48 replies to this topic

[Jammy]

Z Cars Vtec conversion - despite the price I still think it would be quicker than the conversion you were thinking of. You could even ask them to use a TT engine with the DSG gearbox!

K series with turbo?

Vaux 2l lump are pretty torquey.

[immortalbeast]

Yeah, was thinking of more a conversion that still let me drive it everyday (which kind of rules out my own rwd rear engine diesel too).

I think im just going to have a look around for a bit and see which engines are small enough to fit under a standard front

Matt

[fikus01]

there is so much negativity going about this post i thought id stick my oar in and turn things around.

it mite be worth noting the 3 cylinder 1.4 diesel from the lupo sport has more torque than the 1.6 lupo gti and stil returns 75mpg. being 3 cylinder it mite be small enough to do what you want it to aswell and retain reasonable weight distribution wherever you put the engine! (having said that i have seen a vag 20v turbo lupo)

as far as i know (i used to work for a commercial diesel engine builders) the common rail systems can cope with lots of power, its the internals of the engine that are built to a cost, cheapest pistons, that you could get away with for the power the manufacturer wanted to output, smallest turbo, only putting bearings where they have to, literally cutting every cost they possibly could. so if you are looking to tune one you mite not get too far before melting a piston, id just suggest basic mods, decent intercooler sized to the engines airflow requirments and up the boost a little and make sure the fuelling is up to scratch by having it setup by a tuner that knows the engine. yes diesels too can be rolling road setup if u find someone that can play with the ecu.

[james753]

just an idea - my mums got a 1.6 16v turbo diesel ford fusion, 06 plate. i cant say i like the actual car but the engine isnt all that big for fitting under a standard front... and its not to slow when it wants to be - its 0-60 in about 11 secs ish.. but also about 70mpg - thats completely standard - i think its got potential.
possible option?
cheerio
James

[immortalbeast]

just an idea - my mums got a 1.6 16v turbo diesel ford fusion, 06 plate. i cant say i like the actual car but the engine isnt all that big for fitting under a standard front... and its not to slow when it wants to be - its 0-60 in about 11 secs ish.. but also about 70mpg - thats completely standard - i think its got potential.
possible option?
cheerio
James

Hi,

Thanks for the replies.

Yeah thats what i need to do , strip the old a series engine out and have a good look at what space i have to play with then see what engine i could fit in.

I love the idea of a turbo diesel cause i love the low end shove it has.

Matt

[Jammy]

I guess then the cheapest and easiest way to do this would be to buy Minispeeds 4 speed sequential box (3k) and T2 turbo an A-series enigne? Ok so you wouldn't get as much torque as a turbo diesel, but it would still be fapping quick!

[maph2]

i think you need to do quite a bit more homework. there are plenty of websites just by googling, to find out about engines - wiki, 16vminiforum by the way.

and by the sounds of it you haven't even looked into existing engine conversions, because it you had you would know that vtec, redtop, aseries turbo, kseries, swift minis have more than enough power and torque to break traction too easily.

[immortalbeast]

Ive done plenty of reserach, hence the reason i put which DIESEL engine. I dont want to do a petrol conversion.

I know i can fit a variety of 16v engines, plus a bmw head to an a series and stuff like that but that doesnt interest me.
I want a turbo diesel as i want to experiment in what the car will do with 300+ Ibft of torque. 4wd is a possibility if traction was an issue.

I know of an audi auattro 1.9tdi going for cheap actually , perhaps a full conversion could utilise the engine, box and 4wd system?

Matt

Edited by immortalbeast, 09 April 2008 - 07:59 AM.

[Jammy]

There is a guy on the 16V forum currently sticking a TT engine in, can't remember if he's using the 4WD system, but I shouldn't imagine the engine is any bigger than the diesel. He's already done a normal Vtec conversion, and has said this TT engine project is much much harder. I can only see you having the same problems with a diesel. But since I don't have any experience with diesels, or know the size of any I'll quit posting now.

Oh, other than to say the 306 diesel is quite a beast, not sure on size though?

[maph2]

the point i'm making is that what you have stated that you want, can be provided by petrol engines. fair enough you want to put a diesel in a mini - its whether its practical to do it.

so you say you know of a 1.9TDI engine, have you researched the dimensions, weight, fuelling system, cooling options, where does the turbo sit etc etc. these type of issues crop up in existing PETROL conversions.

its always good to see new things but i guess a diesel conversions haven't been done before due to the reasons discussed already.

have you been in any converted minis - i own a fwd redtop with 170brake and similar torque, i have also been in zcars R1 and vtec versions. you should do the same so you can understand what they are like to drive and how they handle, how noisey they are and what they are like to drive with lots of torque. this will give you some indicators for a diesel conversion.

and by the way, the VAG 1.9 unit is a very tall engine so will be sticking out the bonnet of a mini.

Edited by maph2, 09 April 2008 - 08:33 AM.

[immortalbeast]

Havent been in a converted mini no. I went in a min era turbo about 10 years ago and that was fun but remember it not being that fast.

I think im going to take the engine out and measure the height, length and width i have available and then go researching different engines to see what match my space i have.

Matt

[mini-man-dan]

Find a rear shunted Seat Ibiza Cupra TDi (VAG I think) and take the engine out, 170bhp standard . Plenty of these are being crashed because they are so fast lol. 4wd is probably the best idea in such a light car, otherwise there will be manic understeer or oversteer, certainly a monster.

Edited by digi-cars.piczo.com, 09 April 2008 - 09:02 AM.

[Jammy]

Maybe try and find out the measurement of a Vtec or redtop engine? Those are about the biggest engines you can fit in the front of a Mini, and should give you a good idea of how much room you've got to play with.

[maph2]

Find a rear shunted Seat Ibiza Cupra TDi (VAG I think) and take the engine out, 170bhp standard . Plenty of these are being crashed because they are so fast lol. 4wd is probably the best idea in such a light car, otherwise there will be manic understeer or oversteer, certainly a monster.

true, but a more likely bet is to find a TDI golf, with 130 or 150. these are more common and can be remapped up to 170

google ukmkivs - this is the golf MK4 forum, where i'm a member. plenty of info on the tdi's

[998dave]

or a skoda TDi engine, the same again remember.

One of my ex's Dad put a Metro Diesel engine in a mini years ago when his A-Series blew up, could clean up and turbocharge one of them, but I have no idea on size, power, torque...

The I5 is in production, just not the one I'm working on, a lower power version, but our I4 has 140PS, so the I5 should be more, plus enough torque to move a 2tonne load transit, should tear a mini apart?

D