just a few questions on engine conversion - b16a

hey guys
i remember talking to Charlie at GPC and he said that its best that i do a package deal with him as he'll do everything for me and all i do is driveway without a worry.
but the thing is, the package is quite dear and is out of my budget. however, i've source an engine with gearbox etc for the conversion and it works to be more affordable.
he told me that i'll need a new air con compressor etc, power steering, fuel tank and stuff when i do the conversion and i was wondering if this is true? he goes i can't use my GL air con cause its different or something.

withe brakes,exhausts, i can always upgrade slowly.
he also said that engineeer certificate will cost me $500!? is this right?

also the cluster, he goes i'll need to change that cause i'm upgrading to a b16a so the current cluster won't have the correct lights.

also last thing, do you guys recommend any other workshop i can do my conversion at other then GPC?

is it possible for you guys who have experienced this, list me exactly all the parts i'll need?

sorry about the long post but i'm really keen or doing this conversion and doing it right first time.

any help will be very much appreciated!!!

thanks

it sounds weird that the mech should ask u to change ur aircon and not change ur brakes and exhaust, considering u are doubling the power in ur car. u probably need to change ur fuel lines if ur car is a carby or add a surge tank. i wouldnt worry about a few lights on ur cluster either...the important thing is remember u have a new redline after the conversion.

yeah he did say his package also includes upgrading the brakes and exhaust aswell.
that i can do slowly myself as i've seen a few of those parts over forums.

yeah my car is a dual carb.

yeh i do see u haveing to upgrade your zorst, but not your breaks. Unless they are completely fuct. I mean you would only need new breaks if the mass of your car was increase alot.. there is no difference travelling at 60 with a D series compared to a Bseries you know. They weigh pretty much the same there for you wouldnt need to get better breaks because they are still slowing down the same weight and the same force is being applied to them...
Good luck dude

Well with charlie he does everything to install for the conversion a/c, engine , wiring, brakes etc.

Just wether or not u wanna go thru hassle of sourcing all items out urself.

BUt i recommend u upgrade ur brakes, if u dont have rear brakes, get upgrades for that too.
Also your car will be significantly more powerful, better ot be safe with upgraded brakes.

If u upgrade ur zorst, get somehting decent not some shitty aftermarket crap.
Like a 5zigen, mugen or spoon zorst to get the best out of ur engine.

You will need to definately upgrade ur fuel tank to EFI

Not sure bout the a/c and p/s.

How much did he charge u for the package?

I got my EG project going thru him soon. :D

I dont think the actual aircon is different, but with EGs, there are many many different hoses, nossels etc. I got aircon PUT IN to my EG and i had to wait around for the specific hosing etc to fit condensor etc.

Brakes, I beleive as long as you upgrade the front to SIR/VTIR brakes, the rears will be fine as fronts do about 80% of the braking.
If your goin to be a dickhead and take your car REALLLY hard on the street, or if you plan to track, then I recommend doing the rears, but like you said your on a budget, so do it slowly =]
But if u want an engineering certificate, ull need to do the rears.

The cluster, im not 100% sure, but because when you chuck your engine in, youll need a WHOLE new wiring loom. Because the EG6 cluster is different to the GL, this may be true, however I know a guy who is using his original Cluster in his conversion, so that might be all bullshit?
The cluster looks crazy anyway so just get it :P

Hope it helps

yeh i am going to do my D16a8 conversion with him too...very hard to understand that little man! he told me teh same about the A/C...it wont match up with the new engine... i am not getting a whole new EFI tank...charlie told me it would be cheaper to set up an external fuel pump for the efi...

rear brakes are pretty much a must when you are boosting your power to almost double your existing power in your carb engine...

btw it is better to cost a bit more in the beginning than to have problems while you are driving or later down the track. it will end up costing you more in the long run... and it will ALWAYS blow out ;)

TIM

you can always cut back on p/s and a/c and exhaust and that will lower the price quite a bit. All in all it would be easier and cheaper if you can source a half cut yourself and take the bits and pieces apart and have someone do the install for you. How much is he charging you? That'll give us a rough idea how competitve the price is.

to give you an indication a straight swap cost me 1g.

whatttt?! $1000 only?!

Well the Package with Charlie is $6000, that includes "EVERYTHING!" lol, he always repeats that. So what do you guys think?
Any other places I can do the conversion at?
For labour itself his charging $1500. That why he goes its best to do the package deal with him as it includes JDM engine, rebuilt engine and gearbox, exhaust, brakes, engineering cert., 10 000kms warranty, new cluster, air con etc, fuel tank.

So if you guys were in my position, would you go the package deal or try to source a halfcut and organise a conversion with another workshop and upgrade the little bits slowly as you gather back more funds?

With Warranties and all that stuff.. its not a bad deal IMO. But if its out of ur budget then yea obviously u cant get it.

I think Latinohatch means 1000 for labour.. no parts... i assume he sourced the 1/2 cut himself...

Most conversions down here in melb go for 4500+ figure range.. (a guy i kno paid 6k and that was just conversion, no rear discs or exhuast or anything.. engineering nothiing and he thought it was a bargain)
I paid less than that, less than 4.. less then 3.5 even... and im upgrading bits slowly as funds come. But i had a set back when i had to reco my gearbox due to syncros wearing. You wont have this sort of problem if you get the whole package

Where in Melbs does a full conversion from a dual carby to a b16a for under 4.5 large?

i know many palces that charge 1k for labour...if u can source the halfcut urself. 4.5k is definitely doable