14 replies to this topic

[Hugo31]

I have been considering converting my mini for a long time and I have finally decided to do it. For insurance reasons I can only go up to a 1.2 litre engine, it seems that the ford ecoboost 1.0 litre is the best option in my case but I’m open to other options. I’m looking for advice on which engine to swap and if anybody has done the ecoboost swap to let me know what it was like or what parts will need to changed or bought to make it possible. Also I was looking for a mechanic to give me a quote to swap the engine for me as I have some time restrictions and I’m working full time.

[Wiggy]

I can't imagine many mechanics would take on that job. Or if they did it would be extremely expensive. It's not like you can just drop a non A Series in and off you go. It'll probably require a lot of head scratching, custom fabrication, custom wiring etc etc.

[Hugo31]

Yes it’s looking like I will just have to fit a stock A series in for now but I will have a go at that swap when I have more free time.

[Hugo31]

Do you know if there are any swaps that are straight forward enough that an engine conversion specialist would be able to do ?

[fuzzy-hair-man]

I think you'd have to be heavily involved with any conversion even if you outsourced everything, you'd be unlikely to find one person prepared to do it all. The easiest conversion is probably one of the 3 cylinder engines but there's quite a bit of parts support for the CG13DE or CG10DE now such as inlet and exhaust manifolds and frames so I'd call these a good option only the CG10DE is under 1.2 litres though. You don't mention a turbo / boosted requirement by the insurance company? I suspect they would charge you more on a boosted conversion.

[McMini 22]

I presume the 1.2 restriction is due to insurance costs?
You can sum up a mini engine conversion in a rough equation that is "cost + time is inversely proportional to ability + knowledge"!
Best thing to do would be to read as many build diaries as you can on here and 16v Mini website. That will give you an idea what is involved in a swap.
In the meantime you could pick up a wee 1 litre Micra (or whatever you choose) as a run about. That will increase your knowledge of the engine.
When you do get started it's not going to be finished over night. So buy the time you get it on the road your insurance will be cheaper.

[Hugo31]

Yes I have another car to drive whilst I complete this mini but I was hoping that I could swap it soon and make it my new daily but I have realised after reading about a couple of different swaps that mini swaps are far more difficult than for example vw engine swaps. I’m bringing it to a mini specialist tomorrow and I’m going to ask him what my options are and then I’ll choose between fitting an A series into it or starting a swap like a k11 or something similar which I have learned will take a lot of time and resources but I’ll just be patient and make sure I read lots before I commit to starting it.

[Dannyboolahlah]

I looked into the ecoboost when I first got my mini as I have one in a fiesta and I think it’s be great in a mini.
It has been done once or twice but it’s certainly not easy. Lots of fabrication required.
Also worth nothing:
-Whilst it’s a small engine looking from above, it’s very tall. Taller than an A-series sat on top of its gearbox.
-You’d need a clubman or extended front end.
-The gear ratios are all wrong, the Fiesta/Focus uses 15-18” wheels, not tiny Mini wheels.
- The ECU won’t work unless you hook up every system it had on the Donor. Power steering, alarm, traction control, hill assist.... The alternative is an aftermarket ECU, but most of them won’t support the direct fuel injection. I found one for about £1500 with the modified engine loom.

It’d be great, but not for the light hearted. I Supercharged the A series instead.

Edited by Dannyboolahlah, 25 June 2018 - 08:54 AM.

[paulrockliffe]

Yeah, I looked at the Ecoboost too and concluded the same, especially as m Mini is a Minus with 3" less height!  Z-Cars are supposed to be doing a conversion that sounded like it involved a dry-sump to reduce height and a new ECU to reduce costs, but that hasn't materialised.

 

The advice about getting a Micra above was good though, get the 1.3 though as it's a great engine to drop in to the Mini, it's small and fits with minimal mods to the inner wings.  You can buy frames, drive shafts etc.  Although it's relatively underpowered (73bhp) in the Micra, it loses a decent chunk because of the stifling granny exhaust setup and muffled inlet, they're getting up around 100bhp once you've replaced these with ones that fit in the Mini and breathe properly.  Relatively easy to get higher output if required, strong reliable engines and no messing aound wit longer fronts or bonnet bulges.

[Dannyboolahlah]

Part of me wishes I’d just gone for the Micra conversion. Would have ended up much cheaper for probably more power! And everything’s better when it’s Japanese.

[Hugo31]

I think I’ll read into the 1.3 swap but my real issue is that I’m going to be at school I’m a different country. So I either wait til next summer to build it or try and find a mechanic that deals with mini swaps and pay quite a lot to have it done. Does anybody know any mechanics around Kent that might be able to undertake that or at least give me a quote ?

[Will16]

What about a Rover K Series? Lots of engine choice; 1.4, 1.6, 1.8, 1.8 vvc, there’s a guy in Exeter, who I got my subframe from, that will do complete conversions, ie drive in/drive out

[Hugo31]

I wish but exexter is a bit far. I’ll see how much it costs to transport it there, do you have any idea how much the swaps cost ?

[Mini Manannán]

CharlieB did a 1.6 Ecoboost swap: http://www.theminifo...ext-few-weeks/ 

[M J W J]

If insurance is the reason you can only go up to a 1.2 an engine swap isn't for you. Modified cars will limit your insurance options.

Probably one of the easiest is the C16se swap. It's been done loads and doesn't require extensive body modifications (there are still some). You can buy kits for them, use the standard ecu from the donor car and get the correct manifoldsq and they will fit without having to be cut up. Hayling mini over on 16v did one in 4 days.