When did X3 excels get the twin cam?

[hotgemini]

Looking at picking up a written off excel at the auctions to see if we can't graft the twin cam head onto a mates CC lancer hillclimb car (yes, I'm aware that the motor faces the other way and we'll end up with the inlet at the front and the exhaust at the back, that is part of the plan actually but thank you very much for asking.)

So I was wondering, does anyone know when X3 excels got the twincam from?

[THE ASH]

early 1998 I believe

[Cplus]

yep jan 1998 on.

[hotgemini]

Sweet, thanks boys.

[Sockz]

That wouldnt be Chris's car, now would it?

[hotgemini]

That would indeed be chris's car, he just went a heavier rear swaybar and a front strut brace. Next on the list is some front brakes (vented ones off the 1.8 litre lancer should suffice while he's just hillclimbing) and then comes the fun part... power.

[THE ASH]

Hotgem - I assume it's a 4G15? (1.5l)

I had heard of a twin cam conversion for them, I thought it used a mitsu head tho?

[hotgemini]

Its all just ideas at this point, gotta price it before its even worth finding out its possible. Yes its the 4G15.

[THE ASH]

Our local Mistu & Hyandai dealer is combined - I'd go in & ask for a head gasket from each & lay them over each other at the counter - then piss off once I was happy it's work!

[08ESE]

id be making sure it fits before doin anything, apparently th mitsu 1.8 heads dont fit the 1.8 in the 97 hyundai coupe my mate had.

[hotgemini]

08ESE: No, thats the typical car nut attitude and it leads you down the path of wasted money. First you price the conversion and see if it'll be worth doing, possible or otherwise, then you find out if its possible. Much cheaper, no point wasting time finding out there is the really easy conversion which is totally cost-ineffective.

[Zac]

Sounds interesting, I like head conversions.
I was going to suggest the head gaskets but Ash already has.

[hotgemini]

He wants to stay in his class (under 1600cc road registered) so really the options are;

• Sell the car and buy something else
• Further modify the carby SOHC 12 valve 4G15
• Go for a fuel injected SOHC 12 valve 4G15
• Convert the 4G15 to twin cam
• Go a 4G92 twin cam 16 valve motor

[THE ASH]

mivec 4G92 1.6 for sure, out of the box it would piss on a twin cam 4G15 & they were originally fitted to CC lancers

[FatBoy]

A mate has one as the "family shitter" - he drives a VY R8 and she has a new Prado. The twin cam Excel they own was bought new in late '97 so i'm guessing a mid to late '97 would be twin cam Adam...

[hotgemini]

Ash H: You've overlooked some of the 'real world' considerations, by retaining the factory block we make registration and insurance a far less painful exercise. Don't get me wrong, I reckon the 4G92 is probably the go too, definitely in terms of power, but its not as cut'n'dried as it first seems.

[THE ASH]

true - I can just see a twin cam head swap's costs snowballing is all

[13secmini]

twincam motors in excels were available in earlier models 95,96,97 but they were an option at the dealers.

[muttaburra]

im pretty sure the excel head wont fit the lancer. hyundai went to there own engine design in the 1996 > cars. the changes are enough to really give u the shits.

go to ACL web site they list all parts on there. all you need to do is see if any of the head gasket part numbers are the same between the hyundai and mitsu. i will be very surprised if they are the same.

[Spammy]

I seem to recall that the twin cam was strange design with the 2nd cam being driven by a short chain that runs off the main cam.....IMHO potentially a good sign that it will be a 'simple' swap (if there is such a thing).

[Zac]

That's true spammy, it is a sign that the second cam is an adaptation of the single cam design. you might need the twin cam timing cover too.

[muttaburra]

I seem to recall that the twin cam was strange design with the 2nd cam being driven by a short cahin that runs off the main cam.....IMHO potentially a good sign that it will be a 'simple' swap (if there is such a thing).

that is exactly how they work.

forget the idea of the excel head. just checked ACL web for u

Excel (X3) AA5400
Lancer CC BN230MT

you need the explore the 92-95 lantra with G4CN engine (mitsu) they had DOHC in a 1.8. they also had a 1.6 lantra (G4CR) 91-92.

Lantra (1.8) BS120MT
lantra (1.6) BS240
lancer BN230MT

from the site they all look very very close but you will need to put them together to see if they are the same or very close.

a 92 lantra should b very easy to find in wholesale car yards as they didnt have the best reputation. good luck searching.

hope this helps
mutta

[Zac]

Just because the head gasket is a different part doesn't mean it won't fit. The part might only be different because of the different bore sizes. If all the head bolt, water holes and oil holes line up then you're half way there already

[muttaburra]

Just because the head gasket is a different part doesn't mean it won't fit. The part might only be different because of the different bore sizes. If all the head bolt, water holes and oil holes line up then you're half way there already

i know that. but if you look at the ACL web site they actually have pics of the head gaskets and they are not the same excel > lancer.
lantra with mitsu engine is the go. you only need 1 bolt or water jacket not to line up and your in the shit.