XE to LET

[Paul]

What do I need to do to my 16V C20XE Nova to change it to a LET.

Obviously the engine, I am talking in terms of chassis etc.

I am going to just put a basic spec LET in for the time being, then take it up to around the P2 maybe P3 stage later.

My budget is around the ?1.5-2k region.

I am contemplating the F20 seeing as an F28 is much more expensive and a fair extra bit of work is involved.

I will get an aftermarket Front Mounted Intercooler. What size is best for what I have said. Sounds a bit chav, but wouldn't mind a big one in the front bumper, not mahoosive like Rick Drapers, but a nice size. What boost pipes etc should I use?

As far as I know you must do the following;

-Modify front somehwere to fit in the turbo induction pipe? Don't know how, why etc, but Im guessing its because it wont fit otherwise. What pipe should I use for this Samco one from a standard LET car, ie cav or cally?

-Also I am thinking the mounts are the same.

-How do I go about mounting the F20 to the LET, whatch clutch, etc?

-Are standard new mounts ok for the conversion, autovaux ones?

-What bore exhaust do I need will my 2 1/4" ashley be ok for time being?

-Is the wiring side of it much more complicated than an XE?

-How long will my 1.6 cav nova gte shafts long before they break?

My front end has been stitch welded, by the way.

I appreciate I'm doing this on a budget, but I can do most of the work myself. Any people who have done this oer know a lot about the conversion please feel free to add me to your msn: paul-nova@hotmail.com

Thanks for your help

Paul

[Aamir]

You considered a Turbo kit for the C20XE engine ? available from www.mvaux.com (http://www.mvaux.com) ?750ish

Standard XE will take 9psi max = 220-240bhp (depends on engine condition)

Anymore will require LET pistons to be fitted.

Frontera Intercooler is the most subtle one but still requires big mouth mod :rolleyes:

LET injectors are advised, as is LET exhaust Cam

[Give it some rev]

if you go for the f20 'box, it wont last very long.

[Lee]

if you go for the f20 'box, it wont last very long.

lol, this old chestnut again. TBH i dissagree, F20 is far far cheaper than the F28, and easier to find and you wont be blowing it up as often as you think. Mark Watts ran an F20 and he only detonated it once in the time he owned the car. Dave Marshall is running an F20 with no problems, and im running a 200bhp XE on one two, and it had a serious amount of abuse last year and is still smooth as silk.

If you push past 250bhp, then you might want to think about swapping for and F28, but my choice would be to fill the f20 with quaife internals, but thats just me lol

[Paul]

Running standard cav/cally intercooler, adjustable switch for low/high boost

260ish bhp with high boost.

What engine mounts does everyone recommend?

Paul

[jamie gsi16v]

Running standard cav/cally intercooler, adjustable switch for low/high boost

260ish bhp with high boost.

What engine mounts does everyone recommend?

Paul

how ironic, i was just about to start the same post as this, have you got alot of info on this project as im thinking about doing exactly the same, been offered about 600 for my engine and have 1k spare too so my budget is about 1600. add me to msn j3mym@yahoo.co.uk

cheers j

[Lee]

What engine mounts does everyone recommend?

Paul

Speak to these guys http://www.pro-tecmotorsport.com/ for ally engine mounts. best mod you'll ever do!

[Give it some rev]

i stand corrected lol :O

[Lee H]

Running standard cav/cally intercooler, adjustable switch for low/high boost

260ish bhp with high boost.

What engine mounts does everyone recommend?

Paul

Be lucky to make 260bhp on the standard intercooler as only place to mount it in the nova is behind the radiator so it won't get much airflow to it.

[Paul]

was 260 in the astra gsi.

Going to get mine running and measure up etc before i go buy an expensive one.

Paul

[Lee H]

was 260 in the astra gsi.

Going to get mine running and measure up etc before i go buy an expensive one.

Paul

More room in an astra engine bay to get the intercooler in some airflow rather than sat on top of the gearbox behind the rad and oil cooler in a Nova.

[DaveMarshall]

Don't fit the standard intercooler, it's a pile of poo in a Calibra let alone in a Nova plus it will never fit properly. Cheapest front mount intercooler is a Frontera 2.8 jobby these are less than ?100 second hand or I think Forge do new alloy intercoolers from ?180+. If you run an F20 you'll need an XE clutch friction plate. If it's a later LET engine you'll need to swap the bottom pulley and alternator as later LET engines have multi-vee belt.

As said I run an F20 in mine but i'm only running standard power plus I have two spare F20's sat in my shed and access to a ramp so i'll stick with that. If your planning on phase 3 or more though i'd recommend fitment of an F28.

[Paul]

Right should be in and running this weekend, then ill sort me intercooler out, thats my main worry.

Got new cambelt kit today and waterpump, alsio usual bits, oil filter, new air filter which one should i buy, oil, antifreeze, etc jus basic service before it goes in.

What suspension does averyone recommend.

I am currently running gm,ax 60mm kit on my valver, I know its a bit ****, but got it really cheap brand new, so cant complain.

Paul