Andy's Phase 2 Gsi, How vauxhall should have done it!

A2! · 11-02-2008, 22:44

Well i bought this a few months ago whilst the turbo rests up for the winter!

It was running rather rich when i picked it up. So a service and new cts and all is well. It has bilstein suspention, -40mm springs, stainless backbox and some 5 spoke 17's of some sort lol. The car is very clean and i got it for an absolute steal

Then I had the rims referbed

A short time later the ecowreck gave up so bought an xe for it!

I got the gearbox off and the engine on the stand. I have a new cambelt and water pump ready to go on.

I also go started removing the engine, only a couple more hoses to remove then the subframe and engine and be dropped out of the bottom!

Cleaned and painted the block this evening! Also found that its actually a 20XE not a C20XE so all is good

Barber · 11-02-2008, 23:44

have seen pics of this on mk3 looks good apart from the sticker on the grill LOL

J Sabo · 12-02-2008, 18:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by A2!

Also found that its actually a 20XE not a C20XE so all is good

What do you mean by that mate?

A2! · 12-02-2008, 18:51

It means its the earlier version with the forged pistons, 156bhp, and i can legally not have a cat

A2! · 12-02-2008, 18:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barber

have seen pics of this on mk3 looks good apart from the sticker on the grill LOL

Thats not a sticker chap. The paint has peeled off lol

vxlgsi · 12-02-2008, 19:08

Nice work fella, my turbo engine is built from a 20xe wink wink! lol

rudd86 · 12-02-2008, 19:14

looks good, I thought it was a sticker on the grille too ha

A2! · 12-02-2008, 19:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by vxlgsi

Nice work fella, my turbo engine is built from a 20xe wink wink! lol

Surprising that, so is my turbo

DeanoGSI · 13-02-2008, 18:57

really like this mate...

fancy selling it?

J Sabo · 13-02-2008, 19:05

one on the bay at the mo

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1998-VAUXHALL-...QQcmdZViewItem

A2! · 13-02-2008, 19:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeanoGSI

really like this mate...

fancy selling it?

Depends what your offering lol Should be good once the xe is in. Not sure wether to keep the aircon though?

**Benn** · 13-02-2008, 19:15

You drop the subframe? screw that.

Looks nice tho,

DaveB · 14-02-2008, 08:33

Silly statement probably but;

Take turbo'd car off road in winter to save on tyres/engine damage/rust etc

Buy another car, mod car, blow up engine, buy another engine...fit engine.

Surely just easier to run the first car?

***Astra Dan*** · 14-02-2008, 10:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by A2!

It means its the earlier version with the forged pistons, 156bhp, and i can legally not have a cat

Not so. I put a C20XE from a 1991 GTE 16V into a 1996 N reg Mk3 Astra. It failed on emmisions as any car, regardless of what engine it has fitted, made after 1995 should be subject to a cat emissions test during the MOT test. I had to fit a cat for it to pass the MOT.

stevenwoody · 14-02-2008, 13:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Astra Dan

Not so. I put a C20XE from a 1991 GTE 16V into a 1996 N reg Mk3 Astra. It failed on emmisions as any car, regardless of what engine it has fitted, made after 1995 should be subject to a cat emissions test during the MOT test. I had to fit a cat for it to pass the MOT.

I thought tho if you could prove the engine was from a pre cat vehicle then it would be exempt from a cat test!!! All you can do Andy is try it mate and see what the outcome is if need be just whack the cat on for the MOT

Good looking GSI tho

**Brett** · 14-02-2008, 16:29

nice motor, theres a phase 2 GSi round here for sale that in red, the kid is after £1700 for it though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by A2!

It means its the earlier version with the forged pistons, 156bhp, and i can legally not have a cat

Most C20XE's have forged pistons, they changed them when they went dizzyless in 1993 btw. The C20XE came in in 1989.

A 20XE doesnt have a catalytic converter and a lambda sensor like the C20XE, so the main differences are in the engine managment. You can take the cat of a C20XE legally, as long as the car the engines fitted to was registered before 01/08/92.

vxlgsi · 14-02-2008, 17:16

Dont worry Andy it will be fine

A2! · 14-02-2008, 18:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveB

Silly statement probably but;

Take turbo'd car off road in winter to save on tyres/engine damage/rust etc

Buy another car, mod car, blow up engine, buy another engine...fit engine.

Surely just easier to run the first car?

I don't want to drive the turbo in the wet so I bought another car. The car was already modded when I bought it, it has covered over 145k and the oil pump has failed. Sadly I can't see into the future so didn't for see this

Plus the car was soooo cheap. I could probably sell it how it is and not loose a penny

A2! · 14-02-2008, 18:15

The engine will be fine to get through the mot on emissions. If not aparently if the engine number isn't present then they have no choice to go back to the old regulations so i'm told by my mot tester.

**Benn** · 14-02-2008, 19:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevenwoody

I thought tho if you could prove the engine was from a pre cat vehicle then it would be exempt from a cat test!!!

Good looking GSI tho

Nope, all cars 1995/6 on wards must have a cat test, the computer system wont carry on anless it does,

Quote:

Originally Posted by A2!

The engine will be fine to get through the mot on emissions. If not aparently if the engine number isn't present then they have no choice to go back to the old regulations so i'm told by my mot tester.

Sounds odd, but if he'll do it keep going to him!

dodge_one · 14-02-2008, 20:32

I put a C20XE in a 97' corsa b. When I came to get it MOT'd at work, obviously a 2.0 corsa isn't listed when you put it into the computer. We had to get in touch with the Ministry to rectify the system to allow us to select a 2.0 corsa. Now this is the good bit...the XE was from a cav made in Nov 92'. The EU1 regulation came in around the middle of 92' so my Cavalier was one of the first run of cars to have a cat fitted.
The ministry got in touch with the DVLA to confirm the details were correct BUT then amened the system details to a corsa fitted with a 2.0 engine without a cat. So naturally it flew through!
I know this won't be the case for everyone and my engine wasn't a pre EU1 but it does prove that you can fit a non catted engine to any age of car and be fine in a MOT. (just so long as you can prove it).

**Benn** · 14-02-2008, 20:56

Very cool and nicely done ^

Zletsgo · 14-02-2008, 21:08

The CAT has to be fitted to any car after Aug 1992 if I'm correct.
If you turn up with an Astra they will test it as a 2L Astra regardless of how old the engine is.
If this was the case that you can blag due to engine age - think of how many rally MK2 Escorts that would have to have CAT's due to having newish engines?

C20LETMINI · 14-02-2008, 22:09

You emissions will be tested on the age of the ENGINE not the car. I should know, I'm an MOT tester. Emissions are NOT linked the MOT computerisation, yet, you have to print an emissions sheet and leave it in the car and keep a copy at the MOT station. Unless YOU as an MOT tester have unreasonable doubt and can prove as to the age of the engine, you HAVE to take the customers word and test as per the age of the engine.

So if you say its a 1987 engine, thats fine, it will be tested to 87 standards.

Rich

A2! · 14-02-2008, 22:24

Thanks for the information Rich, I think that just about clears it up lol