Topic: How to guide: Calibra engine swaps (Read 5695 times)

Bad Kid · « **Reply #20 on:** April 25, 2009, 23:13:39 PM »

Quote from: teabag1 on April 25, 2009, 15:51:51 PM

Quite simple, if its an Ecotec, it will say "Ecotec" across the top of the engine

No no no no no no NO

L-shaped = XE or LET
Straight = X20XEV "ecotec"

Example:

NOT an ecotec!

J@zV6 · « **Reply #21 on:** April 25, 2009, 23:30:53 PM »

Quote from: Chavtastic on April 25, 2009, 23:13:39 PM

No no no no no no NO

L-shaped = XE or LET
Straight = X20XEV "ecotec"

Example:

NOT an ecotec!

Should that read "NOT an Ecotec?"

I assume this pic is a late LET. i.e. it's obviously not a C20XE 'Redtop', but it's got an L-shaped plug cover so, if you're right, it's not an X20XEV 'Ecotec' either. The only other alternative is an 'Ecotec' LET... Is that right?

gorytus · « **Reply #22 on:** April 25, 2009, 23:44:36 PM »

Quote

I assume this pic is a late LET.

The clue is in the Turbo on the front.

First time I have seen it on a late LET; I have only seen the black Ecotec 'L' on the C20XE.
Easy enough for anyone into cosmetic engine bay's to swap over though.

J@zV6 · « **Reply #23 on:** April 25, 2009, 23:54:21 PM »

Quote from: garyb on April 25, 2009, 23:44:36 PM

The clue is in the Turbo on the front.

First time I have seen it on a late LET; I have only seen the black Ecotec 'L' on the C20XE.
Easy enough for anyone into cosmetic engine bay's to swap over though.

Yes. The point I was making was that late LETs also appear to be badged 'Ecotec', if this was a typical example (and I assume that they also have the EGR valve to reduce emissions. Your comment suggests that it wasn't.

EY · « **Reply #24 on:** April 25, 2009, 23:58:59 PM »

No C20LET has an EGR. The ecotec branding was purely cosmetic.

J@zV6 · « **Reply #25 on:** April 26, 2009, 00:03:41 AM »

Quote from: EY on April 25, 2009, 23:58:59 PM

No C20LET has an EGR. The ecotec branding was purely cosmetic.

Is that because the Turbo produces lower emission standards than the N/A 16v, so it didn't need an EGR to do so? I should have thought that ramming more fuel & air mix into an engine would produce higher emissions...

gorytus · « **Reply #26 on:** April 26, 2009, 00:06:26 AM »

Quote from: J@zV6 on April 26, 2009, 00:03:41 AM

Is that because the Turbo produces lower emission standards than the N/A 16v, so it didn't need an EGR to do so? I should have thought that ramming more fuel & air mix into an engine would produce higher emissions...

Designed before EURO2 emissions. Euro1 for that matter.

Bad Kid · « **Reply #27 on:** April 26, 2009, 00:06:41 AM »

Everyone seems to be over-complicating this issue.

If it's L-shaped, it's an XE or LET (even if it says ecotec)
If it's straight, it's an ecotec (X20XEV)

Go by the shape of the spark plug cover, it's the most obvious thing when you open a bonnet.

End of story!

J@zV6 · « **Reply #28 on:** April 26, 2009, 00:17:30 AM »

Quote from: garyb on April 26, 2009, 00:06:26 AM

Designed before EURO2 emissions. Euro1 for that matter.

But didn't all new engines have to meet lower emission standards from around 1993?

gorytus · « **Reply #29 on:** April 26, 2009, 00:24:18 AM »

Quote from: J@zV6 on April 26, 2009, 00:17:30 AM

But didn't all new engines have to meet lower emission standards from around 1993?

euro2 was 1996.
Goodbye LET/ XE.

Hello Ecotec..

1993 ( more precisely 1992) was Euro1.
This heralded the introduction of the catalytic converter hence 20XE became C20XE. The LET wasn't sold without a cat though ( and I don't think the 20XE was fitted in the Calibra either )

J@zV6 · « **Reply #30 on:** April 26, 2009, 00:45:22 AM »

Quote from: garyb on April 26, 2009, 00:24:18 AM

euro2 was 1996.
Goodbye LET/ XE.
Hello Ecotec..

I didn't realise that there weren't any LETs after 1996.

Quote

1993 ( more precisely 1992) was Euro1.
This heralded the introduction of the catalytic converter hence 20XE became C20XE. The LET wasn't sold without a cat though ( and I don't think the 20XE was fitted in the Calibra either )

I'm confused? Early Calibras didn't have Catalytic converters. So what engine was fitted in the pre-1992/pre-CAT/'Redtop' 16v Calibras, if it wasn't the 20XE? I thought that the 'Redtop' WAS the non-CAT C20XE and that the X20XEV 'Ecotec' had the CAT & EGR. Otherwise:

20XE - 16v engine (150bhp?)
Pre-1993: C20XE - 16v engine with CAT to meet Euro 1 (150bhp?)
1993 on: X20XEV - 16v engine with CAT & EGR to meet Euro 2 (134bhp)

If so this doesn't make sense, because it suggests that the CAT made no difference to the power. In which case, what would be the point of de-catting?

gorytus · « **Reply #31 on:** April 26, 2009, 02:34:56 AM »

First off, let us drop the utterly misguided moniker 'redtop' from the discussion; save that for the kiddiwinks with their zorsts & cones. In any proper engine discussion the use of that description only serves to confuse.

Quote

I didn't realise that there weren't any LETs after 1996.

And what made you erroneously start thinking there were?

Tis quite easy really. First came the 20XE. NO cat, 156ps
For impending Euro1, this was tweaked by having a CAT + Motronic 2.5, a closed loop ( lambda running) ecu, fitted. This engine is the C20XE, 150ps. The Turbo version, C20LET,204ps, followed in 1992.

GM , like most others, changed over to Cat engines well before the deadline for Euro1. AFAIK, the Calibra was never fitted with the 20XE; however legally you can remove the Cat on pre-Aug 1992 cars.

Euro2 had to be implemented by the end of 1996. GM replaced the brilliant C20XE with the pathetic X20XEV,136ps to meet that emission standard. Naturally the C20LET was dropped, it's eventual replacement being the Z20LET( with variations) which was never fitted in the Calibra.

For those still unable to grasp the extremely basic camcover 'L' plate identity scenario, there is a similar thread running concurrently here

http://www.clubcalibra.com/index.php?topic=26072.0

teabag1 · « **Reply #32 on:** April 26, 2009, 09:21:33 AM »

well to end the fuss, mine is a shitty ecotec

lol it has the straight black cover (no L shape)

J@zV6 · « **Reply #33 on:** April 26, 2009, 16:14:26 PM »

Quote from: garyb on April 26, 2009, 02:34:56 AM

First off, let us drop the utterly misguided moniker 'redtop' from the discussion; save that for the kiddiwinks with their zorsts & cones. In any proper engine discussion the use of that description only serves to confuse.
And what made you erroneously start thinking there were?

You'll note that, when I use the name, I usually include the engine designation as well, to avoid any confusion. However, 'Redtop' is frequently used (by others) without the engine designation, so I use both to link the designation to the description (of the engine that usually, if not always, had the red insert).

Quote

Tis quite easy really. First came the 20XE. NO cat, 156ps

...but this is the engine that you said:

Quote from: garyb on April 26, 2009, 00:24:18 AM

I don't think the 20XE was fitted in the Calibra either

I believe that the first Calibras were being manufactured in 1988(?), and introduced to the UK in 1989(?). So, if they didn't have the 156bhp 20XE engine, what engine were they fitted with, if they didn't have to comply with Euro1 until 1992/3? Or did they only have the C20NE 8v engine before the C20XE was introduced?

Quote

For impending Euro1, this was tweaked by having a CAT + Motronic 2.5, a closed loop ( lambda running) ecu, fitted. This engine is the C20XE, 150ps. The Turbo version, C20LET,204ps, followed in 1992.

GM , like most others, changed over to Cat engines well before the deadline for Euro1. AFAIK, the Calibra was never fitted with the 20XE; however legally you can remove the Cat on pre-Aug 1992 cars.

...so the C20XE was fitted in anticipation of the Euro1 regulations?

Quote
Euro2 had to be implemented by the end of 1996. GM replaced the brilliant C20XE with the pathetic X20XEV,136ps to meet that emission standard. Naturally the C20LET was dropped, it's eventual replacement being the Z20LET( with variations) which was never fitted in the Calibra.

I didn't think that I was confused about the straight or L-shaped insert - until I read:

Quote from: teabag1 on April 26, 2009, 09:21:33 AM
well to end the fuss, mine is a sh*tty ecotec lol it has the straight black cover (no L shape)

carl · « **Reply #34 on:** April 26, 2009, 16:23:47 PM »

my old h reg calibra was a 20xe.

J@zV6 · « **Reply #35 on:** April 26, 2009, 16:27:41 PM »

Quote from: mr c on April 26, 2009, 16:23:47 PM

my old h reg calibra was a 20xe.

Aha. So it was fitted to the very early Calibras...

carl · « **Reply #36 on:** April 26, 2009, 16:43:33 PM »

Quote from: J@zV6 on April 26, 2009, 16:27:41 PM

Aha. So it was fitted to the very early Calibras...

yep...it was a pain to get bits for....i wanted a afm but i couldn't find one anywhere, it was the type with the adjuster screw on it....but i think the changed that when the started using the cat ive no idea why though?

Bad Kid · « **Reply #37 on:** April 26, 2009, 21:56:51 PM »

Quote from: mr c on April 26, 2009, 16:23:47 PM

my old h reg calibra was a 20xe.

You sure mate?

No lambda?

carl · « **Reply #38 on:** April 26, 2009, 22:00:14 PM »

Quote from: Chavtastic on April 26, 2009, 21:56:51 PM

You sure mate?

No lambda?

about 80% sure...the only cars i could of got the afm from was the cavs and old astras

Bad Kid · « **Reply #39 on:** April 26, 2009, 22:00:56 PM »

Ah fair enough. I see no reason why they wouldn't use the 20XE if it was in Astras on the same year.

Come to think of it, I had a H-plate XE Calibra... maybe that had one.

Author Topic: How to guide: Calibra engine swaps (Read 5695 times)

gorytus

gorytus

gorytus

gorytus