Interesting Classic Mini engine swap idea
Discussion
This is just a theoretical question rather than practical 
What would be people's thoughts on swapping a Ford 1.0 Ecoboost in to a Classic mini? it seems a good engine for the task having a current Fiesta myself i've grown to enjoy the small 1.0 3 cylinder turbocharged engine and when its producing around 140bhp with nothing but a remap and getting good fuel economy (if your're in to that kind of thing) it just seems a great little motor to drop in to a classic mini (which weighs almost half of a current fiesta)
What would be involved with this and what are people's thoughts on the idea? good? bad? stupid?
What would be people's thoughts on swapping a Ford 1.0 Ecoboost in to a Classic mini? it seems a good engine for the task having a current Fiesta myself i've grown to enjoy the small 1.0 3 cylinder turbocharged engine and when its producing around 140bhp with nothing but a remap and getting good fuel economy (if your're in to that kind of thing) it just seems a great little motor to drop in to a classic mini (which weighs almost half of a current fiesta)
What would be involved with this and what are people's thoughts on the idea? good? bad? stupid?
Anything will fit with various amounts of work... http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
The real question in why would you want to?
The real value in Minis these days is originality so there's a big argument for restoration over modification. The flip side to that is if you're going to go to all the effort of putting something else in there why not something a bit mad?
The real question in why would you want to?
The real value in Minis these days is originality so there's a big argument for restoration over modification. The flip side to that is if you're going to go to all the effort of putting something else in there why not something a bit mad?
http://www.theminiforum.co.uk/forums/topic/308175-...
The trick with all these conversions is getting the final drive right in the gearbox, due to tiny mini wheels.
Vauxhall ones have plenty of diesel options, Honda have aftermarket final drives available. Micra conversions work as they come from cars with fairly small wheels.
The trick with all these conversions is getting the final drive right in the gearbox, due to tiny mini wheels.
Vauxhall ones have plenty of diesel options, Honda have aftermarket final drives available. Micra conversions work as they come from cars with fairly small wheels.
In regards to why I just felt it would be a perfect tiny yet potentially powerful engine for the mini platform, not to mention they seem readily available for < £500 and would seem a nice injection of modern technology whilst keeping with the mini's small/light mantra.
The gearbox question is a good one, I wonder if it shares gearboxes with an older ford model or has been modified for any particular race series so far and has therefore had a bit of R&D put in to it.
The gearbox question is a good one, I wonder if it shares gearboxes with an older ford model or has been modified for any particular race series so far and has therefore had a bit of R&D put in to it.
After having done a restoration I have been left with a rolling shell
in good condition and an A series engine block (soon to be a coffee table or wine rack I think). I was thinking going the mad route and putting an unconventional engine in the rolling shell. After hearing a Harley Davidson roll past me today I got the idea of how cool a mini would be with that sound track, does anyone know of any such conversations?
in good condition and an A series engine block (soon to be a coffee table or wine rack I think). I was thinking going the mad route and putting an unconventional engine in the rolling shell. After hearing a Harley Davidson roll past me today I got the idea of how cool a mini would be with that sound track, does anyone know of any such conversations?
if you want your mini to be a show-piece, then yes it should stay as standard, but if you want fun and reliability, then an engine-swap is the only way forward.
and to head off the "you can make an a-series fast" brigade, I have a mk1 with just short of 100bhp and then an extra of nitrous for the days Im feeling all old-fashioned - its quick, but will never be "fast" - 100bhp is just not enough, and the a-series and its gearbox are on quite a high maintenance schedule if you want to actually use 100+bhp regularly (and I do - its a car for driving not looking at). They are also not particularly nice to drive in everyday usage at these power outputs.
having just been round europe in my mpi, a reliable 160bhp of go would have made that trip a lot more fun.
the problem as I see it with this engine (ecoboost) is while it may be small, its actually quite tall.
If I cant find a toyota 4efte (which is proving hard suddenly) this engine is my next choice, and due to the fact there will probably be loads of them in scrappies soon with the number that Ford are churning out, its actually probably the better option.
seems to be 3 power specs - the most powerful will be rare, but the Focus 130bhp spec one will probably be the best starting point.
I think the sump is deeper than it needs to be, so a couple of inches could be gained there.
if a decent 4efte doesnt turn up, then this is my preferred alternative - apparently you can get 160+bhp "reasonably" easily, so its perfect.
there is a guy with one in a clubman that I saw at this years L2B - it looked like there wasnt much clearance under the sump and thats in a clubby with more height than a round-nose. I want it to look 100% standard from the outside.
I could really do with someone whos got one actually measuring the height of the bare unit (ancilliaries can be moved)
so....will be looking to sell the MPI engine/box to fund this engine-swap!
(good runner, just done 2997 miles from Scotland to the Alps and back, only used about a half-litre of oil in all that - in 100% standard boring 64bhp spec - nice on the motorway for a mini, but so...so lacking in any excitement on any other roads)
and to head off the "you can make an a-series fast" brigade, I have a mk1 with just short of 100bhp and then an extra of nitrous for the days Im feeling all old-fashioned - its quick, but will never be "fast" - 100bhp is just not enough, and the a-series and its gearbox are on quite a high maintenance schedule if you want to actually use 100+bhp regularly (and I do - its a car for driving not looking at). They are also not particularly nice to drive in everyday usage at these power outputs.
having just been round europe in my mpi, a reliable 160bhp of go would have made that trip a lot more fun.
the problem as I see it with this engine (ecoboost) is while it may be small, its actually quite tall.
If I cant find a toyota 4efte (which is proving hard suddenly) this engine is my next choice, and due to the fact there will probably be loads of them in scrappies soon with the number that Ford are churning out, its actually probably the better option.
seems to be 3 power specs - the most powerful will be rare, but the Focus 130bhp spec one will probably be the best starting point.
I think the sump is deeper than it needs to be, so a couple of inches could be gained there.
if a decent 4efte doesnt turn up, then this is my preferred alternative - apparently you can get 160+bhp "reasonably" easily, so its perfect.
there is a guy with one in a clubman that I saw at this years L2B - it looked like there wasnt much clearance under the sump and thats in a clubby with more height than a round-nose. I want it to look 100% standard from the outside.
I could really do with someone whos got one actually measuring the height of the bare unit (ancilliaries can be moved)
so....will be looking to sell the MPI engine/box to fund this engine-swap!
(good runner, just done 2997 miles from Scotland to the Alps and back, only used about a half-litre of oil in all that - in 100% standard boring 64bhp spec - nice on the motorway for a mini, but so...so lacking in any excitement on any other roads)
couple of years ago my late brother and I built an A Series turbo mini clubman producing around 220BHP. Utterly undriveable, the torque steer made it uncontrollable, it was on coil overs and we tried it with and without LSD. In my opinion a full engine/suspension transplant is the way to go, the mini front end suspension and drivetrain just is not meant to handle serious power.
fatjon said:
couple of years ago my late brother and I built an A Series turbo mini clubman producing around 220BHP. Utterly undriveable, the torque steer made it uncontrollable, it was on coil overs and we tried it with and without LSD. In my opinion a full engine/suspension transplant is the way to go, the mini front end suspension and drivetrain just is not meant to handle serious power.
Were you running 13's on stock geometry?annodomini2 said:
fatjon said:
couple of years ago my late brother and I built an A Series turbo mini clubman producing around 220BHP. Utterly undriveable, the torque steer made it uncontrollable, it was on coil overs and we tried it with and without LSD. In my opinion a full engine/suspension transplant is the way to go, the mini front end suspension and drivetrain just is not meant to handle serious power.
Were you running 13's on stock geometry?Gassing Station | Classic Minis | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff