what to do with the gsi...

[adam_92]

well as a few of you guys know the gsi shit itself the other day and is now undrivable. im in the process of taking the engine out but once its out i have a few options.

my first option is to just fix/rebuild the stock motor and see if i can tweek things a bit to get a little bit more performance

secondly is to rebuild and modify the stock 1.6 for more performance and a stronger engine

third is to fit a 1.8 either from a astra or a sri corsa with a few mods for quite a bit more performance

or fourth option is to go all out with a much more powerful redtop conversion but that would need to go over the pits unless i make it a non road legal track car

what are your thoughts and the reasons behind them ???

[MAD-16V]

Do what you can afford.
Do what makes you happy.

[milestones54]

Red top conversion is rare in Aus. If the conversion wasnt too big of a job (for you) then that would be the best value for money conversion. A few companys (regal im pretty sure) will provide ready made kits for the conversion too

[Kimme]

Why not kill 2 birds with one stone (sorta)? Rebuild your 1.6 with stronger internals and bore/stroke it to a 1.8? :)

Z18XE/X18XE1 pistons / X16XE conrods / X18XE crank (x18xe oil pump to suit)

[poita]

i have a c20xe here, you know you want it

[gmonkey]

Take the z32 outta the vectra and put it in the corsa :p

[auzvectra]

so the engine is def dead? had gone too far, n wasnt just the balancer loose?

i say go the z18xe conversion, only cause i know it's a very simple swap, and will run on the stock ecu. giving you quite a boost in power ~25-30% more if u go extractors ect....

and more agian if u chip it ;). u got a x or c 16xe? afm or map sensor? i have a chip handy for the map sensor style ;).

if u go the z18xe conversion, let me know if u want the lil tricks to get it runnin on the stock ecu, it's fairly easy to do.

[adam_92]

Do what you can afford.
Do what makes you happy.

i could afford to c20xe but then it would be near impossible to register it legally


Red top conversion is rare in Aus. If the conversion wasnt too big of a job (for you) then that would be the best value for money conversion. A few companys (regal im pretty sure) will provide ready made kits for the conversion too

it wouldnt be too big of a job but i would probably get an auto electricial for the electrical side of things because thats one thing i hate messing with


Why not kill 2 birds with one stone (sorta)? Rebuild your 1.6 with stronger internals and bore/stroke it to a 1.8? :)

Z18XE/X18XE1 pistons / X16XE conrods / X18XE crank (x18xe oil pump to suit)

i was thinking about doing this but after all the problems you had it made me think twice or was yours because it had been built wrong ?


i have a c20xe here, you know you want it

just shush!!! haha


Take the z32 outta the vectra and put it in the corsa :p

dont tempt me haha


so the engine is def dead? had gone too far, n wasnt just the balancer loose?

i say go the z18xe conversion, only cause i know it's a very simple swap, and will run on the stock ecu. giving you quite a boost in power ~25-30% more if u go extractors ect....

and more agian if u chip it ;). u got a x or c 16xe? afm or map sensor? i have a chip handy for the map sensor style ;).

if u go the z18xe conversion, let me know if u want the lil tricks to get it runnin on the stock ecu, it's fairly easy to do.

this is probably the route il go down. i know one of the guys down at black diamond (holden specialised wreckers) and they have a wrecked gsi in there with a running engine and he also said they had a z18xe astra engine from an astra that was rear ended so il see what they are like and how much they want for them. what sorta stuff will i need to do the z18xe conversion ?

[auzvectra]

just swapping a few bits n peices, making an adaptor plate for the thottle body, or drill n tapping new holes. and removing the thermostat return line drilling out and tapping it for the 2nd temp sensor ect...

a lot of it is the same or similar, but pref an earlier z18xe as the later doesnt have the crank sensor landing like the 1.6L, which is fixable, but easier if it has ;).

[adam_92]

ok cool. sounds a bit confusing but im sure its easier than it sounds. and how early z18xe ? is it before a certain build date ?

[Kimme]

The issues I had with my car had nothing to do with the combo of parts. THe first time around I had a set of oversized x16xe forged pistons and conrods, the failure was cause by incorrect machining or assembly.
Currently we're just waiting for the new parts to finish getting machined and should start assembling next week!

Just make sure you do it right first time, and you won't run into issues.

[adam_92]

ah right so yours was human error kimme not the setup

[auzvectra]

well i have an 04 model here that doesnt have it, but i have an 01 that does. other then that i cant say. just have a look at your crank sensor (lower rear of the balancer) and see if that bracket is on the 1 u pick up ;). it stands out, so easy enough to see.

[Kimme]

ah right so yours was human error kimme not the setup

Yep, playing it safe this time and the conrods have been professionally machined and fitted to the pistons!

Sounds like you've got some good options to sit down and think about. (also, my advice is to not let the rego run out, not sure how strict they are over there)

[adam_92]

well i have an 04 model here that doesnt have it, but i have an 01 that does. other then that i cant say. just have a look at your crank sensor (lower rear of the balancer) and see if that bracket is on the 1 u pick up ;). it stands out, so easy enough to see.

ah right so its better if i get one with the bracket


Yep, playing it safe this time and the conrods have been professionally machined and fitted to the pistons!

Sounds like you've got some good options to sit down and think about. (also, my advice is to not let the rego run out, not sure how strict they are over there)

cool. yeah iv got a lot to think about. the main thing is wether i want to keep it road legal or not then go from there

[auzvectra]

ah right so its better if i get one with the bracket

yeh, it wont have the sensor on there (well a x18 will) but it does have the bracket on the earlier z18's. just have to do a visual check.

on the early z18/x18 is was cast into the oil pump, on the 16xe it was bolted onto the oil pump thru the oil pump bolt in that area, but has a locating dowel. this bracket can be put onto the z18 if it doesnt have it, but requires a lil grinding, best to just get a z18 that has it ;).

[adam_92]

yeah i want as little work as possible so theres less chance of it fuking up

[auzvectra]

yeh all basic stuff if u get the 1 with that bracket :).

just take the thermostat housing to some1 to get the 1/8" npt thread done for the sensor. ;)

the 1.8L clutch is about 5-10mm bigger over all, but either will work just the same, same spline size, and the 1.6L flywheel will bolt onto the 1.8L no probs. can use 1.8L or 1.6L alternator, the crank pulleys are the same, but the 1.8L has a 5v belt compared to the 1.6L's 6v. 1.6L engine mount bolts strait to the 1.8L, the manifold doesnt have much clearance, but it fits. 1.6L fuel rail, but 1.8L injectors, need to make an adaptor for the fuel rail mounts but. and some tricky work with the vac lines ;).

reasonably easy.

oh crank n cam sensors from the 1.6L and the 1.6L exhaust cam pulley.

[rufion]

hmm from memory the z18 is a challenge for the corsa b from memory new wiring is required as with corsa b it only has the cutting of 6 wires from memory the rest is plug for plug, the difference between a modified x16xe and the stock c20xe is very large due to torque.

my redtop conversion passed engineers cert first go and has passed all rego inspections since, has been the family daily drivers and costs me 480 for comprehensive insured with everything on the policy record...the conversion process is easy, just allow yourself MONTHS of weekends as to do it properly it takes time, or spend 3-4K at the mechanic plus parts needed plus motor...or buy mine as its for sale now on carsales... (did anyone see that coming)

[adam_92]

didnt see it coming mate and i already beat u to it and made a thread about it haha. im gonna talk to my dad tonight when hes finished work about ur beast!! so fingers crossed

[auzvectra]

hmm from memory the z18 is a challenge for the corsa b from memory new wiring is required as with corsa b it only has the cutting of 6 wires from memory the rest is plug for plug, the difference between a modified x16xe and the stock c20xe is very large due to torque.

my redtop conversion passed engineers cert first go and has passed all rego inspections since, has been the family daily drivers and costs me 480 for comprehensive insured with everything on the policy record...the conversion process is easy, just allow yourself MONTHS of weekends as to do it properly it takes time, or spend 3-4K at the mechanic plus parts needed plus motor...or buy mine as its for sale now on carsales... (did anyone see that coming)

no wires need cutting for the z18 ;).

but as u said. much easier to get the whole thing done n dusted n running properly :).

let me know if ur selling ur old gsi as it is, if u get rufions :).

[rufion]

no wires need cutting for the z18 ;).

Ok, memory failed.

[adam_92]

no wires need cutting for the z18 ;).

but as u said. much easier to get the whole thing done n dusted n running properly :).

let me know if ur selling ur old gsi as it is, if u get rufions :).

i would either sell it or rebuild it for track use only so i dont have to fark around with engineer certs. how much would you be looking at paying though ??? i think i have worked out why it wont start again. i fixed the harmonic balancer problem and its cranking and wants to start but it just wont start and i checked the timing on the cam gears and realised that one of the lugs has snapped off the exhaust gear.

[auzvectra]

i would either sell it or rebuild it for track use only so i dont have to fark around with engineer certs. how much would you be looking at paying though ??? i think i have worked out why it wont start again. i fixed the harmonic balancer problem and its cranking and wants to start but it just wont start and i checked the timing on the cam gears and realised that one of the lugs has snapped off the exhaust gear.

more just thought if u were gettin rid of it, i know a few ppl that are keen to do up a track car aswell :).

[adam_92]

i would probably get rid of it to bump up my deposit on something more reliable. Pm me if u want.

[OzStick]

Send an email to AutoVaux as they have the cam gears in stock, even though they are not listed on their website. FWIR it will set you back under $100 landed. If that's all that you can see is wrong then why not do it?