Redtop Conversion Advice Needed

[Sutty2006]

Morning gentle folk. I have a few questions to ask the gurus of redtopification into a 1987 hatch.

1. What clutch is best?

2. I'm using the original 1.8 dizzy with a modified bracket, is this a straight forward bolt on job?

3. Coolant hoses and radiator?

Any other specialist parts needed? I've got manifolds and carbs in mind , got the sump and pickup etc etc

Any other advice much appreciated

[rutts]

if you have the flat flywheel use a uprated GTE clutch plate or a calibra turbo plate with either cover depending on flywheel type.

the bracket just bolts on but you need to machine a 1.8 cam pully to get the little dizzy drive gear off it then use a slightly longer bolt to fit it to exhaust cam pully.

standard rad if good is ok with electric fan.

standard 1.8 hoses fit bar for heater ones. i used an alloy T piece on rear of water pump but you could buy the ones made by Js on othe topic page.

[Sutty2006]

Cheers Andy. Regarding the camshaft pulley, do you mean the 1.8 dizzy part needs to be fitted to the exhaust cam of the 16v?

[upk]

Yes he does!

It's a good idea to drill and pin the dizzy drive gear to the XE cam belt wheel to ensure it cannot slip!

Edited February 13, 2013 by upk

[mantasrme]

You'll need to fit a spigot bearing to the end of the crankshaft as fwd setups don't use them but rwd needs them.

The 1.8 large waterpipes fit but you need to find new bits for double alloy T piece to bottom of inlet manifold, double T to heater matrix and from rear of head to heater matrix.

You can either fit an expansion tank and use the vent pipe from the manifold, or get a piece added to you're radiator for it, or just blank it off.

Mines blanked and as long as you bleed it fully when first filling it will be fine (mines been in and thrashed for years without issues)

Also remember to adjust/set the clutch arm pivot on the gearbox to the correct point for the new clutch before fitting the engine, just follow the guide in the haynes for that.

Standard 1.8 alloy mounts on block and original rubber mount on OS but i swap the NS one for a 50mm thick round mount (originally for mk2 rs2000 escorts)

Otherwise the rotational force rips the NS rubber into 2 when driven enthusiastically. Looks like this:

For the sump fitting there are several options and opinions. Some people trim the astra baffle plate and fit it with the original rubber gasket, some fit it with double cork gaskets (standard 1.8 ones), or like i did just fit a single cork gasket and file the baffle plate in the bin. Its needed in fwd were the oil would otherwise slosh up to the crank under braking/acceleration but this doesn't happen in rwd with the 1.8 sump.

Before you drop the engine in it might be worth trimming the lip on the bulkhead back a little for more access to heater pipe and engine-gearbox bolts. You don't have to but the extra space makes it easier

Thats all that springs to mind

[Retro Power]

PM if you are after a clutch, I will in the next few days have complete, brand new (NOT reconditioned) genuine LUK clutch kits on the shelf (LUK were OEM on XE/LET engines) with the right parts to do the job (calibra turbo driven plate, astra/calibra 16v cover)

[Sutty2006]

Cheers will give you a message. Any idea where I can get a dizzy blanking plate from?

[garymanc]

http://www.sbdev.co.uk/Electrical/HT%20Leads/2L_HTLeads_Coils.htm

[MB15]

Yukspeed -- Sell the Spigot bearing you need , That`s where i bought mine from

The XE exhaust camshaft is a main oil feed and will need blanking ,

As the above comment says - SBD have the blanking plates , dowel and oil o/seal you need ,

The exhaust manifold i used was from Peter Lloyd Rallying ,- straight pipe to a Sportex over axle bend and back box, (ebay)

I used the standard 1.8 big wing sump and standard 1.8 gearbox,

Can`t mind what set up - flywheel , cover ect but Retro Power will keep you right ,

Standard 1.8 Dizzy , coil and spark loom off a 1.8 ,

Custom Dizzy Bracket

If i think of anything else i`ll let you know

Kev

[mantasrme]

Spigot bearings can be had off e-bay for a lot less than Yuk charges

[Paul Barrett]

got a couple new spigot bearings here i think

[robah]

Sutty, have a look at this topic for the hoses http://forums.mantaclub.org/topic/30786-silicon-hoses-from-js-performance-now-with-added-omoc-discount/

Good prices aswell. If you need anymore info just PM me.

Rob

[Retro Power]

spigot bearing is around £4 from vauxhall, bought 5 last week

[Retro Power]

Exhaust manifold wise, we make one in stainless, its not cheap but you get what you pay for.

All the others that are around the £125 to £160 mark are the same manifold, the one that comes with the powder coating that burns off........they, without being rude, are not great.

Here's one I made (its a Kadett one but the manta one is only slightly different - everybody else says they are the same, which is why theirs don't fit!)

[Sutty2006]

I will be looking into a rwd fannymold, can you price one up for me ? I will also be looking at getting some assistance with wiring the injection system up as electrics fry my brain!

[Sutty2006]

Ive got a low pressure facet fuel pump.

Can anyone recommend what I replace it for? High pressure pump? which one?

[Paul Barrett]

stanadard bosch unit,you could leave the low pressure one in the system and plumb in swirl pot for surge then the high pressure pump to rail