Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: cowen1000 on 16 June 2009, 22:45:02

Title: 2.0L 16V need more power
Post by: cowen1000 on 16 June 2009, 22:45:02
Hi guys, I have recently purchased a 1999 (pre-facelift) Omega 2.0 16V CD as a project. At the moment i drive a vectra Sri 130 which i have modded quite a bit but wanted a new challenge.

Anyway as my omega is extremely sluggish in comparisson I am wondering if there is any 'short-cuts' to increase its power (i.e 3 pipe mod and panel filter which can be done to veccie etc). I have never worked on the x20xev engine before so all idea's would be appreciated.
It also drives like a boat so suspension needs to be changed soon so again ideas would be appreciated.

One good thing, this car makes my SRI feel like a go-Kart, lol
Title: Re: 2.0L 16V need more power
Post by: Ghost on 16 June 2009, 22:51:34
Not sure what you can do to make it faster mate, no doubt some one will have a couple of ideas. But dont forget your car has now got a good 1600Kg in wieght
so it wont be much faster. Good luck anyway :y
Title: Re: 2.0L 16V need more power
Post by: Martin_1962 on 16 June 2009, 23:01:51
Sell and buy a V6

A good V6 is pretty rapid for the size of car, my 2.6 auto is pretty quick, and over the same short uphill stretch of road reaches a speed 13mph higher than a 2.0 auto.
Title: Re: 2.0L 16V need more power
Post by: TheBoy on 16 June 2009, 23:02:59
Supposed 'Performance' filters reduce the performance of the Omega. Genuine GM filters have a massive surface area.

Not a busting lot you can do, as you need to keep the torque and drivability, as its a heavy car.
Title: Re: 2.0L 16V need more power
Post by: TheBoy on 16 June 2009, 23:03:42
Quote
Sell and buy a V6

A good V6 is pretty rapid for the size of car, my 2.6 auto is pretty quick, and over the same short uphill stretch of road reaches a speed 13mph higher than a 2.0 auto.
is that all?
Title: Re: 2.0L 16V need more power
Post by: cowen1000 on 16 June 2009, 23:05:45
Thanks for reply,

Eventually (hopefully) this car will be remapped, have an induction kit, exhaust, cams done etc as well as being lowered, body kitted, windows tinted, different front grilles, bigger alloys etc. but I was just wondering if there is a 'quick' route to obtain a little more power for the time being.

Regards
Title: Re: 2.0L 16V need more power
Post by: cowen1000 on 16 June 2009, 23:09:03
Am I being a little optimistic with this car???
Title: Re: 2.0L 16V need more power
Post by: TheBoy on 16 June 2009, 23:11:44
Quote
Thanks for reply,

Eventually (hopefully) this car will be remapped, have an induction kit, exhaust, cams done etc as well as being lowered, body kitted, windows tinted, different front grilles, bigger alloys etc. but I was just wondering if there is a 'quick' route to obtain a little more power for the time being.

Regards
Don't bother (unless you want the noise/looks), stick to genuine for performance.  oe filter is, unlike veccy ones, massive and free flowing
Title: Re: 2.0L 16V need more power
Post by: cowen1000 on 16 June 2009, 23:14:24
As I siad I bought this as a project, I do want it to look and feel 'unique', perhaps i'll drop a v6 in there instead :)

It's a hobby of mine 'customising' cars, as I said I have heavily done the vectra, it's almost a 'show car' but i am bored of it so I wanted something bigger and more of a challenge.
Title: Re: 2.0L 16V need more power
Post by: Entwood on 16 June 2009, 23:16:45
Quote
Am I being a little optimistic with this car???

IMHO ... just a tad !!!!   :)

It weighs a lot, around 1.7 tonnes, so the power to weight ratio is never going to be that good, regardless of mods. It was built as a long range executive cruiser,  not a boy-racer go faster machine.

Induction kit will increase the noise and do nothing for the performance .. except make it worse .... engines like lots of cold air (high mass NOT volume) .. an induction kit will give you engine bay warm air .. and probably less volume .. so a lot less mass .. so the ECU will cut the fuel to maintain the fuel air ratio (by MASS) ... down goes the performance ...

Exhaust is pretty free flowing for most of its length already .. its the exhaust manifolds that need work .. and that won't be cheap

Cams can be changed for longer duration ..  3.0ltr cams in a 2.5 is a common upgrade .. but for the 2.0 I'm not sure whats available.

The rest of your mods are cosmetic not performance, so unless you strip out a lot of weight .. and I mean a LOT .... your are not going to greatly enhance things.

Now the 3.2 V6 .... even without any work ... is a much nicer engine .... but I'm biased .... a tad ..  :)
Title: Re: 2.0L 16V need more power
Post by: cowen1000 on 16 June 2009, 23:23:17
@Entwood

If everything 'standard' is good, how much increase would having a 'live' remap give it??

Would it be worth it??

How hard would it be to change the lump to a v6??
Title: Re: 2.0L 16V need more power
Post by: duggs on 16 June 2009, 23:24:14
Simply DON'T waste yer money in modding a 2.0L
The 2.0L is vastly underpowered. No matter what you do you'll always end up with an underpowered heavy car. To be honest a chap down the road has a 2.2 and i asked him if he ever wished he'd got a V6. "Every bloody day" was his reply.

V6's are cheap as chips on ebay. Far better to put your "modding money" towards a car with power to start with. I moved to a V6 Omega from a Vectra Sri also..best thing I ever did motoring wise. The sheer power and noise of a floored V6 Omega is a wonder to behold.
Title: Re: 2.0L 16V need more power
Post by: cowen1000 on 16 June 2009, 23:33:41
How hard would it be to change the lump to a v6??
Title: Re: 2.0L 16V need more power
Post by: MutantCav on 16 June 2009, 23:39:33
Not worth the bother, pretty complicated to do and frustrating...if you want to mod something ditch the 2.0 and get a v6!!
Title: Re: 2.0L 16V need more power
Post by: duggs on 16 June 2009, 23:55:52
The guys on here are experts regarding the Omega.
They know what they are talking about engine wise for sure.  Realise its a pain as you've just got the 2.0L but just get rid. NO amount of modding the 2.0L is going to make the slightest difference. Induction kits will, as said, kill off what little power you have got already.

There is NO substitute. Get yerself on Ebay and pick up a V6...then the fun REALLY begins.
Title: Re: 2.0L 16V need more power
Post by: Ian_D on 17 June 2009, 00:00:14
As said above, a 2.0 wont ever be quick unless you used forced induction (ie turbo) but then it would get stupidly expensive...

Best plan if you’re after performance is either the 3.0 or 3.2 v6

Its a big job dropping in a V6 where a 2.0 4 pot should be! For starters, the wiring loom and ECU would need changing over from a donor car.

If I were you, I would sell the 2.0 and get looking for a V6!

However, if you do go for a V6, and you use the car on short runs in traffic (like I do to work and back  :'() then expect to visit every petrol station in your town!  ;D  :-X
Title: Re: 2.0L 16V need more power
Post by: Ian_D on 17 June 2009, 00:03:32
Quote
There is NO substitute. Get yerself on Ebay and pick up a V6...then the fun REALLY begins.

 ;D

Especially if its wet!  ;)

However I'm thinking that a LSD (Limited Slip Diff) would be a nice upgrade on my Mig!  ;D :D
Title: Re: 2.0L 16V need more power
Post by: semisheen on 17 June 2009, 00:33:23
The thing about an Omega is its Big & heavy ...not a bad thing but it depends on what your plans are i would far rather have a big engine in a small car than a small engine in a big car you would never get the same performance from a V6 omega to a V6 clit its all about personal prefrence what the omega's made for it does very well its as already said a "long distance druser"...wheneaver i go down a slip road on to the motorway i think to myself "this is were it belongs"
Title: Re: 2.0L 16V need more power
Post by: Martin_1962 on 17 June 2009, 07:53:23
Quote
Quote
Sell and buy a V6

A good V6 is pretty rapid for the size of car, my 2.6 auto is pretty quick, and over the same short uphill stretch of road reaches a speed 13mph higher than a 2.0 auto.
is that all?


SHORT section of road, and not high speeds but a good test
Title: Re: 2.0L 16V need more power
Post by: SMD on 17 June 2009, 14:48:55
i bought my 2.5 v6 for £300 and its mint! you'll easily spend over that modding your 2 litre and it probably wont be as fast. no brainer really
Title: Re: 2.0L 16V need more power
Post by: duggs on 17 June 2009, 15:41:47
£300.00 for a V6.

Constantly amazes me, that if you're brave, not too bothered about mpg, what an incredible buy the Omegas can be. Bangs for the bucks...in the motoring world, they can't be beat.

Best we don't shout too loud though or everyone will wise up, buy one and the price will shoot up.
Title: Re: 2.0L 16V need more power
Post by: NiallyV6CDX on 18 June 2009, 01:37:34
Buy a V6 model, or if you absolutely have to go the engine transplant route, stick the Z20LET 2.0 Turbo from the astra GSi/Coupe or X20LET Calibra turbo engine in. Those engines ARE tuneable to 300+bhp, but obviously the conversion would be quite complex and time consuming.
A decent 2.5 or 3.0 can be had for next to nothing now though!
NOS is another way to go but that will have seriously life shortening effects on your engine/clutch/gearbox ect....
Suspension wise there are pleanty of lowering/stiffer springs available and poly bushes too. Post a seperate post about suspension to get all the info on that as Im not too clued up. :y