ive got a 1.6 xr2i and was wondering if i used the bottom end off of a serria is it a straight fit, and can i still use my gearbox because i thoght serrias were rear wheel drive. and wud there be a noticable increase in power.
wud i need 2 uprate any other parts injectors etc

 

sierra 1.8cvh's are crap and dont lend themselves to tuning dont bother. stick with the 1.6 and get some head work and fueling sorted out.

 

k cheers mate

 

Sorry to jump in, but no one ever seems to answer to my posts, why exactly are the sierra's crap??? I thought a 1.8 turbo would of been really good?

 

the problem with the 1.8 cvh is that its very low comp when used with a 1.6 head, so you need to fit 1.8 pistons to raise it back up.

you'd think that low comp would be good for turboing, but the pistons are shit and have very thin crowns, so anything over .5bar and the slightest hint of det will melt the fookers.

if you wanna go bigger capacity then a 1.8 zetec lump will drop straight in, if you use the 130 spec lump, or upgrade to 130 spec, itll go pretty well for not alot of dosh/hassle!

 

And what if i were to buy some funky pistons for a 1.8 cvh? Never intended to use the standard ones i would expect them to last the best part of 5 seconds.

 

theyd probably be pricey seeing as its not a very popular conversion compared to say zvh.

mike at ferriday is the dude when it comes to 1800 cvhs, i was going to spunk the best part of a grand on one of his proper 1800 bottom ends but found a lairy 1600 instead.

imo, now zetecs are so cheap, theres so many people done them and inturn so much advice and knowledge floating about on forums like this, its silly to spend a fortune on a 20 year old cvh lump when you can use a 10 year old 16v zetec lump!

 

my mate done this conversion and im sure he used the xr2i pistons into the 18cvh to raise the compression strapped to turbo lsd box made quite a quick car

 

Yeah i want to stay CVH really though...... And american blocks are £££££££££

dake205: Really? I thought the sierra blocks had larger bores?

 

Nah its a longer stroke chap...ie taller block. For a budget upgrade zetec bottom ends are deffo the one to go for imo...done a couple conversions, did the 1st one about 8yr ago when they were still almost unheard of...had ppl arguing with me in the pub that it couldnt be done

Stu.

 

go zvh or zetec

 

Do u seem them people now by any chance? "Told you so "

Hmmmmmm i really dont wana go to a zetec bottom end, has to be CVH. Might have to bore out then?

Anyways, why should i listen to you, your scared of gettin beat as it is

 

if i remember right im sure he had problems with dipstick being on different side and sump was different because the xr2i exhaust goes under the sump lot of messing about good luck

 

Scared of getting beat?? By what exactly......the car in your sig ROFLMAO

 

No ive got a more rotten one, less weight, better power to weight ratio

 

if you REALLY wanted to do it, you'd need to mate the bottom part of a 1.6 sump to the mounting edge of a 1.8 sump, use 1.6 oilpickup, 1.6 flywheel and clutch.

dunno about the best pistons to use but like i mentioned ealier, mike tanski is the man when it comes to big capacity cvhs! he'd be able to advise you!

 

ive got a turboed 1.8 sierra engine with no probs over 200 bhp stage 2 turbo with no fancy intercooler standared pistons there are afew other mods aswell . i would never go back to a 1.6 they seem weak and they have less torque