engine choices

[storer]

hi i just wondered would it be worth fitting a 1.4 16v sri engine into my nova? is it a hard job and is it a decent engine that i can tune at a later date?
my other option was to fit a 1.6 gte nova engine which i believe is roughly 100bhp standard compared to the 90bhp of the 16v sri. although i would like something abit diferent like the little valver would it be better to just go with the gte?

the other option would be to get a corsa gsi engine if i could find one?

what are peoples thoughts and does anybody have any info on fitting the baby valvers for example is it a straight forward job or do i need any specific parts?
thanks any opinions and advice welcome

[crashd_ndie]

depends how much work u want 2 do The GTE only puts out bout 92 ish on decent engine if i understand this right the 8v engine will give you more low down torque but the valver will give you more top end (bare in mind you have a smaller cc)



Personaly a good worked Gte

[Aragorn]

the GTE engine is cheaper to tune generally, 400 on headwork, 200 on cam and ?200 on carbs and your looking at around 140bhp

16v units are a good bit more expensive to tune mainly due to the lack of distributor meaning u need expensive mappable management (although the heads are pretty good as standard so this would kinda equal the cost of the headwork on the 8v), cams being twice the price (give or take) seen as theres 2 of them etc

1600 8v seems to top out around 165-170bhp and its very expensive to get it past 145ish
the 16v engines are a lot more tunable, 170 from a 1.4 is quite possible with cams tb's and headwork and well over 200 is obtainable from the 1600

1400 is cheaper tax too which is a bonus

[david dixon]

I like the 1.6 16v out of the corsa gsi's, my mate has one in his nova with a 4 branch manifold and a group a system and it goes and handles really well, think that would be my choice if i was going to do a small block.

[Aragorn]

i have a 1600 16v in mine also with a 4branch and ashley system but it doesnt seem THAT fast (best ive had so far was a 16.4 1/4 with 2.8 60ft and 87mph terminal)

ive struggled to pass saxo vtr's before on the road for instance but they couldnt get anywhere near a 16.4 on the quarter, more like saxo vts territory

i think my biggest failing point is the damn gearbox which is some knackered POS from a diesel van (wr355 ratios)

once i get that sorted hopefully i'll have much nicer ratios and it'll go a bit better

[david dixon]

not sure what box my mate has on but he's done a 16.0 in his and its quicker than i thought it would be. :D

[Aragorn]

yer miles ran a 15.9 and ive heard others running 16.0

[benji]

i thouht the 1600 16v's did quicker times than that. more like mid 15's

[david dixon]

it probably could be done if you jack up the rear end and use some semi slicks or soft road tires. my mate never tried it.

[Ste_Nova]

ive struggled to pass saxo vtr's before on the road for instance but they couldnt get anywhere near a 16.4 on the quarter, more like saxo vts territory


my old sr used to keep up with vtr's.... my c16se (late gsi) kills them

[Snowface]

i thouht the 1600 16v's did quicker times than that. more like mid 15's

it prolly would be quicker with a CR3.94 instead of the WR3.55 box he has.