Difference between engines

I used to have an Astra GSi 2.0 16v that was 150BHp. I now have a Vectra
2.0 16v that is 136Bhp.

What is the physical difference between these engines affecting the power
output? Can something be changed to give my vectra that bit more power?

Bob

 

The gsi would have been a C20XE "redtop" engine

The Veccy is the X20XEV "ecotec engine"

dont believe the 136 bhp though

my rather stock ecotec with 117k on the clock (bar cat back exhaust and
replacement panel filter made 151 bhp on the rolling road and then 166 with
the addition of uprated cams and a dastek ecu and de-cat along with some
mild diy headwork(basically a port and polish in old terms and a few other
non bhp affecting mods

Dont listen to the people that go on about how great an engine the red top
is they've had their day and the ecotec in infinitely tuneable. and a
healthy eco can be brought up to the 170 bhp without internal mods if you
want any advice on tuning your X20XEV just ask thats what we're here for.

 

In regards to changes its a case of how deep are your pockets


dbilas do a nice inlet manifold and cam package that adds 28 bhp (giving a
claimed 164 bhp on a healthy donk. although it is certainly not cheap around
the 1400 pounds mark This is what i will be going for next on my own
ecotec. but there are plenty other options available for tuning the engine.

what kind of budget are you looking at

on a cheap end i would give it a ruddy good service get a decent cat back
exhaust and a panel filter to aid the breathing if you shop around and go
for a second hand exhaust system you could do this for under 200 easily

next step is where it gets trickier as you could take any path really.

headwork would give a good overall gain but will be expensive if you aren't
willing to do yourself

cams would be a great way to complement the headwork and can provide a good
gain on their own although dont expect to see the gains to be any more than
5-6 bhp on a stock lump while keeping it driveable

Dont bother removing the EGR setup on the ecotec it doesnt affect power
output in anyway as long as its working correctly

decent exhaust manifolds are hard to come by with lexmaul being one of the
very few companies offering one for the ecotec and theirs being over 300
quid ouch, you could always go down the same route i'm taking at the moment
of a C20XE redtop manifold cut and welded to the face plate of a standard
ecotec manifold voila cheap and cheerful 4 branch although dont expect any
serious gains from this alone.

 

Not really looking to spend any money. I was just wondering what the
difference was, since it looks like the same engine (from memory), except
for the red/black plastic panel on the top.

I was thinking the red top might have been multi point injection, with
different cams and a different ECU program.

Bob

 

Nope sorry totally different engines, although they share a lot of
similarities such as bore and stroke, and well um thats about it really

both multipoint injection (well red top SFI sequentional fuel injection just
to be proper every thing like cams ecu is completely different as its the
new breed of engine

 

Dont listen to the people that go on about how great an engine the red top
Or buy a car with a 3.0V6<vbg>

 

Yeah, I was looking at the prices for the mods, and thinking I could trade
my 2.0 in and get a 2.5 for the same price (minus dealer markup), but pay
the extra 50% on the insurance. I don't think the do a 3.0 on a vectra
though (although they do on a clio?)

Last time I looked, my insurance was about £500 and it was about £750 a year
for a V6, but the cost of the cars was about the same (because of the higher
insurance).

Bob

 

Yeah, I was looking at the prices for the mods, and thinking I could trade
I've got an MV6

The 3.0 V6 Clio is mid engined