GM's 1.8 and 1.4T Comparison

[laborsmith]

If I read this right, both Sonic engines are based on hollow blocked cast iron engine blocks. I have been under the impression the 1.8 sported an aluminum block for weight savings.

News Detail

Laborsmith

 

[Boost]

great link!

 

[ronarn]

why a belt and not a chain in the 1.8?

 

[mjb457]

1.8 belt??

Dealer said chain..are you sure?? thanks MJB

 

[piro216]

The 1.8 definitely has a belt not a chain. But the 1.4 does have a chain.

 

[mjb457]

1.8 any good?

Ok knowing that the 1.8 has timing belt..is it worth buying? thanks MJB

 

[piro216]

the 1.4 is a much better engine, so you should wait and get it ^.^

 

[Bald Nurse]

The 1.8 has some serious potential, a naturally aspirated motor is more reliable and will last longer. Those hyper active wheezing little motors are prone to failure, especially when modified (If not done right$$$$). A header, adjustable cam gears, cold air and cat back (With the Trifecta tune), should net you around 185-190hp with torque right around there (170-180). If you still need more, then put on as much of the Seibon carbon products you can afford (fenders, rear hatch and hood), by reducing overall weight you will greatly enhance all aspects of your performance (handling,braking and acceleration). This will make this car a legit contender and it should have great reliability and longevity, when my Crystal Red Metallic tint coat Sonic is done I'll let you know..Happy Motoring

 

[LS1notFOUND]

The 1.8 has some serious potential, a naturally aspirated motor is more reliable and will last longer. Those hyper active wheezing little motors are prone to failure, especially when modified (If not done right$$$$). A header, adjustable cam gears, cold air and cat back (With the Trifecta tune), should net you around 185-190hp with torque right around there (170-180). If you still need more, then put on as much of the Seibon carbon products you can afford (fenders, rear hatch and hood), by reducing overall weight you will greatly enhance all aspects of your performance (handling,braking and acceleration). This will make this car a legit contender and it should have great reliability and longevity, when my Crystal Red Metallic tint coat Sonic is done I'll let you know..Happy Motoring

dangerous for me to read...must keep stock!! Good to know though.

 

[leaky]

The 1.8 has some serious potential, a naturally aspirated motor is more reliable and will last longer. Those hyper active wheezing little motors are prone to failure, especially when modified (If not done right$$$$). A header, adjustable cam gears, cold air and cat back (With the Trifecta tune), should net you around 185-190hp with torque right around there (170-180). If you still need more, then put on as much of the Seibon carbon products you can afford (fenders, rear hatch and hood), by reducing overall weight you will greatly enhance all aspects of your performance (handling,braking and acceleration). This will make this car a legit contender and it should have great reliability and longevity, when my Crystal Red Metallic tint coat Sonic is done I'll let you know..Happy Motoring

You can buy a 1.4T and put a tune on it, then you are in the HP range you are talking about, and completely finished for $700 option + $300 tune = $1000 total..

Making all those changes to the 1.8 isn't going to make it reliable and will run you way more that $1000 in parts, never mind the time to install them.

After driving the 1.8, to me it doesn't seem like an engine that would ever be stable after modifications. To me it sounded like it didn't really want to even hit 4500 RPM.

As far as longevity of a turbo engine, they've been around a long time. The 1.4T is a small turbo, geared for just a little supplemental performance, to gain better fuel economy using small displacement without creating a slug of an engine. My understanding is the engine was designed around having a turbo, I don't think it comes with any compromise on longevity.

Jon

 

[Bald Nurse]

The stock engine is not what is in question, MODIFIED turbo engines are known to be unreliable when running higher than stock boost. As far as the 1.8 not wanting to rev above 4500rpm.....WTF I dont even shift my car until 5000rpm's, this keeps the revs above 3000rpm's after the shift, since the 1.8 is lacking in torque. In order to keep this motor in the sweet spot you have to shift above 4000rpm's. I am not suggesting that moding the 1.8 "Will make it reliable" I am simply saying that a naturally aspirated motor with mods is simply more reliable than a hyper active turbo motor (Read that as MODIFIED), turbos have been around along time, and are very reliable power adders when done right$$$$$$$$$. Just look around at hot rods 99% of all hot rods are naturally aspirated or blown/supercharged, not looking like a plumbing shop of a mad scientist......But I guess thats why Baskin Robbins has 31 flavors......not everybody like vanilla. Happy Motoring Brutha

 

[LS1notFOUND]

I think what he's getting at is your better off building a forged 1.4L and boosting it up rather than spend all that on a 1.8 and hit the ceiling below 200HP

The question then becomes block strength, 1.8L block probably can't take the abuse the 1.4L...and plumbing has already been done by GM anyway and it looks stupid simple to pull these motors out.

F-body (firebird/camaro guys) take stock truck manifolds and put them "backwards" for front mount turbos and its actually pretty simple after some cutting and welding....

On my big build I went with a 408 cubic inch stroker motor (differant crank in a 6.0L LQ9-Esclade block), 12:1 compression big cam with internals ready for a big shot of Nitrous so I agree with the N/A motor ideas.

These little motors really do need the boost and forced induction to move the air for good HP/Torque motors in a drivable platform.

 

[leaky]

I think what he's getting at is your better off building a forged 1.4L and boosting it up rather than spend all that on a 1.8 and hit the ceiling below 200HP

The question then becomes block strength, 1.8L block probably can't take the abuse the 1.4L...and plumbing has already been done by GM anyway and it looks stupid simple to pull these motors out.

F-body (firebird/camaro guys) take stock truck manifolds and put them "backwards" for front mount turbos and its actually pretty simple after some cutting and welding....

On my big build I went with a 408 cubic inch stroker motor (differant crank in a 6.0L LQ9-Esclade block), 12:1 compression big cam with internals ready for a big shot of Nitrous so I agree with the N/A motor ideas.

These little motors really do need the boost and forced induction to move the air for good HP/Torque motors in a drivable platform.

Yep that's it, better off starting with the 1.4T to begin with. Then modify as desired. It will be way more cost effective to get to that 180 HP mark. A simple tune and you've got that sort of performance with a reasonable shot at keeping your warranty.

If you were really going to spend $$ to build a fast Sonic, my honest opinion is to wait for 2013 and look into a Fiesta ST, the Dodge Dart may be a similar option as well..

But if you insist I'd first see how they are doing with the 1.4T with tune, intake, injector, and any exhaust upgrades. Then if that falls short start looking into other engines.

Instead of removing and practically rebuilding the stock engine you may be way better off finding a way to cram something like the 2.8 I4 in there. That engine would start you off in the 180HP+Torque ballpark, go adding minimal mods and you'll be in the 200's naturally aspirated. Given they are well deployed at this point finding a good one would be a much cheaper option versus something like a new 1.6T that is only available overseas.

Jon









Jon

 

[laborsmith]

And the 2.0T may be going into the Verano, which is the Buick version of the Cruze, so that swap may be easier than 1.6T given one is not available in North America and soon the other may very well be.

Laborsmith

 

[ypsi-sonic]

Just my humble 2 cents...I used to have a Nissan Sentra with a 1.6L. This 1.8L absolutely blows the doors off that engine powerwise. It was a dependable engine in the Sentra, but a real dog.

 

[SSpeckerwood]

1.8L - good
1.4L - better. Fun, fun, fun.