18 xel v 20xe

[dgbnova#1]

I have both engines and wondering on people's opinion on what to use obviously power to weights etc not even sure of the power of the 18 tbh but any info would be great especially someone who has had/done both thanks

[Mark]

They weight the same but funnily enough the 2ltr has more power?

[dgbnova#1]

Thought they were small block so lighter this is it, same as the x16 xe I was led to believe
http://i1328.photobucket.com/albums/w535/dgbnova1/IMAG0583_zpsb68493f6.jpg

[Mark]

I think you need to learn to get your codes correct..

The one you are after if you are after a 1.8ltr smallblock engine is either the X18XE1 (Cable throttle) or Z18XE (Fly by wire) later engines from the MK4 Astra, some vectras and Corsa C's.

18XEL Is the old MK3 astra engine..

[dgbnova#1]

Ok fair enough no code visible on engine and was told code this one is the cable version. So x18xe1 then?

[Mark]

Correct, the weight difference on the front end IS noticable and so is the power difference, however the Redtop engines are old hat, expensive and getting more and more difficult to get hold of. The smallblocks are more plentiful and cheap to buy/replace. They take tuning well (as does the redtop). Indeed, dbilas make a turbo kit (and there is a copy kit about too) that produces around 220bhp iirc on the standard engine (whilst I find it difficult to believe the standard engine can cope there has yet to be a blowup)

[Mark]

That said, if you want to spend BIG money then the Redtop is the better engine as people have been highly tuning them for many years.

[dgbnova#1]

It's a choice realy i have both engines already. I've had an c20xe already and I've also had a 1.8 8v nova in the past I know the weights are similar. I have a 1.6 xev in my zafira and have an idea as to how quick that may be in the nova but I have never driven (nor will I drive my donor astra) so I'm in the dark regards that realy compared to the c20. I dont want to waste time fitting an engine I may not like and have no plans to spend thousands on engines.

[chrisd1986]

Sell me your 20xe and we will put the 1.8 in yours and you can have my inlet and exhaust set up when i go big block lol

[philip]

I've just had a lad with one of my 20xes contact me over wkend. So far its making 243bhp@6k, its built to peak @8k, so be looking towards 260-265bhp. I know what I'd have haha........its in a mini too, so goes very well.