wozzer Posted June 27, 2003 Posted June 27, 2003 Hi I've been looking at the Vauxhall Ecotec engine at http://www.qednet.demon.co.uk and for £2500 - £3000 they do what sounds like a sweet little engine. Has anyone out there fitted one? and if so how hard is it to convert to rear wheel drive ( bellhousing etc) and what gearbox would I need? (type 9?) Are there any problems fitting this type of engine? Also how would this engine compare to the Zetec or the Toyota 4age. Thanks wozzer Quote
Nick M Posted June 27, 2003 Posted June 27, 2003 I don't think it's any secret that this engine isn't as good as the 2.0 XE Vauxhall engine when it comes to ultimate power outputs, however, it really depends on what you're looking for. It could be a perfectly good engine for general road use but probably wouldn't be the first choice if you were building a fire-breathing track car. It's one of those cases where it's not so much a bad engine, just that there are other options out there which offer more performance (and future potential) for not much more (if any) expense. The basic installation would be easy - parts like bell-housings are available off the shelf from places like SBD and yes, a type 9 box would probably be the most preferable. I'm not sure if the block is the same as the 2.0 XE in terms of where the engine mounts would be fitted and I'm also not sure if you could use the same exhaust system. I'm sure QED or SBD could advise you on those points. You also need to be very careful with prices which are being quoted by engine tuners. What does it include ? But more importantly, what doesn't it include. What about airfilters, fuel fittings and plumbing, exhaust, sump pan (shallow one for a Westfield would be a necessity I would imagine), engine mounts, bell-housing, ECU, ECU loom, clutch, flywheel, alternator, fuel pump, fuel tank, etc., etc. It's those items which are the real killer when it comes to engine swaps. How does it compare with the Zetec or Toyota ? Well, the Zetec engine is going to be cheaper to buy initially, and depending on what engine you have now some parts like bell-housings might be a direct swap. But all the fuel injection bits are going to be the same as for Vauxhall engines - a throttle body is a throttle body and an ECU is an ECU.... Not sure about the Toyota engine to be honest - what's the maximum size for them ? 1.6, 1.8 or 2.0 ?? As I've alluded to in other threads, it really boils down to what your budget can stand. Swapping engines is never cheap I'm afraid.... Quote
brianm Posted June 28, 2003 Posted June 28, 2003 I have come across one Ecotec engined Westy in the past, they are not that popular a choice. the question is why would you want to put one in? 2.2 has attractions of course, but the 2.0 ltr eco is a poor second choice to the XE. You would be better off, ie finantially and in performance terms, to go the Zetec route. If you are a VX man consider the 2.0 ltr 8V units, seen/heard of a few in Westy's, loads of torque and quite tunable, cheap as chips and unburstable Brian. Quote
Paul M Posted June 28, 2003 Posted June 28, 2003 Have a look at the July issue of "Which KIt" magazine, it has an article on the Vauxhall engines and quite a bit of information about QED. It compares the Ecotec and the Vx engines and concludes that the ecotec is basically an inferior engine (in terms of tuning potential) as it is a strangled version to mmet emissions requirements, the Vx having a superior cylinder head designed by Cosworth. Quote
Nick M Posted June 28, 2003 Posted June 28, 2003 As I alluded to above, to a large extent it depends on what the car's going to be used for. The Ecotec might make a perfectly acceptable engine for road use in that it might have a little better low down torque than the 2.0XE and, if I read QED's site correctly, you get a low mileage engine as the basis of the package. There aren't too many low mileage XEs kicking about these days so a rebuild is often on the cards if you want to do anything serious with the engine. Horses for courses as they say. Yes, the older XE is probably a better engine if you want to try and produce 250bhp, but if you don't then the Ecotec might start to make sense. Quote
Paul M Posted June 29, 2003 Posted June 29, 2003 update to what I said earlier havind re-read the article last night. It says that the ecotec is not as ultimatley tuneable as the XE but is more than adequate for up to 200 BHP in a kit car. Quote
wookie Posted July 8, 2003 Posted July 8, 2003 I'm toying with the idea of using a 2.0 8v or 16v vauxhall engine, but what would be the cheapest way to build one, as i was planning to run twin 45's and change the bell housing to suit a type 9 gearbox, but what do i need for the ignition etc Any clues, or has anyone done an 8V 2.0 vauxhall engine'd who can advise please.... Quote
Blatman Posted July 8, 2003 Posted July 8, 2003 Use the 16 valver. It's a no brainer..... Type 9 to Vx bellhousings are an off the shelf component from SBD, QED, SRE, Titan, and lots of others........plus you'll need a DCOE inlet manifold. Ignition would be best to factor in the cost of a 3D system from the get go, IMO (so around 750 quid)..... Cheapest way to rebuild an engine is to do it yourself, with help from a knowledgable friend...... Quote
wookie Posted July 8, 2003 Posted July 8, 2003 engine rebuild I'd be ok with its just the ignition I'm concerned with........best have a think because i have a pinto what i was going to use instead Quote
stu999 Posted July 8, 2003 Posted July 8, 2003 there is another way around the ignition system, that is to use a dizzy off an 8v engine, complete with the 'stand alone' ignition amplifier, probably cost you about 25 quid from a breakers. There are two different style dizzy drives on the 8v engine, and its typical that the rarer of the two is the type that you need to find for the 16v, but it will get the car on the road, until you save up for your throttle body/3D ignition upgrade.... HTH Stu. Quote
wookie Posted July 8, 2003 Posted July 8, 2003 now that sounds like it might be a plan....hmmmm, any links or sources to find a 16v motor without a dodgy cylinder head?, as i have a 8v in mind otherwise....any tuning tips for the 8v engine? Quote
wookie Posted July 8, 2003 Posted July 8, 2003 does those extra 8 valves make the engine that much better over the 8 valver? the reason i'm asking the question is that i know where a nice 8v is whats been rebuilt.....and ready to bolt in to go........... Quote
Blatman Posted July 8, 2003 Posted July 8, 2003 Night and day different. Why fit a compromised design, when the optimum design not only exists, but is plentiful, and proven....... Quote
jeff oakley Posted July 8, 2003 Posted July 8, 2003 Having just driven my newly SVA d vx engine car with throttle boddies for the first time with gusto you will never need more power on the road. Also a consideration if you are going for SVA is the ecotec will need a cat the xe generally will not. My old car was pinto engined and was okay but the power and delivery from the xe is just so much better. Quote
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