4 replies to this topic

[Sjoerd]

I've been reading up in the past about Nissan CG13DE conversions here. Now that the clutch or box of my mini has failed (haven't had much time to look), I'm thinking about doing this swap on my current Mini. I've seen some of the thread from folks like bigchief and flying banana. :)

I have an university degree in Mechanical Engineering. My father has decades of experience tinkering with cars, but engine removal (let alone swop) is very daunting to him. We have a 2-strut car lift (or whatever the proper term is). I'll need a lot of help from you guys to convince my father this is doable as I will certainly need his help. :)

The donor car I'm considering is a 1.4 K11 Micra from 2011. My car is a 1991 Cooper 1300 (single HIF44 carb).

• Instead of the usual CG13, is it possible to use the later CGA3DE (coil packs, 1348cc) in stead?
• Is it worthwhile the effort to buy a CGA3 over a CG13?
• Would this be pretty much the same as far as the gearbox, clearances, and wiring goes?
• If the donor car has an immobilizer, would this provide issues wiring it? Could I possibly adopt it in my Mini?

I'm not a total novice when it comes to wiring but I'd like it to be as simple as possible - I intend to keep the standard injection/ECU for sure; at least for now.

I hop you guys can help.

[tommc92]

Well seeing as you'd have to make the frame for the engine then yes it would fit!

[fuzzy-hair-man]

Others will no doubt add more but from what I've heard I'd aim to do the conversion using the CG13DE.
Here's why:
The NATS immobilizer seems to be a pain in the a$$, even the Micra guys seem to find it a pain and they aren't chopping out half the loom (unless they are trying to get rid of it).
The CGA3 doesn't make that much more power than the CG13DE.
I believe the gearbox is larger, so it will be harder to get in, I think Flying Banannas conversion may have used this gearbox (or something similar) and along with using the standard inlet manifold it meant a fair bit of firewall modifications.

As you're an engineering type I guess the subframe should be a bit easier I'm at this stage at the moment and I'm hoping things will move a bit quicker once I have the subframe finalized...
The Micra conversion is pretty good in that the rest stays pretty standard mini, almost all the changes are in the engine bay and it doesn't have to chop any of the wings or firewall if you use a modified inlet manifold something like Rid's

Anyway some more threads to check out:
http://www.theminiforum.co.uk/forums/topic/193323-l-jonez-micra-build/ (Bike carbs, nice frame)
http://www.theminiforum.co.uk/forums/topic/231743-dutch-micra-engined-mini/ (a bit different subframe nice too, which may make it easy to drop the engine out the bottom?, bike carbs, front mounted alternator)
http://www.theminiforum.co.uk/forums/topic/176236-another-micra-mini/ (roll your own inlet manifold, EFI, another nice frame)
http://www.irishminis.ie/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=3452&start=0&view=print (an interesting plate style subframe, probably using the gearbox the CGA3 uses I think...but I've been wrong about gearboxes before)
http://www.theminiforum.co.uk/forums/topic/161530-micramini-my-first-conversion/ (uses the standard inlet manifold, tube subframe design)

Not sure how compatible the CGA3 and the CG13 gearboxes are maybe a CG13DE will go on easy enough, or a CG10DE pre-facelift as these are smaller still, but gear ratios will probably be less than ideal.

Anyway enough to be going on with?

[l_jonez]

CGA3 and CG13 are pretty much the same, they power difference is marginal and gearboxes are interchangeable. You won't find it any different to fit either. I have the "larger" gearbox had no problem fitting it although many people will say it's harder to fit.

Personaly I'd go for a CG13 micra as its less likely to have a imobilizer ( nats)

[fuzzy-hair-man]

What does the CGA3DE gearbox look like?
this(from http://www.irishmini....php?f=6&t=3452):

or this(should recognise this one l_jonez ):

Or from another angle(from http://www.irishmini....php?f=6&t=3452):

Or this(again from l_jonez thread):


Both motors are CG10's but the gearboxes are quite different and the Irishminis one looks bigger, my thoughts are that the coilpack engines got this bigger gearbox...