2.0 Liter Performance

[rbinc]

What else is available for the '89 2.0 in our Lemans? I'd love to turbo it but CA would probably not allow it.

Just rebuilt; completely stock but punched .020 over. During the build I found no cams, headers, nothing available for this motor.

Has quite respectable power as is, but if anyone knows of any tuning or parts available to improve power, please let me know?

All tips are appreciated.

[GsiTurbo]

THere isnt that much available here...

For the N/A model, I can get you a higher lift cam, with adjustable cam gears, but you would have to have it properly tuned on a dyno. These engines have a weak spot in the valve followers - we can supply forged SBI items, made in england.

Other than that, if you can get your hands on 93+ sunbird 2.0 intake manifold (MPFI) with wiring and ECM, that would give you another 12 hp, i the memory serves me well. Besides that, 50 wet shot of NOS would do.

Next option would be a 2.0 8V Turbo swap (C20GET), which was CA legal in Sunbirds Turbo. I can sell you my old setup, including the wiring already modded for the Lemans, ported cylinder head, intake exhaust...basically this engine:

http://www.daewootech.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2175 (this is my Lemans converted to Astra GSI replica).

Tom

[rbinc]

Tom,

Your car is exponentially impressive! Ours is the same color (silver) but just a Lemans GSE and I can only imagine how fun it would be to duplicate what you have done. I did take the heat gun to the gaudy "LeMans GSE" decals on the doors and it already looks better but nothing like yours. I almost hope my son gets tired of this car and I will take it for mine and build it up little by little.

I have looked around and found most of the body work you have done except for the headlights (and I assume hood). Are these Vauxhall?

For the N/A model, I can get you a higher lift cam, with adjustable cam gears, but you would have to have it properly tuned on a dyno. These engines have a weak spot in the valve followers - we can supply forged SBI items, made in england.

So the tuning is done via the adjustable cam gear? And is the cam so hot that even a new cat would not get it past smog here in CA?

And what is weak in the followers? I DO notice that, even with brand new hydraulic lifters in the head, there is considerable valvetrain noise. And I did not have the GM valve compressor when I built it, so ended up doing something I hated; installing the cam carrier with the cam installed and the followers in place, gently torqueing down both the head and carrier. Do you have a source for a reasonably priced tool to do this if I were to buy a cam? I saw a diagram of it in the only manual I could find (Sunbird) and couldn't see how there is clearance for this tool within the carrier, but I guess there must be. I could pull the head and carrier and use a new head gasket to do this again, but this top end really is a nuisance. Not only is there no easy way to R&R a camshaft, but there is no gasket between the head and carrier so you end up working quickly and carefully to make sure RTV or Permatex is not disturbed as you install.

Other than that, if you can get your hands on 93+ sunbird 2.0 intake manifold (MPFI) with wiring and ECM, that would give you another 12 hp, i the memory serves me well. Besides that, 50 wet shot of NOS would do.

MPFI only gains 12 over TBI? Not sure it would be worth the trouble due to the cost but will look at the local wrecking yards. And not that my son will be doing 6 grand nitrous clutch-drops, but is the lower end of a stock 2.0 strong enough for nitrous at all? Crank and caps looked quite stout for a 2 liter, but the rods were not impressive at all. If the bottom end is strong enough for midrange nitrous hits, this might be the way to go for occasional fun. Of course, for ME and not my son. Don't know where in the hell I will hide the bottle though....

Next option would be a 2.0 8V Turbo swap (C20GET), which was CA legal in Sunbirds Turbo. I can sell you my old setup, including the wiring already modded for the Lemans, ported cylinder head, intake exhaust...basically this engine:

Including MPFI with injectors? I assume I would have to reduce the pistons to 8:1 or whatever was stock for the turbo? The horsepower difference, from what I've found, is nearly 60 so I wouldn't be too troubled with this. But CA emissions are ridiculous and would need to find out if they allow this. The CA rule is that it is the original VIN emissions that must be met and every original CA emissions component must be in place and authorized by the CARB. Out here, even if a header has all provisions for O2, EGR, heat-riser, etc.. as was originally provisioned, it is illegal unless the manufacturer has it CARB approved. Speaking of, do you know of any CA-legal header for this car?

But I will look into this and just might be interested in your old setup if the law permits.

Tom, congrats on your car, your website here and 360. And thanks for your help.

Robert

[Efratech]

5 of my followers in my old engine broke after i had a missgear... i saw the revcounter at 7000+

I did use NOS on it, a 50 HP wet shot, did a 15.4 at the 1/4 of mile.

[rbinc]

Bump. Anyone have comments and is a header available anywhere for the N/A 2 liter (L4)?

[PrecisionBoost]

You should do a C20GET swap, build up the car and store it in Vegas.... then you would have an excuse to go there and drive around like a maniac

There are crazy men out there running nearly stock 2.0L Turbo Sunbirds into the 10 second 1/4 mile teritory.

California is nice..... but I don't think I could ever bring myself to live there due to the emissions crap.

You should forget about modifying the engine and drop in an electric motor to boost your power levels.

Knowing California you would probably get some kind of rebate for turning your car into a hybrid.

Here are some links if your interested...
http://www.cloudelectric.com/generic.html?pid=52
http://www.cloudelectric.com/generic.html?pid=66

http://www.austinev.org/evalbum/035.html