

Hopefully I'll be able to find some info on the twincam head - singlecam block swap and go in that direction.

I've got an engineer lined up for fabrication and I've pretty much decided on a place to finish the wiring and plumbing, and to get it running. I'm going to get a fresh warrant before I do the transplant so that I have 6months to get it and all tidied up for the cert.

zep said:

I'm not sure on the headwork pricing... probably not the cheapest but I would imagine their work is tops. If all goes to plan I'm gonna bet my cage done at Performance Metalworks, if not then Fraser Cars.

What pricing are you looking at for cages? I didn't realise fraser cars does cages. Thats who I will probably get to do my cert. Niels a good c*nt.

[zep]

When I talked to Jono at PMW he sad 4-500 for a 1/2 cage + 100 (or was it 50) $ each for the side intrusion bars. I have $800 ready to pay for it so I reckon that'll be enough. Fraser was about the same. Yeah, I'm going to get Fraser to do my cery too, they know their nuts.

Also need to sort out how I'm going to open the m/c up and run the brake bias thing (which i need to sort out too!!!)

[mikuni]

Don't fuk round with the m/c bro. Talk to a brake place first to make sure I'm not talking nuts but just wind the bias right out inside the master and then get an external proportioning valve so you never have to worry about playing around with the master again. That sounds like a mega hassle. Those proportioning valves are cheap and its something that needs to be fiddled with alot when on track or using aftermarket brakes, which we all hope to be.

Those cages are so cheap. Surely that has to be steel? I want to get a chrome-molly (sp) one. I think I'll deffinately do it quite soon for that price. Whats another G on the lone aye.. haha

[gordo]

mikuni said:

The only reason the xev isn't able to be rwd mounted is because of the sump. It sits right where the crossmember should go at the front of the engine. I thought perhaps I could put it infront of the crossmember but it messes with the steering and sits far to far forward. I decided to change to sump to rear like the singlecam engines but it turns out the xev has a big fuk off oil pump hanging out the bottom that runs off the crank and can't be removed unless I dry sump or put an external oil pump on and change the crank. Fuk that! haha

Hopefully I'll be able to find some info on the twincam head - singlecam block swap and go in that direction.

I've got an engineer lined up for fabrication and I've pretty much decided on a place to finish the wiring and plumbing, and to get it running. I'm going to get a fresh warrant before I do the transplant so that I have 6months to get it and all tidied up for the cert.

Silly question but, have you considered going the US "ecotec" route? They've a shed load of tuning gear available with 1000+ hp turbo's if you've the budget - alternatively, they've high output NA and supecharged versions. Sadly, they're quite different engines fromn the UK ones - even use chains to drive the cam's.
US stuff is often cheaper as well.

[zep]

Ok, so I talked to the Franklin Cams guy about the Ecotec and he said two things:

1. They can get about 20 different cams for them, and

2. "I don't know why somone would bother using that engine.' Told me it was very similar to a Pinto and just said he didn't think it was that great. I dunno, I'm sure you can prove him wrong tho.

[mikuni]

Thats abit of a pitty that he doesn't rate that engine highly. What does he suggest in place? And how on earth can a late model twincam, fuel injected general motors engine compare to a pinto? Just that people use them for the sake of keeping things in the family perhaps? I do wonder why the ford guys bother with pintos, perhaps thats what he means??

Either way, that doesn't deter me. I'd be willing to hear from his experience as to why he doesn't like them though.

And gordo no, I haven't considered using the american ecotec. That engine confuses me somewhat, but the american design aspect is surely enough to scare anyone away.

[zep]

He did tell me a few reasons. Something to do with the way the cam sit in the head. They grind them selves and Barry White the rockers or something, can't fully remember. Im sure you'll do just fine tho.

[77vette]

brozeus imbuzzn out to sum meeeeen winre and trance and weeed and other nuts and eah and yeah. Fullstop padlock!!!

[77vette]

also i ve raed summore poasts! echotachs i have driven! they are nutsy com[pared to most jap twincams! actually alll jap twincams i have experienced! i always drive astras with ehco tch and they are gutleesss as a mother Barry Whiteer

[77vette]

^ whats that moron talken about!

Just got home from the hardcorest night on the piss. Havent slept yet and just did a runner from a house cos some Mrs Funt'maRunt was messin with me. I was ultra angry and did an ultra quick jab to the Mrs Funt'maRunts nose. Straight to the floor, blood everywhere and his nose was all crooked. Felt so good. I look ultra weak(and i am) but if some Mrs Funt'maRunt is hardout being a schlong, like that Mrs Funt'maRunt, then i wont hesitate. Hate Mrs Funt'maRunts who give you nuts then cry when they get whats comin to them. Hes called the cops and nuts. Barry White THAT.

[mikuni]

You little scrapper!

Nah ecotec will be awesome. Ofcourse jappas are better, but what would you rather have. An sr20de/4g63/ej20 or a mean opel twincam! haha. And I've driven the earlier opel kadets and things with the single cam 2.0L and they fly! I'm guessing they will be sweet, its just that those new crap emissions freindly astros weigh about 2tons and have strangled engines.

Two things that worry me is the head design because I know nothing about it and the fact that they seem to like puffing HUGE clouds of white smoke sometimes after a big thrash? Apparantly 'its an opel thing'.

I wish the newer belt driven twincams were designed and built by isuzu. Would be strong as fuk. Isuzu doesn't have any 2.0L beltdriven twincams aye?

[burntrubber]

They do 4XE1 is a 1.6 DOHC belt driven Isuzu engine some RB Gemini's had them among other Isuzu's. What did the early 90's Gemini's have JT is the model I think. There's a 1.8 DOHC 4XF1 maybe thats what they had.

[mikuni]

Yes, that little 4XE1 came in turbo form aswell didn't it, or was that only the single cam version of a similar engine? I had thought about those engines but they don't seem RWDable as easy as the xe engines and they make quite modest power. Be worth looking out for the 1.8L engine. I hadn't heard of 1.8L JT's but there may be some around.

[gordo]

mikuni said:

Thats abit of a pitty that he doesn't rate that engine highly. What does he suggest in place? And how on earth can a late model twincam, fuel injected general motors engine compare to a pinto? Just that people use them for the sake of keeping things in the family perhaps? I do wonder why the ford guys bother with pintos, perhaps thats what he means??

Either way, that doesn't deter me. I'd be willing to hear from his experience as to why he doesn't like them though.

And gordo no, I haven't considered using the american ecotec. That engine confuses me somewhat, but the american design aspect is surely enough to scare anyone away.

Bit of a catch up.
I'd say the cam' guy was talking abouyt the single cam engine - this uses a finger type follower of a similar design to the pinto engine. It puts a high scuffing (rubbing) load on the lob/follower interface. This can cause excessive wear with high lift cam's and can be a pregnant dog to set up correctly as the position of the valve tip affects the whole geometry.

Did something I should have done a while back, sorry, and pulled out the Cally manual - this has the 8 valve (C20NE), C20XE (16 valve "Red Top"), and both pre' and post '97 X20XEV (Ecotec).

They've all got the same crank driven oil pump mounted at the front and so I would expect the big wing "Manta" style sump would fit - may need different pick up, though I can find no mention of this where RWD sumps are sold. BTW, SBD are selling newly cast Manta sumps - damned expensive though!