NEED HELP ON ENGINE --(FONZ)

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GOT A GOOD LOOKIN GEM, AND JUST WANT TO HAVE SOMETHIN UNDER THE BONNET. IS IT A GOOD IDEA TO GO FOR A IMPORTED ENGINE OR SOMETHIN LIKE A RODEO? ANY IDEA'S?

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It all depends on the budget you have, a 4ZE1 2.6L rodeo can be had for $1250, with more scope for enhancements, or a 4ZC1 2L Piazza Turbo for around $1750. The Piazza puts out around 130kW stock, and the Rodeo, 90kW. Just remember that the Rodeo engine was tuned for maximum reliability, as it was made to do commercial work, and bosses would rather not have to replace engines, than give the workers something nice & powerful to drive in. Tweaking and about $600 worth of bolt-on jobs, and you'll easily be at 150kW (dont quote me on that).

On the other hand, you have the SR20DET, or FJ20DET (lets put these in the same bag). At 160kW out of the box for these engines, you've got some serious power, but will cost more to buy (around $2750 for the SR20DET), and will require much more effort and money to fit. TO get your engineers certificate (Which is needed with any increase in power over 10% [ you can get away with mods, but not engine transplants ] ) You'll need bigger brakes, perhaps even 4 wheel discs, Shocks, Suspension, and Swaybars wouldnt go astray either. Someone i know was quoted $5500 drive-in drive-out for a SR20DET, 10.5" BMW brakes, among other things.

You can contact me via e-mail (m0rgoth@crosswinds.net) or icq (13366069)if you wish. (That goes for everyone else out there.

Derek

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WELL THE 4ZC1 AND THE 4ZE1 SOUND PRETTY GOOD.HOW MUCH WORK COULD I DO TO THE 4ZE1 BEFORE IT WOULD BE ILLEGAL.ALSO HOW MUCH POWER DOES 90KW COME TO IN BEGINNERS TERMS. WHAT CARS OUT THERE WOULD HAVE AROUND THE SAME. JUST TO SEE WHO I COULD BEAT OUT THERE.

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Put it this way, a stock Gem has somewhere in the vicinity of 50kW, and weighs in at 950kg, with a power/weight ratio of around 19:1. A V8 Holden SS weighs in at around 1600kg from memory, and has around 180kW.. giving that a power/weight ratio of 8.8:1 (power/weight is probably the best way of comparing cars off the lights or in drags). (the lower the better)

with 90kW, that would raise the Gem's ratio to 10.5:1, Just remember, you wont be at 90kW for long with the 4ZE1. 130kW becomes 7.3:1. Also, a lighter car, with the same setup (talking suspension, power, etc. here) will handle and brake much better because of less momentum.

Derek

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Just remember that a gemini will have higher gear ratios so it will pull a lot harder down low compared to the SS