Transplant question

[Ben P]

First of all nobody is allowed to reply with "Not worth it just sell your car and buy a valver/willy" OK?

Right if I were to attempt a DIY transplant, does anybody know what would be the major headaches?

Obviously my MK1 phase 3 1.4 wasnt designed to have a 16v engine but it should fit right? Renault didnt make the engine bays smaller did they?

So what are the major problems to deal with? I dont want to sound like a spanner but are there things that connect to the 16v engine that wont be on my car? Also will there be a load more wiring to deal with? Do you think somebody (maybe Nick Hill) would make a custom wiring loom to connect the existing loom to the new engine?

I know brakes/suspension wont be up to it, but Ive already fitted Ferodo front brakes and am about to fit Apex suspension kit, Powerflex bushes and Strut brace. Would keeping rear drums be a bad idea?

I know a transplant costs thousands and for less than that I could sell my car and use it to buy a decent valver, but if I found a decently priced engine/box it could be done much cheaper. (My uncle is a mechanic and has rebuilt loads of Renault engines before.)

Please highlight anything I am overlooking and if anyone has had a transplant in their lower engined car I would be greatful to know what exactly was involved. (Wiring worries me the most)

Thanks

Ben#

 

[Nick Read]

The engine bay is the same AFAIK so its just making sure the engine/gearbox mounts are in the same place.The 16v lump has quite a few other ancillaries and extra bits that will need thinking about though, eg. anti percolation system. Wiring could be done by a specialist, I cant see why Hill Power wouldnt be able to do it, but obviously having a 16v ECU is the first stage. How you sort out the handling/braking etc is down to you really, its advisable to get it to at least 16v spec.

Really just make sure youve got everything you need, eg bigger rad, 16v bonnet, different starter motor, ECU etc.

 

[Ben j]

Not worth it just sell your car and buy a valver/willy ... LOL

anythings possible mate but its cost... and it may be more hassle then its worth because of things like wiring, sensors, controllers etc...



uprating brakes is definate yes!!

but is the chassis up to the xtra power too?? obviously more power will cause more stresses throughout the car when driving...

 

[Matbrown]

Ben P,

If you need the bits to perform this conversion let me know as i have almost everything!



Mat.

 

[Ben H]

The bulge/scoop in the 16v bonnet is there for a reason - it allows clearence for the inlet manifold (its hoses still rub on my bonnet) and cools the exhaust manifold respectively. I dont know if youve already got one or not, but youll almost certainly need one of these! The principle is that the cooler the exhust manifiold, the better the power (I think!), hence you get that tape stuff to stick on manifolds - and I think the air scoop and silver heat shield on the 16v do a similar job.

Ive never done an engine conversion, so I cant tell you much more than that. All I will say is that things will get very expensive sooner or later, as you realise that almost every part has been upgraded by Renault on the 16v. I got to a similar point with my old 1.2. Even the torsion bar at the rear is markedly different. I also think youll either have to fit a 16v shell or Maxi kit to accommodate the wider tracks that youll eventually want too. There will come points where the true performance of the engine youre putting in will be blunted by the 1.4s equipment - e.g. drums, diffs, driveshafts, CVs, radiator and even fuel tank capacity!!

If you do have the dosh/time, then go for it - youll have a very unique car indeed.

 

[lofty]

im going to stick my neck out...

yes a valver is a good alternative, but this car would be very unique and very much a Q car which is always best in my book,

im not going to guess at the difficulty of the wireing but.. you never know it might be simple but i dont know,

other than the wireing it think it could be easily done in theory, but the engine and gear box would have to come with absolutly everything, drive shafts, all manifolds, TB everything, and most enignes are sold bare,

also if its a R19 16v engine there will be loads of other bit you will need to source as they are differnt,

dont let this put you off it would be an enjoyable if challanging project,

but unless the donar lump is utterly compleate you will end up running round trying ti find odds and ends,

 

[Matbrown]

Like i said!

I have almost everything!!!



Mat.

 

[Ben P]

Okay Mat out of interest, what exactly do you have? And what mileage/condition/service history?

Oh and what kind of price would you be expecting?

Just testing the water at this point

 

[Matbrown]

Ben,

Not got rad or alternator but pretty much everything else, not counting bodywork.

Engine has 69,000 miles on it and is in good nick but alas no service history as i brought the car as salvage for spares!

Looking for £300 and you can have all thats there, wiring, ecu, driveshafts etc.



Mat.

 

[Oliver_K4M]

Hi Ben,

do it! I did it, too... , not the 1,8 16V but the 1,6 16V...

http://home.vr-web.de/seegi/Umbau/Umbauengl.htmlhttp://home.vr-web.de/seegi/Umbau/Umbauengl.html

 

[Matbrown]

Ben,

Just thought, the price i have quoted above doesnt include the gearbox!

If you were definatly interested we would have to come to some arrangement.



Mat.

 

[Ben P]

Okay Mat cheers, I will get back to you.



Oliver I have been searching for your site for ages! I came across it about a year ago when I was just browsing but could never find it again.



Didnt know you were a member on here

 

[Oliver_K4M]

I just entered the board two days ago, normally I prefer german boards..... e.g. http://www.clio-forum.comhttp://www.clio-forum.com or http://www.cliowelt.dehttp://www.cliowelt.de

 

[ak_uk]

Oliver theyve got no links to cliosport.net !

 

[Oliver_K4M]

So please ask the owner of the cliowelt.de-board by yourself (I don´t know), but I know the owner of the clio-forum.com-board and will ask for a link.

regards

Oliver