Pick the guide for your engine: NA means the 2.2 (Z22SE) and Turbo means the 2.0 (Z20LET). Some of these are factory steps for an engine that is out of the car or has the head off, and the timing belt and chain guides are owner jobs on the car.
Before you start
- Which jobs need the engine out
A summary of what our guides say about whether a job needs the engine out, the head and sump off, the gearbox dropped, or can be done from underneath with the clam on: crankshaft, pistons, balancer shafts, clutch, turbo, water pump, timing belt and more. - Special tools (KM numbers) and what they do
The Vauxhall special tool numbers named in our guides (KM and MKM) and what each step uses them for: engine support and removal, timing and crankshaft, cylinder head measuring, oil filter housing, water pump, cooling bleed and the F23 gearbox. Includes what owners used instead. - Bolts and nuts to replace on refit
A list of the bolts and nuts our guides say to renew when you refit them: the angle-tightened engine bolts, exhaust and manifold nuts, the driveshaft nut and split pin, mount, shock and steering nuts, and the hub carrier bolts. Collected from the factory manual figures and owner reports; not complete. - Torque values
A searchable list of recommended tightening torques for the VX220 and Speedster: body, suspension, brakes, steering, gearbox, fuel, the NA (Z22SE) engine from the Vauxhall TIS, and two forum lists for the Turbo engine. Figures the forum thread disputes are marked.
Timing chain and belt
- NA timing chain: when to change it and how
The 2.2 NA (Z22SE) has a timing chain and a balancer chain. If the chains rattle, get them changed. If they have never been changed, it is probably worth doing. What to listen for, what goes wrong, what it cost, and how owners do the job. - Turbo cam belt change
Changing the timing belt, tensioner and idlers on the 2.0 turbo (Z20LET) with the engine in the car. The author did it in about 2.5 hours. Getting the water pump seated correctly is what stops the tensioner working. - Timing belt tensioner, guide roller and covers (Turbo)
The factory steps for checking and adjusting the Turbo's timing belt tension, and for replacing the tensioner, the guide roller, the belt covers and the ribbed belt idler pulley, from the Vauxhall TIS.
Camshafts and followers
- Camshafts and sprockets (NA)
The factory steps for the NA's camshafts and camshaft sprockets, from the Vauxhall TIS. - Cam followers, hydraulic tappets and connection flange (NA)
The factory steps for the NA's cam followers, hydraulic tappets, camshaft connection flange and bearing cap, and the flange cover, from the Vauxhall TIS. - Camshafts, pulleys, oil seal and sensor (Turbo)
The factory steps for the Turbo's camshafts, camshaft pulleys, timing side oil seal and camshaft sensor, from the Vauxhall TIS. - Camshaft upgrades: what owners fitted on the NA and Turbo
What owners said about uprated cams: the NA options (regrinds, Schrick, Comp, Cat and others), how to read the specs, timing them, oversize valves and valve damage, and the one Turbo owner who fitted reprofiled cams, with why turbo engines want less overlap. Threads from 2003 to 2018; no dyno results for the Turbo.
Valves and cylinder head
- Valves, installation height and cylinder head flatness (NA)
The factory steps for removing the NA's valves, with the valve installation height check and the cylinder head flatness check, from the Vauxhall TIS. - Valves, installation height and cylinder head flatness (Turbo)
The factory steps for removing and replacing the Turbo's valves, with the valve installation height check and the cylinder head flatness check, from the Vauxhall TIS.