An engine for my gem --(Simon)

[old forum]

i have a stock TD wagon with a stock 1600. I have about $2500 to spend on a new engine and am thinking G180 or G200.
are these SOHC or DOHC and how much would they cost, including fitting? i dont know a lot about enigines but i have heard a 1600 head would be better on a larger block. also, how hard is it to fit a radiator from a 6-cylinder as mine needs replacing and i mayaswell get a big one at the start. i want an easy change preferably with cash left over for other mods. any reccomendation on the best way to spend my money is good.
cheers all, simon

[old forum]

G180s and G200s come in both SOHC and DOHC form. Both the SOHC engines are a straight bolt in affair - nothing including exhaust has to be changed.

G180 DOHC and G200 DOHC engines do not bolt in and must be bought with a gearbox or they'll be useless. They require mods to mounts to fit in properly - usually splicing a diesel crossmember in somehow too, I think. All this will cost more, and DOHCs only come in twin-carb or EFI forms. Twin carb is near impossible to get the RTA to approve and EFI will add another grand or more to the price, including the computer. The stock computer is useless due to the lack of wiring diagrams for them (in English anyway - fine if you can read Japanese, I hear).

Only put a 1600 head on if you want high compression - so don't if your future plans include a turbo. Also, with high compression, you've got to ask yourself about piston strength, valve strenght and correct sparking etc etc.

Get a custom radiator built - perhaps get it 3-core instead of the stock 2-core. That would be easier than modifying a big 6 cylinder radiator to fit, I believe. Perhaps it would be easy to widen the stock one too - radiator guys always seem to be soldering radiator tanks on and off - surely they could section in a bit from another one? Just a thought, I guess. Something I might persue for my own conversion.....

[old forum]

Dont want to burst your bubble, but after having done numerous twin cam conversions, I think youll find a twin cam is a very similar block and bolts onto the standard engine mounts sweet as. If you cant get a twin cam box, your almost screwed though. You can use a single cam box and change the front case with a twin cam front case, but you still need a rooted box to get the front case.
As far as legality goes, in queensland if it meets the emissions of the body, and the emissions of the motor it is sweet. Geminis had bugger all emissions, (well early ones anyway) and the motors are out of mid eighties cars and all they need is a charcoal canister, which is that thingy in the boot next to the fuel tank. They are piece of piss to get legal with twin carbs