Pontiac 2.0L OHC Turbo Swap

[Goodwrencher]

I have heard rumors that the pontiac engine might be from Opel origins. Looking to swap it into my 74 Manta 4 spd. Hoping the bellhousing pattern is the same, or maybe a bellhousing or trans that fits is available. It came in a 1988 Sunbird GT Turbo Convertible FWD.

[oppositelock]

As this is essentially the same block as the 1.8 OHC that came in later B chassis Mantas the oil pan (and pump pickup) and the motor mounts will bolt right up. Same with the bellhousing. You won't find these parts in the U.S., you will have to look in Europe. Even then they are like gold, though, because XE 16v motor swaps are very popular into Mantas and Ford Escorts and such. You need the RWD 1.8 Manta oil pan to use the XE engine in a RWD orientation (as it shares the same block) just as you would for your Pontiac 2.0turbo engine.

[BQS4]

Originally Posted by oppositelock As this is essentially the same block as the 1.8 OHC that came in later B chassis Mantas the oil pan (and pump pickup) and the motor mounts will bolt right up. Same with the bellhousing. You won't find these parts in the U.S., you will have to look in Europe. Even then they are like gold, though, because XE 16v motor swaps are very popular into Mantas and Ford Escorts and such. You need the RWD 1.8 Manta oil pan to use the XE engine in a RWD orientation (as it shares the same block) just as you would for your Pontiac 2.0turbo engine.

Is this the motor that takes the 240 trans with the starter on the passenger side?

[heimue]

Originally Posted by BQS4 Is this the motor that takes the 240 trans with the starter on the passenger side?

Yes, Gene, YOUR Getrag 240 does in fact fit...

Dieter

[BQS4]

Originally Posted by heimue Yes, Gene, YOUR Getrag 240 does in fact fit... Dieter

Hmmm, interesting.......

[otto82]

In finland that kind of engine swap is done many times. If you dont want to find that 1.8 ohc transmission, which is very hard to find, you should use maby opel omega's R25 transmission. In that case you have to build cardan for it. But you can use original transmission too, if you build a interstitial pad between engine and gearbox. Oil pan you can build for some frontwheel drive opel oil pan, but that you have to reshape a little. The engine brackets you have to build for your self.

I maby would use that original transmission and fit the ohc block to it. I'd never done that kind of swap, but i have heard that the 2.0 8 valve ohc engine is very good choise for older opel.

[baz]

so if the OHC is basically the opel engine it begs the question , whats the DOHC engine from later models when i google for engine images ??

hows that for more interesting gene

[otto82]

I'm not sure for the later models... But c20xe (16v with cat), 20xe (the original 16v redtop), c20let (16v turbo) is same kind of block as it is on 1.8 and 2.0 8 valve ohc engines. Not for sure but i think that z22se from omega b, near year 2000, is same type of block as older ohc.

I had study that omega b's block for swaping that crank to 2.0 block, the bore is same, so it might be bossible, maybe...

edit: i googled pictures for that sunbird turbo engine, it looks very much like that 2.0 8 valve ohc engine which i had study very much. The oil pan is back at the engine, so i think you might use that engines own oil pan, maybe you have to shape it a little... but that turbo engine block and cylinder head looks similar as the 2.0 8 valve engine. Hope this will help

[BQS4]

Originally Posted by baz so if the OHC is basically the opel engine it begs the question , whats the DOHC engine from later models when i google for engine images ?? hows that for more interesting gene

Definitely food for thought Baz......hmmm.....

[Rionart]

Originally Posted by BQS4 Definitely food for thought Baz......hmmm.....

LOL Gene....I can almost see the bright light glowing over the top of Snelville from here in Toronto!!

[grslightng02]

My latest dream was to find a 2.0L TurboCharged EcoTech motor from a Pontiac Solstice, or Saturn Sky. Excellent rear wheel drive motor achieving 240 horsepower stock. Essentially the same motor as in the new Opel GT. I've also heard rumors of people modifying the motors and getting up to 400HP!

[otto82]

Well, there is always that option to keep the CIH engine, stroke it to 2.7 and put two turbos in it... When i was little boy, near my home lived a man who had this kind of engine in ascona b, and it was very fast and the sound were amazing.

[Goodwrencher]

So the hellhousing pattern I have on the stock 1974 1.9L is, or is not the same? If not, can I get a bellhousing and use the same trans, or do I need to find an entire dirrerent tranny?

[neuropel]

Originally Posted by Goodwrencher So the hellhousing pattern I have on the stock 1974 1.9L is, or is not the same?

NOT the same.

Originally Posted by Goodwrencher If not, can I get a bellhousing and use the same trans, or do I need to find an entire dirrerent tranny?

You'll need a different transmission.

[Goodwrencher]

Ok, first Opel. I know GM J-Bodies front and backwards, but not these yet. So which trannies can I use, and where do I get them?

[kwilford]

Originally Posted by Goodwrencher Ok, first Opel. I know GM J-Bodies front and backwards, but not these yet. So which trannies can I use, and where do I get them?

Um, the second post

Originally Posted by oppositelock As this is essentially the same block as the 1.8 OHC that came in later B chassis Mantas the oil pan (and pump pickup) and the motor mounts will bolt right up. Same with the bellhousing. You won't find these parts in the U.S., you will have to look in Europe. Even then they are like gold, though, because XE 16v motor swaps are very popular into Mantas and Ford Escorts and such. You need the RWD 1.8 Manta oil pan to use the XE engine in a RWD orientation (as it shares the same block) just as you would for your Pontiac 2.0turbo engine.

Which means you can't get them, unless you are travelling to Europe, and even then "...Even then they are like gold, though, because XE 16v motor swaps are very popular into Mantas and Ford Escorts and such. "
If this was easy, it would be done all the time. And even if it were just darn difficult, it would be done. Compared to some of the engine swaps done here, this is just too difficult. For a Manta swap, there are less difficult options, such as pretty much any RWD four or V6. That said, NONE of those are easy either.

Good luck and HTH

[Goodwrencher]

Originally Posted by kwilford Um, the second post Which means you can't get them, unless you are travelling to Europe, and even then "...Even then they are like gold, though, because XE 16v motor swaps are very popular into Mantas and Ford Escorts and such. " If this was easy, it would be done all the time. And even if it were just darn difficult, it would be done. Compared to some of the engine swaps done here, this is just too difficult. For a Manta swap, there are less difficult options, such as pretty much any RWD four or V6. That said, NONE of those are easy either. Good luck and HTH

OK, have sources available in Germany, and Britian.. What exactly am I looking for? Do I check wrecking yard? If so, for what? A buddy of mine is a Captain for Cargo Lux and flies near me all the time. So getting it here is not a problem. The reason for wanting this swap is I have a low milage car with the engine in it.

[Goodwrencher]

Any chance the rwd trans in the Solstice will work?

[oldopelguy]

No, the Solstice is a different bolt pattern.

You need the transmission from a late Manta B.

One of these

[oppositelock]

Originally Posted by Goodwrencher OK, have sources available in Germany, and Britian.. What exactly am I looking for? Do I check wrecking yard? If so, for what? A buddy of mine is a Captain for Cargo Lux and flies near me all the time. So getting it here is not a problem. The reason for wanting this swap is I have a low milage car with the engine in it.

You're going to need this:
opel manta 1.8 sump xe convershion chevette escort on eBay, also, Vauxhall Opel, Car Parts, Cars, Parts Vehicles (end time 22-Oct-08 21:12:31 BST)
And this:Opel Manta Engine Mounts Redtop RWD Conversion XE 1.8 on eBay, also, Vauxhall Opel, Car Parts, Cars, Parts Vehicles (end time 24-Oct-08 13:15:03 BST)
And this would help if you want to use a ZF gearbox:Gearbox Bellhousing ZF XE Escort on eBay, also, Vauxhall Opel, Car Parts, Cars, Parts Vehicles (end time 23-Oct-08 19:00:00 BST)
While you're at it what you really need is one of these. More power than your turbo motor and guaranteed to sound better, too:race engine rebuilt c20xe redtop on 45 webbers big bhp on eBay, also Engine Tuning Parts, Performance Tuning Parts, Car Tuning Styling, Cars, Parts Vehicles (end time 20-Oct-08 20:00:00 BST)

The trouble with finding this stuff on Ebay is nobody ever wants to ship overseas so if you have contacts for that it would help.

[Goodwrencher]

Originally Posted by oppositelock You're going to need this: opel manta 1.8 sump xe convershion chevette escort on eBay, also, Vauxhall Opel, Car Parts, Cars, Parts Vehicles (end time 22-Oct-08 21:12:31 BST) And this:Opel Manta Engine Mounts Redtop RWD Conversion XE 1.8 on eBay, also, Vauxhall Opel, Car Parts, Cars, Parts Vehicles (end time 24-Oct-08 13:15:03 BST) And this would help if you want to use a ZF gearbox:Gearbox Bellhousing ZF XE Escort on eBay, also, Vauxhall Opel, Car Parts, Cars, Parts Vehicles (end time 23-Oct-08 19:00:00 BST) While you're at it what you really need is one of these. More power than your turbo motor and guaranteed to sound better, too:race engine rebuilt c20xe redtop on 45 webbers big bhp on eBay, also Engine Tuning Parts, Performance Tuning Parts, Car Tuning Styling, Cars, Parts Vehicles (end time 20-Oct-08 20:00:00 BST) The trouble with finding this stuff on Ebay is nobody ever wants to ship overseas so if you have contacts for that it would help.

So the bellhousing would bolt up to the trans I have now? Do you still have the 2 74 Manta parts cars?

[oldopelguy]

Originally Posted by Goodwrencher So the bellhousing would bolt up to the trans I have now? Do you still have the 2 74 Manta parts cars?

There is no bell housing that will bolt the Pontiac motor you want to install to an Opel transmission.

The one bell housing oppositelock linked to is for a high-performance aftermarket transmission made by ZF, and that bell housing in particular is for the regular CIH Opel motor you have and not at all for the Pontiac motor you have.

The only RWD transmission that will bolt to the Pontiac motor you have is one that has the bell housing as part of the transmission, and it's like the one I linked to in my previous post from a late Model Manta B, which we never got in the states. The "B" means second generation, which was not introduced until after the stopped importing them. All we ever got here in the US is the Manta "A", which is the first generation and it never came with the right transmission.

[kwilford]

Originally Posted by Goodwrencher Any chance the rwd trans in the Solstice will work?

If you can get the Solstice transmission, why not get the entire drivetrain? Now THAT would be cool!

[Rionart]

Originally Posted by kwilford If you can get the Solstice transmission, why not get the entire drivetrain? Now THAT would be cool!

You've been peeking under the tarp in my workshop again, haven't you Keith!!...

[oppositelock]

Originally Posted by oldopelguy The one bell housing oppositelock linked to is for a high-performance aftermarket transmission made by ZF, and that bell housing in particular is for the regular CIH Opel motor you have and not at all for the Pontiac motor you have.

Oops, I missed that. The ad mentions it fitting a Vauxhall 16v redtop engine but after actually looking closer at the picture it is obviously just an Opel CIH 4 speed bellhousing that's been modified. The seller apparently doesn't know what he has.

So here's another source for a bellhousing that will fit a Ford Type 9 tranny to your Pontiac/Opel engine:SBD Motorsport Only about US$270.