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View Poll Results: What would you do ?
Fit the Red top engine 8 42.11%
Sell it on Ebay 3 15.79%
Save it for a rainy day 8 42.11%
Voters: 19. You may not vote on this poll

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  #1  
Old 24th January 2010, 02:32 PM
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Bonzo Bonzo is offline
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Red face Confused again

I have just been given a 1992 Vauxhall Calibra ....... Popped the bonnet & find that it has the C20XE Red top engine fitted.

That would explain why the car was so lively

Engine is sweet & runs very well ..............Now here's the problem.

Do I stick with the 1.8 Zetec install or fit the Red top engine instead

I have both Megasqirt and Megajolt built & ready for use ........I also have Throttle bodies & Bike carbs ready for use.
So on that side of things, the money has already been laid out.

Common sense says stick with the Zetec & swap for a 2 litre one if I need more power.

The trouble is.......... I find 150 BHP of Red top power very tempting !!??

I know where I can lay my hands on an Omega gearbox for less than £50 but don't know how it compares in size to the ford type 9 gearbox ??

As per poll ....... Fit it ..... Flog it ...... Save it for a rainy day ??
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  #2  
Old 24th January 2010, 02:40 PM
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I think the best thing you can do is to build a giant catapault and launch the engine towards my place lol
anyway they are a lovely engine very short skirts on the pistons beautifull conrods etc very tunable
if you dont use it definately save it for your next build
Ray
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  #3  
Old 24th January 2010, 02:48 PM
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Must admit Ray. I don't know too much about the Red top engine ...... Other than knowing that they are quite desireable & fetch decent money.

I thought they were quite tuneable as I had noticed one on Ebay with a dyno printout for a claimed 280 BHP
Took it with a pinch of salt though

Thanks for your input mate
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Old 24th January 2010, 03:03 PM
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i have got an omega box in the shed i can measure and see if it will fit in the type 9 tunnel if you like?

i would wip the engine out and store it until you make up your mind. other option is to sell it to fund the build.

Last edited by AshG : 24th January 2010 at 03:05 PM.
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  #5  
Old 24th January 2010, 03:20 PM
snapper snapper is offline
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200 BHP is pretty simple with a Red top, Megasquirt and throttle bodies and a good rolling road set up.
200 out of a Zetec is a fair bit more money.
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Old 24th January 2010, 04:00 PM
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That would be brilliant if you could do that Ash

From my limited knowledge .... I believe the Omega box is a direct fit to the C20XE engine.

I have found a bell housing to convert to the Ford type 9 selling for £153 + vat, have not got a clue what flywheel n clutch mods would be needed though



Cheers Snapper ... Definately sounds like keeping at the very least



Quote:
Originally Posted by AshG View Post
i have got an omega box in the shed i can measure and see if it will fit in the type 9 tunnel if you like?

i would wip the engine out and store it until you make up your mind. other option is to sell it to fund the build.
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  #7  
Old 24th January 2010, 04:12 PM
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I hate prety much everything to do with vauxhall front wheel drives..

So in my opinion.

Fit the XE.


I thought all Libras had an XE?
280BHP is a Lie! unles it's a Turbo, to get that sort of power out of a non blown 16v you would have to have horrid cams and balance it to rev realy hard. And do a lot of head, exhaust and other work.

Don't bother with a 2.0 Zetec either, the 1.8 is the better unit overall.

TT
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  #8  
Old 24th January 2010, 04:31 PM
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Here's a picy



A bit grubby as you would expect for an engine of this age ....That said ....The block is clean, drives well & pulls like a good un

Junior has allready nicked the Angel eye front lights for his Calibra

I'll keep the gearbox as a spare just in case he trashes another one !!

TT

The later Calibras were fitted with the 2 litre X20XEV Ecotec engine 130 bhp ( ish )
More or less the same engine as fitted to the Vectra
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  #9  
Old 24th January 2010, 06:54 PM
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Ronnie you can sell me the throttle bodies and the megasquirt (please) Iam going the zetec way.
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  #10  
Old 25th January 2010, 12:14 AM
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If ya want to know what 285BHP takes..

http://www.ricwood.com/XE.html

TT
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