new here with a query

goatman · rice boy Joined: 27 Oct 2003 Posts: 37

gday. im fifteen years old and i have a 1980 gemini that has been treated like shit for two years. There is no significant rust but the engine is rooted, all the mechanical parts are rooted and i have plans laid out for all but the engine. What is the most economical engine i can get for under a grand with tuning potential? Thanks in advance.

Pavlos · backyard mechanic Joined: 05 Oct 2001 Posts: 920

Under a grand is hard man, um I know tha tyou can get G180's fairly cheap, and they can be modded to go hard. On the other hand, you can pick up a stock G161 wack on a weber or two, put on extractors, sports exhaust, lumpy cam and tune it for just under a grand or there abouts. The weber(s) wont make it economical, but it would go fucking hard.

Hope this helps.
Pavlos.

ONLYA4 · petrol head Joined: 12 May 2003 Posts: 1114

You want economical? Then just put it a newly reco'd G161. Leave it stock, dont change a thing, bloody economic. You never said it had to go hard.

CrAzY · backyard mechanic Joined: 02 Apr 2003 Posts: 634

economical it is best to use a reco'd g161 with a 5 speed box, and change gears at about 2500-3000rpms, that is really economical,, u want power? no engine will give power and be economical,

Loz · backyard mechanic Joined: 05 Oct 2001 Posts: 943

Nah nah nah, no 5 speed. Get a 3spd auto.

rust3 · backyard mechanic Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Posts: 971

beleive it or not, but manuals are better on fuel. autos zap the power to much

GROOV3 · petrol head Joined: 04 Oct 2001 Posts: 3682

thats cause autos you floor it more and it takes longer to get to the speed limit so there for more gas

plus manuals are so much more fun

CrAzY · backyard mechanic Joined: 02 Apr 2003 Posts: 634

if u drive like me then an auto is more economical, but they have dick all power, i recomend a 5 speed cos it will use less fuel, specially if u do like 80 to 110 cos you have 5 gears apposed to 3, everyone knows that manuals are more economical if u drive em properly,

goatman · rice boy Joined: 27 Oct 2003 Posts: 37

thanks for yer help. economical isnt such a priority anymore . BTW i have the standard 1600 and im unfamiliar with model codes. As far as i know its rooted to the core but maybe the block could be spared.

my gemeration · tinkerer Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 113

why don't you offer chris(ruf-gem) $900 for his van and you get everything you need