I know I run the risk of getting flamed for this, but I want to ask this anyway. My 1.6 blew a rod, and I have weighed the pros/budget for the 1.8 swap, and dont think i am quite ready for it. Between the new turbo manifold, downpipe, VVT (for the '02 i was looking at), and cost, i have decided to simply rebuild my 1.6 for now. That being said, I am looking at the Wiseco's and Supertech's for the 1.6. I see 78.5mm pistons that are .5mm oversized, and others that are 1, 1.5, 2mm oversized. My question is, will the 78.5mm's fit without boring out the cylinders? What all is involved with this process. I apologize for being green on this, as i have built and tuned several engines, but never done the oversized pistons before. Basically, i want to keep things relatively stock to keep the cost and time down (since i may end up swapping a 1.8 later anyway). I will be running about 300whp so i know i need to put in rods and pistons as well as some others. So what size piston can i run on the stock bore size after a quick hone job, without "boring" anything?

 

Save money and just put a junk yard 1.6 in for now until you're ready to switch to a 1.8. Just turn the boost down a tad so you dont throw another rod.

 

Thanks. I realized shortly after that the stock bore was 78mm, so anything larger will need boring. However, i did find an empty bottom end from a 1.6 at a yard for $75, so i think i'll just swap it out. While i do it though, i contacted a local shop here that will bore out 1mm over, so i can fit the 79mm pistons. I figure, if i am doing this now, i dont want to do it again, so i am putting in the following:

Wesico pistons
Manely rods
Main bearings
Rod bearings
thrust bearings
ARP main studs
ARP head studs
water pump
oil pump
All gaskets from FM gasket kit (includes a good metal head gasket)
timing belt

Anything i may have missed? I figure, most of these parts will go into a 1.8 except for the pistons, so I am not totally wasting $$$ if i swap soon. Just nice keeping the turbo that was obviously capable of 300whp, and dont have to deal with a new mani, downpipe, etc. Plus, i figure if i am going over 300ish, i'll need a new 6spd anyway. So that time will come.

 

this thread makes me sad

 

This makes me sad as well.

 

The point?


Seriously. I mean, you're saying that the budget / labor of switching to a 1.8 engine is something you find overwhelming, and then you throw up 300HP worth of 1.6 parts.
I'm really confused by this.

If I were in your position right now, I'd locate a running 1.6 engine for a couple hundred $, and just drop it right in. Maybe replace the timing belt, valve-cover gasket, and crank seals if you're feeling ambitious.

 

We should have a specific section for complete and utter morons to just wallow in their own bad ideas. I'm completely serious.

" O HAI GUYTHS I CANT AFFORD 1.8 SWAP SO I'LL JUST DUMP 2K WORTH OF PARTS AND LABOR INTO THIS 1.6, THEN SPEND EVEN MORE ON A 1.8 SWAP LATER"

Parts distributors and companies must LOVE people like you.

 

I was trying to be a bit more tactful, but yes, that's sort of the general idea.

Building that 1.6 engine is going to be a huge investment of time and money. Probably a great deal more of both than you'd spend dropping in a stock 1.8 engine and buying the couple of new parts you'd need for the conversion.

 

0.2L of displacement

 

Wow. Thanks for all that helpful insight. You know, I used to think that this site was the place to get good feed back on ideas and troubleshooting, but the last few have been nothing but flames. Granted, maybe I deserved them. However, to my credit i have done the cost/benefit analysis and it'll be at least a grand to avoid the 1.6 blowup again, and just short of two grand to build out a nice 1.6L that'll handle the 300hp or less that the car will handle without replacing the tranny just yet. So if this forum is for only the hard core racers out there, then so be it. I have more education than most of you, and could care less about the flack I am getting for my simple questions, so I am not intending to fire back in a pissing match. I will say, that the last few days of abuse on this forum will keep me from using it as a resource, and i really dont care what anyone has to say about it, other than "why"? I have asked some simple questions, and have had nothing but BS feedback. Anyone with a helping heart would answer the questions and lend a hand, but no. It seems that you would rather flag a guy for asking the question, rather than be man enough to answer it. I can't really be moved or bothered by it, as I understand it's just a bunch of motor heads attempting to be positive about their lack of success in the real world. And if i have now offended anyone at this point, good. I have had nothing but rips on me for the past few weeks about asking relevant questions, and if that is not what this whole forum is about, then ban me. Jesus. My apologies for the rant.

 

You can probably get a complete 1.6 shortblock for cheaper than the gaskets/seals for doing any type of work on the junk you have now (so even a $75 bottom end might be a costly solution if we should start counting quarters).

Who the heck had said anything about education (only the ones with short dicks do)? Logical thinking and being stupid have nothing to do with the amount of years you spent in books/institutions.
If you like to educate yourself, read up on the last ten years of posts here and you might understand some of the references/opinions above.

 

The downpipe should work from 1.6 to 1.8, no? The difference is in the flange angle, but if you're keeping the rest of the current 1.6 exhaust, it'll all bolt up with a 1.8 manifold. Build a '94-95 1.8 to save a little cash, which will upgrade to the '99 head later. Decrease boost, and you'll be safe, 1.8, and at the same power levels.

And stop being an ***. We're helpful dammit.

 

If he is using a Bell or FM Manifold, then yes, it will.

Given the tenor of the post, I chose not to make that assumption, and instead presume that he is using an ILoveTacoTaco manifold.

 

Although building the 1.6 is going to cost money, I think this argument really depends on what your end goals are.

For myself where I have another "fun" car awaiting an LS7 swap, I preferred building the 1.6L. Doesn't make sense in terms of power especially with a 1.8 VVT, but the cost of upgrading everything existing that I had was not worth it to me.

If we're talking strictly motor with no blowers or turbos attached, then its an easy decision.

 

~0.24L*

 

0.242L, exactly.

Can we get back to posting entirely true facts about ducks now?