Yet another project, Mini One R52

[northwest]

I quite fancy the idea of an engine swap in my little Astra van, I was thinking about sticking a VXR engine in it. Snag is it's an old car now and the people doing this stuff back in the day have all moved on now to the latest and greatest so I don't know whether or not there is any support out there anymore.

Plus I have a word with myself nowadays over doing this sort of stuff, if I wanted a VXR I should maybe just buy one!

 

[Morris]

I quite fancy the idea of an engine swap in my little Astra van, I was thinking about sticking a VXR engine in it. Snag is it's an old car now and the people doing this stuff back in the day have all moved on now to the latest and greatest so I don't know whether or not there is any support out there anymore.

Plus I have a word with myself nowadays over doing this sort of stuff, if I wanted a VXR I should maybe just buy one!

Can't beat a sleeper.

 

[northwest]

Can't beat a sleeper.

Had a couple over the years, the very best was the Merc saloon with a V12 in it back in the late 70's. Now that was something. My old man bought it by accident
He had absolutely no idea what it was but it had all the extras and that's what he wanted, the fact that it was a V12 was totally lost on him. One of not very many done by Merc back in the day.
For all the smoggies on here, I could boot it into the roundabout just after Billingham bottoms and it would go sideways around the roundabout exiting cleanly under power onto the A19.

 

[Blobber]

I quite fancy the idea of an engine swap in my little Astra van, I was thinking about sticking a VXR engine in it. Snag is it's an old car now and the people doing this stuff back in the day have all moved on now to the latest and greatest so I don't know whether or not there is any support out there anymore.

Plus I have a word with myself nowadays over doing this sort of stuff, if I wanted a VXR I should maybe just buy one!

How about a nice new GM engine

 

[jsf55]

Missing 2 cylinders

 

[Blobber]

Missing 2 cylinders

I did have 2 new boxed LS1s but had to sell them to pay some bills

 

[arther dailey]

Just got back from collecting the replacement engine.
View attachment 496486View attachment 496487

are you sticking a clutch in while its out ?

 

[Wozzaaah]

are you sticking a clutch in while its out ?

I've literally just whipped the gearbox off to find a clutch kit dated 11/22 in it and barely any wear to the fingers, so probably not.
I was half expecting to have to put one in.
I will be fitting a rear crank oil seal, even though the chap I bought the engine from told me he'd put one in.

 

[arther dailey]

I've literally just whipped the gearbox off to find a clutch kit dated 11/22 in it and barely any wear to the fingers, so probably not.
I was half expecting to have to put one in.
I will be fitting a rear crank oil seal, even though the chap I bought the engine from told me he'd put one in.

great , must admit impressed with how easy(looking) that engine came out , looks really tidy car , enjoy.

 

[Wozzaaah]

great , must admit impressed with how easy(looking) that engine came out , looks really tidy car , enjoy.

No A/C helps, no faffing about getting it depressurised then recharged.
I’ve also just found out it’s been remapped, so it’s running approx 125bhp, instead of the original 90.
I can’t wait to get out in it and have some fun.

 

[arther dailey]

No A/C helps, no faffing about getting it depressurised then recharged.
I’ve also just found out it’s been remapped, so it’s running approx 125bhp, instead of the original 90.
I can’t wait to get out in it and have some fun.

excellent ,better be checking those frontbrakes then

 

[JohnH]

Someones been using the wrong coolant. Should be BMW blue.

 

[JohnH]

Make sure that you change the pulse generator o-ring while you can get at it. They leak after 3-4 years and cover the underside of the engine in oil and grime.

#9 above

You can see the carp that builds up.

 

[frank horton]

the only thing to make engine removal is a zip.....
I like ur idea but think I'd have found something from the 60's-70's.....

had a friend who just dreamed of an old convertable Escort....after finding the right one had the roof slashed, replaced it the slashed again....
It went the next week...

 

[Wozzaaah]

Stripped the old engine this afternoon.
Tried to pull out the crankshaft position sensor to find it a bit stuck, so got a bar behind it.....

No idea what caused it but it's safe to say the crankshaft isn't salvageable.
Here's a video of the reluctor ring.
Apologies for the shakiness, it's not easy to turn an engine over with one hand while filming with the other.

 

[Wozzaaah]

After some pondering, I think it probably seized and threw at least one conrod, and that's what damaged that reluctor ring.
I can't see what else could have caused damage that severe?

 

[arther dailey]

well at least you found out why it was cheap, onwards with replacement ? are you going to partially strip replacement to check all good ? as in sump off check shells/head off replace/skim/regrind valves or just drop it in ? (I say just sat here comfortably)

 

[Wozzaaah]

well at least you found out why it was cheap, onwards with replacement ? are you going to partially strip replacement to check all good ? as in sump off check shells/head off replace/skim/regrind valves or just drop it in ? (I say just sat here comfortably)

No, the guy I bought it from assured me it was running perfectly when he removed it from his to do a Cooper S conversion. I trust him.

 

[Turbo]

I would suggest that you look at the remapping as if it wasn't done properly it could have cased the engine damage.

 

[Wozzaaah]

I would suggest that you look at the remapping as if it wasn't done properly it could have cased the engine damage.

It was remapped 10 years ago.