Vx Questions

Be gentle...been a few years since I sold my old one and my memory is a bit hazy! I am after an NA but have found on here this buying guide which is really useful http://www.vx220.org...yers-checklist/ but have a few questions for opinion on the NA, apologies in advance if they are tucked away elsewhere on the forum and I couldnt find them.

Timing chains, at what point do they need changing, I remember reading something like 60k miles, but is it expected? Is there a reasonable chain they will be stretched out and becoming problematic?

Suspension, if a car is on the original suspension again 60k miles plus, is it likely to need replacing? What are the ideal budget-midrange coilovers to switch to? 

Thanks!

Col

its a tough subject, some people (mainly northern) say dont replace them. But for me, if they havent been done yet i would definately do it, just for piece of mind.

i imagine most standard shocks need replacing aswell as the top colars on the shocks corrode and will need replacing, i have seen so many that are badly corroded and just a ticking time bomb in my opinion

See what you can get, second hand nitrons or quantums or get some gaz golds.

Thanks, it backs up what I thought. I would like to get something that has newish coilovers on it and chain done for piece of mind. 

I have already changed a few chain kits for the second time, mostly with the later oil jet, but still have the flat head on the chain tensioner. 

My advice is to check to see if the chain tensioner has the raised centre, if it's flat then the chain kits need replacing sooner rather than later. The raised head tensioners do seem to last a lot longer.

I'm still seeing the factory original chain kits with the small oil jet

Sorry another question on supercharging, what is the life expectancy of SC conversions? Are the engines good for long term use, given that there is a 50% increase in power on them. 

as long as the engine is healthy it should be fine, yearly oil changes keep the vx220 engines in good order, at a guess most are normally well under 5000 miles between oil changes.

Just make sure the chains are the later spec and avoid any with pattern chain kits.

The z22se is a strong engine and easily does 150k in an Astra / Vectra / Zafira, even with 20k oil changes.