18 replies to this topic

[tiger99]

I spotted a brochure for the Ford B-Max, and wondered if the 3 cylinder EcoBoost would fit in a Mini without too much work. Thus far I have been unable to find a picture of this engine, but Wikipedia suggests that the base area of the engine is smaller than a sheet of A4 paper. I assume that the transmission will be end-on, and if that is too big, the overall width of the package might not be all that attractive. But just maybe, and with an alternative transmission if that is possible, we may see something that will fit in between the inner wings, just needing a modded subframe, so no butchered monocoque and no IVA problem.

 

http://en.wikipedia....ne#EcoBoost_I-3

 

It might be a while before any of these engines appear in breakers yards (or maybe not, depending on the accident rate!), and at first they may not be very affordable. But 99 or 123 bhp from a newly designed, reliable engine has got to be an attractive proposition. You can get that from an A series, but not for long, nor with decent fuel consumption.

 

I would be very interested in seeing any pictures of those engines that people may be able to supply.

[jaydee]

I'm sure some are already thinking about this, i need to give a look under the bonnet of these cars.

Pretty sure that over here, considering how they drive these cars, there will be plenty of scrapped eco-boost fords in a very short time.

[sonikk4]

Certainly looks small but quite tall.

 

 

[sledgehammer]

How about the C1 engine & box - not as powerful - but light - & no cam belt (remember when ford did their last revolutionary cam belt - CVH)

 

The C1 has the lightest production road engine & it revs well (used in planes & drones)

 

and what is that guy doing to that engine ???

Edited by sledgehammer, 14 September 2013 - 08:22 PM.

[Yoda]

Cant put that in a mini, how can we advise on poor running if we cant quote 1-3-4-2 ?

[sledgehammer]

123 or 321 , was that a show in the 80's with dusty bin ??

 

still recon the diahatsui charade turbo would be fun

Edited by sledgehammer, 14 September 2013 - 08:23 PM.

[sonikk4]

The three cylinder lump in my Wifes Polo sounds weird and would seem unnatural coming from a classic mini.

 

However saying that the old Daihatsu Charade GTI Turbo could be wound up to 160 BHP so if the potential in this Ford engine is anything like that then it would make for a very rapid mini.

[KernowCooper]

Cant put that in a mini, how can we advise on poor running if we cant quote 1-3-4-2 ?

From what I can gether there are lots of 3 cylinder minis out there now, heck even 2!

[sledgehammer]

The Bmw mini will be a 3 cyl soon

 

http://www.motoringf...gine-previewed/

[Barman]

The Bmw mini will be a 3 cyl soon

 

http://www.motoringf...gine-previewed/

 

Gasp!

 

A Bini engine in a Mini would surely be a step too far!

[rubinio]

The 3 cylinder ecoboost engine has been tuned to 200bhp in the roadgoing formula ford they used at the nurburgring, i think bar mapping and a dry sump, potentially an inlet manifold as well it was standard engine internals so it would make good power. Not sure on the actual dimensions though.

[tiger99]

Neil, thanks, these are good pictures! I searched for ages and did not find any. As you say, tall, and the clutch/flywheel and sump are both rather deeper than we are used to. The sump can probably be altered, but the clutch assembly probably not, and it is adding to the length, which is not too helpful. I see that it will probably be a very stiff block, as the sump flange is well below the crankshaft centre line, not like the A series.

 

I am thinking that if the sump was re-shaped to be no lower than the bottom of the flywheel, and also wedge shaped, the engine would tilt forwards, which may help with the height. It may have to be dry-sumped, but that is not usually difficult. Otherwise it would be a rather prominent bonnet bulge. But it all depends on the transmission, and it may be that in typical Ford style it has the same bolt pattern as everything all the way back to the first Kent engine in the Anglia, so maybe the shortest transmission in the Ford FWD range could be fitted?

 

Pure speculation I know, at this stage. But I am hoping that someone will get a good look at one soon.

[sonikk4]

There sure is potential there and i feel the dry sump would be the way fwd to keeping the height down.I will see if i can find some dimensions.

[tiger99]

Rubinio, 200 bhp in a Mini is just a little bit scary, I think (on the public highway at least)! But if that sort of power can be achieved reliably and reasonably cheaply, this engine will be a winner, once someone figures out how to squeeze it in. You could spend very serious money indeed on a turbocharged or supercharged A series and not get that sort of power, or if you did get the power, it might last about 10 minutes....

[sonikk4]

Plenty of info about its footprint being the size of a sheet of A4 paper so going on that dimension it should fit under a clubbie bonnet and with 125 PS as standard it will make a mini go very nicely thanks. You can get them normally aspirated but pointless for what we would want from the engine. And it weighs in at 97 kgs so quite light to boot.

 

Its a pity they have gone for an iron block over a aluminium one and that would have saved some weight there.