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Morning all. I'm looking at doing either a C20XE or C20LET conversion on my Chevette and I'm after a bit of advice on what parts are needed?
Is it just tge following or am I missing anything : -
C20XE/C20LET engine with loom, ecu etc
Manta 1.8 GETRAG box
Manta 1.8 engine mounts.
Manta A rear axle (tempted to run standard axle)
Custom prop (can I use the Chevettes or do I need a Manta one)
Also, what clutch kit do I use?
Thanks, Lee
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froggy
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,099
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you can do the same thing with an omega box and saab 9000 engine for a fraction of the money and have a much stronger and easier to tune car . do some googling for a few examples of e30 bm ascona with saab power . I know of a couple of guys binning the LET for saab power . even the weediest spec b204 saab lump has the same injectors as the LET  |
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Last Edit: Mar 8, 2012 13:16:30 GMT by froggy
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Sweet I'll take a look into that mate!
EDIT : Is it the omega mv6 box id need? Id assume id have to cut the transmission tunnel to fit that which id prefer to avoid. Could I still run the manta box with tge B204?
Any ideas on what engine mounts id need to run for the B204?
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bmw156
Part of things
Posts: 796
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Chevette With XE.
don't bother with manta mounts they don't it unless you have really long rubbers. just make your own mounts. On mine, I run ford type 9, because the support is better for parts and availability. Manta boxes are rare, expensive, and not to strong, espically for turbo.
As mentioned, the Saab lumps are well underrated. and a fraction of the cost. A LET is about 1k and a saab turbo is maybe £300....
Omega boxes do require tunnel mods (type 9 doesnt!) and if you check out mine, and countvauxalot threads and many others threads, you will see quite a few pics of it all etc. Count also has done a tunnel swap for an auto one to fit the omega box.
Manta axles are again hard to find, expensive, and the rebuild costs are well over £300 for bearings etc. Luckily I bought mine with a ford english axle on the back so it has good support.
For turbo power, you might want to check out V8chevette's chevette. It is running a sailsbury axle which can take big power.
Clutch wise it all depends on GB, for the manta box, I think its a normal Xe clutch setup and you just need a spigot bearing for the crank. Omega I'm not sure. And Ford type 9, mine has a mk6 escort diesel clutch plate with XE compression I think.
Also, is your chevette on a carb atm or injection?
Any more questions ask away.
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Last Edit: Mar 8, 2012 16:09:28 GMT by bmw156
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It's a carbed saloon, will upload a few pics when I'm on my laptop. Cutting the tunnel doesn't bother me really. It's just I know how rare manual Omega boxes are and there is about 5 manta boxes on eBay currently.
I'm torn between NA and Turbo at the minute. I just don't want to head down the NA route and end up regretting not turboing.
For the type 9 box, do I have to have a plate made up so it'd mate to the engine?
When you say make your own mounts, I take it they're solid mounts?
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jasonj
Part of things
Posts: 220
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You would also need the sump from the manta 1.8.. these are getting crazy money 2nd hand now. there are new fabricated steel versions available but still around the £200 mark. Not sure if this has been covered already but if you use the omega box you would need to convert your pedal box to hydraulic clutch. Speaking of clutch, if you use the manta or omega box you would need an XE clutch cover with an LET plate from a calibra or cav turbo. That would all bolt straight up. If you want to go the 1.8 manta gearbox route, I have one. Give me a shout.
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Team Supercharged Opel Ascona 400.
294bhp - 235 lb/ft
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Have a look at my thread, there should be some useful stuff in there if i were you and i was going N/A i would still spec what i was doing for the turbo so it was 'future proof'. ie stronger box and axle. The omega boxes arnt rare there are loads of people breaking whole cars on the bay and they are newer, cheaper and stronger than the manta box. Its tight in the tunnel but doable with some manipulation. I only changed the tunnel in mine as i had the option. I too am using the 4ha from a scimitar for strength however you can use a Volvo or piazza turbo rear axle (these 3 all need alternative mounting solutions for the chevette or kadett 4 link for example) If you are going for a mild XE or standard LET then the manta axle might survive if you got gently but as BMW said they are expensive and hard to find. You can buy conversion bell housings for type9 to xe/let/saab from companies such as SBD like so www.sbdev.co.uk/Gearbox/Bellhouses/Bellhouses.htm however they come up on here and the net every so often and are better value than new. If you make your own mounts they can be however you want them to be not necessarily solid, again there are some pics in the thread of how i did mine. |
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Cheers guys really appreciate your help. It's good to hear people's opinions aswell to be honest as I'm unsure what route I'm heading in.
What sort of budget do people think I'm looking at?
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froggy
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,099
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I'm doing some rear well sumps for the b204 . I'm sure someone else wants one for a chevette . The stumbling block with the Saab conversion is the sump tbh but other than that no other 4pot can match the engine for tuning capability , I'm putting forged pistons in my next build only because the stock units start splitting at 550hp .
Power wise your best value would be to find a 2.3 FPt Saab 9000 with a td04 turbo , sell the gearbox and any other bits and keep the motor rad oil cooler loom ecu etc , wiring isnt a big issue as there are loom adapters with instructions on mig web forum . A simple re Map from any of the guys on uk saabs will be £50 and you will have 280 hp and huge midrange torque .
Saab 900 exhaust manifold will turn the turbo round to face the rear and are cheap on the bay . Donor car s are around £500 and with a few bits i.e gearbox shafts etc to sell plus the weigh in you get half or more back .
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Last Edit: Mar 8, 2012 18:01:49 GMT by froggy
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`state
Yorkshire and The Humber
Posts: 1,215
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I'm putting a b204 into my chevette estate.Froggys saving my life and selling me a sump as like he says that was the biggist headache.
I bought a complete 2.0 900se for £250 that had failed its mot on snapped springs and a faulty steering rack.Sold all the 5 stud hubs/brakes to the vauxhall boys,weighed in the alloys,sold the turbo and manifold and the auto box.Then weighed the shell in.I made £125!
The c20let will cost you alot to get anywhere near as strong so its a no brainer really.
Next on the shopping list is an omega v6 to break and keep the box.Theres afew on ebay for about £125 but without the gearstick and prop so think your better off buying a complete car.
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Look at all the plastic people who live without a care.Try to sit with me around my table,but never bring a chair.
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I paid £100 posted for the 3lt v6 omega box, shifter, release mechanism and the complete prop you just have to ask. I fancy the Saab lump if the 1.6 turbo I'm building isn't up to the job. And I do a good hybrid on the TD04 at work |
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bmw156
Part of things
Posts: 796
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I forgot about the sump!
I had a steel one welded up by a friend out of a vaux 2.0l 8v as they are all steel, and the same pattern as a c20xe/Let. I still have it as i never got around to using it. Steel ones don't crack, they bend lol.
If your going turbo then you will need another fuel tank/cell. Or weld in a return on yours (rather you then me). The only fuel tank which fits and is injection is a kadette one i think, but they are poor quality wobbly children's play pony poo.
As count said, bellhousings can be had, and they are not to expensive, other places do them as well. just make sure you get the right one, if you use a manta sump it sits at 7 degrees so you would need to mount the engine like it and get the right bell housing so the GB sits upright.
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Froggy any picks of said sump?
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froggy
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,099
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Not yet as I need a few measurements from those wanting a rear well . The Saab sump also has the pickup built in and it connects to the oil pump on the timing cover . I want to do a one size fits all as I will have to fab new pickup pipes which bolt into the well as they are a push fit into the port to the oil pump . The front of the sump is still 3" deep when cut down to allow for the pickup . This is my dry sump for the rod I'm building  Ive filled in the port which will need to be raised to give the most shallow front part that will sit over the x member . The one I'm doing is for an rx7 and the well will be 1" below the x member just need a few dimensions from bellhousing face to rear of x member to get a size that will suit various cars |
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Last Edit: Mar 9, 2012 12:37:24 GMT by froggy
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Interesting i will be doing one for my Kadett very soon.
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froggy
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,099
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The rear of the sump is on the left and you can see the depth you need to retain the stock pickup point on the other pic   Its possible to do one in steel with a laser cut flange but the timing cover would need modifying to take a bolt in pickup and it starts getting a bit more complicated then |
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Last Edit: Mar 9, 2012 20:37:00 GMT by froggy
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Mar 16, 2012 21:51:18 GMT
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Few questions about the Saab conversion if anyone can answer?
Is it possible to remove the Saab immobiliser or would you have to keep it all in place and use the Saab ignition?
The Omega V6 gearbox R28? is it the same as in the other Omegas and will it take the power of a tuned 2.3 turbo Saab lump?
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Mar 18, 2012 18:42:02 GMT
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Hi I've got a zlet in mine I took the balancer shafts out and made a sump and made engine mounts. As for the box mine has a 1.8 getrag box that bolts straight upto the zlet clutch with a custom prop and hs chevette axle
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On the vauxhall gearbox front the number 28 means it'll take 280nm torque, this is the same across the range F means FWD, R means RWD If its auto it'll have A at start of code.
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1977 datsun 810 180b estate |
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