CheapFuneral
New member
A lot of the people on this site are 
If I die, bury me in my truck, because it's never been in a hole it can't get out of!
If I die, bury me in my truck, because it's never been in a hole it can't get out of!
2.0t LTG Crate Engine
- Thread starter joepez
- Start date
krakenredbeard
New member
People gamble with higher odds like risking your life just getting in a car. I'm okay risking 10k lol.
ChrisJ
Active member
mitdr774
also a dinner prick
If Im going to risk $10k on an engine (it would be far more than $10k to put this engine into a Sonic) it isnt going to a stock 4 cylinder from another platform. A proper built turbo 1.8 could make the same or more power, be just as reliable, and probably be done for about half the cost of just the 2.0T engine.
When I dou build my engine it will also have a catalytic converter in the exhaust. I think the two used in stock configuration is a bit much, but I will be using one in my build.
Removing the cat is a federal offense and as such a lack of state emissions laws has no bearing on the actually legalities of removing the cat. My state does not actively enforce emissions laws, however if you have removed or altered mandated emissions equipment they can and do issue "defective equipment" tickets. Generally it is not turned in as a federal offense since the local departments would rather fine you and keep the money here.
Im not sure how things apply to vehicles where the catalytic converter monolith has broken up and left the case though.
When I dou build my engine it will also have a catalytic converter in the exhaust. I think the two used in stock configuration is a bit much, but I will be using one in my build.
Removing the cat is a federal offense and as such a lack of state emissions laws has no bearing on the actually legalities of removing the cat. My state does not actively enforce emissions laws, however if you have removed or altered mandated emissions equipment they can and do issue "defective equipment" tickets. Generally it is not turned in as a federal offense since the local departments would rather fine you and keep the money here.
Im not sure how things apply to vehicles where the catalytic converter monolith has broken up and left the case though.
CheapFuneral
New member
Like mine
I still have the second cat but gutted the first.You can find these 2.0 turbo motors on eBay for about 3k new with no turbo. That's not a horrible price. Of course u could drop in a sbc for half that.
If I die, bury me in my truck, because it's never been in a hole it can't get out of!
ChrisJ
Active member
Like mine
You can find these 2.0 turbo motors on eBay for about 3k new with no turbo. That's not a horrible price. Of course u could drop in a sbc for half that.
If I die, bury me in my truck, because it's never been in a hole it can't get out of!
You're going to drop a SBC into a Sonic?
CheapFuneral
New member
Why not... It will fit... I measured.
If I die, bury me in my truck, because it's never been in a hole it can't get out of!
ChrisJ
Active member
Why not... It will fit... I measured.
If I die, bury me in my truck, because it's never been in a hole it can't get out of!
Really..........
CheapFuneral
New member
Yeah if u convert to rwd remove the intercooler and push the radiator forward to where the ic was. Not sure about the hood...
If I die, bury me in my truck, because it's never been in a hole it can't get out of!
If I die, bury me in my truck, because it's never been in a hole it can't get out of!
CheapFuneral
New member
Also I didn't get far enough into it to find out but I had the idea to use a 2000ish camaro subframe and a t56. That way it could be easily dropped from the bottom of the car to work on... Cuz itz gonna be tighter than a nunz (c you next Tuesday)...
If I die, bury me in my truck, because it's never been in a hole it can't get out of!
If I die, bury me in my truck, because it's never been in a hole it can't get out of!
krakenredbeard
New member
The 10k I was referring to was in fines. Lol
CheapFuneral
New member
Yeah but the motor is 9 anyway so either way 10k
If I die, bury me in my truck, because it's never been in a hole it can't get out of!
mitdr774
also a dinner prick
Like mine
You can find these 2.0 turbo motors on eBay for about 3k new with no turbo. That's not a horrible price. Of course u could drop in a sbc for half that.
If I die, bury me in my truck, because it's never been in a hole it can't get out of!
I was referring to instances like my truck where it broke up and left the tail pipe without someone breaking it up.
$3k would go a long way toward building a 1.8 to support more power than the 2.0 has stock. Why go through the hassle of converting everything for a completely different drivetrain if you can make the same power for a fraction of the cost?
ChrisJ
Active member
Well,
First if you think a modified 1.8 turbo (yet to be seen) producing 275HP is somehow even close to as reliable as a stock 2.0T that comes with a 100,000 mile warranty then something isn't quite right upstairs.
Sure, there are times where modified engines are actually more reliable than stock, but I don't think it's ever when more power is being made and certainly not when double the power is being made.
If the 1.8 lasted 50,000 I'd be impressed and that's after all of the stupid little problems that we all know are going to happen, happen. Tune bugs, weird things like it won't start when it's exactly 18F outside for some reason etc.
The 2.0T is a drop in solution with no headaches once it's mounted. GM already dealt with it.
mitdr774
also a dinner prick
How is a direct injection engine from a different platform a drop in installation? To me it looks like you will need the engine, trans, clutch/flywheel, custom axles, shifter and cables, ECM, engine harness, intake, downpipe, and some serious time spent to make everything fit properly and communicate with the rest of the car. For our application I do not see it keeping its warranty. If you read the warranty disclaimers GM really wouldnt have to cover any of it.
If built properly I dont see why a 275-300 HP 1.8 couldnt survive just as long as a factory engine. The key is in the hardware and software used. If you half ass it you can expect issues, but if the engine itself is assembled with parts designed to take the abuse it should last. 275 CHP is only about 230-235 WHP. Dont we already have people doing close to that with a stock internal 1.4L on this very forum?? if a stock internal 1.4 can survive so far, why cant a beefed up 1.8?
We modify economy cars, arnt we all just a little not right upstairs?
If built properly I dont see why a 275-300 HP 1.8 couldnt survive just as long as a factory engine. The key is in the hardware and software used. If you half ass it you can expect issues, but if the engine itself is assembled with parts designed to take the abuse it should last. 275 CHP is only about 230-235 WHP. Dont we already have people doing close to that with a stock internal 1.4L on this very forum?? if a stock internal 1.4 can survive so far, why cant a beefed up 1.8?
We modify economy cars, arnt we all just a little not right upstairs?
CheapFuneral
New member
But we also find where the stock 1.4 starts to fail, actually the trans. But still. The more you modify an engine to make horse power the less reliable it will become.
And by the time u make stock horse power compared to the 2.0t u will be burning double the fuel.
If I die, bury me in my truck, because it's never been in a hole it can't get out of!
And by the time u make stock horse power compared to the 2.0t u will be burning double the fuel.
If I die, bury me in my truck, because it's never been in a hole it can't get out of!
mitdr774
also a dinner prick
if you bump up power on stock parts then I agree. If you beef up the parts than I would not agree. Its all in the build. I can get the power level I want for a fraction of the cost of using a completely different engine. Even if I had to rebuild it once or twice, I would probably still be ahead as far as cost.
ChrisJ
Active member
1: I never said a 2.0T was a "drop in replacement".
2: I never said GM would cover the warranty, that statement simply meant the majority of those engines last 100,000+ miles without any failures otherwise they wouldn't even consider giving such a warranty.
3: Any engine's life will be reduced by increased power and or increased rpms. We can assume because GM made both around the same time and gave both similar warranties that the 2.0T and 1.8 are probably fairly similar in regards to how well they are constructed. Both operating at stock powers will likely wear similar and have similar longevity. When you increase the power output of one by 200% you will without a doubt decrease it's life. Have you ever seen a small displacement high output high revving engine in a diesel locomotive, ship or semi? Yeah, me neither. If you run a stock 1.4T at 80% of it's power for any extended period I think early failure is almost guaranteed and a modified one will go much sooner.
4: Yes it is true on modified Sonic's the 6 speed trans seems to be the weak link. However if you go around constantly laying the hammer down on a stock 1.4T vs a modified one I'd put my money on the modified one blowing oil much sooner than the stock one. Sure, you can modify any engine and drive it nice and easy 90% of the time and it will be fine, but that was not what my comment was about.
5:
opcorn:
mitdr774
also a dinner prick
You are right you didnt say drop in replacement. It could be implied it would be easy though with this statement. "The 2.0T is a drop in solution with no headaches once it's mounted."
The warranty part could also be implied by the wording.
Once again, not keeping stock internals to make the same kind of power. If the internals put into the 1.8 are more than up to the task I see no reason it should not hold together. An extra 0.2L of displacement does not magically make it able to handle twice the power. The 1.8 left the factory with parts designed for 138 hp. Replacing those parts with ones designed for 300+ would allow it to survive just fine for a long time at sub 300 levels. They use large low RPM diesel engines due to the low end power they deliver. Completely different application all together and not even related to this discussion.
Once again, if the internals are replaced with stronger ones it wont be an issue if its driven in the same manner. For now though the 1.4s seem to be surviving with about the same failure rates as completely stock vehicles are.
Popcorn with salt and butter is delicious. Can I have some as well??
The warranty part could also be implied by the wording.
Once again, not keeping stock internals to make the same kind of power. If the internals put into the 1.8 are more than up to the task I see no reason it should not hold together. An extra 0.2L of displacement does not magically make it able to handle twice the power. The 1.8 left the factory with parts designed for 138 hp. Replacing those parts with ones designed for 300+ would allow it to survive just fine for a long time at sub 300 levels. They use large low RPM diesel engines due to the low end power they deliver. Completely different application all together and not even related to this discussion.
Once again, if the internals are replaced with stronger ones it wont be an issue if its driven in the same manner. For now though the 1.4s seem to be surviving with about the same failure rates as completely stock vehicles are.
Popcorn with salt and butter is delicious. Can I have some as well??
