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  1. #1
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    2003 Holden Combo with Z16SE coversion to Z18XE - Clear advice needed please,.o

    Hi All,

    No sure if its just me but ive read hours and hours of material on this site regarding combo engine conversions and I either cant find any definitive answers on the subject... or is it me and at the young age of 45 ive aquired dementia and not seeing some thing obvious?

    This is my situation. Im a self employed car detailer. starting life over again at 45 after giving my lifes possessions to an ex wife. Business is good but money is tight and to compound my problems im told the existing Z16SE is in need of a rebuild. I managed to buy a 2001 SRI Barina for not very much at all. The ECU was dead. I took a punt, bought the car, got it to my holden dealership and today after handing over $980. I got a fully working, SRI that got a clean bill of health. Wow I had no idea they were that punchy.. I guess what isnt when you drive a SOHC piece of crap Z16se.

    Now my question. Ive got the donor car and presumably everything I need. Is this a straight forward conversion? ei rape the SRI for everything its got and transplant it into the combo without any major organ rejection issues thats going to blow out costs etc.

    Any real factual info would be greatly appreciated.

    Cheers in advance all.

    Denis
    Click here to enlarge Warning: This is an Old Thread
    This discussion is older than 120 days. information contained in it may no longer be current . Please think of the children before resurrecting this ancient thread!

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    OpelAus Enthusiast Raisin's Avatar
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    Welcome to OpelAus. The SRi's are great little cars with these 1.8s eh?

    @chris_r should be able to give you some info there or maybe @guy 27

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    OpelAus Forum Addict chris_r's Avatar
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    It can be done fairly easy and you pretty much have everything you need to do it with the donor car. I am currently at work this very minute, but I will reply with more details when I get home.
    2001 Opel Corsa C SRi: Z20LET EDS stage 3.5 173.9kW @ the wheels Build thread and here on FB: http://www.facebook.com/corsasriz20let
    2018 Ford Transit 290S: Transit #2, in that order and it's also a POS
    1998 Opel Combo B: It has begun, and it's stalled - Build thread and FB page
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    Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Raisin Click here to enlarge
    Welcome to OpelAus. The SRi's are great little cars with these 1.8s eh?

    @chris_r should be able to give you some info there or maybe @guy 27
    Thanks for the quick reply Mate. yup agree SRI's are fun and Im extremely hopefull it will be the perfect donor car. Ive already spent a bunch of time fixing up the Combo, rubbed it all back, fixed all the dents, all primed up and ready for colour. Trying very hard to turn a devastation situation into a major positive. Hence.. keep the car, give it a nice new asthetic makeover and put something under the bonnet that is a please to drive rather than a chore.

    thanks Again.

    I shall follow the trail till I find the holy grail or die trying Click here to enlarge

    bloody hell. Thanks Chris. I should have posted this a couple of weeks ago. Look forward to hearing from you.

    (does Irish jig)

    bloody hell. Thanks Chris. I should have posted this a couple of weeks ago. Look forward to hearing from you.

    (does Irish jig)
    Last edited by [email protected]; 21st January 2015 at 02:58 PM.

  5. #5
    Cruise Co-ordinator adam_92's Avatar
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    Its going to be quite easy for you having a complete donor car. Basically a case of stripping the van bare, stripping the sri and then transplanting everything into the van. Could potentially be done in a weekend, depending on how mechanically minded you are and how quick you work.
    OPEL ADDICT 1994 CORSA B 1.5D (ENGLAND) 2001 CORSA C 1.2L (ENGLAND) 2004 CORSA C 1.4L (SOLD) 2004 3.2 V6 VECTRA GTS (SOLD)
    1994 CORSA B GSI C16 CONVERTED TO Z18XE (SOLD) 2001 ASTRA VAN Z16SE (CURRENT)

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    Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by adam_92 Click here to enlarge
    Its going to be quite easy for you having a complete donor car. Basically a case of stripping the van bare, stripping the sri and then transplanting everything into the van. Could potentially be done in a weekend, depending on how mechanically minded you are and how quick you work.
    Cheers Adam. yeah this job is certainly above my comfort zone. I have 2 choices available to me. One is a good mechanic whom I have have loads of faith the job will be done efficiently.. however he hasnt done this one before and Im wondering how much researching time Ill be gettting billed for I guess is fair enough. The other option is a backyard mechanic friend who is very experienced and will be hell cheaper and time wont matter so much. I think I'll wait to see What Chris has to say before I committ to anything. Thanks for your input. Im feeling like Ive made the right choice and its going to pay off.
    Last edited by [email protected]; 21st January 2015 at 06:16 PM.

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    Cruise Co-ordinator adam_92's Avatar
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    Any competent mechanic should be able to do it. Literally a case of unbolting things and rebolting them onto the van
    OPEL ADDICT 1994 CORSA B 1.5D (ENGLAND) 2001 CORSA C 1.2L (ENGLAND) 2004 CORSA C 1.4L (SOLD) 2004 3.2 V6 VECTRA GTS (SOLD)
    1994 CORSA B GSI C16 CONVERTED TO Z18XE (SOLD) 2001 ASTRA VAN Z16SE (CURRENT)

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    Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by adam_92 Click here to enlarge
    Any competent mechanic should be able to do it. Literally a case of unbolting things and rebolting them onto the van
    I presume the loom is going to need some mods in places.... differences in length and position of things. Ideally I would have liked to engage a mechanic thats been there done that... knows what to expect. Beggars cant be chooses Click here to enlarge

    Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by adam_92 Click here to enlarge
    Any competent mechanic should be able to do it. Literally a case of unbolting things and rebolting them onto the van
    I presume the loom is going to need some mods in places.... differences in length and position of things. Ideally I would have liked to engage a mechanic thats been there done that... knows what to expect. that aside Im just grateful for all the input.
    Last edited by [email protected]; 21st January 2015 at 06:27 PM.

  9. #9
    OpelAus Forum Addict chris_r's Avatar
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    Alright. As Adam has said, it's pretty easy having the donor car and it's mostly a case of stripping the SRi and refitting it to the Combo. The engine and gearbox should bolt straight in. The Z16SE will have a Getrag F13 gearbox, where the SRi has a F17 box. Use the SRi box as it'll be stronger than the F13 anyway. Depending on the mileage on the SRi, I'd also take the opportunity to replace the clutch whilst it's out. That will be around $420 for the kit from Australian Clutch Services in Wingfield. Exhaust may need some modifying, but that shouldn't be too hard. Driveshafts should be all compatible between models. Also, if you don't know the service history on the SRi, other thing is to fit a new timing belt kit and water pump.

    Apart from the physical fitting of the engine, you need to use the ECU, injection loom (the engine's own wiring loom), key chips and transponder ring module from the SRi. As well as this, you need to remove the engine bay loom from the SRi and place it in the Combo. This loom pretty much goes all over the engine bay, including the fusebox and to the body control module (BCM) case, where the loom enters the car. It's not all that hard to swap the looms over (I just did it recently in my SRi, as I needed a different loom for the Z20LET engine). I'd probably swap the BCM module over too, along with the dash cluster. The only thing I can see that might be an issue, is the ABS. SRi has it, Combo doesn't. I wouldn't bother swapping it over, but I believe I can switch it off in the ECU using an OP-COM scan tool, seeing as you're also in Adelaide (I'm out in the Northern Suburbs, where teeth and shoes are optional).

    There was another user on here, goes by the username @Chris R (not to be confused with myself, I didn't even know the guy existed when I signed up), he did the same with his Combo, I know he was working on getting the cruise control working and what not, but if that's not an issue, I think everything else should be reasonably straightforward.

    Where I used to work, we had two Z14XEP (DOHC "Twinport" 1.4L) equipped XC Combo vans. Indeed, they were pretty gutless and I think they should've been a 1.8 straight out of the box. I actually have a SB Combo with a SOHC C14SE engine at the moment, but the C14SE is seized up and hence, this beast will copping the Z18XE I pulled from my SRi. Sure, the SRi in standard form is pretty zippy, it just didn't have enough killawasps for my liking, so I've put a Z20LET Astra Turbo engine in it instead.

    The biggest problem with the Z16SE is the fact that here in Australia, they only ever came out in the early XC Combo vans. No other vehicle sold by Holden here was fitted with that turd of an engine. Unless your name is @adam_92 and you have an imported Vauxhall Astravan.
    2001 Opel Corsa C SRi: Z20LET EDS stage 3.5 173.9kW @ the wheels Build thread and here on FB: http://www.facebook.com/corsasriz20let
    2018 Ford Transit 290S: Transit #2, in that order and it's also a POS
    1998 Opel Combo B: It has begun, and it's stalled - Build thread and FB page
    2009 Holden Commodore VE SS: Gen IV LS power for the inner bogan

  10. #10
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    Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by chris_r Click here to enlarge
    Alright. As Adam has said, it's pretty easy having the donor car and it's mostly a case of stripping the SRi and refitting it to the Combo. The engine and gearbox should bolt straight in. The Z16SE will have a Getrag F13 gearbox, where the SRi has a F17 box. Use the SRi box as it'll be stronger than the F13 anyway. Depending on the mileage on the SRi, I'd also take the opportunity to replace the clutch whilst it's out. That will be around $420 for the kit from Australian Clutch Services in Wingfield. Exhaust may need some modifying, but that shouldn't be too hard. Driveshafts should be all compatible between models. Also, if you don't know the service history on the SRi, other thing is to fit a new timing belt kit and water pump.

    Yup, my mechanic has already suggested timing belt, water pump but not the Clutch. Its an added expense Im willing to take on board so thats for the mention. The SRI has done 140k, ive sighted receipts for most sensors etc, brakes are good. new discs etc.

    Apart from the physical fitting of the engine, you need to use the ECU, injection loom (the engine's own wiring loom), key chips and transponder ring module from the SRi. As well as this, you need to remove the engine bay loom from the SRi and place it in the Combo. This loom pretty much goes all over the engine bay, including the fusebox and to the body control module (BCM) case, where the loom enters the car. It's not all that hard to swap the looms over (I just did it recently in my SRi, as I needed a different loom for the Z20LET engine). I'd probably swap the BCM module over too, along with the dash cluster. The only thing I can see that might be an issue, is the ABS. SRi has it, Combo doesn't. I wouldn't bother swapping it over, but I believe I can switch it off in the ECU using an OP-COM scan tool, seeing as you're also in Adelaide (I'm out in the Northern Suburbs, where teeth and shoes are optional).

    Yeah Im with you on the ABS... Would you take the back discs while on offer or not bother with those either?
    My combo was pretty miss treated when I got it... the door cards, dash.. anything plastic basically looks like 2 tasmanian devills has a fight to the death in the cabin. So with that I was going to just move the whole thing over. Including the carpet, just cut it off where the cabin ends and the van starts. I dont suppose I can make use of the side skirts and bumper of the SRI?


    There was another user on here, goes by the username @Chris R (not to be confused with myself, I didn't even know the guy existed when I signed up), he did the same with his Combo, I know he was working on getting the cruise control working and what not, but if that's not an issue, I think everything else should be reasonably straightforward.

    Yeah I followed that thread, Cruise control is not necessary and happy to ditch it. I'd take you up on your offer to reprogram if youre serious. Happy to give your z20LET the detail of its life when ever you like in return for the your help here.

    Where I used to work, we had two Z14XEP (DOHC "Twinport" 1.4L) equipped XC Combo vans. Indeed, they were pretty gutless and I think they should've been a 1.8 straight out of the box. I actually have a SB Combo with a SOHC C14SE engine at the moment, but the C14SE is seized up and hence, this beast will copping the Z18XE I pulled from my SRi. Sure, the SRi in standard form is pretty zippy, it just didn't have enough killawasps for my liking, so I've put a Z20LET Astra Turbo engine in it instead.

    I just sold my SB Combo before the shit hit the fan with my XC. 112K's on the clock but it struggled to get me up the freeway every wednesday with my permanent booking in Mt Barker. I Decided to sell it before I killed it etc.


    The biggest problem with the Z16SE is the fact that here in Australia, they only ever came out in the early XC Combo vans. No other vehicle sold by Holden here was fitted with that turd of an engine. Unless your name is @adam_92 and you have an imported Vauxhall Astravan.
    i feel for anyone with Z16se that needs work or replacing. Just a terrible option IMO.

    Im heading back in the shed now to keep working on the pretty stuff. I hope this thing looks alright when its done.. Ive gone for ford Focus electric orange and its going to be loud. Fits in with my corporate logo etc.

    Thanks a heap Chris. Youve taken away my fear of the unknown and replaced it with inspiration and enthusiasm. Im in Allenby Gardens btw.

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