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Looking For Information On Engine Conversions, Donor Materials, Etc...


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#1 danielFairhaven

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Posted 20 January 2019 - 07:07 PM

So I'm planning an engine swap with my Cooper, and haven't found much info about the subject.

 

I assume, (not knowing much about engine mechanics - other than watching Overhaulin and Fantomworks, lol), that the Mini Engine connects to the Transmission, then to the Gearbox... and somewhere the drive shaft goes to the FWD differential? Sorry if I'm wrong.

 

Anyway when engine swapping, what donor parts (other than the engine itself) do I need? Will a Mini trans attach to a donor engine (its FWD). Should I use all the Engine > Trans > Gearbox parts and then attach to the Mini diff?

 

The plan is to mount a Lancia v4 (1600) from a Fulvia, and I'm concerned about the power/torque on the Mini Trans/Gear etc... 

 

Apologies for the noob-ness of the question.


Edited by Ethel, 20 January 2019 - 07:52 PM.
PM'd if a classic or not


#2 McMini 22

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Posted 20 January 2019 - 09:31 PM

I'm surprised you can't find any information!
Start off by looking through the many build diaries on here and 16v mini website. You've got a lot to read! Then decide if an engine swap is what you want. If yes pick which engine you want. Best advice here is to pick one that's been done before! Lancia is a new one to me and going by your comments, your mechanical knowledge does not sound vast. If you can't do the work yourself then you are going to have to pay someone to do it. So deep pockets required there.
So in short - an engine swap that's never been done before is not a great place to start to learn!

#3 nicklouse

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Posted 20 January 2019 - 09:42 PM

loads of threads in this section where people have changed  power units. the word power unit might give you a clue as to what is needed you remove the Mini power unit and fit another one. this requires money and mechanical skill. or even more money.



#4 fuzzy-hair-man

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Posted 21 January 2019 - 03:14 AM

I like the idea of a V4, seems like a really compact engine design that never saw much favour in car use, I don't know that I'd go for an engine that old if I were to do an engine conversion though.

There's plenty of motorbike engines that use V4s, I'd be looking at one of those...
https://en.wikipedia.../wiki/V4_engine

Here's a V4 with a 1.67 litre and 197hp and 166 Nm of torque.
https://www.cyclewor...-first-look-2//

Looks like a kinda rare beast though, but that torque would be enough you could drive it more like a car maybe? Be interesting to see if the transmission holds up as well, most bike transmissions seem to rely on the tyre slipping before the transmission breaks.

Edited by fuzzy-hair-man, 21 January 2019 - 03:15 AM.


#5 Magneto

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Posted 21 January 2019 - 04:37 AM

I don't mean to rain on your parade, but what you want to do is far beyond your skill level, so you'll be paying someone else to do it - which is expensive - far more than the cost of the power unit and other parts you'll need. The best way to go about it is as the others have already said, do what's already been successfully done. A D series Honda will give you all the performance you want, and kits are out there to do the entire job. A kit like this from a supplier in the US will run you about $9,000 US, plus labor.

 

There is no way to mount a Lancia V-4 in the front of a Mini on the Mini transmission - it might be possible with the Lancia trans as that car was also front drive, but you're looking at a lot of bespoke fabrication.


Edited by Magneto, 21 January 2019 - 04:38 AM.


#6 lucas1amps

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Posted 08 February 2019 - 07:23 AM

A v4 out of a fulvia would require massive fabrication work even though its FWD the engine and box is mounted longitudinal so you would have to chop out most ofnthe flow to acomodate the gear box thats before we get to the driveshafts. I work with lancias every day the v4s aint even that good may as well go for a kit conversion vaux/honda/nissan.




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