Author |
Message |
Oncedown Samba Member
Joined: April 04, 2016 Posts: 10
|
Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2016 6:20 am Post subject: Fuel and cooling on the ecotec baja |
|
|
I'm doing that popular conversion and I'm having issues with two specific subjects.
1st is the cooling system. Which way it flows, is capping the unused ports ok? What have you done for a layout with your system? Once the correct radiator is chosen, I plan on mounting it above the engine with a bracket that will allow it to be moved when the engine is worked on.
Also, the fuel system. I have a 2.2 from a 2004 Saturn Ion and from what I see and have read, it does not have a return line. The inline pump I have exceeds the 60psi so should I have a regulator or will the ecotec stock regulator handle it. I've seen one of the aftermarket companies has a return line retrofit kit ($600). Is that necessary? I see a lot of great conversions online but not too many details on these two items. Whatever help you have would be greatly appreciated. Thank you
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Sandbar Norm Samba Member
Joined: August 02, 2008 Posts: 115 Location: A Sandbar in Fl.
|
Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2016 11:38 am Post subject: Re: Fuel and cooling on the ecotec baja |
|
|
Hi Oncedown
I went with a separate regulator from summit for my fuel system.
If I was going to again, I would think about going with a filter/regulator setup.
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/LS1-Fuel-Filter-Fuel-Regulator-Only,41793.html
On the coolant, I don't think that you will have a problem looping the heater hoses together.
I went a different route and more $$$ but I had to do it. It just made more since to me. I bout a CMB inlet with 1-1/2" inlet. If you go this route it does remove the factory thermostat. I added a external thermostat because I thought it needed it.
http://store.custombuiltmotors.com/engine-external...block.html
Norm |
|
Back to top |
|
|
jdcool4 Samba Member
Joined: September 19, 2010 Posts: 98 Location: Temperance MI
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
rockcrawl Samba Member
Joined: December 03, 2015 Posts: 56 Location: PA
|
Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2016 9:11 am Post subject: Re: Fuel and cooling on the ecotec baja |
|
|
jdcool4 wrote: |
if you cap or plug the heater hoses you will have to gut the thermostat. the thermostat don't have a bypass so the engine will over heat before the hot water will get to the thermostat. |
That's not correct, not for the L61 Ecotec that the OP is using. There is a spring loaded bypass valve in the thermostat block that opens to allow a small amount of coolant to circulate if the heater ports are blocked. The coolant is directed onto the base of the thermostat by an internal baffle. On the donor car the heater ports are blocked off by a valve whenever the heater is turned off, capping them permanently would be no different than driving with the heater off.
It's also not a great idea to remove the thermostat. The GM service manual specifically states that the thermostat creates a restriction that prevents cavitation. It also helps the engine come up to operating temp quickly which is beneficial for several reasons. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
race-desert Samba Member
Joined: March 12, 2010 Posts: 209 Location: ca
|
Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2016 10:35 am Post subject: Re: Fuel and cooling on the ecotec baja |
|
|
^ x2 |
|
Back to top |
|
|
jdcool4 Samba Member
Joined: September 19, 2010 Posts: 98 Location: Temperance MI
|
Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2016 9:34 pm Post subject: Re: Fuel and cooling on the ecotec baja |
|
|
Im sorry I wasn't a were that the thermostat housing was different from the 2.4 |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Oncedown Samba Member
Joined: April 04, 2016 Posts: 10
|
Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2016 5:52 am Post subject: Re: Fuel and cooling on the ecotec baja |
|
|
thankyou for your response. The rest of my cooling system is on order. My next question is, where did you add support for the engine (engine mounts)? |
|
Back to top |
|
|
lutz Samba Member
Joined: January 26, 2005 Posts: 21 Location: Grover Beach
|
Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2016 5:46 pm Post subject: Re: Fuel and cooling on the ecotec baja |
|
|
I hung mine with heim joints.Also make sure your cage is tied into you frame horns. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Sandbar Norm Samba Member
Joined: August 02, 2008 Posts: 115 Location: A Sandbar in Fl.
|
Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2016 2:11 pm Post subject: Re: Fuel and cooling on the ecotec baja |
|
|
Lutz, I like your mounts.
I did mine from the bottom.
I'm going to a trans/suspension change soon and looking at also going up and forward for my new mounts.
This is as it is now.
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Oncedown Samba Member
Joined: April 04, 2016 Posts: 10
|
Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2016 2:09 pm Post subject: Re: Fuel and cooling on the ecotec baja |
|
|
I like the the bottom mounts. When you were lining them up (or sizing for cut/weld) I assume you had support under the engine, right? Maybe a floor jack raised just enough to take away the strain from the transaxle. If so, how do you determine the strain is gone? |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Oncedown Samba Member
Joined: April 04, 2016 Posts: 10
|
Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2016 9:52 pm Post subject: Re: Fuel and cooling on the ecotec baja |
|
|
Instead of scrounging for fuel delivery I ordered everything from summit. Fuel pump, an6 adapter and hose for the an6. Thats all that's left. Thanks again for the help. I just hope this thing starts when the time comes.
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
budnick Samba Member
Joined: July 18, 2010 Posts: 56 Location: Alpena MI
|
Posted: Thu May 19, 2016 12:32 pm Post subject: Re: Fuel and cooling on the ecotec baja |
|
|
That setup is one mud puddle away from disaster. The air filter will clog with dust in short order if used on a dusty road. A radiator behind a tire is not a good idea. Get those things higher up or protect them in shrouds. _________________ If I can't fix it, it's broke. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
dustymojave Samba Member
Joined: January 07, 2007 Posts: 5802 Location: Lake LA, Mojave Desert, SoCal
|
Posted: Thu May 19, 2016 1:53 pm Post subject: Re: Fuel and cooling on the ecotec baja |
|
|
And a K&N type filter is also not good for dusty roads. It "provides more horsepower" because it lets larger particles through. _________________ Richard
Offroading VW based cars since 1965
Tech Inspection 1963 - 2012 SCCA/SCORE/HDRA/MORE/MDR +
Retired from building Bajas, Fiberglass Buggies and Rails in the Mojave Desert. Also Sprints & Midgets, Dry Lakes, Road Race cars. All types New and Vintage
SoCalBajas Member
Kicked Cancer's A$$...1st and 2nd round...Fight ain't over yet. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
rockcrawl Samba Member
Joined: December 03, 2015 Posts: 56 Location: PA
|
Posted: Thu May 19, 2016 3:18 pm Post subject: Re: Fuel and cooling on the ecotec baja |
|
|
That Honda radiator probably isn't going to work unless you can mount a scoop somewhere and duct air through it. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
ParkingBuckaroo Samba Member
Joined: September 10, 2015 Posts: 1 Location: Orlando
|
Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2016 10:14 pm Post subject: Re: Fuel and cooling on the ecotec baja |
|
|
Okay, a little background, I am building a buggy with an ecotec 2.4L 2010 HHR
engine. Can I block off the stock heater pipes or do I need to fab some sort of bypass to heat the thermostat so it will open correctly? |
|
Back to top |
|
|
rockcrawl Samba Member
Joined: December 03, 2015 Posts: 56 Location: PA
|
Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2016 8:42 am Post subject: Re: Fuel and cooling on the ecotec baja |
|
|
I don't know if that engine has an internal bypass or not. The safest and easiest thing to do is just use a loop of hose on the heater ports. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
jdcool4 Samba Member
Joined: September 19, 2010 Posts: 98 Location: Temperance MI
|
Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2016 11:59 pm Post subject: Re: Fuel and cooling on the ecotec baja |
|
|
I had to gut my thermostat on my 2.4 with the heater core pipes plugged the water would not flow. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Wheel_Works Samba Member
Joined: August 05, 2009 Posts: 347 Location: Michigan
|
Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2016 5:15 pm Post subject: Re: Fuel and cooling on the ecotec baja |
|
|
Either switch out to a billet water block or just pull the aluminum tubes out, tap the holes to 1/2" pipe and plug them _________________ https://www.facebook.com/rdm.ecotecs/ |
|
Back to top |
|
|
|