8 replies to this topic

[mighty mini jack]

Just read mini mag this months i think, with the Mr Bean lookalike polo conversion in it.
Now i really want to do this conversion to my project but dont really know what i need to buy/do.
In the mag it said he had to slightly modify the subframe and the exhaust manifold to fit to the exsisting section (which will not be a problem) and that there wasn't much else modified to do so, just that he put the rad built into the rear subframe above the exhaust.

I know that it is a 1998-9 16v 1.6 vw polo engine and gearbox.
How much will i be expected to pay for the engine /gearbox?

What other parts will i need to do this conversion?

I will also be doing the fiesta caliper conversion on the safe side for the bigger engine (we was going to do this before).

The mini in the mag is left hand drive, would anything be affected by this if i was to do this engine conversion on my R/H drive mini?
What would i need to move in order to do this?

Any help and websites are much aprishiated.

Thanks in advance.

Sorry if this is in the wrong section, i didnt really know where to put it. Maybe techincal and problems?

Edited by mighty mini jack, 16 March 2008 - 06:06 PM.

[mighty mini jack]

Anyone?

[Purple Tom]

Phew, so many questions!

This conversion is a very good idea, but I do know that the engines/boxes are still fetching a reasonable price. The engine in the magazine is from a German 6N (mk4) Polo GTi, which unfortunately was never sold in the UK, it was a European only model. You'd need an engine from a 6N2 (mk5) Polo GTi, which ran from 1999-2002. More and more are becoming available after being broken for spares, but you need to be aware that the gearboxes are notorious for problems from about 40k onwards, so be wary if you go looking for one. The engine was also used in the Lupo GTi, but these again are even rarer.

Regarding the subframe modifications, I don't think its a case of 'simply' modifying the subframe. An awful lot of work would need doing to safely and effectively incorporate the engine mounts into the Mini frame, including possible modification to the bulkhead and inner wings to make room for things like the gear linkage and general size of the engine.

Other components needed? Well, the obvious things like radiator, hoses, the knowledge to incorporate the VW wiring loom into the Mini loom, some sort of induction method if you don't decide to use the VW inlet manifold, an exhaust manifold and system, modified driveshafts, possibly moving the brake pipes, fitting the correct fuel lines, expansion tank, clutch cable/hydraulics, throttle cable modifications, and probably lots of other things that I haven't mentioned.

Regarding fitting the engine to a RHD car, you'd need to look into clearance of things like the master cylinders/servo if you have one. The engine in the Polo sits on the R/H side of the car with the gearbox on the left (as you're sat in it), so if you do have a servo it would almost certainly need to be moved.

Hope that helps If you do decide to go ahead with it, make sure you get a project thread started!

(I've also moved this to the technical section, as its not a project! Please read the large red text at the top of the projects sections. Thanks)

[mighty mini jack]

Thanks for the info Tom, i'll have to think on all of that!!
Im just wondering what other similar engines i could do.

[Purple Tom]

You could fit the AFH 1.4 16V unit which is found in the 6N (Mk4) Polo 16V's. They are 100bhp out of the box and can be picked up pretty cheaply - around £250 I believe. They go very well with a set of ITB's on them too

[mighty mini jack]

You could fit the AFH 1.4 16V unit which is found in the 6N (Mk4) Polo 16V's. They are 100bhp out of the box and can be picked up pretty cheaply - around £250 I believe. They go very well with a set of ITB's on them too

Where could i find one of those Tom, Maybe a scrapyard, are they polo engines?
What are ITB's?

P.s this forum is just... Brilliant!!!
You ask something and it gets answered staright away

[Purple Tom]

You may find one a scrapyard, but you're probably better off seeing if you can get hold of a whole car, that way you have all of the running gear etc, things you may need when doing the conversion.

They are Polo engines, I don't think they were fitted into any other VAG cars of the era, not sure off the top of my head though!

ITB stands for 'Independent Throttle Body'. Its basically another way of running cars that previously had factory fitted injection. They usually release far more power from the engine as they are completely unrestrictive in terms of the air/fuel mixture they can provide for the engine, but they always require mappable ignition/fuelling. All the consist of (in simple terms) is a tube, a throttle butterfly and an injector. Four cylinder engines (unless the inlet ports are siamesed) usually run 4 ITB's, one for each cylinder. There's a lot more to it than that but thats it in a nutshell!

Glad you like the forum

[mighty mini jack]

Thanks again Tom, I'll see if i can find an engine/car then

[chrischap2003]

I would highly recommend that you dont use a polo gti engine as the gearboxes are terrible...They tend to go between 50k to 70k, and ive even seen some go as early as 30k!

If you want a vag mini then go for a lupo gti as the gearboxes are much much better, plus you can get hold of 6 speeds