RSi engine into a 1.4RT

[donsrno1]

Having read a few threads on here I was just wondering what part would be needed to put an engine from an RSi into a 1.4RT.

Are the suspension setups the same for both? Would this mean you could just use the same hubs and shock but with higher pundage springs?

Would new driveshafts etc be needed?

Basically I just need a list of all the parts required and also an indication of how difficult this conversion would be to do. Is it easier to do that a valver conversion?

Thanks.

 

[donsrno1]

bump

 

[donsrno1]

^^^^

 

[edde]

Won't be much different than an RSI swop. Personally I'd buy a crashed car or similar you can pick 1.8 16V with rusting rear arches for £300 or so then just swop everything.

 

[len_beach]

Isn't there an RSI engine in the for sale section at the moment including all ancillaries?

 

[len_beach]

Here ya go mofo: http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?t=100409
£250 sounds like a bargain if everything is included though I'm not sure what these engines are worth.

 

[donsrno1]

Isn't there an RSI engine in the for sale section at the moment including all ancillaries?

That's why I was wondering mate as normally I wouldn't have considered a RSi engine transplant but there are a couple of engines for sale and that got me thinking.

In that case you think it's just as tricky as a 16v conversion Edde?

 

[Daz]

Can't see the point myself.
Can't see an RSi being *that* much quicker.

 

[edde]

They will be about as difficult the 1.8 might be slighly more difficult but it won't be much.
The rsi engine has the advnatge of low end power the 16V needs to be reved more.

 

[u33db]

RSI lump will be easier as theres no pissing about with getting a 16v bonnet...more space to work with too. Just lob it in with rsi mounts...shafts should be the same but there may be a problem if the RSI lump has PAS. In this case you'll need a PAS rack, column and assosiated piping/reservouirs. Suspension wise you'll probably be lowered anyway which will be good enough altho 16v springs and shocks couldn't hurt.

30bhp extra should make a fair difference but unless its cheap to do i wouldn't bother. Just (every says it) get a faster car or tune the 1.4 - with headwork, 1.8 SPI TB and cam it'd be quick enough to hassle an rsi/valver and is reasonably cheap/easy to do.

 

[donsrno1]

I'll probably not bother TBH but just thought I would look into it. Part of the reason for me thinking this was that I'm maybe going to need to get a new thrust bearing for the clutch on my own car which I believe will cost quite a bit - mainly labour. If I were to replace the engine with that of an RSi it would mean I would have to do the clutch and therefor make the conversion realtively cheaper if you know what I mean.

How much would it cost to get the headwork, TB's and cams done? What sort of power gains would I be looking at?

 

[donsrno1]

If I got everything in this thread http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?t=100409 what else would be needed and how much would it be likely to cost me in labour if I got the work done by a garage?

 

[edde]

A garage would probably charge a fortune due to the possible problems
the modifications lised headwork cams etc is expensive head work is £600 then you ned a remap wihich is £300 or so (you'd need it with those mods) cams piper might have some cheap ones or be able to use yours. Bigger throttle body you'll have to find ata scrappe but chould be cheapish. If you want to do the head yourself and can find someone who will tell you which bits to work on its very cheap to do the experiance and knowedge means that a profeshional will charge £500~600.
You can bodge the bonnet to fit though i think as peple have previously said it will fit and I've messed about with my WIllaims one and the amount of give in it you could make it fit. Someone said 120hp is possibel and since it should still have a fair bit of low end power being an 8v it might keep with a valver but if someone can drive the valver and keep the revs up they do have a 137hp or so. However it depends a bad valver might make 120hp and won't have the low end power of the tunned RSi engine.

 

[u33db]

Yeah, the bonnet can be bodged to fit for a valver engine but regardless it's still one more thing that needs doing at end of the day (amongst other things)....a pain in the ass and not worth the effort IMO...just buy a valver!

The only problem with the RSI route is they're quite hard to come by. There is that one in that advert but the cost is more than i'd pay considering you can get a 16v for about 100!

I really would stick with the RT option...buy a secondhand engine and have it built up and then dropped in in place of your existing one so you don't loose the use of the car for too long...

You can get a 1.4 RT lump for under 40quid thesedays (if not free), headwork on it will be under 300, brand new cam about 250 and 1.8 SPI TB bought for about 40quid from a scrappy. You could even bolt a 1.6 BE directly on to give even more bhp as they're identical and also cheap. Not worth chipping it as the ECU does very little and its carb anyway...have a read of http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?t=100664

People will say "yeah, but the RSI/16v will still be quicker" but at the end of the day doing all the above will give 100+bhp and will still be identical to a standard lump so you're not going to have any insurance hike!

 

[donsrno1]

So really to see about 110 to 120bhp I would be looking at spending somewhere in the region of £600?

Could any of the above work be done by myself and if so how much would it then cost in terms of parts? I wouldn't want to do the work on my own engine as I would probably take ages to get it done but if I took up your idea of getting another engine then I wouldn't mind having a go myself as it wouldn't really matter how long I took.

Do any other cars use the same engine as the 1.4RT as I could keep an eye out for them?

 

[donsrno1]

bump

 

[u33db]

Yes, you could do it all yourself - headwork wise, as edde says, you could get someone to tell you what to grind away and beyond thats its just assembly.

Prices...well...assuming you want to go the RT route you could get;

- spare 1.4 engine is £40 approx,
- cam is about £250 approx from catcams,
- 1.8 TB about £40 approx,
- 1.6 BE could be got for under £100 and is direct fit to your 1.4 head

(These prices are proper scrapyard prices btw where you'll need to remove the bits yourself, not stand at a counter in some gay salvage yard while some ripoff greasemonkey goes to a shelf and charages you accordingly!)

Nothing else you need (minus some consumables) and you're just paying for labour beyond that if not doing it yourself.

Easy as.

 

[donsrno1]

Bringing this back to the top as I'm seriously starting to consider it. A few questions (I know they have kind of been answered already but I'll ask anyway):

• Can you use the engine mounts from my 1.4RT for the 1.8RSi?
• Would my current suspension (standard shocks and 55mm lowering springs soon) be able to cope or would I need new shocks and/or springs?
• Is the wiring as simple as cliping in a few connectors?
• Other than the engine, ecu, loom what else would I need?

Has anyone done this conversion before and if so could you tell me if it's relatively easy or difficult. I've not done an engine conversion before so it would be a bit of learning as I go TBH.

I no there isn't a sure answer but how do you think insurers would generally look at this - would they probably just charge the same insurance as for an RSi?

Are there any other conversions that are fairly simple to do without charging rediculous insurance?

Thanks.

 

[edde]

No you need the 1.8 16V mounts I think your present one at the back is similar but might as well upgrade there no good anyway so a worn one is even worse.
You'd be best upgrading to 1.8 suspension.
Wiring I'm not sure you'd need all the looms.
You need the clocks I think.
Best idea is to buy a couple of hundred pounds 1,8 with rusted back acches and no MOT etc becuse of it then swop it all to your car as it would be much cheaper. I've seen valvers go for £250 even with uprated suspension so they can be cheaper than an engine and gearbox.