GSi - E16SE to C16SE Change over year?

I?m in the market for a Nova, looking at SR?s, GTE?s and GSi?s.

Knowing engine conversions were popular back in the 2000?s and originality is key in 2020?s, I suspect some cars will be converted back from 2.0 to their original engines.

I know the GSi had both E16SE and C16SE engines and the engine type is stamped on the engine, but does anyone know when the change over happened?

I believe e16se is gte and c16se is only gsi. If there were early gsi's with e16se fitted then maybe the first year or so as it was changed due to emissions standards changing if i recall correctly

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Originally Posted by millworm

I believe e16se is gte and c16se is only gsi. If there were early gsi's with e16se fitted then maybe the first year or so as it was changed due to emissions standards changing if i recall correctly

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Thanks, I had a J reg GSi which has a E16SE, have seen a K reg which also has a E16SE, wondering if this has been swapped for a larger engine, then returned to a 1.6 for sale.

Sounds suspicious, MOT laws changed in 1992 and required a cat.

There?s two types of E16
early was round top cam belt cover, had the 1.6 injection stamped into the ribbed cam cover, had no timing belt tensioner and mainly found in the GTE

late E16 had square top cam belt cover, had a smooth cam cover with 1.6 injection sticker on the cam cover and had a timing belt tensioner, found in late GTE and early GSI ( my 1991 H reg GSI was this engine)

by 1992 J reg the C16 took over due to MOT regulations as mentioned earlier

there are a few oddball cases, I?ve seen a J reg GTE and a L reg GSI both with E16?s, these were most likely late registered cars, easily explained if you decode the vin number it?ll tell you the year the car was built not registered

Thanks Bazil very helpful!