Vauxhall Firenza C20XE conversion

Project undertaken 16th April 2011 and completed 1st July 2011

This Firenza has come over from Ireland to be given the 'Retropower' treatmant! It's a very solid car with some superb repair work carried out in the past. Our job is to give it the performance and reliability to match the looks! A C20XE will be fitted along with Manta 1800 gearbox. We will be retaining the original injection system for maximum refinement.

Firstly a good, late (Distributorless) Engine is sourced, then stripped and detailed. The engine is then hung in place to assess what will need modifying to fit (this is the first Firenza 16V conversion we have carried out). It all looks pretty good. We will need to fabricate a custom sump, but this was expected. The brake master cylinder/servo arrangment will also need changing, but this was also not a suprise.

Here you can see the sump taking shape, as well as a modified pick-up pipe being tried on a dummy block. The block will be drilled and tapped to attach the pipe bracket on the pick-up side of the welded joint to eliminate the risk of fatigue fracture.

Meanwhile the engine mounts have been fabricated along with the gearbox crossmember. The brake servo/master cylinder modifications and cooling system are also being planned at this stage, and the clutch pedal modified to suit the Manta cable. As well as the engine change, a spoiler is being added... here we can see a template being offered up to get the mounting holes marked out correctly. Also the modified clutch pedal complete with turned nylon bush.

The next steps were to fabricate a one-off stainless exhaust manifold which you can see below. We have also fitted a Golf radiator and fabricated a stainless swirl pot which has been TIG welded to the fuel tank (after steam cleaning and purging with Argon gas).

Here is the engine with the sump painted and fitted. Also the cam cover which has been modified and painted (this will be fitted once the engine is in and there is no risk of damaging the paint!)

The spoiler has now been shaped to perfectly fit the boot, prepared, painted and fitted.

Next the engine is mated to the new clutch and Manta 'box and goes in for the final time complete with all the modifed parts. The manifold and cam cover are fitted at this stage too.

The water plumbing is completed with the fitment of a header tank, fabricated stainless water pipes and electric fan. At this stage most of the engine wiring has been completed and the alternator and coil pack mounted up.

Another job we have been asked to help sort is the corroded headlamp reflectors. These headlamp units are very rare and almost impossible to find replacements, so they have been dismantled, and the reflectors blasted ready to be sent away for re-silvering.

Following a period of finishing-off jobs (engine wiring, reassembly etc) the car is ready for a good road test, and a run up to the 2011 VBOA Show at Billing Aquadrome. From there the car was collected and driven back to Ireland.