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[blz bob]

Hi, I'm new to the world of Vauxhall (always fancied a Senator), but a friend of mine has an omega (R reg 2.0 16v) with a failed head gasket and no money this close to christmas, so a friend indeed (ME!!) said I would help...first mistake!
Went to a breakers yard and bought a 2.0 16v from an N reg...second mistake!
These engine look the same at first glance but sump/ oil pick up/ balancer shafts all diferent! Can I use the old style engine? or is there an equivalent engine in a vectra or something?
I would really like to get this car back to her before christmas so any help and advice would be appreciated.. Thanks Pete

[tunnie]

why not fix replaced the head gasket on the engine thats already in there? There is no need to replace it with an engine with unknown history

[blz bob]

Well I'm not a pro mechanic and thought it would be quicker and easier to swap an engine rather than stripping and skimming the head.
I bought the engine for £150, took the old one out then noticed the differences. The breakers yard said they will take the engine back so if there is another engine that will fit (I'll change the sump over) I was hoping to do that. I have tried all the breakers yards within 50 miles of me and none of them have an Omega engine.
The old engine was running on two cylinders (1+2 from the front) with a compresion of 170psi, the rear cylinders (3+4) had no compresion at all, not 1psi!! I have not stripped the engine any further than the sump and ancilliaries for cleaning..

[blz bob]

Oh and as far as the unknown history goes the old engine had omega written in marker pen on the side of the cam cover, so I don't believe this is the first engine swap done!!

[Welung666]

Where abouts are you Bob? There might be someone local willing to lend you a hand

[feeutfo]

ive never done either job and hope i never have to on my v6. Personally i would rather fix the head gaskit on a 4 pot than swap the motor. If youve still got the old engine in situ i would consider it imho. If its out then you may as well swap haveing got that far. Sorry but cant help with engine spec. Im sure someone will be along with that info.

Hope youve got a work shop, bit cold for that sort of carry on. Best of luck anyway.

[blz bob]

I'mon the wirral and am working under a tarpaulin attached to the fence (oh joy!!) because the garage is full of junk!!!...

[Essex_Andy]

if the engine is out with all ancillaries off..why not get the head off?

Dont you need the ECU for the engine you're transplanting?

[ngrainqey]

if it has balancing shafts then it sounds like either a. a very very late 2.0 16v or b. the 2.2!

you'd be better changing the head gasket for what it's worth, it's alot of hassle removing the engine and putting a different one back in!
been there done that got the t-shirt (and ended up taking it back out due to lack of patience trying to find the immobiliser ecu)

[blz bob]

On the cylinder head it has a milled flat part with 2.0 dot punched onto it, though somebody told me the heads are all the same. I looked thru this site before posting and read that the later Omega 98 'R' had some revisions to the engine i.e. balancing shafts and a few other tweeks, I am not looking to change engine size or type but I can not find a rwd Omega engine with the later engine with the balancer shaft, only the older version without. So back to my original question, will the older style 2.0 ecotec engine fit straight in? If not is the later engine (98 onwards, with balancer shaft) used anywhere else, such as vectra/astra?

[blz bob]

Latest update, decided to fit the breakers yard engine and change the sumps over so that there are the proper mounts for the bell housing and correct connection for the sump sensor and guess what? You can't!!! the bolts are a different diameter.
Right next plan, take the head of the dead engine and see whats wrong! there was no compresion at all so I hope the fault is the head and not a cracked block. there was no oil in the water and not much (no more than expected) emulsion in the cam cover.

[Marks DTM Calib]

Balance shafts fitted from 1998 ownards....and if sourcing a complete engine then this is the unit to go for.

I have to say, it would be easier and less work to do the head gasket!

[blz bob]

Thanks 'marks dtm calib' I'm starting to think the same I didn't want to dismantle the engine but as the engine is already out now and nobody can tell me if the same engine is used anywhere else (I'm sure it must be!!) Iwill have to strip and rebuild...
This favour for a friend is really starting to drag on now...!!!

[blz bob]

Are all post 98 ecotec 2.0 engines identical or are they specific to each car?

[markey mark]

iirc there all the same after 98 ! just sumps and oil pick up !