Mini Ecoboost Project

Discussion in 'Classic Mini' started by Minidave, Jun 26, 2016.

  1. Minidave

    Minidave Well-Known Member
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    yeahhhhhhhh...........and it was some kind of nasty, it's now at the land fill along with 2" of underpadding.......that also stunk to high heaven! I think it weighed about 50 - 60lbs all together!
     
  2. BruceK

    BruceK Active Member

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  3. BruceK

    BruceK Active Member

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  4. Minidave

    Minidave Well-Known Member
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    #44 Minidave, Jul 5, 2016
    Last edited: Jul 5, 2016
    Thanks for those, I've only been looking on Copart......that second site was particularly useful as it shows the bids on the cars - they're going for a lot more $$$$$ than I ever expected!

    All the 3 cyl cars on the first site were sticks, I want an Auto - tho I may have to change that if I can't find one, and those on the second site were all 4cyl, tho there were some local KCK cars on that one.
     
  5. Minidave

    Minidave Well-Known Member
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    #45 Minidave, Jul 7, 2016
    Last edited: Jul 7, 2016
    Today I delivered the 67 Cooper S down to the body restoration shop, tho it will be months before he can even touch it as he has so much work already in the shop and booked ahead.

    [​IMG]

    Another A series came in for a rebuild too......this is an early 1100 - note the road draft tube coming off the tappet cover?

    [​IMG]

    I have at least two more booked in before the end of the year, one is a Sprite motor tho......
     
  6. Minidave

    Minidave Well-Known Member
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    #46 Minidave, Jul 8, 2016
    Last edited: Jul 8, 2016
    Today I went down to Home Depot and bought a sheet of 3/4" melamine coated press board to use on my lift as an adjustable height work platform....I routed out some holes on the bottom to accept the stop lugs welded on top of the lift arms, that will hold the board in place as I slide things around on it.

    It's so much easier on my back being able to raise and lower the work surface as needed.....
     

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  7. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    great idea :Thumbsup:
     
  8. Minidave

    Minidave Well-Known Member
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    Thanks!

    It also gives me a clean large area to lay out parts as I do the assembly. We all have to do with what we have......
     
  9. Minidave

    Minidave Well-Known Member
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    Right now I'm rebuilding a few Sprite transmissions for a guy, once done with those it's back to the Mini stuff....still haven't found an auto trans Ecoboost to buy, still looking. Seems like there were a bunch in the winter time, this may have to wait a few more months.

    I bought a roll of butcher paper to use on the lift table, keeps things cleaner and easier to find the odd bit I've dropped.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  10. Minidave

    Minidave Well-Known Member
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    I spent some time yesterday at our local Ford training center talking to an engineer......

    Running into serious roadblocks with using the Ecoboost, just as some on here predicted. Turns out the ECU polls 8 different functions on three separate can-busses - not the least of which is the anti-theft system. Without those it will not run.....

    It looks like the only way to do this reasonably is with an aftermarket ECU, but no one makes one that works with an automatic, and the stick shift ones start at about $2K!

    Gonna hafta give this some more thought.
     
  11. caseydog

    caseydog Well-Known Member

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    Is that an allroad in the background?

    CD
     
  12. Minidave

    Minidave Well-Known Member
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    Why, yes it is! 2004 2.7TT Tiptronic with 75K on it, supposed to be the worst car Audi ever built, and we've had absolutely no problems with it!
     
  13. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
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    Dave...
    You didn't get a lemon... You got a peach...:Thumbsup:
     
  14. ZippyNH

    ZippyNH Well-Known Member

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    Yeah....swapping motors was once kinda easy...but with integration, that ended...
    Have seen VW swaps were the entire instrument cluster is even used in the new car...and EVERYTHING is transplanted to make the swap happen......avoids a $2000 standalone. For some its ok, but less than ideal.
     
  15. Minidave

    Minidave Well-Known Member
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    Yeah, that's actually what I was thinking about doing with the Ecoboost - instruments and all, but as Jeff10049 said the alarm system (PATS) needs to be in the circuit too, and that means door switches and probably the dome lights.....it still might be doable, but integrating 3 can-busses and making them all talk to each other in the new car is going to be "interesting"......
     
  16. MCS02

    MCS02 Moderator
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    I hope this works it will be very cool.
     
  17. caseydog

    caseydog Well-Known Member

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    I used to have one. I loved it, but I'm glad I extended the warranty.

    CD
     

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  18. ScottinBend

    ScottinBend Space Cowboy
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    2K doesn't sound to bad for a stand-alone ECU if you can use off the shelf dash gauges with less time involved with the "mating" of the busses.......
     
  19. Minidave

    Minidave Well-Known Member
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    This poor dead project is starting to show some life again. I recently found a company who sells turn key Ford Ecoboost motors and gearboxes, with the PATS system removed and the ECU reprogrammed to run without it! It's abit spendy, but IMHO worth it. I've written them to see what they can come up with, their current lead time is about 6 months, which should tie in nicely with the completion of all my other projects.
    I had almost decided to just go with a Honda D series Vtec, but now I'm back on the Ford idea.....
     
  20. MCS02

    MCS02 Moderator
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    There a lot of Honda K swaps in the Lotus Exige/Elise. You can get big power out of them I guess. This will be a fun project.
     

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