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Engine Swap, How easy?

995 views 21 replies 9 participants last post by  mike hayward 
#1 ·
OK ive got cesaro currntly running C14SE jobby

ive been offered a C20XE which i really want. plus its out of a mates astra, which he has rebuild himself numerous times, it pulled 188 bhp at the fly 2 months ago, and was accuratcly timed using gps 0.60 at 6.60 sec's!

so its a good engine!


ne way


i am a fairly technical person when it comes to cars, had a mini when i was 15 and i do most thigns on my car myself, i.e. lowering it, oil chang'e s cambelt change's etc etc etc

im failry willing to try ne thing as i kno quite a lot, so my question is how easy is this engine swap?


i know the parts i need, all except for the struts? dont understand what needs to be changed there and to what?
 
#2 ·
Theres an obvious insurance thing with swapping it.

I assume at 188bhp its got mappable managment which probably makes things easier. Take the wiring loom out of the old car and your need the ECU, the radiator, the gearbox and most of the pipework. Oh and the driveshafts I would think.

I don't know what mounts you will need, or if the GSi mounts where different to the GTE ones.

Bren on here did a similar transplant, a C20LET into a 1.4 so he should be able to tell you the mounts you need :)
 
#5 ·
Why do you need to change brake lines? The standard 1.4 brakes obviously could do with upgrading.

I'm remembering something about changing the fuel pump. Where is the Fuel pump on the 1.4 Mk3? Is it external or in the tank?

Thats about it. Oh and a new exhaust of course as I doubt the 1.4 lines up with the XE manifold.
 
#9 ·
no guys its a standard xe

its got standard management and standard injection, full de-cat exhaust, filter and group N cams, he pulled 188bhp i cant take it witha pinch of salt as i was standard next to the rolling road whn it was tested he has a print out to prove,
 
#10 ·
Astra_Kieran said:
no guys its a standard xe

its got standard management and standard injection, full de-cat exhaust, filter and group N cams, he pulled 188bhp i cant take it witha pinch of salt as i was standard next to the rolling road whn it was tested he has a print out to prove,
I'm not getting into this argument again. It does not have 188bhp, the rolling road was wrong (which happens far more often than you'd think). I doubt it even has 170bhp. I got 183bhp on my car once with a standard engine without even a cam upgrade.

188 is not possible from standard induction, basic physics prevent it.
 
#13 ·
Astra_Kieran said:
im not going to argue at all

i indeed do kno that rolling roads are incorrect my mates 1.4 astra pulled 96bhp with just a filter!

my point was, its a good engine!
Noones dissing you mate. It is a good engine I am sure, would be good to get it on a decent rolling road once its in your car.

Hopefully the fuel in and return lines to the fuel rail are the same thread size - I am sure someone on here will know.

Have you upgraded brakes? - might be an idea.

what do u mean by struts? engine mounts needed, and probably some stiffer springs for the extra weight in the front.

top tip - While its out check for oil leaks, and catch any rust on the block - might want to spray it or something.
 
#16 ·
Astra_Kieran said:
OK ive got cesaro currntly running C14SE jobby
ive been offered a C20XE which i really want. plus its out of a mates astra, which he has rebuild himself numerous times, it pulled 188 bhp at the fly 2 months ago, and was accuratcly timed using gps 0.60 at 6.60 sec's!
so its a good engine!
ne way
i am a fairly technical person when it comes to cars, had a mini when i was 15 and i do most thigns on my car myself, i.e. lowering it, oil chang'e s cambelt change's etc etc etc
im failry willing to try ne thing as i kno quite a lot, so my question is how easy is this engine swap?
i know the parts i need, all except for the struts? dont understand what needs to be changed there and to what?
You'd need to change the struts over because the 2.0 uses larger driveshafts/hubs/CVs and wheel bearings to match. Get the struts from any "big block" engined Astra.
There'll be no need to change the fuel pump as mentioned above because you already have an MPi engine in the car and the MPi fuel pumps apparently all run at the same pressure, whether they're in a 1.0 12v Corsa, or a 2.0 Astra :) You'll need to get the fuel pipe that screws into the fuel rail on the XE though because I'm sure that's unique to the 20XE.

Cheers,
Kieran
 
#17 ·
Re: Re: Engine Swap, How easy?

Kieran said:
You'll need to get the fuel pipe that screws into the fuel rail on the XE though because I'm sure that's unique to the 20XE.

Cheers,
Kieran
not unique atall, infact completely to the contery, my corsa 1.0 12v has the same thread on the fuel lines, as does the c20LET, and alot of other vauxhall engines i have looked at, however, i have a feeling that the 8V's are slightly different, although the later ones probably have threaded fuel lines too... (it makes like alot easier for those vaux technintions dosent it!) im sure you could get the pipes from any scrappy, if you needed to.
 
#18 ·
Re: Re: Re: Engine Swap, How easy?

JamesMcbride said:
not unique atall, infact completely to the contery, my corsa 1.0 12v has the same thread on the fuel lines, as does the c20LET, and alot of other vauxhall engines i have looked at, however, i have a feeling that the 8V's are slightly different, although the later ones probably have threaded fuel lines too... (it makes like alot easier for those vaux technintions dosent it!) im sure you could get the pipes from any scrappy, if you needed to.
Really? That's handy to know :) Do you know what thread is used on the connections by any chance?
 
#19 ·
ok cheers for the replies guys

teh engine ahs fallen through now, so im gonna scout another one out in the next few weeks

i have lined up some breaks from a cally, and they are in the process of being sorted


but the thing's i am mos interested are thing's like the loom?

dont kno loads about car electrics just wiring up amp which doesnt really help!

do u think a person of my knowledge, and little experience (being 18) will find it easy?
 
#20 ·
i think if you get one with a loom from an astra, it will be a piece of pie to fit... just a case of unplugging the big round connectior, and plugging the new one in.then its just the connector that goes to the battery, and the black connector in the drivers foot well for the diagnostics.:)
 
#22 ·
you will need newosf and rear mount brackets, best to go for astra gsi or sri ones but cav 2.0 are the same.
Fuel pump i belive will be ok, i fitted a C20SEH into a 1.4 SI mk3 and used original fuel pump., with no problem.
as mentioned you will need the gearbox, driveshafts, and hub's or complete struts as the dia' of the shaft's is different to your ones (larger).
Cooling is another issue to consider, try to get as many pipes as possible with the engine you will probally need to fit a mk3 gsi or sri rad and fan depending on condition of your current one, also might find the inlet and outlet to be smaller than the hose's.

Wiring is easy, fRemove your engine loom complete (goes through bulkhead into footwell) fit new loom in, nearer the time send me a PM and i will send you a file with all wiring needed.
 
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