Colin
25th May 2007, 10:40
Here is a little guide for converting your Saxo to 16v.
A 16v will fit straight in most Saxos no problems. Just get the 16v engine from the same year as your car and same ECU. There are 2 main types of ECU, a Single Plug and a 3 Plug.
I.E 1998 single plug 16v into a 1998 single plug VTR/1.1/1.4
Immobiliser, just simply start your engine and then pull your immobiliser out from under the fuse box and this unlocks the ECU and lets you use the 16v one which will need unlocking. I recommend Blue Hawk Electronics in Nottingham for unlocking the 16v ECU. Then shut your engine off, and then restart it to see if it’s worked! But if you have an after market immobiliser instead, then I believe this is not necessary, BUT do it anyway!
The ideal place for a conversion should be quiet and under a canopy so you will not get wet. You can do the complete conversion in a weekend.
Tools you will need:
Engine crane
A LARGE selection of tools
A ball joint splitter
Electrical tools (just in case)
Trolley jack
Axle stands
A mechanical-ish brain!
The conversion is really easy. You will need:
Engine
Gearbox
Unlocked ECU
Wiring Loom
VTS Top engine mount
VTS throttle cable
VTS exhaust manifold
Ideally you would also need:
VTS Radiator
Top Radiator hose (lower VTR hose you can cut to length)
VTS fan setup
Also:
New engine oil
New gearbox oil
Coolant
Change cam belt while engine is out of the car.
And also get anything else to perform a complete service.
The car runs very hot with the VTR cooling setup so I would advise getting the VTS cooling setup.
When the old engine is out, the best way to put the new 16v in is through the bottom. Using the engine crane, lift up the chassis and slide the 16v under the car. Then lower the chassis back down onto the axle stands and then proceed to lift the 16v up to bolt into place.
For the fuel return, you can simply plug the hole with a screw and thread lock.
But ideally you want to run a fuel return from the fuel rail back to the tank. And also use all the correct pipes and fuel pressure regulators. VTRs have an FPR on the tank. Simply do away with that FPR and plumb a line back to the tank/pump.
There are different types of fuel tanks for the Saxo. Some already have a return facility plumbed in. Your best off finding out which one you have before you tackle the fuel return. It’s a simple job but very frustrating! And you have to think about it.
Some Saxos run OK without a return, but from personal experience, mine does not run very well. So I plumbed in the return.
Wiring is dead easy. Plug the main harness in that’s behind the nearside headlight and plug in all the other necessary items in like fuel pipes, gear linkages etc.
All driveshafts from a VTR will definitely fit the VTS gearbox, although some have different splines than others and maybe ABS. But if you get the engine from the same year as your car, then there should not be any problems.
Hope all that helps! Please PM me if you need anymore information!
Colin.
A 16v will fit straight in most Saxos no problems. Just get the 16v engine from the same year as your car and same ECU. There are 2 main types of ECU, a Single Plug and a 3 Plug.
I.E 1998 single plug 16v into a 1998 single plug VTR/1.1/1.4
Immobiliser, just simply start your engine and then pull your immobiliser out from under the fuse box and this unlocks the ECU and lets you use the 16v one which will need unlocking. I recommend Blue Hawk Electronics in Nottingham for unlocking the 16v ECU. Then shut your engine off, and then restart it to see if it’s worked! But if you have an after market immobiliser instead, then I believe this is not necessary, BUT do it anyway!
The ideal place for a conversion should be quiet and under a canopy so you will not get wet. You can do the complete conversion in a weekend.
Tools you will need:
Engine crane
A LARGE selection of tools
A ball joint splitter
Electrical tools (just in case)
Trolley jack
Axle stands
A mechanical-ish brain!
The conversion is really easy. You will need:
Engine
Gearbox
Unlocked ECU
Wiring Loom
VTS Top engine mount
VTS throttle cable
VTS exhaust manifold
Ideally you would also need:
VTS Radiator
Top Radiator hose (lower VTR hose you can cut to length)
VTS fan setup
Also:
New engine oil
New gearbox oil
Coolant
Change cam belt while engine is out of the car.
And also get anything else to perform a complete service.
The car runs very hot with the VTR cooling setup so I would advise getting the VTS cooling setup.
When the old engine is out, the best way to put the new 16v in is through the bottom. Using the engine crane, lift up the chassis and slide the 16v under the car. Then lower the chassis back down onto the axle stands and then proceed to lift the 16v up to bolt into place.
For the fuel return, you can simply plug the hole with a screw and thread lock.
But ideally you want to run a fuel return from the fuel rail back to the tank. And also use all the correct pipes and fuel pressure regulators. VTRs have an FPR on the tank. Simply do away with that FPR and plumb a line back to the tank/pump.
There are different types of fuel tanks for the Saxo. Some already have a return facility plumbed in. Your best off finding out which one you have before you tackle the fuel return. It’s a simple job but very frustrating! And you have to think about it.
Some Saxos run OK without a return, but from personal experience, mine does not run very well. So I plumbed in the return.
Wiring is dead easy. Plug the main harness in that’s behind the nearside headlight and plug in all the other necessary items in like fuel pipes, gear linkages etc.
All driveshafts from a VTR will definitely fit the VTS gearbox, although some have different splines than others and maybe ABS. But if you get the engine from the same year as your car, then there should not be any problems.
Hope all that helps! Please PM me if you need anymore information!
Colin.