Best Budget Engine To Buy And Tune?

[novadose2009]

i wanna start getting alot more power now and currently got a stipped out nova hatch with a 1.3sr engine i really wanna fit twin 40's to something what would be the best and cheapest engine to buy fit and modifiey to get the webers on there?

the 1.4sr engine looks good imo and the 1.6 8v look good to, any knowledge and opinions welcome

[wwmnw]

1.6 8v would be the best answer if you're going for power but carbs are thirsty lil ****ers, also I cant think which way it goes as I'm still half asleep here, but 1.6 8v block and 1.4 8v head or something like that raises the compression more.

[Mike]

E16se

[16xe_chris]

Don't forgett play around with your gearbox as this will give better results than jumping up 300cc's max.

Pop a 4.5cwp in a cr f13 box and you'll have loads of acceleration but not much top end, good fun getting there though lol

[Edd]

E16se is a good option, would mean swapping the fuel tank to a mpi one tho

Why not tune your 1300 ?
Weber 32/34, 4 branch and system, should be alot more fun to drive without using fuel like T40 webers

[mk1nova_rich]

1300s respond very well to tuning without having to break the bank, but as Chris said above the gearbox is often overlooked and can often offer far bigger improvements pound for pound than engine tuning :)

Use an F13 to start with on your 1300 and this can then be swapped over to a 1600 if you decide to

[scott.parker]

Best budget buy and tune engine, surly a 16xe or 20xe has to be the answer? mainly as theres not much need to fiddle with either of them, you get big gains from the engine swap alone, so less money wasted trying to tune an old 8v? no?

Scott

[Mike]

I did think of the baby valvers Scott, but they fetch 20XE money second hand regulary unfortunatly.

[16xe_chris]

Best budget buy and tune engine, surly a 16xe or 20xe has to be the answer? mainly as theres not much need to fiddle with either of them, you get big gains from the engine swap alone, so less money wasted trying to tune an old 8v? no?

Scott

Yes but he won't be able to pop his webbers onto a 16xe unless he forks out quite a few quid on a decent engine management system.

8v's are one of the easiest engine's to put them on as the dizzy off most 8v's are interchangeable :thumb:

[scott.parker]

OK sorry i read it as he was looking to buy another engine and then find/fit some 40's.

Scott

[mk1nova_rich]

Best budget buy and tune engine, surly a 16xe or 20xe has to be the answer? mainly as theres not much need to fiddle with either of them, you get big gains from the engine swap alone, so less money wasted trying to tune an old 8v? no?

Scott

With a 20XE you have to buy shafts/mounts/suitable suspension etc... so doesnt really work out as cheap as its made out to be

[16xe_chris]

I think if i was to do it all over again i'd stick with the engine i had (1300sr) then fit a billet lightweight flywheel, change the diff ratio, slap the 40's on and then enjoy it, as everyone on here knows you'll never stop chasing power and spend hundreds upon hundreds in the process.

Even chasing a handful of ponies leaves a big dent in your wallet:thumb:

[Mike]

Even chasing a handful of ponies leaves a big dent in your wallet:thumb:

Comes with the territory unfortunatly :(

[Rich]

Bang for buck its got to be a c20xe, however a powerbox on a c16xe would also be a good gain but wont need a new box/shafts/mounts etc.

Do not put one in with the standard inlet system on it though, they really are awful

[bazil]

If you have a 13SB engine you could easily rebuild the full engine and tune it and it'll cost less than buying a XE and all the crap that goes with it, a standard E16SE was 100bhp when new, a standard 13SB was 70bhp new ( haynes figures)

I'd put the 40's on the 1.3 with a good camshaft and change the gearbox ratios as said,

[tommy8252]

Ive got a e16se with cr f13 box courtney sport ?s15 (cant remember the exact code) head and highlift cam. Cost £300 to buy and fitted myself and its a hell of a lot of fun guesstimated bhp figure 115bhp.

[peester]

The old 8 valve lumps are going to be cheapest to buy.. and tuning-wise it'll be cheapest but it'll peak power-wise, pretty much at where the baby valvers start getting going.. althought theyre a little dearer to buy and tune but there are good reasons:
x16xe or x18xe1.
They both drop straight in, being small blocks.. Some are under 10 years old still, low mileage examples, with warrenty from some salvage yards.. Just need security by-passing off ecu's/transponders if keeping o.e ecu. Wiring isnt overly complicated for either engine, there are guides across all vaux forums.

[scott.parker]

I think a standard 18xe1 must be ace in a nova, mines ace in the Astra!

[MattBrown]

Bang for buck its got to be a c20xe, however a powerbox on a c16xe would also be a good gain but wont need a new box/shafts/mounts etc.

Do not put one in with the standard inlet system on it though, they really are awful


Very true this.

I'd be going for a baby valver if I didn't have the c20xe say here.

[mk1nova_rich]

Southie took me out for a drive in his C16XE with powerbox last week (reckons its around 140bhp) and I was very impressed

[Dayle_]

Still can't wait to get the nova on the road for the mrs that has a c16xe with velos inlet etc still curious of what it will go like?