I know we've kinda beat around this topic a couple times but I havn't seen an exact answer to this question.

I plan on keeping my cav for a long time so I'm gonna completely build a whole new motor with all performance parts, Yes I'm well aware that this is gonna run me over $10k and I already know it's gonna take me a LONG time. So I need somewhere to begin and that start point is what motor to use? Should I build another 2.4l or do a swap with a 2.2eco? I would want to do the eco, but I plan on going all out and adding a turbo with nitrous, and cryo2. And with that in mind...the eco's aluminum block. That's what worries me about that. With a turbo and n02 in mind should I use the 2.4l motor or do they make more solid blocks for the eco somewhere?

Pick one or the other. When both fully built they both can handle quite a bit of boost. Why not try for the 2.4L eco motor if you wana really play.

he's worried about the aluminum block not being able to handle excessive boosting..

he's worried about the aluminum block not being able to handle excessive boosting..
Yes.

What car does the 2.4 eco come out of? Does it have the same mounts as the 2.2?

Yes.

What car does the 2.4 eco come out of? Does it have the same mounts as the 2.2?
Cobalt SS (non-Supercharged)

And don't do that, its drive-by wire and you'll be absurdly hard pressed getting it to work.

The eco doesn't like nitrous but likes boost. The Twin Cam doesn't like Turbo, but can handle a Super just fine and takes to nitrous decently.

You really have 6 in one hand and a half dozen in the other. What everyone else will say is pretty much a matter of opinion.

Well, I'm planning on building a new motor from the block up with all performance inards, so unless I can find a stronger Eco block, I should go with the twin cam, correct? In the end of it all and YEARS down the road I plan on having it turbo'd, sc'd, n02'd, and cryo2'd.....alright maybe not supercharged too but def. turbo, n02, and cryo2'd

Yeah, I guess technically the iron block of the 2.4 is stronger. But, when does that start to matter? You really think you're going to be pushing enough power to make an aluminum block explode or warp? Hell, GM Performance has that cavalier they made pushing out 1100-1200 horses on an aluminum block. Granted, its de-stroked to a 2.0, but STILL, you realisitically think you'll be breaking that level, come on...

Like I said and I still stand by:
You have 6 in one hand, a half dozen in the other.

I wouldn't know if I could bust the block or not, I'm just going by what other people have done and I def. don't want that happening to me.

go with the eco if you are thinking about boosting it. Watch how much nitrous you use, though. Would hate to see you dump 10k into a motor and blow it with the wring shot of nos

Exactly! Which is why I don't know where to begin. I'm definitely gonna have a turbo and n02, I'm not worried about the Cryo2 since it just cools the air.

Exactly! Which is why I don't know where to begin. I'm definitely gonna have a turbo and n02, I'm not worried about the Cryo2 since it just cools the air.
...so does an intercooler.

And you really shouldn't be blowing off the benefits of cooling. See, that's how you actually would crack a block open, serious overheating from REALLY overstressing the motor.

Granted, the CO2 crap is pretty useless, but cooling = super important.

...so does an intercooler.

And you really shouldn't be blowing off the benefits of cooling. See, that's how you actually would crack a block open, serious overheating from REALLY overstressing the motor.

Granted, the CO2 crap is pretty useless, but cooling = super important.
When I say I'm getting a turbo, it should be understood that I mean with an intercooler too. I would never get a turbo without one.

Just get a damn eco. Frankly Ive yet to see anyone on here talk about doing a motor swap and actually do it.

Just get a damn eco. Frankly Ive yet to see anyone on here talk about doing a motor swap and actually do it.
I know what you mean, I'm quite sick of that too but I'm telling ya straight up I won't be doing this for a loooong time because it's gonna cost me so much money, I'm just asking so I know where to start and what block to buy.

Just get a damn eco. Frankly Ive yet to see anyone on here talk about doing a motor swap and actually do it.

true soooo true

I know what you mean, I'm quite sick of that too but I'm telling ya straight up I won't be doing this for a loooong time because it's gonna cost me so much money, I'm just asking so I know where to start and what block to buy.
Last person I heard said it took them 15 hours to put a 2.2 eco in a 2200 car. That is a cake walk if you ask me

How would I go about putting an eco in a twin cam? Would I have to cut off the old mounts and weld on eco mounts? The mounting is def. a grey area for me.

I know what you mean, I'm quite sick of that too but I'm telling ya straight up I won't be doing this for a loooong time because it's gonna cost me so much money, I'm just asking so I know where to start and what block to buy.

Well if thats the case you might as well hold off. Save up that there money and when the time comes you may end up wanting to just stuff a rag in your gas cap light that bitch up and get a whole new car altogether or go in a totally different direction.

Hell after everything is said and done anyways you could take all that money if you like and put a damn nice chunk on a SS/SC or the 2.4 cobalt and dick around with those.

Ill be the first to admit that the cobalts are just the same GM boxes of crap as the cavys but I must say I like the lines of the cobalts better.

Well if thats the case you might as well hold off. Save up that there money and when the time comes you may end up wanting to just stuff a rag in your gas cap light that bitch up and get a whole new car altogether or go in a totally different direction.

Hell after everything is said and done anyways you could take all that money if you like and put a damn nice chunk on a SS/SC or the 2.4 cobalt and dick around with those.

Ill be the first to admit that the cobalts are just the same GM boxes of crap as the cavys but I must say I like the lines of the cobalts better.
I already thought this, and I've come to the conclusion that I'd rather have a Cavalier that can beat those types of cars, seems more fulfilling to me to have an underdog like a cavy beat something like a cobalt or srt4

saw a fiero with a twin turoed 350 in it

Eco. I'd love to get my hands on a 2.2 5 speed Eco.

~Crazzzyj

Cobalt SS (non-Supercharged)

And don't do that, its drive-by wire and you'll be absurdly hard pressed getting it to work.
Drive by wire? What's the 2.2eco and 2.4l then? Explain lol :dunno:

Well, I wanted to buy a different part every now and then from the block up but i dunno. And I also wanted to put it together myself but I'm thinking I'm just going to save up and buy a crate engine from J Body Performance even tho they're based in Canada and shipping will probly be horendous. I still don't understand the "core charge" tho, does that mean I have to ship them an eco engine first? Wtf is a core charge? lol

you at least have to ship them an engine, but my advice if you go that route is to take a road trip

personally i have ran both motors the 2.2 eco and the 2.4L the 2.4 was in my 99 alero. I had a header, WAI, High flow cat, dual exhaust, trans interceptor, Coilovers and KYB struts, and a venom fuel rail. it was very impressive for an automatic...but i have the 2.2 ecotec in my 03 cavi noy with a header, 2 1/4 piping, high flow cat, catback exhaust, B&M short throw shifter, clutchmasters stage 2 performance clutch, Coilovers, and i can say that the ecotec is so much more impressive! I wouldnt trade it off for any other motor. on a stock motor with a hahn racecraft turbo kit w/ intercooler your quarter times would be around 12 sec. its stated on their website. so basicly you could turn an ecotec into a 8 second ride if you did a total rebuild.

I would stay 2.4. Not only will it be easier to drop in to your current car, but I dont trust aluminum blocks. Also, the extra .2 L of displacement will help spool the turbo quicker.

Eco. I'd love to get my hands on a 2.2 5 speed Eco.

~Crazzzyj

Oh im the exact same, im not doing anything to my cav cuz its a 2200 4 door auto with 229,000 km's. Considering how freaking cheap u can get a 2002 cavalier, id get one instead, thats what im gonna do. late 01 to 04 [so u def get an eco] 2 door 5 speed. I wud tinker the piss out of that and make it right Randy. You would have so much more to work with, plus the look of the 02's in black or that dark blue in 2 door makes me go mmmmmmmmm.

[Austin Voice]Yeah baby, yeah!! http://www.nfbuysellautoclub.com/images/22/2002%20Cavalier.JPG [/Austin Voice]

Yeah i just looked on autotrader.ca and found a 2002 eco 5 spd with 96,000 km's 2 door black for 6,200 canadian!

Okay, I've decided to go Eco! Mostly because, I think it'd be pretty cool to have an 02+ motor in a 98, of course I know it's been done plenty of times before but not from anybody around here that I know of. It's newer technology then the 2.4l which is sadly enough, dead technology :frown:, the engine mounts are the same, so it will bolt right into the stock 2.4l mounts, it's just the tranny mounts I'll have to change, and basically the name Ecotec is pretty cool. :icon16:

Now the question is, do I buy a complete new engine from Jbp and NOT get my core charge refunded, or do I try and find an ecotec engine, buy that, and then pay the shipping to ship the motor all the way to Canada and get my core charge back? :dunno:

Generally a core charge means they want any motor back to remanufacture. They charge you the premium up front, so if you dont want to send them your old motor, generally you wouldnt have to. It may be different with JBP, but you could even send them an old suzuki motor, and they would more than likely accept it.

get a hold of them and ask what they will accept for a core and how much shipping will be, but i'm telling you if your anywere above middle america it might be cheaper to just drive and then get to sight see as well

Rhode Island

there you go where in canada are ther in, figure out the miles and have a ROAD TRIP lol

I dunno about that, I've never driven farther then halfway through New Hampshire, I'm not very skilled on the highway/taking roadtrips, and it would take over 10hrs according to Google maps, and it around 560 miles away.

I was looking on ebay today and there are 3 eco motors going for $200, $300, and $400. Sure they look like crap but I only need a core right?

pretty much but send them an e-mail and find out if they will take any motor. or if it has to be an eco