are engine conversions reliable?

1. LeeM Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Feb 2008 Liverpool Posts: 7393 Black Corsa C SRi

   #1 26th March 2009, 23:15

   i want a vts, but am thinking as i already have a vtr i might as well bung a vts engine in mine it will be good practice as im going to college to do mechanics and im already pretty handy with a spanner, and i prefer my interior to the vts and have all my sound system and stuff in my vtr.
   
   onto the question, i always have the feeling that engine converted cars are less reliable than a car that came with that engine from factory is that the cae in saxo's? intend on using vts rad and fans and possibly a vts fuel tank or at least doing the fuel return malarky properly so will it be just like any other vts?
   have an enine crane and plenty of tools and spcae so im gonna do as much as i can myself and then send it to the garage round the corner(pug/citroen specialist) if i come up against anything i really cant do
2. Ben Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Dec 2007 Chesterfield Posts: 5469 Ecoboost

   #2 26th March 2009, 23:21

   Depends how well the workmanship is mate. If its all done mint then of course it'll be as reliable as any other saxo.
3. LeeM Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Feb 2008 Liverpool Posts: 7393 Black Corsa C SRi

   #3 26th March 2009, 23:23

   will be my first conversion lol! lets be honest, will i fuck it up? is it hard to fuck it up?
4. user_10418 Saxperience Addict Joined: Jun 2006 Wirral Posts: 13584 Wickerd red VTS MK2, Two tone VTS MK2,vvc Metro..

   #4 26th March 2009, 23:31

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by LeeM will be my first conversion lol! lets be honest, will i fuck it up? is it hard to fuck it up?

   Just take your time!! and have mate who has some mechanic back ground to help you.........
5. Ben Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Dec 2007 Chesterfield Posts: 5469 Ecoboost

   #5 26th March 2009, 23:33

   I think its wiring the loom thats the most time consuming part.
6. willsy West Midlands Joined: Nov 2005 Nuneaton (West Mids) Posts: 13835 '64 Volvo V40 R’Design, '89 Ph1 309 GTi, ‘97 Mk1 S

   #6 26th March 2009, 23:33

   To make it easier for yourself make sure you get an engine which is similar year to your car or at least a 3 plug loom/ecu or single one depending on which your car is.
   
   Other than that its not too difficult. Just make sure you take pics of any bits that you're unsure of so if you forget how to put it back together then you have photo reference or of course label plugs and sensors with numbers etc
   
   Take your time and you'll be fine
7. pjm300 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jun 2005 Potters Bar United Kingdom (England) Posts: 2749 T/B'd VTS

   #7 26th March 2009, 23:34

   piece of piss.
   
   even easier if you go standalone as its plug n play
8. LeeM Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Feb 2008 Liverpool Posts: 7393 Black Corsa C SRi

   #8 26th March 2009, 23:35

   couple of mates are trainee mechanics but tbh i know more than they do! mines 3 plg, will a 3 plug do or will the be differences in say a 2001 3 plug and a 2003 3 plug?
9. LeeM Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Feb 2008 Liverpool Posts: 7393 Black Corsa C SRi

   #9 26th March 2009, 23:37

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by pjm300 piece of piss. even easier if you go standalone as its plug n play

   more money though tbh. hoping to do it for £5-600
10. pjm300 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jun 2005 Potters Bar United Kingdom (England) Posts: 2749 T/B'd VTS

    #10 26th March 2009, 23:38

    give me 5k and i'll chuck in 180bhp n/a for you
11. user_10418 Saxperience Addict Joined: Jun 2006 Wirral Posts: 13584 Wickerd red VTS MK2, Two tone VTS MK2,vvc Metro..

    #11 26th March 2009, 23:43

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by LeeM more money though tbh. hoping to do it for £5-600

    Stick with standard set up for now bud!!
12. AlexBp West Midlands Joined: Dec 2007 West mids Posts: 23149 Supra,civic GL

    #12 26th March 2009, 23:45

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by pjm300 give me 5k and i'll chuck in 180bhp n/a for you

    can i give you an e-hug insted for 180??
    
    
13. pjm300 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jun 2005 Potters Bar United Kingdom (England) Posts: 2749 T/B'd VTS

    #13 26th March 2009, 23:46

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Alex-VTS can i give you an e-hug insted for 180??

    
    can i get back to you?
14. Saxo-Mike Regular Poster Joined: Mar 2009 St. Helens Posts: 417 1.1i Saxo Eastcoast

    #14 27th March 2009, 00:20

    Can you not do it in college?? When i went they let you work/spray your own cars, never seen anyone do a conversion at college though. But then youd have the teachers to help you, just a suggestion.
15. LeeM Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Feb 2008 Liverpool Posts: 7393 Black Corsa C SRi

    #15 27th March 2009, 08:27

    was thinking n engine conversion might be a bit much to do in college, im not sure how much they'll let me do there! also im going to college in september, i was hoping to get it done by then!
16. Sparco_Tom Saxperience Addict Joined: Jan 2007 Aylesbury, Bucks Posts: 12836 Yeaaahh Fiesta

    #16 27th March 2009, 08:40

    get all the bits drive to mine and i will fit it for you in a day
17. LeeM Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Feb 2008 Liverpool Posts: 7393 Black Corsa C SRi

    #17 27th March 2009, 09:15

    ha you're on!
    what do i need? engine, gear box, ecu, loom, radiator, fans, radiator top hose. what else? will my driveshafts work? whats the best way to deal with the fuel return thingy majig?
18. LeeM Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Feb 2008 Liverpool Posts: 7393 Black Corsa C SRi

    #18 27th March 2009, 09:21

    the whole ecu thing is confusing me. do i need to remove my immobiliser? which ecu do you unlock? argh!
19. frankie Saxperience Addict Joined: Apr 2006 Frome, down deepest, darkest zummerset Posts: 12971 VTRallye

    #19 27th March 2009, 09:25

    you unlock the vts ecu......
    
    http://www.bluehawkelectronics.co.uk/
    
    they'll do it for you...
20. Mochachino Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Nov 2007 Guantanamo Bay Posts: 28700 oyster card

    #20 27th March 2009, 10:17

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by frankie you unlock the vts ecu...... http://www.bluehawkelectronics.co.uk/ they'll do it for you...

    01773 605011
    
    and they used to do discount for SSC so mention them u get it done for £80 i think.
21. LeeM Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Feb 2008 Liverpool Posts: 7393 Black Corsa C SRi

    #21 28th March 2009, 13:28

    what about clocks? will my rev counter show correctly and just go further, or will i need vts clocks for it to show right?
22. user_8040 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Dec 2005 MaDchester Posts: 8432 Vts

    #22 28th March 2009, 15:13

    clocks shud be fine if u use the vtr ones, just itll look wierd going past the rev limiter on vtr clocks lol
23. user_10473 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jun 2006 Swansea Posts: 4946 Bianca White Peugeot 106 S2 Rallye, Saxo VTS

    #23 28th March 2009, 16:30

    And there'll be no oil temp gauge.
24. LeeM Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Feb 2008 Liverpool Posts: 7393 Black Corsa C SRi

    #24 28th March 2009, 16:56

    best look for some vts clocks too then, but as long as the vtr ones will work they can stay. so when im at 2k revs it will show 2k but will then go all they way through the redline on the clocks before i hit the redline of the engine?
25. user_10473 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jun 2006 Swansea Posts: 4946 Bianca White Peugeot 106 S2 Rallye, Saxo VTS

    #25 28th March 2009, 16:57

    That's exactly what will happen mate. You could just change the dial faces if you really get peeved with it. But I can't see the bother.
26. Olly Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Dec 2008 Meerkat Harborough Posts: 2638 Saxo vtr mk 2

    #26 28th March 2009, 21:04

    u found out about the ruel return line yet? have got to do mine soon lol think u have to drop the tank, and find out if ur tank is the right one...
27. DJDannyB Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jun 2008 Stockport Posts: 2687

    #27 29th March 2009, 02:01

    i want to do a vts conversion and get my furio engine out
    cheapest most effective mod tbh
28. TU-Tuning Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: May 2006 Bristol Posts: 16575 JP4urio, 306 DTurbo SportShed

    #28 29th March 2009, 02:25

    Im putting one in myself in a few weeks. Great chance to uprate a lot of stuff thats normally an arse to do, eg engine mounts and suspension mounts . Grp N ftw