c20xe, c16xe, or 20seh?

[8valve-craig]

Some of you will know my nova is currently 20seh, Cam, carbs yadda yadda. But its coming to the end of the line tuning wise so looking to move on.

I have recently been accumulating parts to build a high revving xe and now have them all. Pistons, rods, L/W crank, 45's, bp300's etc

Just looking for opinions really. I picked up a really sweet c16xe package today, Something i had never even considered but found a standard Gsi in the breakers with 86k and good history (64k cambelt) and had to have it.

Now im stuck. Maybe tuck the baby xe away for another day? another car? sell it? or sell all of the Xe bits to fund TB's and cams for the c16xe.

Worth mentioning its a track car so roadgoingness not important.

[philip2]

ive built both 20 and 16xe on rods, pistons, double springs, caps etc, unless a dedicated track car where maybe competing, id say stick with the 20xe if you have all or atleast majority of the parts, the 30kg or so extra of the 20xe shouldnt cause any noticable problems tbh, just make sure you have some decent brakes, correct poundage springs and tryes and away you go. olly on png had a cracking 20xe nova that iirc used in TOTB a few years ago and did very well

[8valve-craig]

Good point nicely put.

It would be nice to have a high spec 16Xe, but looking into it, it does seem to be "class related" where people are only tuning them to stay in the S,1600's

[philip2]

i spent 4.5k on my c16xe for the road, rods, pistons etc, linch over on png has most of the parts now, but id stick with the 20xe tbh matey.

[lee303]

build an 1800 small block, best of both worlds imo, 30 kg over the front wheels does make a noticeable difference

[Vinci]

Get an aluminium bottom end for a 20XE, saves 19Kg of weight!! Costs a fortune though...

[8valve-craig]

build an 1800 small block, best of both worlds imo, 30 kg over the front wheels does make a noticeable difference

Im not really noticing anything un-toward with the SEH. Can turn into the slower corners (Quarry and Tower @ combe), the only place i really notice the weight is at Camp, where i have to slow more than i would like to.....

I have access to an 1800 in a corsa C which is breaking locally. would i need the whole lump?

Does seem a bit backwards to tune an xe when im spending a fortune on fibergalass panels

[Bundchen11]

worlds imo, 30 kg over

[DarrenH]

i used to think my astra handled well too, concerning castle combe.

then i went to cadwell park, mallory park, brands hatch indy. these soon show up poor suspension, tyre and weight balance issues

if it was a choice of your current engine, versus a 20XE i wouldnt bother swapping it.

if you wanted a straight swap engine with future tuning potential then obviously the XE makes sense appart from starting from scratch.

i agree with lee though, small block is the right choice in a light FWD vehicle. sticking n/a essentially limits the engine torque, too much turning force doesnt make for a great nova/corsa imho.

[8valve-craig]

Might as well update this. Been round in circles the last few weeks. Went out and bought a let but then changed my mind and today bought some qed DTH bodies for the XE.

Plan is to sell off the 45 carbs, Let, c16xe and Seh package's then concentrate on the 20Xe. Got the car indoors for the winter so theres no rush

I know its against some of the opinions, but i already have the bits and once its together should still be fun.

Thanks all

[debeerd]

If you are doing track racing, x18xe1 is a good base to go with.

[8valve-craig]

I imagine so, But it would render my rods, pistons, crank, head, cams, flywheel,spring's, cap's, manifold and bodies unusable.

[debeerd]

For raw power I'd go 20xe, you have everything !
But because you also race, x18xe1 is good to retain the balance on the car.
It is your decision to make at the end of the day.

Someone here in SA was busy with an x18xe1 in his corsa.
Full out pistons, rods, throttles, head done, etc, etc.
Can't find the post now, but last I recall he made about 150kW atw and was still modding to make more.
Strong little engines those.

[debeerd]

oh, on my Corsa B I have the 20let f28 setup and with stock suspension the steering wasn't so hot around corners, understeer badly.
I fitted a set of D2 racing coilovers, handling is a hundred times better, car feels so solid now.
Ride is a bit hard for everyday driving, but I can live with that
I have them set to the softest setting for daily and set them harder for track.

[8valve-craig]

I dont race. Its a track car

[Gordo]

Track day car? Without regulations to worry about, the small block 1800 seems like a good idea - fairly easy to get more than a couple of hundred HP out of it and light enough to avoid compromising handing. The latter will be even more important if you lighten the car as most of that will be rear biased, further compromising the balance.
A Quaife may be a good idea, early in the build, to help control the understeer.

[8valve-craig]

Already got a quaife diff in an f16cr which i will continue to use. made miles of difference, best mod by far.

Il see how it goes with the 20xe for this years trackday season. The parts i have are money in the bank as long as nothing bad happens. il always get back what i payed for them and maybe build a 1.8 next year.

Wings bonnet boot bumpers and doors are slowly becoming fibreglass so should easily account for the extra weight up front.

To be honest though its still massive fun just how it is.

[debeerd]

Someone here in SA was busy with an x18xe1 in his corsa.
Full out pistons, rods, throttles, head done, etc, etc.
Can't find the post now, but last I recall he made about 150kW atw and was still modding to make more.

I stand corrected, it was a x16xe and he made 147kW atw.
Will find the thread, but with the x18xe1 you should get 160kW+ quite easily.

[debeerd]

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