back after 5 years,will a c16xe nova do?

[big_wig_074]

god,been a while,tried to register then it said i already had,so used my common username and sure enough here i am,i had forgotten i had used this forum (i change cars a LOT and my life has been hectic in the last 5 years!)
but anyway,the topic.
i used to have a c20xe nova,this one:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0703/big_wig_074/nova2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0703/big_wig_074/nova3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0703/big_wig_074/nova1.jpg

and i LOVED it,was fantastic on fuel,very fast and REALLY took a beating without breaking (too much!).
Now,i have always loved the Nova and someoneoffered me a taxed and tested mk2 k reg 1.2 merit plus for £75 the other day so i said yes!but....my old nova came already converted,and to be honest i dont have the time/cant be bothered to do all the extensive work required to convert to 2 litre power,so...if i were to stick a c16xe engine in it (i believe its a lot simpler and less buggering about) would i be disappointed in the performance?not after it creating a timewarp but want something fun i can throw around the nurburgring while also being able to do 40mpg like my old one.

so,is it worth making a c16xe nova,stripping it (i have a road car),adding maybe a mantzel copy inlet and reprofiled cams and having a bit of fun?or will i be hankering after the big block?

cheers in advance and sorry for the mega long post!:d

[conad]

you got 40mpg from an xe?

[blue_peg_16v]

40mpg is possible from a standard xe its pulling no weight in a nova remember

[Andy]

easy,they do 30 in a big fat obese cav!!

[RossRog]

i get very good mpg going back an forth to work in my xe, have to be very reserved driving though

[big_wig_074]

i never got less than 40mpg,except on the ring,where i got considerably less,but it was fun!

[conad]

yeah i suppose on a motorway run, city runs though? back on topic though, 1600 are LOADS of fun, easily tuned, and due to low weight handling is the bee's bo!!ocks

[Mieran]

Won't be as fast but will be fun.

The internet also tells me it will handle better.

[big_wig_074]

yeah i suppose on a motorway run, city runs though? back on topic though, 1600 are LOADS of fun, easily tuned, and due to low weight handling is the bee's bo!!ocks
yeah,didnt matter where i drove or how,pretty much £10 would get me 100 miles (petrol WAS cheaper back then though lol)
as long as a 1600 16v will still be fun thats the main thing.

[Jack]

or will i be hankering after the big block?
Yes lol

[Rich]

they have nothing compared to 20xe in standard forms. plus the big block is easier to work on

[kiwinova]

I have gone from a c20xe hatch to a c16xe saloon and the 16xe is by far better when it comes to handling and fun
As much as I miss the power of the 20xe I wouldn't swap the 16xe for one:thumb:

[Dan Stanley]

I have gone from a c20xe hatch to a c16xe saloon and the 16xe is by far better when it comes to handling and fun
As much as I miss the power of the 20xe I wouldn't swap the 16xe for one:thumb:

I agree the (tuned) 16XE is fast enough and handles like a normal nova, but you'll always wish it was a 20XE if your doing 'ring runs. But then that doesn't stop you from lusting after a LET once you are used to the 20XE power!
lol

[Rich]

get a let then, problem solved lol

[peester]

Its worth mentioning prices and availability and general condition of C20XE's have gone the wrong way slightly, in the last 5 years..
But its still such a good option - as youve seen, still as popular as ever.

Small blocks will need few hundred thrown at them to be anywhere near std. big block XE power. However the costs saved from big block engine, gearbox, fitting kit and engine bay work can go toward power mods for small block..?
There is an option of a 1.8 small block: tries to bridge that power-gap a bit.. but still fails lol

[big_wig_074]

mega mega power aint the goal,my daily driver is a 250 odd bhp 2 litre turbo car,my other track car is a 3.4 litre straight six so no bother there,just want fun.

[Mieran]

You need a c20let then :thumb:

[big_wig_074]

no,quite the opposite,i can go for big power with either my daily or track car,just want something i can get to the ring for pennies and have fun with as fuel is bloody expensive now.i MAY look at a let later on in life,but cant justify the cost and **** about right now

[Dan Stanley]

no,quite the opposite,i can go for big power with either my daily or track car,just want something i can get to the ring for pennies and have fun with as fuel is bloody expensive now.i MAY look at a let later on in life,but cant justify the cost and **** about right now

Why dont you just let fate decide then? See whatever comes up for sale cheaper, a 20XE or 16XE?

[shed-on-wheels]

i have a 16xe nova and when i first ever drove the car i was really suprised how it pulled go small block xe ftmfw!!

[big_wig_074]

because itll cost soooooo much less to do the 1600,i just wanted to know if its ok,apparently it is so thats the answer i needed,i never enquired about a let.just wanted to know if the 1600 would be fun/economical enough

[peester]

answering the question yourself lol..
Decent x16xe's are circa £200 - drop straight in dont they.
Wont do that with a big block unless you buy an xe'd nova for around that.

[Mieran]

Btw, over the last year of keeping an eye on here/piston heads/ebay I've seen 2 decent small block 1.6 Novas but over 10 good XEs

If it was me I would get the 1.6 8v carbed MK2 advertised on here

[scott.parker]

Heres an idea, why not just get some coilovers 15's big brakes an see how much fun you can have with a 1.2 that handles like a gokart!
If you strip it out an put a bucket in youll be suprised i think, then if need be you got all you need set for either engine

Scott

[big_wig_074]

scott,thats probably the plan for a few weeks tbh,strip it and fit the bucket seat i have laying about lol,but a 1.2 will NEVER be enough lol

[wwmnw]

I'll let you know how my N/A 1.6 16v with plenty mods handles :) sometime next year :( lol

[Andy]

For what a decent c16xe costs these days you may aswell get a 20xe.
Ive seen the c16xe's go for £300,you can get a 20xe for that with a box.
Then get a pump (which you need regardless of engine) set of shafts for £100 and a mount kit for £40.Done.

[wwmnw]

Or if you're a jammy sod like me, you can get an X16XE + gearbox shafts ecu and loom (useless though as no transponder and the loom looked like it had been on fire :( ) for £100 lol, and TBH C16's are a tad over rated, they came from the factory with about 5 BHP more than an X16 and some different wiring.

For cost though the small block conversion will be cheaper, but obviously not as powerful.

[Andy]

but its a gsi enjin innit blud lol

[wwmnw]

yeh m8, coz its gsi it mst b fasta m8

[big_wig_074]

oh,i dont care if its a16xe,b16xe,c16xe or whatever,just after ease of use,c20 also needs all the prep work in the bay doing so thats time and money again,anyway,ill decide when i get a look on ebay!lol

[wwmnw]

oh,i dont care if its a16xe,b16xe,c16xe or whatever,just after ease of use,c20 also needs all the prep work in the bay doing so thats time and money again,anyway,ill decide when i get a look on ebay!lol

There is a bottom end on there at the minute going nice and cheap, fully rebuilt, dogs dangleberrys, all for.... £799! BARGAIN.

All I typed in to find it was C16XE.

[big_wig_074]

i have a feeling your idea of cheap vs mine is slightly different lol.

[wwmnw]

lol £799 is slightly excessive for a 1.6 16v bottom end (I've seen C20LET's go between 800-1000) I personally wouldn't pay more than £250 for a 1.6 16v as higher than that is 2.0 money.

[peester]

For what a decent c16xe costs these days you may aswell get a 20xe.
Ive seen the c16xe's go for £300,you can get a 20xe for that with a box.
Then get a pump (which you need regardless of engine) set of shafts for £100 and a mount kit for £40.Done.

If your lucky u may one day find an unwanted c20xe 'going' for the same price as a c16xe on another auction, maybe not so keenly priced..
But by and large the 1.6's arent as in demand or legendary and the c20xe so are much cheaper to buy -they go for £150-£200 ; of course youll see some go for more but theyre mostly under £200..
c20xe's with an f20 box for £300 is going to be much rarer.
You forgotten the engine bay strengthening, alternator mod (minor cutting and welding) and front springs.

Of course brakes need for any conversion.