276 replies to this topic

[The Matt]

I just think you're a git for getting 5 engine conversions done in the time it's taking me to do 1!!!

Nah, looking good mate. I was considering the SBD pulley conversion myself on the next variation of the FReaK 16v. It's going to be all standard for now (apart from the necessary inlet mods) and then if I like the idea and have the time, I'll be doing a lot of engine owrk over the next year with a proper bench build.

I'm also interested to see what rad options you're going for. I've looked at a few and have semi-decided that in the round nose, a front mounted MPi rad is the easy way, but it's not a full width rad so may not give enough cooling.

The other option I've got is to just go for a Clubby front end I guess.

With the head as it is, how much further forward does the exhaust manifold sit than the front of the block? It looks like a very similar manifold to the one I've got and I think I can just (with a little bit of chopping and reshaping) get her under the standard round nose front.

I like the 'V5' engine ID too!

[alexcrosse]

lol, v5s the way forwards =p

i the exhaust is pretty tight, ill get some pics soon but paints drying on the garage floor at the moment! i cant see it being any further forwards than the furthest part on the lambda on the 8v... if that makes sence... lol. Im gonna have a measure etc in the next week. Just torn the dash appart to re do it, got rid of this carbon lark i put in:



so im gonna do a vinyl and wood one using the same laser cut ally that i got made up, carbons too rattaly... dont like it

[alexcrosse]

right, bit of an update, 8v is still going strong, still scraping together any money possible.

its turning into quite a challenge. Because i want to run jenveys because of the noise and look of them, its something no one has done before. And to be honest the c16xe in a mini has only been done once successfully on the road to my knowledge.

The problem is... because people dont use these in many forms of racing, no touring cars, drag cars or grass trackers, and people dumping engines in novas and corsas go straight for the c20xe finding people in the no is VERY difficult. Luckily, a chap ive found on migweb (vauxhall forum) is a small bore master, and has put me on to a race/rally engine builder called martin bowyer who appears to be a very nice bloke in a barn with ALOT of parts and knowledge.

Im having inlet manifold problems too. Ive got one that is upswept, but it was originally used on a 192bhp c16xe that was ported to the nth degree. On standard cams i dont want to take my head out that much as ill loose my bottom end, sadly the upswept manifolds for c16xe's arnt made anymore, jenvey and sbd havnt even heard to them. So i rang martin and he has one 'lying around' hes just checking its all ok and ill have an update on monday for that one.

Also have a bit of a worry about one stem seal i think i might have kinked on the way in, playing on my mind, itll probably be fine, so ill suck it and see, getting the head off and replacing the stem seal is just a days work anyway.

sadly... dads just bought a wreck of a mk1 escort, so im gonna have some problems getting this engine in because of garage space, the whole worlds against me! Im going to aim to do the conversion over christmas now. Get ALL the parts ready for then, and the biggest budget possible for the niggly bits you inevitably need when doing conversions, lol.

thats all for now folks

[alexcrosse]

RIGHT THEN! update dot com.

I decide coil overs were a no go for the car, couldnt get the most out of the car with them, spring rates were well out etc etc. So i got everything to go back to standard doughnuts and some decent GAZ adjustable shocks. Upon fitting these however, i put the bolt back in the upper arm to hold the damper which is almost an interference fit, and it went pete tong from there! realised i couldnt get the doughnuts in without taking the upper arms out, and couldnt take the upper arms out without taking the engine out, because unlike the little A series, theres 1600cc of vauxhall in the way.

so...


out with the old!!




and in with the new

Edited by alexcrosse, 03 August 2009 - 09:29 PM.

[The Matt]

Git! You're gonna have yours sorted waaaaaay before me then!

[alexcrosse]

Git! You're gonna have yours sorted waaaaaay before me then!

ill try my best update in a minute... uploading photos, good progress today looking the shiz!

[alexcrosse]

Started the day to find it was raining so getting dads escort outside and my mini inside was the first job that took a while! and at the same time ringing a chap to get an inlet manifold, now sorted PHEW! relief

tinks bum hanging out the garage, but the important bits dry


everything out, ready to rock


getting engine lifted into position


squeezing it in, couple of problems with things in the way like the VR sensor, but once taken off engine slotted right in


engine in, mounts in, all bolted up nice and tight!


exhaust manifold fits perrrrrrrfectly lots of room left for radiator and clearance for the original front brace bar


everything coming together


perfect exhaust manifold


with front end on ready to go back outside! work done for the day!!!

bad news is.... defiantly need an internal pedal box *looks under the sofa for pennies*!!

[The Matt]

MINT!
Go for the OBP pedal box mate, you know it makes sense. I'd say that the way I've done mine is a well easy conversion. Depends if you want a balance bar or not though? You could just get on to Allspeed and go for the remote servo and torque tube/bar assembly that Rob's done. Nice tidy piece of kit that. Mounts the servo and cylinders over to the left hand side of the bay, where there's loads of room.

Could you do us a favour though please? Show us a pic that'll demonstrate how my inlet's gonna sit. Looking at that, I reckon I'll be OK with the standard GSi inlet as Rob said, but we'll have to see.

[The Matt]

Aaaaaaaand, oddly, I paintd my cam box black too!

[The Matt]

Aaaaaaand (filling your thread up here) look at how much room there is in the N/S above the gearbox. It's well roomy in there!

[max edw]

most pleased i read thru your thread!!

im putting a 1400 8v nova motor in at the monent, with a view fitting an x16 in the future, when i have money to buy one:( plus i know a man who builds motors for the super1600 rally class so need lots of money! anyway the way im looking at it currently building the subframe and making bulkhead mods based on the motor i have the future swap should be fairly straight forward( i hope!!!)

while im here, a small quiz, is there any major differences between the 8v and 16v engine mounts or overall dimentions you would recomend taking into account whilst im at this stage? i started the 1400 project thread if you can help me out

cheers

[Sam Walters]

Still nothing like winding an a-series up to near on 7500 rpm.

Up for taking me out for a blast at mitp if i manage to make it though alex?

Ill try to find you on face book buddy as said over the week end.

[mini93]

exhaust manifold fits perrrrrrrfectly lots of room left for radiator and clearance for the original front brace bar

wow...a V5...im guessing it must be like those Volkswagen VR5 engine

[alexcrosse]

MATT - Ill get some pics around the inlet area tonite if i remember for you, gonna go internal pedal box i think, just working out which one, all about $$$$, how easy did yours fit in the end?

max edw - Hey mate, itll go into all the same mounting points as long as the engine is the same blocks as the C16SE or C14SE, whos the chap building the engines for super 1600, not martin bowyer is it? Ive seen your thread, looking good mate.

Sam Walters - there is something that sounds better than an A series falling to bits on its way to 7500, a 16v through 4 throttles red lining at 7750 Honestly dont no if itll be ready for MITP mate, if it will it wont be run in, another show im affraid! when its settles and i can use what. Cheers, Al

mini93 - yers its one of those VR5 engines, quite rare =p LOL

[Sam Walters]

The only problem ive had with mine has been dyno operator error and the clutch giving out.
Had to sling a verto setup on there. A full standard one as im too skint to buy a decent clutch plate.

A 16v through 4 throttles red lining at 7750

Panzy!

I have no doubts that my next engine will hold together for 15-20 thousand miles and still pull 9000 rpm when warm a few occasions every day.

Whom said i wouldn't have 16 valves and ITB`s? Might be 8 valves though as i plan to add a gt20 turbo in the future.

Although it might be a long time coming im running out of things to sell

Edited by Sam Walters, 05 August 2009 - 09:09 AM.