Engine Conversion

[Jim Mcrae]

I am considering upgrading my engine but am too scared to go for a 2L or a LET due to insurance. Was wondering if a 1.4 SRI out of a corsa would be gd or maybee GSi but tottaly unsure any suggestions appreciated. Really after a more powerful and tuneable engine than my current one (1.2 carb) . Most importantly cant be too expensive to insure!!! Thanks Alot

[Tazzy]

as you have a carb, might be better to have another carb'd engine, maybe on twin webers? how much are you willing to plough into it? ask your insurance company first on quotes for different engines, otherwise it could drop you in the s***!

a 1.6 8v on twin webers and kent cam with an f13cr grbox is a popular choice!

[Jim Mcrae]

Got a rather gd quote for a GSi will this be a bitch to fit or not (with the Gsi being injected and more modern??) Did online quote throgh confused.com and got a quote for a nova GSi will this quote be roughly the same as a 1.2 conversion or when i change it on log book will it just be a GSi as far as insurance is concered?? Help!!!!!!!!!

[Tazzy]

if youve got a good quote for a gsi, then buy a gsi, it would be easier and cheaper, (i bought a corsa 1.4 sri for ?700 and have spent ?500 on a 1.6 engine for it, it would of been cheaper to buy a 1.6 16v corsa for ?900)

anyway, if its gonna be cheap effective for you to do it, go for it!

[jamie gsi16v]

your car will still be a 1200 model with a 1600 engine, ive found a 1.2 nova with a 2.0 engine is 200quid cheaper to insure than a 1.6 with a 2ltr engine? think its based on luxuries and extras etc? nickability lol! id go 1600 with t40 carbs etc, very good choice

[Jim Mcrae]

Where can i pick up a 1.6 8v from?? What does it come out of???

[jamie gsi16v]

Where can i pick up a 1.6 8v from?? What does it come out of???
gte/early gsi is best as there dizzy, follow the guide to fitting t40s then, bet you could do everything for 500 quid?

[Jim Mcrae]

kewl cheers dude!!

[jamie gsi16v]

check ebay or the forums as loadsa people do xe conversions in gsi/gte's as there stronger shells so theres plenty of spare engines

[Jim Mcrae]

Is a 16v anygood or will it be more difficult to insure?? will a 1.6 8v conversion be cheaper or roughly the same to insure as a standard 1.6??
Anyone in devon/conwall got a 1.6 8v going spare???? Thanks!!

[jamie gsi16v]

Is a 16v anygood or will it be more difficult to insure?? will a 1.6 8v conversion be cheaper or roughly the same to insure as a standard 1.6??
Anyone in devon/conwall got a 1.6 8v going spare???? Thanks!!
ul find ur car cheaper to insure with a 1600 engine in rather than buying a 1600 gsi/gte, 16v are awsome, iv had a 1600 16v and 2000 16v now. im not a carb kinda person? but they are really good and sound mint!

[Tazzy]

exactly, cheapest and best option (what i should of done in the first place)

go and find a 1.6 8v gte or gsi (decide whether you want a mk1 or mk2) and put twin 40s on it, or Throttle Bodies if you have the dough, and a decent cam!

[Nick]

ul find ur car cheaper to insure with a 1600 engine in rather than buying a 1600 gsi/gte, 16v are awsome, iv had a 1600 16v and 2000 16v now. im not a carb kinda person? but they are really good and sound mint!

your wrong on that one...

Mine is roughly grp 13/14.

A couple more insurance groups than a standard GSi nova.

A qoute for a Gsi nova was about ?1000 at 19, 2 years of drving, 0NCB.

My 1.6 T40 conversion is costing me ?988 at 19, 2 yeas of driving, 0NCB but i have a very very very limited mileage on my policy . And they'd only do it because i live in portsmouth for 36 weeks of the year, and the car is garaged 400 miles away ! Also with a JOV discount

You pay more on conversions, and you'l have problems trying to find an insurer if your young

[Adam]

your wrong on that one...

Mine is roughly grp 13/14.

A couple more insurance groups than a standard GSi nova.

A qoute for a Gsi nova was about ?1000 at 19, 2 years of drving, 0NCB.

My 1.6 T40 conversion is costing me ?988 at 19, 2 yeas of driving, 0NCB but i have a very very very limited mileage on my policy . And they'd only do it because i live in portsmouth for 36 weeks of the year, and the car is garaged 400 miles away ! Also with a JOV discount

You pay more on conversions, and you'l have problems trying to find an insurer if your young
Hmm, so isn't he right then :confused:
A 1.6 in your 1.2 shell is cheaper than a GSi/GTE?

[Tazzy]

its the cost of doing the conversion as well, (for example) you could spend ?200 on a nova 1.2 and ?500 on getting the 1.6 8v engine running sweet, thats ?700, yet you could buy a gte that needs a bit of attention on the bodywork for ?400!

[Steve]

got a 1300 you could stick some webers on? be cheaper on the insurance as well. the quote is cheaper as well if youve got a lower model car ie; L GL or merit have worked out cheaper on insurance than a GTE.

[Tazzy]

lets put it another way, its alot more difficult to modify a standard car (nova spin) than a manufacture modified car (nova sr)

what kind of power do you want? a 1.3 sr on twin 40s is just as fast as a gte (well not as fast put how fast do you want to go, there are restrictions!)

just gotta think whats cost effective (what i should of done!)

if you want to keep your shell of the 1.2 car, drop in a gte engine and convert it to twin 40 webers, or single 34 weber depending on your budget!