Engine predicament

[Stoo]

I have an XE with all the parts to do a conversion out of my old car lying in my garage

But ive been offered a very good deal on a set of sport T40s, Irmscher airbox, linkage, Irmscher inlet manifold, Ashley 4-1 manifold and a 285 cam

Do i get that stuff and fit it all to the 1.4 with a 1.6 MPI head and have 130 BHP MAX or fit n XE and have a nice 150 to start with??

[draper]

XE, it wins everytime for me

[phatnova16v]

i will have to say that i would go for the 1.4 1) cos its a lighter engine 2)how many people have done a xe conversion if u want something different do the 1.4 but thats just me wanting to do things different

[atokley]

got to be an xe, not only do you get more power standard, it is more reliable at a higher power, less stressed and has a **** load more torque!

[LUV2XLR8]

im going to run a 1.4 with a stupid cam and ported and polished head. gona rebuild the bottom end too.
go old school ;) love the sound of a lumpy cam lol

[Dar]

Neither of these options are 'different'.
Do what the hell you want to do. I would choose the XE, but thats me.

[BIGS]

I would say the xe. But if you wouldnt be tunning the xe go for the 1.4 as when there tunned they keep up with a standard xe nova. And you will have the handling aswell.

[vaughanmc]

1.4 on 40's sounds good...go for that

small block novas all the way!

[coochiSR]

it's unusual whereas everyone seems to xe a nov atm, and bet the 1.4 shifts aswell, love the small block power!!! and when you tell people its a 1.4 you gotta watch there faces drop cos they thought it was an xe :D:D :D GOTTA BE DONE!

[Jack]

No replacement for displacement.

[tom_beverley]

No replacement for displacement.

lol

I'd go for the 1400 with T40's mate because like coochisr says it is rewarding when you have stuck to the tail of something more powerful and its still a 1.4.

Plus - cheaper tax and insurance and more MPG!!!

[Adam]

Plus - cheaper tax and insurance and more MPG!!!
Insurance ain't going to be that much different to a xe when you tell the insurance company you've fitted twin carbs and almost doubled the power output of your engine, lol.
XE will give more mpg than a 1400 on 40s all day long.

I'd go Xe. You'll only get bored with the 1400.

[krobinson]

Insurance ain't going to be that much different to a xe when you tell the insurance company you've fitted twin carbs and almost doubled the power output of your engine, lol.
XE will give more mpg than a 1400 on 40s all day long.

I'd go Xe. You'll only get bored with the 1400.

Agreed.

My big spec small block only did about 170 miles to a full tank. It went very very well and sounded awesome. But its now sold to a nova sport owner and i'm fitting a LET.

So i'd sell the XE and buy a LET ;) Sneaky option 3!

Keith

[Stoo]

Agreed.

My big spec small block only did about 170 miles to a full tank. It went very very well and sounded awesome. But its now sold to a nova sport owner and i'm fitting a LET.

So i'd sell the XE and buy a LET ;) Sneaky option 3!

Keith

Tis a very sneaky otion 3 indeed

But im hoping to LET my OTHER shell!!
So having 2 LETs would be greedy really!!

[dannyb]

Will the car in question or the LET be a daily driver?

[Stoo]

The car in question is currently my Daily Drive SR

But its super clean, so im gonna rebuild it with a few choice bits n bobs and use it as a show/weekend thing to be kept in my loverly heated garage!

[Lee]

Stu, you never listen to me do you!

TB'd XE for track, LET for road, problem solved.

Plus im fed up with you telling me you could have 130BHP. I wouldnt get out of bed for that sort of power lol lol

[draper]

you could have 130BHP. I wouldnt get out of bed for that sort of power lol lol

lol lol lol lol

[Philsutton]

The xe will use less fuel and be faster. There is a reason why so many people have xe's in their novas.

[Adam]

And the XE will cost less.
T40s nowadays are going for ?200-?400 for just the carbs alone.

[scott.parker]

Stu you big gay...use the "runaround" for just that,as a cheep daily car,and put your money and time into theother one...:roll: :thumb:

Scott

[kronk10]

Stu, you never listen to me do you!

TB'd XE for track, LET for road, problem solved.

Plus im fed up with you telling me you could have 130BHP. I wouldnt get out of bed for that sort of power lol lol
I get out of bed for about 115 on my 1.4 and i could get 130 bhp mine if i had more pennys. I just got myn back today and driving home down some country lanes it was amazing. The roar of the 40's and the pull its got, i have driven more powerfull cars but theres just something special about a small block 1.4. Leaving saxos and bigger engine cars behind is so fun in any nova (especially a xe or let) but in a small block it feels good. I could go on for ever so the 1.4 or i will DESTROY you:wtf:

Oh and i have a similiar spec to what you want so 130bhp is acheivable you of all people should know that (your now dead 1.2 project remember)

[Ash]

i dont know why but, burgo.

Ash

[dannyb]

Leaving saxos and bigger engine cars behind is so fun in any nova (especially a xe or let) but in a small block it feels good. I could go on for ever so the 1.4 or i will DESTROY you:wtf:

And I guess you pay cheap road tax too!

[Stoo]

so the 1.4 or i will DESTROY you:wtf:

Oh and i have a similiar spec to what you want so 130bhp is acheivable you of all people should know that (your now dead 1.2 project remember)

Dead 1.2 Project?? Got the wrong guy matey. Your thinking of Stuart. Ive Never had a 1.2! Ive got an XE a GSi and an SR but never a 1.2!!

I think for simplicity, its gonna have to be the XE. Nice healthy 150BHP and 135 ish LbFt torque, For <?500 cannot be beaten really. Better MPG and a hell of alot quicker only downside is the tax/insurance thing!! Meh!All its really gonna cost me is the welding in the bay cos i have everything else!! (Well apart from an AFM and a few hoses, Robbing *******s!!) But TBs or T45s can sort that lol!

Anyway, cheers for your input guys!!

And scott, this is a bit too clean to be arunaround i think, needs slight attention but with a little TLC itll be an absolute minter!! So keep this as a show/weekend thing, build the other as a track car, and buy another run about!

[Adam]

I think for simplicity, its gonna have to be the XE. Nice healthy 150BHP and 135 ish LbFt torque, For <?500 cannot be beaten really. Better MPG and a hell of alot quicker only downside is the tax/insurance thing!! Meh!All its really gonna cost me is the welding in the bay cos i have everything else!! (Well apart from an AFM and a few hoses, Robbing *******s!!) But TBs or T45s can sort that lol!

Got to say good decision, worth it in the long run.
You could spend a fair bit on a 1400 on Not get 130bhp, and the weight different between small and big block isn't as much as people think.

[Riggy]

XE it you big homo and then fit them 45's you had :thumb:

[Stoo]

LOL 45s got sold a few weeks ago matey, got ?320 for em, and ?65 for the manifold!!!

XE It is then,

[kronk10]

My wrong stu soz got congused with the other stuart are you gonna put up a thread in the projects section