ecotec swap???

[imprtslyr0223]

hey i have a 93 grand am gt with the 2.3l quad 4 ho and was wondering, since it's getting pretty old, if it is possible to swap an ecotec in the thing. how extensive would this be? and would it be possible (or easier) to fit a cobalt or cavi tranny along with the new engine?

[ManktheTank19]

I would never recommend performing a swap when you have the HO. That engine is great and unique. Keep it :)

I wish I had one :(

[imprtslyr0223]

the engine hasn't been great as of lately though...also i just don't see very much potential in the engine compared to an ecotec...i AM open to an alternate (less expensive) route that would produce significant power gains with the use of the HO. i just see with an engine with over 100k miles on it, there is no point modding it.

[BledRedGaSe]

Should be able to pick up a 2.2 ecotec motor for about $500-$700 at a junk yard and the ecu and wiring harnes will be another couple hundred, then your going to want the gas tank and lines and pump too, custom motor mounts that you can make yourself or if your not good enough find someone that is. Don't forget the transmission but that should come with the motor if it doesn't it could cost you a pretty penny. Your gonna need custom drive shafts too and probably an entire custom suspension. That's all I can think of right now but it's late so I'll add more tomorow.

[Korbendallas68]

Swap it out and send me your old one! :)

[Matt95GT]

Originally posted by imprtslyr0223
hey i have a 93 grand am gt with the 2.3l quad 4 ho and was wondering, since it's getting pretty old, if it is possible to swap an ecotec in the thing. how extensive would this be? and would it be possible (or easier) to fit a cobalt or cavi tranny along with the new engine?

Very extensive. Especially on the electrical side.

The transaxle on the Ecotec Cavi/Cobalts is almost the same is the trans you have now (Getrag).

Originally posted by imprtslyr0223
the engine hasn't been great as of lately though...also i just don't see very much potential in the engine compared to an ecotec...i AM open to an alternate (less expensive) route that would produce significant power gains with the use of the HO. i just see with an engine with over 100k miles on it, there is no point modding it.

1. So fix/rebuild it. Or diagnose more... it may be something simple.
2. It does have potential. There are several fast Quad 4's out there... some owners have done some really wild things.
3. A Ecotec swap would be the more expensive route.
4. 90% of my modding came after 100,000 miles.

[99blackSE]

Yeah youd be making a grave mistake abandonding the Quad..

I dont know of any eco powered GAs that are faster than the Quad ones currently. You can probably just as good power on the Quad as you can on the eco.

[imprtslyr0223]

can someone just easily explain what is so great about the quad. i mean i've been looking everywhere, and heard stuff about it being a breakthrough engine, being able to produce a lot of power per liter. what else is so special about it?

[DontPassTheFence]

thats it, it was one of the highest performing passenger car-equippable DOHC engine of its era, and today its STILL faster than any engine the same size as it. Stock for stock (both new engines) the QUAD outperforms the ECOTEC, ESPECIALLY IF IT IS THE HO!!!

The HO has some of the most aggressive cams found in a 4 cylinder engine today, and at 180hp and somewhere about 155tq, its quite the stout engine. You engine's age is what is holding it back, Im willing to bet that engine was not maintained properly, for if it were, it would be in much better condition. Now, if you are a mechanic or aspiring to be one, thats the engine for you, put the car in the garage, rip out the engine, do an entire rebuild on the block, and put it back together, and restore it to its original glory.

However, if you know little to nothing about an engine, then this will be quite the hard endeavor for you, and you should maybe invest in a new car or paynig a mechanic to fix it for you (not reccomended).

Either way, its will be VERY expensive to swap the newer ECOTEC into an old car such as yours. The ECOTEC has all-new technology, woudl require a modern PCM, BCM, updated wiring. And the amount of things plugged into both the BCMand PCM is outrageous. Converting your 93 which has an ODBI system to a newer ODBII system that the ecotec runs on would be astronomical and very improbable. Im sure there is some crazy SOB that has performed this very swap and found success, but the chances of a likewise successful swap from a '93 2.3L QUAD HO to an '02 2.2L ECOTEC would be nearly 0, provided you have the time, money, tools, and parts to pull it off.

[urweak]

Are you sure you have the HO? The HO has 180hp (alittle less in 1993) The 2.2L ecotec has 140hp, althought there is the 2.4L ecotec that has 170hp. with the cost to swap to the ecotec, you could have a boosted quad 4, or build it up N/A. Dont belive all the hype about the ecotec (granted its no worse then the quad 4, but its not better ehter)

So just work with what you have, and make that fast.

[imprtslyr0223]

it's not like the engine has not been well maintained. the thing was practically babied it's whole life. it hadn't seen rain or snow until 2002 and it just hit 100k. just as of recently a lot has been replaced. it has a brand new exhaust and cat, alternator, battery. so basically it's coming down to becoming a project car or being up for sale. how difficult would a teardown and rebuild be. i'm not a mechanical professional but i've always wanted to be able to know my way around and through an engine.