Engine Replacement Question

[jpjones125]

I haven't been part of this group long but I have enjoyed seeing what everyone has done with their cars.

One question I havent seen posted is: can the stock engine be replaced with a smaller engine, possibly a newer, more fuel efficient unit?

I'm hoping to acquire a DeLorean one day soon, just scoping out the possibilities.

Sent from my STV100-1 using Tapatalk

[David T]

I haven't been part of this group long but I have enjoyed seeing what everyone has done with their cars.

One question I havent seen posted is: can the stock engine be replaced with a smaller engine, possibly a newer, more fuel efficient unit?

I'm hoping to acquire a DeLorean one day soon, just scoping out the possibilities.

Sent from my STV100-1 using Tapatalk

Anything is possible depending on how persistent you are and how much money you want to spend. There have been many different types of engines "swapped" into the Delorean including electric Deloreans. The stock 5-speed can get up to 25 MPG. Not too bad for '80's automotive technology. If you are looking for a "How To", there aren't any. Unless you are using it as a Daily Driver (DD) the MPG isn't all that important. The 2 engined Delorean only got about 5 MPG and it only carried about 5 gallons!

[Josh]

Very possible.

I would love to see a vw tdi engine swapped into a delorean, that would be pretty neat.

There is currently a 2.2L Ecotec swap in progress, this is a very fuel efficient motor, I could easily get 35mpg on the highway with my cobalt, which weights the same as a delorean.
http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?15075-Wreck-of-17158-4-cylinder-turbo-swap&highlight=ecotec

[Stex]

I realize this is an old post, but I wanted to add my 2 cents worth. I did an Ecotec swap in mine and have now driven it for over 5 years without any problems. It's not as fast as some of my other rides (SS Camaro, Pro street 67 Chevy truck, 400 SBC 71 Beetle) but you can't beat the reliability, enhanced performance, and ease of maintenance with this swap. It gets great fuel economy and runs and drives like any other modern car on the road. The Ecotec has to be one of the best choices for an economy engine swap out there.

[Drive Stainless]

I realize this is an old post, but I wanted to add my 2 cents worth. I did an Ecotec swap in mine and have now driven it for over 5 years without any problems. It's not as fast as some of my other rides (SS Camaro, Pro street 67 Chevy truck, 400 SBC 71 Beetle) but you can't beat the reliability, enhanced performance, and ease of maintenance with this swap. It gets great fuel economy and runs and drives like any other modern car on the road. The Ecotec has to be one of the best choices for an economy engine swap out there.

How fast 0-60?

[Gfrank]

How fast 0-60?

Couldn’t comment on 0-60, and granted I had much less thought into beating the shit out of the drivetrain, but we would run high 13’s in the 1/4 on slicks with the cavalier on Stock cobalt blower, pullied down. The turbo I’m running on the Delorean is capable of a bunch more, how much I put to it tho we will see

[Stex]

How fast 0-60?

My car is an automatic, not my first choice, but it is what it is. It doesn't have a ton of bottom end (take off), but it does really well when it gets moving. It will bury the speedometer in 2nd gear and will go faster top end than I care to go in that car. I’m not sure what the actual 0-60 is in my car, but it performs similar to a mid-80s 3rd gen Camaro with a 5.0 305.

[Dangermouse]

Which specific Ecotec did you use? 2.0? 2.4? HP?

Did you have a dead PRV or was this just a preferential swap

[SamHill]

Trans? Pics? A/S/L? (J/K).

[Stex]

Which specific Ecotec did you use? 2.0? 2.4? HP?

Did you have a dead PRV or was this just a preferential swap

The original PRV had a hole rotted through the coolant passage into the combustion chamber of the cylinder head. I put a new head on it, drove it less than 100 miles. Then one day I cranked it up and had coolant pouring from the oil dipstick tube. After breaking the engine back down I discovered a half inch hole near one of the piston sleeves leading into the crankcase. It appears that years on sitting with bad coolant caused substantial corrosion which eventually ate through the block and head. Long story short, I did the swap out of necessity, but I couldn't be happier with the conversion. The Ecotec is the L61 2.2.

[Stex]

Which specific Ecotec did you use? 2.0? 2.4? HP?

Did you have a dead PRV or was this just a preferential swap

The original PRV had a hole rotted through the coolant passage into the combustion chamber of the cylinder head. I put a new head on it, drove it less than 100 miles. Then one day I cranked it up and had coolant pouring from the oil dipstick tube. After breaking the engine back down I discovered a half inch hole near one of the piston sleeves leading into the crankcase. It appears that years on sitting with bad coolant caused substantial corrosion which eventually ate through the block and head. Long story short, I did the swap out of necessity, but I couldn't be happier with the conversion. The Ecotec is the L61 2.2.

[Gfrank]

I’m also using the 2.2. I trust it, and much easier/cheaper to find then a 2.0. Difference between mine and stex is mine being manual and forced induction


In terms of reason, wanted something different, double stock hp and budget reliability. I wanted to use a ford ecoboost, but the harness alone was around $1200. I was into Sunfires and cavaliers when I was younger, had plenty of knowledge of the engine and parts still kicking around. 2.2 with 30k miles on it - $400. Stand alone harness $250. Turbo $400ish. Most expensive part was josh s. having a flywheel made.

I’d like to safe tune it around 300whp

[Josh]

I’m also using the 2.2. I trust it, and much easier/cheaper to find then a 2.0. Difference between mine and stex is mine being manual and forced induction


In terms of reason, wanted something different, double stock hp and budget reliability. I wanted to use a ford ecoboost, but the harness alone was around $1200. I was into Sunfires and cavaliers when I was younger, had plenty of knowledge of the engine and parts still kicking around. 2.2 with 30k miles on it - $400. Stand alone harness $250. Turbo $400ish. Most expensive part was josh s. having a flywheel made.

I’d like to safe tune it around 300whp

For the sake of your clutch I would keep it sub 300whp. But you will see :)
I have a fairly simple upgrade path to a stronger clutch.

Also hurry up and get your car done lol

[Spittybug]

My son has a 2009 Saab 9.3 turbo. All the electrical bells and whistles on the Saab make it a progressively more difficult car to work on as it ages. He will be getting something new for a graduation present this May...... My question is whether I should be looking at keeping this engine? The trade in on the car would be squat I'm sure. I need to double check to see if it is burning oil (I had a suspicion, but need to check) but the turbo is sound and the thing is like a little bat out of hell.

How much work is involved with getting one of these into our cars?

[opethmike]

My son has a 2009 Saab 9.3 turbo. All the electrical bells and whistles on the Saab make it a progressively more difficult car to work on as it ages. He will be getting something new for a graduation present this May...... My question is whether I should be looking at keeping this engine? The trade in on the car would be squat I'm sure. I need to double check to see if it is burning oil (I had a suspicion, but need to check) but the turbo is sound and the thing is like a little bat out of hell.

How much work is involved with getting one of these into our cars?

Pretty much like any engine swap - an enormous amount of work. I'm working on LS swap with a provided "hard parts" swap kit, and even with that, the complexity and working involved is monstrous.

[Gfrank]

For the sake of your clutch I would keep it sub 300whp. But you will see :)
I have a fairly simple upgrade path to a stronger clutch.

Also hurry up and get your car done lol

299.99 :) to hell with the clutch
Your more then welcome to come down and wrench lol

[Gfrank]

In all hoesnty I’d call the ecotec a rather simple swap over all. Done much worse. Easy mount, pleantly of room for everything. A lot less challenging in some aspects then a v8.
But that question comes down to your skill and who you know, I’d call myself a good fabricator, had it mounted in a afternoon, my option for fly wheel was make one from scratch, this being over my head, but luckily I’ve got friends like josh that can do this easy and go above and beyond for you. Lots of time tinkering on the little things