Need some (+) and (-) sort of views

to make my mind up!

Been offered 2 engines

FZR1000 ExUP (140bhp@ 11000rpm) £400
C20XE Callibra (153bhp@ 6500rpm) £250

All come with ancillinarieyeies! (whatever!)

Got money for either! And a type 9, just incase!

Which do I choose? Opinions please!

Thanks!

Thats a bloody cheap XE. I'd go for the XE, but then again I'm a VX man myself.

BTW isn't 153bhp with the standard injection? Which probably won't fit without a lot of messing about. If you put twin 45's on it I think it'll be 170bhp+ in standard trim.

Regards

go for the xe, thats a v.good price. early gte astra xe's were 155bhp, later astra, cav, calibra were 150bhp. stick proper exhaust, webbers, light flywheel get 175+bhp.

I'm getting my engine (xe) tomorrow hoorah.

But the cost of Converting the XE engine to run RWD is loads. Bellhousing, Clutch flywheel, remounted alternator, Release bearing. The cost of twin 45s!!!

The bike engine is practically done. But am i gonna get shagged buy the insurance company because of the bike engine?

b3saxo,

Could run twin 40's, these are cheaper than 45's, bellhousing £140 from yukspeed, standard flywheel can be used, don't know about clutch or release bearing. didn't know alternator had to be remounted - only a matter of making a bracket though!

still recon it must be cheaper than reverser box for dif, fiddling with wiring etc on bike engine!

has anyone used an fzr1000 engine for a build? i know there are several xe cars out there......

Andrew (all IMHO)

The FZR 1000 is basically the older version of the R1 engine.

Don't think you'll get the XE engine to be RWD with out spending best side of £700 on it?

Do like the engine though. Simple!

Xe (+)

Cheap
Reliable
Simple
Loads of parts available
Proven

Xe (-)

RWD cost
Cost of twin 40s/45's
Weight.

FZR (+)

Already RWDish
sequential box
Weight

FZR (-)

Insurance
Proven?
Expensive parts!



Both engine sound appealing in some way of the other!

I may be corrected but would say that you can do more yourself on a car engine and the vauxhall is more tunable in future if + when cash is available.

bike engine is lighter though....

(power-weight prob. similar!)

£700!!!

lets add it up:

engine: £250
bellhousing: £140
alternator bracket: time & little bit effort
gearbox: type 9 = peanuts, say £50
flywheel - standard if you wish.
clutch/release bearing - unknown - can't be that much though!?
engine mounts: well you'll need them for a bike engine too!
Carbs:
webbers:
45's £300ish
40's £150-200
injection: need cut-down plenum chamber to fit chassis (and lots fo wiring!)
exhaust: need custom manifold for xe or fzr engines.

total (inc 40's) £640 (inc engine price)

ps. a friend ran 180bhp with dellorto 40's.

Bike engine £400
+ reverser box
+ prop flange

don't think there's a lot in it really.

I await to be corrected....

Andrew.

You may find the insurance company ask "What size engine has it got?"

You say 1 litre.

They don't ask any other questions (like manufacturer of engine).

Mines 1700 (XFlow) so your insurance (all other things being equal) should be cheaper.

Caveat:

From recent posts, they may be getting a bit smarter.

until they say 'is that a motorcycle engined car' then you're scr##ed?

From what I have seen BEC insurance is reasonable i.e. I know several people who have had quotes at £300-350 for fully comp with restricted miles.

BEC is lighter (it includes gearbox) so you will save 100kg+. Driving it will be more frantic, less torque but probably more fun and controllable. Don't need reverse box (lots of people take them out 'cause they are unreliable and cause vibration). Depends what floats your boat, screaming engines or lower down torque. They will probably have similar performance but it will be delivered differently. Best to try out a few if you can then decide.

Cheers

Paul

I'd go bike engine anyday. all one unit wee easy to fit reverse gear its gonna weight light enough to push backwards.
sorry I never went bike route myself just weighed a pinto head 60lbs
tony

I'm fitting a 2L 8 Valve VX engine, which I think has the same bottom end.

I got my bellhousing from Yuk (he's just down the road), have just got second hand twin 45's, manifold, twin linkage, fuel regulator and fuel pump for £310. Made my own engine mounts. Used the std alternator bracket (may be diff on XE). Used std VX clutch cover, and Ford (Cortina) friction plate. Clutch release fork and bearing are from RS2000.

But, its up to you.

BUT, if you weren't so far away I'd have the XE, they go for £500 - £600 round here.

Regards

when i started to build mine i got 3 quotes from the same company,
1 900cc ZX9 (i told them it was a bike engine

2 a 2.1Pinto modified

3 a 4 litre Rover V8 ( TVR Chimera)

the bike engine was the cheapest at £220 fully comp second car 6000 mile a year, next was the pinto at £235 then the V8 at £265 i valued it at 8 grand and they said i would have to have an approved alarm/immobiliser fitted. that was from a company that advertised in one of the kit car magazines...

I'm a weekend away from completing my mk with xe engine. The cost of installation all depends if you can source cheapest/ second hand bits. My costs are:- bellhousing £140, 45 Dellortos s/hand £170, Inlet manifold £85, sierra clutch plate new £10. Exhaust manifold was astras cut where it goes 4 into 2, turned 180 degrees & rewelded.
Alternater fits by shortening bracket & using shorter belt.
Home made engine mounts £peanuts.
Skippad

I take back what I said about the alternator bracket.

I tried fitting the twin 45's today, and the alternator's in the way

Nothings ever easy.

Anyone got any pictures to help me relocate it?

Thanks

Graham,

Don't know if its any help but have you thought of swapping the alternator for a small jap one?

I plan to do this on my xe, it'll also save a ittle weight!!

Andrew.

What do people use?

Thanks

Not sure where the alternator is mounted on the uprated design, But i do know the configuration of the belts are different.


Thanks to everyone for the help.

Think i'll go the bike route. But bey next week i'll have changed my mind!

Thanks.

if you're gonna tune the xe why not go for sbd208s and dta standalone? that set-up plus a decent ex. manifold should see just over 200bhp on a good condition engine