Pros and Cons of XE/LET/V6 conversions

[djshaggeh]

I have a friend who has recently decidided that he wants another nova again. He is planning on getting a bank loan and buying a donor car and a nova but he is unsure as to what engine he wants to put in his nova.

He has seen a 2.5 V6 omega for sale for a cheap price but I was unable to give him details as to what is involved to get the engine in, what the car will handle and perform like etc. So I was wondering if anyone could fill us in.

Cheers in advance :thumb:

[Jack]

XE
Pro: Cheap and lots about
Pro: Relatively easy to fit, myriad of fitting kits/parts available
Pro: Tried and tested

Con: Lowest power of the three
Con: Big power = big money
Con: Getting on a bit now, most are high milers

LET
Pro: Easy to tune
Pro: 200bhp out the box
Pro: Erm.... you can fit a DV? lol

Con: Most expensive engine of the three
Con: Insurance = ?LOL
Con: Least availability

V6
Pro: Lazy power, torque FTW
Pro: Cheapest engine - I've seen plenty of V6's sell for ~?100 on ebay
Pro: Can mash parts together from the 3.0 and 2.5 version to get cheap power hikes

Con: Heaviest
Con: You'll become a gold account holder with Toyo lol, wheeeelspin y0
Con: Hardest to fit of the three

[General Baxter]

Con: You'll become a gold account holder with Toyo lol, wheeeelspin y0



wikid yo!

[Adam]

200hp is gettable for about ?400 on a 2.5 v6( inc buying the engine)

There hard to fit in a nova though.

[General Baxter]

but why are some c25xe's rolling roaded at 160-190bhp lol and there all std lol

[Adam]

Because thats std power. 3l cams in a c25xe=200hp

[djshaggeh]

Cheers Razorjack that reply was just what I was after.

With regards to difficult to fit, I take it its getting the engine inside the bay or is it more then that?

[Adam]

Engine mounts need sorting and the rear exhaust manifold hits the steering rack. No doubt coolant pipes will need to be modded too

[Lee]

You have issues such as routing the rear manifold around stuff like the rack. I think thats the biggest ballache.

[Mike]

Because thats std power. 3l cams in a c25xe=200hp

Aye, my sisters X25XE made 196bhp ATF with a K&N and Vec ST exhaust system. Other then thats its totally standard. Although the catalyst had collasped & both manifolds cracked (RR guy informed of this)

Its since had a new GM cat, GM service (plugs, tensioners, cambelts, oil etc etc) new GM exhaust manifolds, Longlife exhaust system and rear box (totalling ?1.2k) and its due back on the rollers soon, so we'll see what happens.

[djshaggeh]

Right Im gonna try and persuade him out of the V6 route.

^Sounds expensive.

What the biggest ballache with the LET route?

[Lee]

with a standard one, there isnt one really. The only real issue you have is fitting a chargecooler if you want to keep it stealth., as an FMIC would need a nice opening to get plenty of air.

[djshaggeh]

Thats what I like to hear...

[Adam]

Biggest probs really are welding the F28 mount(if you use that box), converting the box to 2wd(fairly straight forward)
Cutting the slam for the compressor air inlet pipe
And i think the gear linkage has to be cut/welded(to use a F28)