Flow-bench testing 2.0 16v Eco head.

[gse_turbo]

I've been planning a high quality flow-bench test of 2.0 16 Iron Ecotec head for quite a while. It I don't have the budget to do it all alone. I figure the sooner the better on this kind of information and if it's left to my budget it will be at least six months or so. I'd like to put together a list of members that would like to contribute and perhaps a donation value.

I have a couple heads to test, at least on completely stock and one with the usually porting that's been suggested on the forum. I'll meet up with the shop tomorrow to get more planning done. At the moment it's $150 to test the first Cylinder and I'm not sure if or when the price starts to decrease. Hopefully the price will decrease because I can imagine at least four tests and and $600+ seems high to me.

Aside from the testing aspect there are a few pieces that need to be made for tixturing and accurate testing. The first is a 2" acrylic analog for the cylinder block. It needs to be bolted to the head to watch turbulence in the cumbustion chamber. Similar items need to be used to extend the intake and exhaust ports. I'll take care of the design aspect of all three but I'm expecting about $150 to have them all cut.

Aside from all the time I can probably put up $100 at most right now. The more people on board, the less we all need to contribute. If we move forward on the group buy aproach there wouldn't be a set donation. I've gotta find out if PayPal still takes a persentage from donations. If they do the checks May be a good option since more of the money contributed will go to the project instead of PayPal.

So anyways, let's hear what you have to say.

[benzino]

Is there no data available from europe? Surely people have done this before?

[gse_turbo]

Not many in the UK consider much of the Eco head. Anyone who's serious enough to need flow testing done just jumps over to the redtop head. I've exchanged emails with both QED and SBD and even they don't give much effort to the eco even though they offer parts.

It's possible that someone in the UK has done flow testing on the head but I've never seen it.

[benzino]

what about the z20let head? is it very different?

[gse_turbo]

All of the iron ecotec heads are the same. The only difference is the Z20LET has a turbo specific cam.

[benzino]

well then maybe it would be worthwhile getting in contact with Glenn.
I'm sure he would be interested if he hasn't already done it or know someone who has done it.

[gse_turbo]

Glenn in Aus? Or the UK?

[benzino]

Sorry, Aus (Gman)

[PrecisionBoost]

Sounds like quite a bit of money for a single test, a few years back I was really interested in making or buying a flow bench for fun.

You might be surprised to see how inexpensive some of the kits are and how well they work.

Here is an example: http://www.flowperformance.com/price.html

It's not pretty, but there is not that much technology involved.

I also took this book out of the library at that time, they get into porting and how to make your own test bench

http://www.amazon.com/David-Vizards-Cyl ... 1934709646

[exist3nce]

$150 per cylinder does seem quite high to me...

Not sure if this helps any, but I did get my U20SED head flowed in late 2009. Heres the stock and ported numbers... (copied from my build thread)

**All values are in CFM

Intake

Lift------ Before---After
0.100"------88------100
0.200"-----156-----172
0.300"-----189-----197
0.400"-----193-----212
0.450"-----197-----216


Exhaust

Lift------ Before---After
0.100"-----101-----109
0.200"-----160-----167
0.300"-----170-----184
0.400"-----174-----190
0.450"-----176-----193

[PrecisionBoost]

Here is a decent site for comparisons of flow ( including Vauxhall/Opel engines such as the C20XE and ECOTEC )

http://users.erols.com/srweiss/tablehdc.htm#Opel

The description of numbers are not that great, I'm guessing at a few of them based on their descriptions

1st line = flow of intake / flow of exhaust ( guessing on the second number )
2nd line = exhaust vs intake flow volume comparison
3rd line = CFM per sq inch of valve area intake / CFM per sq inch of valve area exhaust
4th line = port velocity of intake / port velocity of exhaust
5th line = valve/curtain area discharge coefficient for intake / valve/curtain area discharge coefficient for exhaust

So for the stock Coscast C20XE head they seem to have

Intake CFM :
2mm ( 0.078" ) 62
4mm ( 0.157" ) 118
6mm ( 0.236" ) 164
8mm ( 0.315" ) 187
10mm ( 0.394" ) 195
11mm ( 0.433" ) 198
12mm ( 0.472" ) 198

Exhaust CFM:

2mm 61
4mm 132
6mm 159
8mm 164
10mm 166
11mm 168
12mm 168

[PrecisionBoost]

By Comparison of stock ( assuming the C20XE Sabre head is virtually stock ) :

Lift------ U20SED---C20XE Sabre head
0.100"------88------80
0.200"-----156-----159
0.300"-----189-----187
0.400"-----193-----196
0.450"-----197-----199


Exhaust

Lift------ U20SED---C20XE Sabre head
0.100"-----101-----77
0.200"-----160-----150
0.300"-----170-----163
0.400"-----174-----166
0.450"-----176-----167

[PrecisionBoost]

Comparison with porting:

Intake

Lift------ Ported------Ported Sabre1
-----------U20SED-----C20XE
0.100"-----100--------79
0.200"-----172--------155
0.300"-----197--------198
0.400"-----212--------214
0.450"-----216--------221


Exhaust

Lift------ Ported------Ported
-----------U20SED-----C20XE
0.100"-----109--------73
0.200"-----167--------146
0.300"-----184--------169
0.400"-----190--------174
0.450"-----193--------176

[PrecisionBoost]

Over all the only way to get really good data would be to have a U20SED and a C20XE head on the same exact flow bench with the same conditions, but it is interesting to see that based on these numbers, the U20SED isn't that bad.

[PrecisionBoost]

Comparisons at 0.400" for intake /exhaust on other 2.0L engines

Exist3nce stock U20SED = 193 /174
Exist3nce ported U20SED= 211/190
Saab B202 (old ) = 153 /160
Saab B202 (new) = 182 /165
C20XE sabre = 196 /166
Ecotec = 204 /152
Subaru EJ20 =151/111