engine debate.... 8v vs 16v

[MOL]

im guessing straight away the majority of people will side with the 16v engine, but......
just curious to what people think about the 2litre 8v (130brake) engine, compared with a c20xe lump, for a nova?
i know the redtop's are better for tuning, and are more powerful from standard aswel, but ive been told the 8valves are more reliable, more torque for down the strip and 130bhp is still quite a good starting figure for an 8valve engine.
Basically im going to be putting one or the other in my nova in the new year, and just curious to people's opinions.
Be interesting to see if anyone does back the 8v over the 16v, and what valid points they put forward.

cheers
mol

[dunova]

As you've already said, the 8v are more reliable, have more low down torque and 130bhp isn't a bad figure. You can thrash the hell out of them and they love it, although the same can be said for the redtops aswell.

Personally i'd still go for the redtop. If you're going to go to the effort of a 2.0 engine transplant, you might aswell go for the real deal. They're dirty, they're fast as they are, they're very tuneable and they look nicer lol

[craig green]

I like both engines, the 8v will help to make a smoother car. The 16v are very harsh & loud engines.
Ive owned 2 GTE 16v Astra's & a Cav GSi, the engine is a gem but I personally dont like it in a Nova.

I say be different & go 8v.

[Chris]

they can both be loud, all depends on how the car is build. I am biased but I will say 16v all day long, with big carbs :lol: The 8v engine could probably be picked up for around ?100 whereas the XE could be anywhere from ?200 up to ?450. I have just sold one for ?250 and that took ages. But the 16v is better, more power, more torque and faster.

Chris

[MOL]

As said above, ive been pricing both engines, and the redtops were selling for about ?250, where as i can pick up an 8v for around ?100.
I used to own a redtop calibra, and had problems with that, ended up having to replace the engine at one point, so i think partly im a little hesitant to go for another redtop because of my past experiences, so i do like the fact that the 8valves do seem to be more reliable, but still undecided lol

[Ste L]

alright fella, i'll take your for a spin in mine when its finally finished....

choice is your, but you already know what im gonna say :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Jack]

Isn't the 130bhp SEH rarer than the XE?

[Chris]

I have run an XE for nearly 3 years, and that was 3 very very hard years. I only ever drive my car flat out (as it is a track car and does nearly no road miles), only things I had to do was Fuel pump relay (which they are same as 8v and are common) and knock sensor (which again is same as 8v). Overall it all depends if you get a bad one, which you can get in either or you can get blinders.

Chris

[MOL]

ste- yer mate, cant wait until yours is on the road, its looking sweet, and yer i know what your answer to this will be lol :D

razorjack- im not too sure mate, but down this way it isnt too hard to get hold of either.

Chris- Yer you have a point there mate, i have a few friends with redtop powered cars, and havnt had half the problems i had with my last one, think i was just unlucky lol

[leemh1234]

8v with a turbo conversion.im sure u can use a gsi gear box

[Chris]

have you ever been in a 2.0 8v or a 2.0 16v?

Or even looked into the costs of them both and compared?

Chris

[Will F]

16v all day every day forever.

No question.

Absolutely 110% no quibble.


:P

[MOL]

have you ever been in a 2.0 8v or a 2.0 16v?

Or even looked into the costs of them both and compared?

Chris
Ive been comparing the costs, yes. I can get the 8v fitted for roughly ?150 - ?200 less than the 16v.

An ive driven a couple of 16v's but ive never known anyone with an 8v

[Chris]

does that not tell you something then?

Chris

[NickWalliams]

16V are very reliable and very common so if anything ever does play up its easy to find a spare bit!

My std 16V ran for over a year with no problems, I dorve it 1800 miles to germany and back and it was perfect and once on the motorway at 70mph was very good on fuel too.

Whos fitting the engine for you??

[m.d.]

i had an 8v then fitted the xe after, it was the worse thing i ever did,

i hated everything about the power delivery on the standard xe, where as the power altho not as much from the 8v was loads better.

when you tune the xe its fun but then so was my 8v

8v mate, set of webbers a cam and some light headwork andyour xe power anyway

[lee 16v]

ok what about xe and a let (2lt turbo)

[m.d.]

xe for handling, let for all out acceleration

[lee 16v]

im thinking the xe then i can do things like cam it at a later date, and that would be ?1300 in the bank lol.

[craig green]

xe for handling, let for all out acceleration

Handling wouldnt exactly be a strong point for either.

Agree with 8v turbo comments. I bet an 2.0L 8v turbo would waste an XE for acceleration. (my 1600 t does anyway)