[Dascal101]

Hey guys, or a silvertop lined up for purchase, was wondering if the afe mounts are useable or are they different? Cheers

Callum

[twinky 20]

I would say that they are pretty damn close. If not you should be able to scavenge them off from an SX.
I know that the SX ones work because that's the ones I used in my 20v conversion. Silvertop is definitely
a better choice over blacktop in my opinion. It has stronger rods thus being able to resist putting a nice hole
in the side of the block. But on the other hand the motor is older, so you have to watch out an be wary of high k's.
If in the long run you want to seriously mod the motor I would advise on a blacktop though as they have slightly larger throttles
and MAP sensor equipped, also the VVT is a bit more aggressive. In saying that I was neck and neck silvertop vs blacktop.

[choicesx]

You are misguided... If you look at the silvertop / blacktop rods side by side, the blacktop are stronger around the bearings, and the silvertop are heavier / thicker. Rods out the side of the block are 99.99999% of the time caused by bearing failure and regardless of the thickness of the rod, you'll still punch a hole in the block. Wether you bend the rod or snap it doesn't really matter, your motor is still fucked.

A healthy blacktop is a smidge quicker than a stock gze.

[twinky 20]

Cheers man I'll keep that in mind. I was under the assumption that it was the neck of the rod that gave way from all the pictures of rod failures that I have seen.
It might have just been an after effect I guess. In comparison I saw that the GZE rods were almost the same as the silvertop rods thus assuming they were stronger
than the blacktop rods which are a tad lighter than the silvertop rods. May I ask your trade background choicesx?

[choicesx]

Am a mechanic unfortunately...

Never seen a snapped rod that hasn't been caused by bearing failure

[Dascal101]

Cheers guys, my mechanic knew someone selling a st and he's got the engine for a few days to check the condition of the engine, but it's just the engine unfortunately

[twinky 20]

Damn, it's going to be difficult finding a loom for it then. You can get one made but they are pretty pricey...

[Dascal101]

I have the loom, ecu, all wires, cables etc, just no gearbox

[twinky 20]

Ah well that's a different story then. A gearbox should not be too difficult to find.

[Dascal101]

What else needs to be replaced or should everything else be compatible? It'll be converted to manual while the engine is still out just to make sure everything joins up

[twinky 20]

Really depends on what the engine needs and what you have. Is your car a carby or is it already EFI?

[Dascal101]

EFI. I don't know much about mechanics etc but will anything like cv joints or anything have to be sourced or can I use the ones I have now?

[twinky 20]

Since it's already EFI that's a good starting point because that means you don't have to change over the fuel system.
You may need a higher flowing pump but the one you have may just do fine. It's not the CV joints that you have to worry about
more so what gearbox you get. Although most of the "C" boxes will bolt up to the engine and fit perfectly in the engine bay as
well as using the same mounts it's when you come to bolting/pushing on the drive shafts that changes. The earlier "C" boxes
had a bolt on system that connects to the gearbox whilst the newer generations had a slide in system with an oil seal.
If you have an "A" series engine you should actually be able to use the gearbox from that motor. But without knowing what series it is
I wouldn't be able to tell you how much abuse it can handle.

[Dascal101]

I say it will most likely be a C series, thanks heaps twinky