Want to convert my astra 1.6 sxi to a 2.5 V6

[mk4vf2011]

Hi i want to convert my 04 astra g 1.6 sxi 3 door with a 2.5 V6 GSI engine out of a vectra, should it be a straight forward conversion or will it be a tt to do? Cheers

[GadgeS3C]

No idea but are you planning on uprating brakes, suspension etc. to cope with the extra power and weight?

Sorry if grandma and egg sucking is appropriate.

[DanDC5]

If it's a mk4 the engine will fit but the wiring is a bit of a bd from what I've been told. Best bit is try MIGWEB. There's a few people on there who've done it.

[XJ40]

They'll be some significant work involved but it's doable no doubt.

I wouldn't attempt it if it's your daily driver due to the time it would be off the road, if it's a project car that you fancy playing with then go for it.

The stock reply to a thread like this is to recommend buying a performance variant of the Astra and save yourself the grief and expense of the conversion.

[mk4vf2011]

yer definetly, would i be better just getting a donor car?

[StottyZr]

mk4vf2011 said:

yer definetly, would i be better just getting a donor car?

You'd be better off getting a better car to start with. Whats the power output on a 2.5v6? 170hp, the Astra will still be slow, just a bit noisier.

If any conversion had to be done I would have though a Z20LET from a Astra Coupe would be the best way to go. Even this wouldn't make sense as you could just buy a Coupe instead they're well under £2k now IIRC.

Infact here you go

[XJ40]

StottyZr said:

...you could just buy a Coupe instead they're well under £2k now IIRC.

Infact here you go

This is the sensible thing to do unless you want a project.

[StottyZr]

XJ40 said:

StottyZr said:

...you could just buy a Coupe instead they're well under £2k now IIRC.

Infact here you go

This is the sensible thing to do unless you want a project.

Granted. But if you want to do a project you may as well make it worthwhile.

[deltashad]

A friend of mine put one into a Nova saloon a few years back. If you're serious I can point you his direction and he could talk you through it.

[Torquey]

Not fancy a Mk4 Astra GSI instead?


This would probably save you money in the run, be faster and probably more reliable

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/4065201.htm

[J4CKO]

Went in a 300 bhp Astra turbo coupe, that was insane, would imagine the V6 would be quite nice but probably not massively quick and wouldnt be sure what the handlign would be like.

[XJ40]

StottyZr said:

But if you want to do a project you may as well make it worthwhile.

Well yes, spending time and money modifying a 1.6 Astra wouldn't be my choice. Each to there own though I guess.

[mk4vf2011]

Thanks you guys for the help, yes probably getting a astra gsi or something a bit faster would be better, just ive put alot of money into my astra with irmscher kit and wheels and exhaust system n that, just thought an engine transplant would make it unique but i duno if i could do with the hassle. Al av to have a think

[RobCrezz]

mk4vf2011 said:

Thanks you guys for the help, yes probably getting a astra gsi or something a bit faster would be better, just ive put alot of money into my astra with irmscher kit and wheels and exhaust system n that, just thought an engine transplant would make it unique but i duno if i could do with the hassle. Al av to have a think

Its totally possible, just worth weighing up if its worth it or not.

[Davie]

mk4vf2011 said:

Hi i want to convert my 04 astra g 1.6 sxi 3 door with a 2.5 V6 GSI engine out of a vectra, should it be a straight forward conversion or will it be a tt to do? Cheers

It's been done many many times already. As has been said, Migweb, Vauxsport or the bespoke Astra forums would be a good starting point. Also worth bearing in mind that simply bolting the engine is is just the start of things... in fact before you even get the engine in I'd be budgeting for a full cambelt kit, water pump, plugs, HT leads, a coil pack and also a new clutch. No point going through all the hassle and expense of a transplant if the donor engine's in poor health. And the GSi (MSD) spec engines are circa 190bhp but you need to man up and get a 3.0 or a 3.2 in there instead. Or yes, buy a Z20LET as it's far easier to tune (300bhp is easy) and also, a damn sight easier to work on compared to the hateful piece of crap that is the V6.

Dave
Ex Vauxhall V6 owner / current Vauxhall V6 hater.

[300bhp/ton]

mk4vf2011 said:

Hi i want to convert my 04 astra g 1.6 sxi 3 door with a 2.5 V6 GSI engine out of a vectra, should it be a straight forward conversion or will it be a tt to do? Cheers

Buy a better car, it simply isn't worth the money/time/hassle. And it's not as if an 04 Astra 1.6 is either:

old & classic
rare
pretty
unique


In fact a more productive and financially secure thing to do, would be to get a wad of £50 notes from the bank, and sit down and set fire to them one by one.

[300bhp/ton]

mk4vf2011 said:

Thanks you guys for the help, yes probably getting a astra gsi or something a bit faster would be better, just ive put alot of money into my astra with irmscher kit and wheels and exhaust system n that, just thought an engine transplant would make it unique but i duno if i could do with the hassle. Al av to have a think

Not trying to be rude. But that is one fked up way to think.

Lets look at this logically - it's an ASTRA. Just about the most common vehicle on UK roads. It will never ever ever be unique.

All you can do is a million mods so it no longer looks like an Astra - but then you have to ask yourself why use an Astra at all? It's not exactly an ideal performance platform to build anything off of.

If you want unique - buy unique. There are hundreds of choices out there, including fast ones. And many which will cost less than this conversion (plus cost of the other bits you've stuck to the Astra already).


Rule 1 - If you want unique, don't start with the most common boring utility ever created. Start with something that is actually interesting and/or fast.

[aka_kerrly]

300bhp/ton said:

Not trying to be rude. But that is one fked up way to think.

Lets look at this logically - it's an ASTRA. Just about the most common vehicle on UK roads. It will never ever ever be unique.

All you can do is a million mods so it no longer looks like an Astra - but then you have to ask yourself why use an Astra at all? It's not exactly an ideal performance platform to build anything off of.

If you want unique - buy unique. There are hundreds of choices out there, including fast ones. And many which will cost less than this conversion (plus cost of the other bits you've stuck to the Astra already).


Rule 1 - If you want unique, don't start with the most common boring utility ever created. Start with something that is actually interesting and/or fast.

Hang on a second, you are of course the owner of a Triumph TR7 with a V8 conversion are you not.... and I seem to recall a Thunderbird project so you are not adverse to messing about with cars.

Whatever happened to the logic ( or complete lack) of "WHY THE HELL NOT!"

The biggest problem here is the OP has fallen into the trap of, if you have to ask about it you probably can't do it.

Where as, if he did some proper googling he would find that there is tonnes of information on this topic and the V6 can/has been fitted into Novas/Corsas so there is no obvious reason not to put it in a Astra and since that era Astra didn't come as standard with a V6 it is a sound idea. What isn't is people who insist on building something that you can buy off the shelf, so there would be little point him putting a 2.0 Turbo in when as demonstrated you can buy one for £2k.

[Hudson]

Wouldn't the 2.0 redtop with a turbo be quicker? or am I woefully out of date and completely wrong?

[FoundOnRoadside]

1.6 is the worst car to start with, you're limited by the 4-stud hubs, drum brakes at the back, gear linkages, etc. The 1.8 is an easier conversion, as it has 5-stud hubs, cable gear change, bigger brakes, etc, etc.