here we go, big block v's small block (not the normal thread)

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Originally Posted by Lee

Yes, but to avoid a complete ballache, you need to run aftermarket management, and you also need to do something about the flybywire throttle.

At the moment, while there are still LETS and XE's availiable, its still not cost effective to go for the Z18, no matter how good it is, although on the flipside, finding LETS and XE's that dont need a full rebuild is getting harder, which does offset the cost.

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Meh in short, what i said :p

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Originally Posted by Lee

Yes, but to avoid a complete ballache, you need to run aftermarket management, and you also need to do something about the flybywire throttle.

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Management is a piece of piss.. And the Fly-by-wire throttle isnt part of the pedal box so easy to retrofit.

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Originally Posted by DaveyLC

Management is a piece of piss.. And the Fly-by-wire throttle isnt part of the pedal box so easy to retrofit.

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I take it you have done this conversion?

Im afraid that some people struggle with the 4 wires needed to connect an XE. Thats fair enough, not everyone knows their way around wires.

But im lead to believe the ecu on the Z18 takes readings from other parts of the car amalagamated into the vehicles main loom?

Might be easy for some, but im pretty confidednt for most (including myself) it would be a ballache.

Z18 uses simtec90.. It doesnt rely on a body control module.

Basically there are only a few wires that you need to mess about with, power, earth, ignition, diagnostic pin, transponder (2 wires), coolant temp, revs, and the 6 wires for the fly-by-wire throttle..

Brake switch and speedo feed are optional although a speedo feed should be used as the ECU behaves differently when the car is actually moving.

I've retro fitted engines with Motronic 1.5.5 (Z20LET), Simtec70 and Simte90 ECU's.. all are pretty simple when you narrow it down to the basic wiring components.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DaveyLC

Z18 uses simtec90.. It doesnt rely on a body control module.

Basically there are only a few wires that you need to mess about with, power, earth, ignition, diagnostic pin, transponder (2 wires), coolant temp, revs, and the 6 wires for the fly-by-wire throttle..

Brake switch and speedo feed are optional although a speedo feed should be used as the ECU behaves differently when the car is actually moving.

I've retro fitted engines with Motronic 1.5.5 (Z20LET), Simtec70 and Simte90 ECU's.. all are pretty simple when you narrow it down to the basic wiring components.

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Thanks for prooving me right. That looks like a ballache lol

Fair play though, you obviously know your onions.

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Originally Posted by Lee

Thanks for prooving me right. That looks like a ballache lol

Fair play though, you obviously know your onions.

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Just have to get over your fear or wires :thumb:

I dont have a fear of wires, i could probably work through it with enough time and the right diagrams lol My original point though was that its still not a cost effective option for the average nova owner who is after budget performance, and an easy install. I can happily get 200bhp from my old decrepid 2.0 16v, and I can chuck one of those into a Nova in 1 day, so im not going to fork out 100's for a Z18 and then fry my brain looking at wiring diagrams.

You may think its easy, but a rocket scientist would think its easy plotting a course to Mars. If you or I were to do it, whatever was launched would probably crash horribly into the Moon lol

I NEVER disputed how good the engine is though. Its a proper belter :)


EDIT actually, its technically a smallblock, so it sucks the fat one!!!!!!

Z18 Engine, loom + ECU will set you back about £300-350..

You dont need to invest in engine mounts, drive shafts, hubs, **** around with gear selector mechanisms etc.. The only real 'hardcore' mechanical job is to fab the down pipe and make up some hoses for the heater matrix.

Surely the costs are relatively the same if people are doing the Redtop conversion and doing it properly?

Even a driving retard like myself could pedel Dans old car(s) round the roads/track with reasonable ease :)
And Jims wasnt too shabby either :D

I might have to slip Dar a few bottles of iffy apple juice to blag a pilot of his, and of course just nick Lee's while hes not looking as I miss ranting that engine lol

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Originally Posted by Lee

EDIT actually, its technically a smallblock, so it sucks the fat one!!!!!!

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lol at that :thumb:



i wouldn't mind one, if or when the xe give's up the ghost in the xe..
but knowing me, would probably just bang another xe in it