Vauxhall Engine in a caterham??

[markez79]

Hi guys,

Has anyone owned a vauxhall powered Caterham?? If so whats it like?? Opinions on its behaviour, power, handerling, motorway manners and any other issues such as reliability would be seriously appreciated.

Sorry about all the questions on different models its just i'm being offered a couple of different cars at the moment through friends of friends who are selling theirs !!

Thaks again.

>>> Edited by markez79 on Wednesday 5th March 10:50

[juansolo]

Is it a 2.0 16v or a 1.6 8v. Got a Westfield with the 2.0 and have driven a 1.6 Caterham.

[markez79]

Both !!!

[Paceracing]

The 2.0 XE engine is superb in a Westfield. Very reliable, lighter than a 2.0 Pinto, very quick, loads of torque, easy to get serious power from. I would definitely use it! (I have sprinted one with a 235 bhp 2.0 XE, built by SBD and it was awesome!).

Jas.

[juansolo]

I agree with all that. The 8v is not quite as great an engine however. It does the job and is dirt cheap to keep going. Also, to be fair, the Graduate that I had for the day was top fun. Proving once again that you don't need hooge amounts of power to have a lot of fun in a Caterham.

[MikeWW]

Depends a lot on what you are going to use it for and how large your budget is. 2.0 16 v is a great engine and very quick.
I run a 1.6 8v in a Caterham and race in the Graduate race series. Engines are virtually bullet proof and loads of fun if you want some fast, close racing at a sensible price.
If it's just for the road it won't matter much either way as you will struggle to use anything like the potential of the 2.0. If you plan plenty of track time/sprints but no races then the 2.0 would be a good choice ( assuming you've got some experience)

MikeW

[juansolo]

Engines are virtually bullet proof

I think I may have been fairly key in breaking one... :blushes:

[mikeww]

How did you manage to break one? I based my comment on the fact that of the 45 Graduates racing each year I can't recall anyone breaking their engine depite some very hard driving. I think one of the guys had his refreshed after about 30,000 miles which I reckon is pretty good going

MikeW

[juansolo]

This one had been ported to within an inch of it's life and had led an incredibly hard life up to this point (3000 track miles in a couple of years IIRC, if not more!). Not long after I'd had it for a day the engine went. I think it was more the life it had led rather than my abuse of it really. I also don't claim responsibility for the gearbox, that was on it's way before I got to it. The rear wheel arch I accept was my fault...