c20xe redtop how to get more power
24-07-2012, 10:16 PM
#1
c20xe redtop how to get more power
guys i have a gsi cavalier which i dusted of today and took for a blast
she wouldn't be exactly slow but just not fast enough
spec is
fully rebuilt engine 6k miles ago
ported head
kent fast road cams
vernier pulleys
one of them power caps instead of standard intake
and a chip to suit the above
any idea's on a way to get abit more power
cheers damien
she wouldn't be exactly slow but just not fast enough
spec is
fully rebuilt engine 6k miles ago
ported head
kent fast road cams
vernier pulleys
one of them power caps instead of standard intake
and a chip to suit the above
any idea's on a way to get abit more power
cheers damien
24-07-2012, 11:03 PM
#6
now i was thinking about this but the car is running her own engine block and if i was to go let route i would want to build her engine to let if you know what i mean
would i be right in thinking if i fitted let pistons exhaust and turbo and managment i would be able to convert
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25-07-2012, 08:21 AM
#13
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Then you're on the wrong site m8 lol...
When i worked at Vauxhall, the "in" thing was an XE on throttle bodys with high comp, lairy cams and arp bolts and rev em to 7,500/8,000rpm!! Made for some right screamers... Cav GSi's don't half shift well after them mods!
So maybe some more wild cams, skim the head and get it re-mapped or fit throttle bodies and aftermarket management.
If not give in and LET it... Or squirt a bit of NO2 into the mix?
Then you're on the wrong site m8 lol...
When i worked at Vauxhall, the "in" thing was an XE on throttle bodys with high comp, lairy cams and arp bolts and rev em to 7,500/8,000rpm!! Made for some right screamers... Cav GSi's don't half shift well after them mods!
So maybe some more wild cams, skim the head and get it re-mapped or fit throttle bodies and aftermarket management.
If not give in and LET it... Or squirt a bit of NO2 into the mix?
Last edited by Rogeyboy; 25-07-2012 at 08:23 AM.
25-07-2012, 08:28 AM
#14
hate to admit it, ive owned both a mk3 GSi and a few fords, but the c20xe is one of the best engines ever made IMO,
My one ran the same spec as yours but i changed it to a set of Jenvey throttle bodies, not cheap but the power and howl was something else. i also fitted the 6 speed box from the calibra turbo which just didnt suit the car, if anything i felt it was slower overall which was a bit of a dissapointment
My one ran the same spec as yours but i changed it to a set of Jenvey throttle bodies, not cheap but the power and howl was something else. i also fitted the 6 speed box from the calibra turbo which just didnt suit the car, if anything i felt it was slower overall which was a bit of a dissapointment
25-07-2012, 09:16 AM
#15
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if it was me id leave it standard -ish mate, when i had mine it would do 40 mpg on a run and was a great all round car, you have the sapp for power ,keep the cav for a reliable daily, also these cars are getting very rare now, it will go up in value if kept original, seen what mk1 astra gtes go for now?
25-07-2012, 09:19 AM
#16
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fit a LET, and sell your worked on XE.
Theres no point rebuilding your existing motor into a LET, as every single modification you've made to it is likely to be unsuitable for a turbo motor.
And theres no point fitting TB's etc, because after all said and done the LET will make a far nicer car to drive (given the nature of the car), than some screaming TB'd thing on aftermarket management, and will have more power out the box than you'll achieve with the other approach too, never mind once chipped/mapped.
Theres no point rebuilding your existing motor into a LET, as every single modification you've made to it is likely to be unsuitable for a turbo motor.
And theres no point fitting TB's etc, because after all said and done the LET will make a far nicer car to drive (given the nature of the car), than some screaming TB'd thing on aftermarket management, and will have more power out the box than you'll achieve with the other approach too, never mind once chipped/mapped.
25-07-2012, 09:45 AM
#17
might sound strange but the comment above is right but i still disagree with it 
yes an LET will give you more power out of the box and be more tuneable etc but my astra was great fun to drive and being on throttle bodies just made you want to push it harder and harder, plus it sounded mega!!
yes an LET will give you more power out of the box and be more tuneable etc but my astra was great fun to drive and being on throttle bodies just made you want to push it harder and harder, plus it sounded mega!!
25-07-2012, 09:49 AM
#18
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A pair of weber 45s (or throttle bodies), decent exhaust manifold, uprated rod bolts and a good tune up on a rolling road.
25-07-2012, 09:57 AM
#19
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Ditch the crappy Powercap and refit the standard Airbox & airfilter box XE's hate airfilters
Remove the ECU chip they run far better with the standard chip in place
Depending on what cams you have this can upset the standard management if they are too lairy, if they are just fast road cams they will be fine.
Fit a decent 4-branch SBD 4-2-1 is rated highly but expensive
TBH you won't gain much past 160bhp+ on standard management and fitting Throttle Bodies will take it to around 190bhp+ but in a big old Bardge like a Cavalier you aren't going to feel the benefits massively
Remove the ECU chip they run far better with the standard chip in place
Depending on what cams you have this can upset the standard management if they are too lairy, if they are just fast road cams they will be fine.
Fit a decent 4-branch SBD 4-2-1 is rated highly but expensive
TBH you won't gain much past 160bhp+ on standard management and fitting Throttle Bodies will take it to around 190bhp+ but in a big old Bardge like a Cavalier you aren't going to feel the benefits massively
25-07-2012, 09:57 AM
#20
now i was thinking about this but the car is running her own engine block and if i was to go let route i would want to build her engine to let if you know what i mean
would i be right in thinking if i fitted let pistons exhaust and turbo and managment i would be able to convert
would i be right in thinking if i fitted let pistons exhaust and turbo and managment i would be able to convert
My own LET is built off an XE block with everything getting worked on in the middle.
25-07-2012, 10:13 AM
#21
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might sound strange but the comment above is right but i still disagree with it
yes an LET will give you more power out of the box and be more tuneable etc but my astra was great fun to drive and being on throttle bodies just made you want to push it harder and harder, plus it sounded mega!!
yes an LET will give you more power out of the box and be more tuneable etc but my astra was great fun to drive and being on throttle bodies just made you want to push it harder and harder, plus it sounded mega!!
Its a big saloon car, and is IMO far more suited to big torque type power output of the type you find either with a turbocharged motor, or one with a large displacement.
25-07-2012, 10:34 AM
#22
like i said i agree with what you said, but for me its not all about maximum power
25-07-2012, 10:52 AM
#23
Regular Contributor
lol I have one of these great car's mines just ran out of MOT and TAX
What are they worth nowadays? Used to sell like hotcakes back in the day.
Was thinking around 600-700?
What are they worth nowadays? Used to sell like hotcakes back in the day.
Was thinking around 600-700?
25-07-2012, 10:17 PM
#25
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slag me off but what a fantastic cars the gsi was i have had 3 comfort and speed also had 8/9 gte 16 vavlers good strong engines i nave had any problems with any of them
25-07-2012, 10:31 PM
#27
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Cav GSi, cracking cars
Cav GSi 4x4, cracking cars
cav gsi with modified transfer box, reliably cracking cars!
cav gsi, modded transfer box and 150bhp of nitrous, seriousley fuckin quick car
end of!
Cav GSi 4x4, cracking cars
cav gsi with modified transfer box, reliably cracking cars!
cav gsi, modded transfer box and 150bhp of nitrous, seriousley fuckin quick car
end of!
27-07-2012, 07:06 PM
#29
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Stick with what u got mate. Might not be the fastest on the road but it'll prob do 200000 miles before it dies. And it'll be a nice drive. My gsi had 143000miles on it and still made 143 wheel bhp standard.
27-07-2012, 08:15 PM
#31
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A friend of mine had a saab 9000 turbo (which I think is basically a cav turbo underneath) runnin about 280hp, which went like fuck for a big car imo. A lad on hear bought it, cant remember his name, but im sure he'll agree with me.
Another m8 of mine just put a c20let in a corsa with an f28 box(6speed) with quaife diff, also runnin somewhere between 250-280bhp, which in total has cost him I think about 2k. As you can imagine that goes like a stabbed rat. A LOT of performance for not alot of cash I think, and if you find a good engine to start with, pretty reliable too like as allready been mentioned.
I would personally sell the xe to fund a let conversion, as it would suit a cav more than sum high revvin na lump. Even a standard LET would be like night/day compared to an xe
Another m8 of mine just put a c20let in a corsa with an f28 box(6speed) with quaife diff, also runnin somewhere between 250-280bhp, which in total has cost him I think about 2k. As you can imagine that goes like a stabbed rat. A LOT of performance for not alot of cash I think, and if you find a good engine to start with, pretty reliable too like as allready been mentioned.
I would personally sell the xe to fund a let conversion, as it would suit a cav more than sum high revvin na lump. Even a standard LET would be like night/day compared to an xe
27-07-2012, 09:08 PM
#33
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this was my gsi 2000, had it when i was 18 had a full stainless ,17" konig e racers, koni adjustables, omega mv6 brakes, turbo leather, dressed engine, angle eye lights i was 18, loved the car till some twat nicked it
, got it back and sold it on, i miss mine and do fancy another cavalier with a redtop
had a full stainless ,17" konig e racers, koni adjustables, omega mv6 brakes, turbo leather, dressed engine, angle eye lights i was 18, loved the car till some twat nicked it, got it back and sold it on, i miss mine and do fancy another cavalier with a redtop
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