c20xe tuning!?

**Big_Chap** · 02-12-2003 09:20

hello, i have a nova gsi with a c20xe lump and was wondering if anyone can recommend any good mods to get more bhp from it? it used to run throttle bodies before i had it and would like to get a set back on there! i see some advertised as 185's, 205's and 225's etc, can these alone actually give that much? can't really see it to be honest. also i think it has cams but can't be sure, any way of finding out?

also seen the bit about finding out if its the cossie head but not sure which side to look at, is it the dizzy side or under the cam belt cover?

also, what oil can you recommend for this engine? i've not long had it but thought i'd be aswell as knowing incase of emergancy etc.

cheers!

**Ph@tboy** · 02-12-2003 12:12

i think the coscast stamp is on dizzy side.....not 100% tho

and its kind dependant on mileage but im running 10w40 vauxhall oil in mine, ive done 140k

Ben

**Big_Chap** · 08-12-2003 15:39

bttt

**Rob_S** · 08-12-2003 15:53

nice, go for a decent TB setup and you are laughing. the coscast head doesnt have a GM stamp or gallery plug next to the dizzy. for getting TBs you would be well to find out which profile cams you have so you can map to suit, the profile should be stamped on the end of both cams

**Big_Chap** · 09-12-2003 15:27

cheers, i think its the coscast head, i had a quick squint at it lastnight but will have a better look at the weekend! according to the thing on V-tuning.

what tb's are best? total vaux did a feature on Jenson (i think) and said they were really good, it was a step by step guide to fitting them and the XE produced 179 from standard! they were about £1700 (without fitting!) are the regal ones at a grand any good? a bit cheap i thought and look ****e in that cover thing.

can i see the ends of the cams by removing the belt cover? ou said about checking the cam's profile, is that before i pick the tb's? when i get them i was thinking about getting a das-tek unichip, what do you lads think of them? a bit pricey at £350 but gotta be better than a superchip?

Cheers!!!

**Rob_S** · 09-12-2003 15:30

jenvey
have a look at www.sbdev.co.uk

**Big_Chap** · 16-12-2003 13:10

bttt

**ally astra** · 16-12-2003 13:32

get a courtney group n chip mate or a think they do a remaped ecu for what ever TBs you get. i heard they work really well and they learn as they go along your car will get quicker and quicker because it reacts to the way you drive.

**newby** · 16-12-2003 14:13

you can't use a courtenay grp n chip with throttle bodies you need a decent mappable ecu like mbe.

**chip** · 16-12-2003 14:28

Originally posted by ally astra
get a courtney group n chip mate or a think they do a remaped ecu for what ever TBs you get. i heard they work really well and they learn as they go along your car will get quicker and quicker because it reacts to the way you drive.

blimey you've certanily heard a lot of ****e then

**CraigGreen** · 16-12-2003 14:34

Get a BTB Nova XE manifold

Courtenay Grp N chip is good though.

**ally astra** · 16-12-2003 14:49

would agree with that

**Big_Chap** · 16-12-2003 15:28

forgot to say earlier, its got a new-ish 4 branch manifold but don't know what it is or who made it or it could even be a new standard one but i don't know if they come stanard with a 4 brancher?

how much for the courtenay chip?

**Topbuzz** · 16-12-2003 16:47

> also seen the bit about finding out if its the cossie head but not sure which side to look at

read my guide, you can tell by several factors

http://www.topbuzz.co.uk/info/porous...rous_heads.htm

> also, what oil can you recommend for this engine?

if you have trade club with VX dealer (I got mine through club calibra), you can get 4...yes 4 x 5lt bottles of 10w40 semi for.....£17! Thats 20 ltrs of oil for £17.

But other than go for mobile1

> if anyone can recommend any good mods to get more bhp from it?

Easy, Nos.
Best BHP to the £.

Other than that
1) uprated camshafts
2) port/polished head
3) throttle bodies

**WeeKenny** · 16-12-2003 17:25

Originally posted by Big_Chap
forgot to say earlier, its got a new-ish 4 branch manifold but don't know what it is or who made it or it could even be a new standard one but i don't know if they come stanard with a 4 brancher?

how much for the courtenay chip?

They have a 4 branch as std.

Theres another user in fife with a tb'd XE in a cav if you want to see how well they go.

**Big_Chap** · 17-12-2003 12:25

Originally posted by Topbuzz
> also seen the bit about finding out if its the cossie head but not sure which side to look at

read my guide, you can tell by several factors

http://www.topbuzz.co.uk/info/porous...rous_heads.htm

> also, what oil can you recommend for this engine?

if you have trade club with VX dealer (I got mine through club calibra), you can get 4...yes 4 x 5lt bottles of 10w40 semi for.....£17! Thats 20 ltrs of oil for £17.

But other than go for mobile1

> if anyone can recommend any good mods to get more bhp from it?

Easy, Nos.
Best BHP to the £.

Other than that
1) uprated camshafts
2) port/polished head
3) throttle bodies

thanks very much mr buzz,

do you know of any clubs i could join that gives such discount?
was thinking about the PNG? can you join MIG? is it worth it if i'm a member here?

on your list, is that in an order? i think its got a cam cause its a bit lumpy at 2250 rpm and pulls like a mother afterwards. would i be better to get the head ported and polished before tb's? was thinking about not bothering with that sort of thing and just go straight for tb power also i don't know how good or strong the head (or even the engine for that matter) is, not had the car very long but i'm going to get it on a rolling road in the holidays and see what its kicking out.

Kenny, how can i tell the manifold is std or not? its in good nick from what i can see so any markings should be visable.

another thing is the gear changes are sh!te sometimes! its the linkages i think, i lost 5th gear a few weeks ago but noticed that there was a loose connection on a ball joint and clipped it back in but sometimes it doesn't want to go in 5th and sometimes just won't go into reverse without crunching which is embarrasing! i've read about the numerous linkages and think its probably just worn, and need replaced, is this expensive/hard? i was also going to buy a shortshift linkage from an ad in total vaux, they are only £32! is this a cheap immitation of the more expensive ones or just at a lower price?

**WeeKenny** · 17-12-2003 16:40

um dont think the std one has anything stamped on it mate.

the quick shifts replace the pivot bit on the f20 the uni joint bit is the bit that wears out.

**Topbuzz** · 23-12-2003 19:09

> do you know of any clubs i could join that gives such discount?

The only clubs that do VX trade club is club calibra and auto barnstomers. I did read something on www.cavweb.co.uk they may be doing one. But you can do far worse than joing MIG.

> on your list, is that in an order?

yes, in cost and easiest to do.

i think its got a cam cause its a bit lumpy at 2250 rpm and pulls like a mother afterwards. would i be better to get the head ported and polished before tb's?

Well I bought a 2nd hand, low milage E16Se ported and flowed head and 270 piper cams for my Nova GTE. I don't notice a lot of difference, manily noise. But I haven't had it on a rolling road yet. Put it this way, I would never pay £400+ for a port/polished 8v head, dosn't seem worth it to me, lucky I got mine 2nd hand.

NOS is your best bet, but it does cost in refills though

> Kenny, how can i tell the manifold is std or not?

it will proably be very brown and rusty by now if its the orignal item on there since it rolled out the factory. There may be a GM stamping on ther,e but luck would have it, it will probably in a place you can't see it unless you take it off.

**Mark T** · 23-12-2003 19:43

Originally posted by Topbuzz

> Kenny, how can i tell the manifold is std or not?

it will proably be very brown and rusty by now if its the orignal item on there since it rolled out the factory. There may be a GM stamping on ther,e but luck would have it, it will probably in a place you can't see it unless you take it off.

As they are stainless steel, they never really go rusty, certainly no loose/dusty rust.

They discolour with age, but a polish up will have them shining like new.

**Big_Chap** · 07-04-2004 12:18

Originally Posted by Mark T

As they are stainless steel, they never really go rusty, certainly no loose/dusty rust.

They discolour with age, but a polish up will have them shining like new.

are they stainless? i didn't know that! i'm away to check with a magnet the now!

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