Hi im new here

[Rich]

Hi, i recently got hold of a mint 1992 1.2 snap in white, covered just 6k genuine milage. One old lady owner from new, and service history. The only rust on the entire car is at the bottom of the doors, drivers side being worse.

I have already lowered it on spax -35mm gsi springs and im really impressed with the handling change, couldnt believe how much better it felt. I plan on getting a gsi front bumper, and have gsi skirts ready to be fitted, i already have the gsi rear on the car as standard (i think its the same?). Getting team dynamic pro race 2 wheels next month in black. Will hopfully look somthing like this when im done.

http://www.rctd.ft6.com/uploads/nova%20on%20pro%20race%202s%202.jpg

Anyway, i need some information/advice on what engine i could put into it next year. The 1.6 gsi engines are obviously quickest, but what are the 1.4 sr/sri engines like? Im 17 at the moment, ill be 18 and hopfully have a years no claims when it comes to the engine swap. Would a 1.6 16v from a corsa sport fit? Surely that would be better than a 1.6 8v? A 2.0ltr conversion is out of the question due to insurance.

[womble sri]

i think a 1.6 will be to mate i have been driving a year under my mums name and i cant get insured on gsi for under 2500. the sr 1.4 and sri is 1100 fully comp or 800 tp in her name sri is quicker why not 1.4 16v

[Adam]

You will be lucky to get insurance for under ?1500 on a SRI when 18 TBH.
1600 8v, 1600 16v, 2L are all out the question.
And you would need to find somewhere to insure an engine conversion,which may prove difficult.

Just stick with the 1.2 engine for a bit.

BTW-Whos car is that? Looks ace, i want mine look like that.

[Jack]

1.4SR = 1990G-1992J (Mk1&2), 1400 carb, 74bhp, Insurance group 8
1.4SRi = 1992J-1993K (Mk2), 1400 mpi, 82bhp, Insurance group 8

SRi would be your best bet as you get more power for the same insurance group, and its well said on the forums that the MPi head is better than the carb one. HOWEVER! If you're doing an engine conversion that all kinda goes out the window, the few companies left who actually insure conversions tend to whack on a great premium for them. Gone are the days of the "5% extra for engine mods", or insuring them as if it were the donor car ...lol

Incidentally, as a comparison the 1.4 16v engine is 90? bhp, and when in a Corsa is only insurance group 4-6...

[swainer69]

why not keep ur 1.2 block stick a 1.3sr head,inlet and carb and a gte cam,followers and exhaust system on it with a nice little k&n on it.that will keep ur insurance down but still keep ur bhp up and if u got more money then maybe sum webers and race cams,,lightweight flywheel and stuff. but at the end of the day its what u can afford 2 do and afford 2 pay on ur insurance!!!! good luck :D

[Stuart]

leave the 1.2 head on there!!!!!

read the 1.2(carb) tuning guide in one of the stickys at the top of the tech page...
also for the sillier side of 1.2 tuning look at my antibies feature in the 1.2 section ;)

[swainer69]

But y leave da head on there would u not get more from a sr head surely its got bigger valves and a bigger water pump?

But then again what would i know iam just a newbie!!! 8)

[Stuart]

the water pumps are identicle from the 1.2 - 1.6 engines (car the cambelt tooth shape)

the 1.2 head is better flowing than the 1.3 SR and 1.4 SR heads!
the 1.4sri head is better than all those as its got bigger valves etc. and the 1.6 is near identicle to the 1.4 sri head.

[Rich]

Long Live that nova belongs to Ojc over on corsasport.co.uk, very tidy car.

Ive been told that i could put a 1.3 cam in etc but for the money/work involed it would be better to go for an engine swap. The bhp increase wouldnt be alot would it?

Im going to read the 1.2 tuning thread, thanks for your help guys.

edit- Sorry i forgot to mention its a 4-speed gearbox, would a 1.4 sri box fit straight on? Or what would be the best box to put on it?