Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: terry paget on 11 July 2016, 22:41:11

Title: How difficult is it to swop Omega engines?
Post by: terry paget on 11 July 2016, 22:41:11
I am just pondering. I have an Omega 2,2 petrol which has suffered rear end damage and I intend to scrap. There is a similar 2.2 on e-bay with cam belt failure, 15 year old, 93000 miles. Both are manuals. Other car is 25 miles away.   
Title: Re: How difficult is it to swop Omega engines?
Post by: Andy B on 11 July 2016, 22:56:38
An engine swap is fairly straightforward .... you'd need to swap the head over from yours
Title: Re: How difficult is it to swop Omega engines?
Post by: Lazydocker on 11 July 2016, 23:51:00
An engine swap is fairly straightforward .... you'd need to swap the head over from yours

Why? I think Terry intends a full engine swap  :-\
Title: Re: How difficult is it to swop Omega engines?
Post by: Andy B on 12 July 2016, 00:12:00
An engine swap is fairly straightforward .... you'd need to swap the head over from yours
I missed 'just' out ie
You'd JUST need to swap the head over ....  :y

Why? I think Terry intends a full engine swap  :-\
Title: Re: How difficult is it to swop Omega engines?
Post by: terry paget on 12 July 2016, 07:50:00
An engine swap is fairly straightforward .... you'd need to swap the head over from yours

Why? I think Terry intends a full engine swap  :-\
Right. e-bay car has wrecked engine, my 2.2 has damaged back end. I am contemplating dropping my good engine into the e-bay car. Both are petrol 2.2s, attached to manual gearboxes.
Title: Re: How difficult is it to swop Omega engines?
Post by: biggriffin on 12 July 2016, 09:37:00
Lift out enging and box as 1 unit, then swap em over. 
Title: Re: How difficult is it to swop Omega engines?
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 12 July 2016, 10:44:02
Wouldn't it be easier just to swap the good head from the wrecked car to the good car with wrecked engine?  :-\
Title: Re: How difficult is it to swop Omega engines?
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 12 July 2016, 11:14:57
Wouldn't it be easier just to swap the good head from the wrecked car to the good car with wrecked engine?  :-\
Alot more work... unbolt the downpipe, hoses, engine loom and about ten bolts and job done :y
Title: Re: How difficult is it to swop Omega engines?
Post by: Nick W on 12 July 2016, 11:20:43
Wouldn't it be easier just to swap the good head from the wrecked car to the good car with wrecked engine?  :-\


Why dismantle a known good engine to patch up one with issues? Swapping the four cylinder engine is easy, and doable in less time than a head change. Especially if scrapping the donor car, as you can use butchery to save some time.
Title: Re: How difficult is it to swop Omega engines?
Post by: Migv6 le Frog Fan on 12 July 2016, 11:22:46
Agreed. Cutting the front slam panel off makes engine removal easier for a start.  :y
Title: Re: How difficult is it to swop Omega engines?
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 12 July 2016, 12:06:17
I see what you're saying, but that's all well and good if you have the equipment.  Engine hoist, fork lift, front loader?  :-\
Title: Re: How difficult is it to swop Omega engines?
Post by: Nick W on 12 July 2016, 12:20:25
I see what you're saying, but that's all well and good if you have the equipment.  Engine hoist, fork lift, front loader?  :-\


Renting a hoist is cheaper than a head set and the bolts. Borrowing one shouldn't be too hard if not in a hurry.
Title: Re: How difficult is it to swop Omega engines?
Post by: terry paget on 12 July 2016, 12:44:53
Thanks for advice gentlemen. It had not occurred to me to swop the heads, Sir Tigger. I can manage that, I changed the head gasket on this car last year, so the exhaust studs should come out all right. . This is the car, by the way. Rear wheel arches look good.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vauxhall-omega-2-2-cd-spares-or-repairs-/331900478598?hash=item4d46cf6486:g:dN4AAOSwjXRXavSE
Title: Re: How difficult is it to swop Omega engines?
Post by: RobG on 12 July 2016, 12:50:41
Thanks for advice gentlemen. It had not occurred to me to swop the heads, Sir Tigger. I can manage that, I changed the head gasket on this car last year, so the exhaust studs should come out all right. . This is the car, by the way. Rear wheel arches look good.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vauxhall-omega-2-2-cd-spares-or-repairs-/331900478598?hash=item4d46cf6486:g:dN4AAOSwjXRXavSE
Quote
Both are manuals.
The listed car is auto Terry
Title: Re: How difficult is it to swop Omega engines?
Post by: terry paget on 12 July 2016, 13:20:49
Thank you, Rob. Well spotted.
Title: Re: How difficult is it to swop Omega engines?
Post by: Lazydocker on 12 July 2016, 14:36:01
Engine is still the same though, just a bit more work swapping the boxes around whilst out of the car ;)
Title: Re: How difficult is it to swop Omega engines?
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 12 July 2016, 14:38:00
Engine is still the same though, just a bit more work swapping the boxes around whilst out of the car ;)
Have all the bits for the manual conversion too 8)
Title: Re: How difficult is it to swop Omega engines?
Post by: Lazydocker on 12 July 2016, 15:29:21
Engine is still the same though, just a bit more work swapping the boxes around whilst out of the car ;)
Have all the bits for the manual conversion too 8)
Yep... Switch all the manual bits from crashed car to other one... A bit more work admittedly but still doable :y
Title: Re: How difficult is it to swop Omega engines?
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 12 July 2016, 15:42:11
It still seems easier to me to swap the heads!  ;D
Title: Re: How difficult is it to swop Omega engines?
Post by: Lazydocker on 12 July 2016, 20:58:15
It still seems easier to me to swap the heads!  ;D

But he wants a manual, not a slushbox ;)
Title: Re: How difficult is it to swop Omega engines?
Post by: terry paget on 13 July 2016, 11:23:39
Here's a better one. CD would not have cruise, would it. Nevertheless it has leather and a 10CD player. MOT history looks good too.
Title: Re: How difficult is it to swop Omega engines?
Post by: terry paget on 13 July 2016, 11:26:39
Here's the car.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/162134977284?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Title: Re: How difficult is it to swop Omega engines?
Post by: Shackeng on 13 July 2016, 12:51:30
I love the postage bit:  "Will post to the USA" ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: How difficult is it to swop Omega engines?
Post by: aaronjb on 13 July 2016, 13:16:28
Imagine walking into the post office for the postage quote.. "Can you put it on the scales, please?" ;D
Title: Re: How difficult is it to swop Omega engines?
Post by: terry paget on 13 July 2016, 14:40:25
No mention of rust on any earlier MOTs, 10CD player, MOT until November, recent cam belt change, and three keys - all good. Long way away, pity. I can't be sure it's a manual from the pictures, can you?
Title: Re: How difficult is it to swop Omega engines?
Post by: ajsphead on 13 July 2016, 14:50:38
I think it's a manual, look at the pic with the gear surround under the steering wheel. Other than the rusty arches and bizarre driver's wiper it doesn't look half bad.
Title: Re: How difficult is it to swop Omega engines?
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 13 July 2016, 14:58:16
Says in the listing it's a manual.  ;)
Title: Re: How difficult is it to swop Omega engines?
Post by: terry paget on 13 July 2016, 15:00:45
Says in the listing it's a manual.  ;)
Said that in the earlier one, but it wasn't.
Title: Re: How difficult is it to swop Omega engines?
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 13 July 2016, 15:07:35
Says in the listing it's a manual.  ;)
Said that in the earlier one, but it wasn't.

Ah yes I see...  ::)
Title: Re: How difficult is it to swop Omega engines?
Post by: Steve B on 13 July 2016, 16:36:31
Here's the car.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/162134977284?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
That is a 2.5
Title: Re: How difficult is it to swop Omega engines?
Post by: biggriffin on 13 July 2016, 18:27:05
Here's the car.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/162134977284?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT


That be a bit more than a simple swap, and I want to see Terry fit a v6 head on a 2.2 :-[
Title: Re: How difficult is it to swop Omega engines?
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 13 July 2016, 20:42:54
Here's the car.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/162134977284?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT


That be a bit more than a simple swap, and I want to see Terry fit a v6 head on a 2.2 :-[

At least with this one he'll have a spare head!  :D  ;D
Title: Re: How difficult is it to swop Omega engines?
Post by: Tick Tock on 13 July 2016, 21:34:31
Getting complicated isn't the word  ;) ;) but interested in knowing what the best solution would be..... plenty of matching clones out there of Terry's unfortunate and premature ending of his 2.2. Maybe wait and see what else comes up cheap?  :y
Title: Re: How difficult is it to swop Omega engines?
Post by: terry paget on 14 July 2016, 09:13:40
Last year I scrapped a V reg 2.5 after corrosion in n/s rear shock absorber upper mounting allowed SA to burst into the boot. Was this a rare and unfortunate event, or is a known risk of old Omega saloons? The Oswestry car shows slight corrosion in o/s rear wheel arch. MOT history dos not mention corrosion.
Title: Re: How difficult is it to swop Omega engines?
Post by: biggriffin on 14 July 2016, 09:47:19
Fitting a 2.5 into a 2.2 is not straight forward, is it worth it.
Title: Re: How difficult is it to swop Omega engines?
Post by: Mr Gav on 14 July 2016, 09:55:02
Fitting a 2.5 into a 2.2 is not straight forward, is it worth it.

Saab turbo lump would be a far better option and 300bhp easily attainable  :y
Title: Re: How difficult is it to swop Omega engines?
Post by: terry paget on 14 July 2016, 19:28:45
Oswestry car is sold. The 2.2 with cam belt failure auction ends today at 22.17, it's no good to me as it an auto, not a manual as advertised (thanks Rob). As it is an auto would it have done it serious damage to tow it 25 miles home?
Title: Re: How difficult is it to swop Omega engines?
Post by: Nick W on 14 July 2016, 19:32:23
Oswestry car is sold. The 2.2 with cam belt failure auction ends today at 22.17, it's no good to me as it an auto, not a manual as advertised (thanks Rob). As it is an auto would it have done it serious damage to tow it 25 miles home?


Probably not, but I think you'd be mad to take the chance. 25 miles is a short enough distance to get a reasonable price to have it done professionally.
Title: Re: How difficult is it to swop Omega engines?
Post by: terry paget on 14 July 2016, 20:51:28
Oswestry car is sold. The 2.2 with cam belt failure auction ends today at 22.17, it's no good to me as it an auto, not a manual as advertised (thanks Rob). As it is an auto would it have done it serious damage to tow it 25 miles home?


Probably not, but I think you'd be mad to take the chance. 25 miles is a short enough distance to get a reasonable price to have it done professionally.
Thanks. Does it overheat? I have never owned an automatic, but have read probably on this forum, that they should not be towed far on their own wheels.
Title: Re: How difficult is it to swop Omega engines?
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 14 July 2016, 21:08:53
Mine got towed home once when the breakdown firm sent a tow truck rather than a flatbed.  ::)

We towed it backwards with it's arse in the air and the steering wheel locked up.  :D  It was only about 20 miles though and was fine!  :y

I think another way is to disconnect or remove the propshaft to tow it. Not 100% about that though, but I'm sure that it willed be confirmed or denied soon enough!  :y
Title: Re: How difficult is it to swop Omega engines?
Post by: Nick W on 14 July 2016, 21:09:41
Oswestry car is sold. The 2.2 with cam belt failure auction ends today at 22.17, it's no good to me as it an auto, not a manual as advertised (thanks Rob). As it is an auto would it have done it serious damage to tow it 25 miles home?


Probably not, but I think you'd be mad to take the chance. 25 miles is a short enough distance to get a reasonable price to have it done professionally.
Thanks. Does it overheat? I have never owned an automatic, but have read probably on this forum, that they should not be towed far on their own wheels.


It relies on the ATF being pumped around the gearbox. And that's the first thing in the gearbox after the torque converter. It doesn't work without the engine running.
Title: Re: How difficult is it to swop Omega engines?
Post by: RobG on 14 July 2016, 21:13:45
An auto Omega, providing the transmission is OK, can be towed a maximum distance of 60 miles at an absolute maximum speed of 50mph with no detrimental effect on the box :)
Title: Re: How difficult is it to swop Omega engines?
Post by: Migv6 le Frog Fan on 14 July 2016, 21:27:41
Ive done just that several times and id didn't seem to do them any harm.  :y
Title: Re: How difficult is it to swop Omega engines?
Post by: terry paget on 15 July 2016, 08:05:05
Oswestry car is sold. The 2.2 with cam belt failure auction ends today at 22.17, it's no good to me as it an auto, not a manual as advertised (thanks Rob). As it is an auto would it have done it serious damage to tow it 25 miles home?
The 2.2 sold for £98, less than the £100 I got for scrapping an Omega 2 years ago. Had it been a manual, as the text claimed, I could have towed it home, swopped cylinder head, fitting new cam belt kit, and got a good 2.2 for about £250, and still owned all the good bits off the wreck, tyres, battery, etc.
Title: Re: How difficult is it to swop Omega engines?
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 15 July 2016, 22:30:03
Mine got towed home once when the breakdown firm sent a tow truck rather than a flatbed.  ::)

We towed it backwards with it's arse in the air and the steering wheel locked up.  :D  It was only about 20 miles though and was fine!  :y

I think another way is to disconnect or remove the propshaft to tow it. Not 100% about that though, but I'm sure that it willed be confirmed or denied soon enough!  :y
That's pretty much your two choices says flatbed :y