Drivetrain R56 V-Tec Swap?
#1
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#4
Why? I don't see that making sense...
Its not like a R56 is that much lighter than a civic. Thats usually the reason in the classics, is because the mini is a light rigid chassis and a vtec motor can make good power while being a small i4 for the car.
In the R56, the Turbo N14 engine is going to be faster for any daily driving. I can see turbo'ing the vtec motor and for tuneability, but it certainly wouldn't be easy or worth the money imo. Hitting boost at 7k rpm for 1000 rpm never really appealed too much to me.
If I was going to do a swap, I'd probably go for one of the M3 motors. Or, try to fit a LS motor in the engine bay (hahaha). Theres a LS2 350Z in CT and that thing is crazy. Hearing the rumble of a V8 coming out of a japanese VQ35 engine chassis... priceless.
Its not like a R56 is that much lighter than a civic. Thats usually the reason in the classics, is because the mini is a light rigid chassis and a vtec motor can make good power while being a small i4 for the car.
In the R56, the Turbo N14 engine is going to be faster for any daily driving. I can see turbo'ing the vtec motor and for tuneability, but it certainly wouldn't be easy or worth the money imo. Hitting boost at 7k rpm for 1000 rpm never really appealed too much to me.
If I was going to do a swap, I'd probably go for one of the M3 motors. Or, try to fit a LS motor in the engine bay (hahaha). Theres a LS2 350Z in CT and that thing is crazy. Hearing the rumble of a V8 coming out of a japanese VQ35 engine chassis... priceless.
#5
The success of any swap is directly dependent on the skills and capabilities of the shop that does the work. If that's the way you want to go, I'd get a hold of one of the shops that does it on classics and see if they'd do it in your car...
The mechanical parts of it are pretty straightforward, but a modern MINI is so computer complex that I think it could be a tough nut...
The mechanical parts of it are pretty straightforward, but a modern MINI is so computer complex that I think it could be a tough nut...
The following 2 users liked this post by MINIdave:
Monte C. Congleton (09-26-2020),
thefarside (10-01-2020)
#6
The only way i would do it would be to strip the entire car and build a rally car out oh it, turbo the V-tec, and find a AWD drivetrain to attach to it. then have a stand alone ecu and togle switches to run the lights and everything. I just said somthing that would coast about 25,000+ to get all the parts and work done. If I was a millionare would I do it? Yep in a heart beat
#7
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#11
get yourself along to Prodrive in the uk and purchase the countryman rally car as a privateer customer.
#13
I mean when my r56 was stock my friend bought a brand new civic si coupe and it has a 197hp engine and when i raced him I beat him...not even close. so the weight is the only thing i could say made the difference at all. doing like a K swap into a mini and then doing like a GT2860 or a nice fat borg warner turbo would make the r56 a dominator to say the least.
#14
I mean when my r56 was stock my friend bought a brand new civic si coupe and it has a 197hp engine and when i raced him I beat him...not even close. so the weight is the only thing i could say made the difference at all. doing like a K swap into a mini and then doing like a GT2860 or a nice fat borg warner turbo would make the r56 a dominator to say the least.
The way the R56 builds power is likely why you beat him. Your engine is at peak TQ before the cvic even trips V-TEC. TBH it would be better to just put a stand alone in the car and slap that same turbo on the N14.
#15
Good possibility, vtec only kicks in around 4000revs. good advice tho if I ever decide to do it. I have a feeling Ill be the first in the world
#16
Why why why?!
The early peak torque of the Prince engine is what makes it very unique and and extremely competitive against cars with higher horsepower levels. You'd have more fun doing a JCW turbo swap, getting an big intercooler, and an ECU tune. This is one of the reasons why the R56 S when set up correctly is a beast on the track.
The early peak torque of the Prince engine is what makes it very unique and and extremely competitive against cars with higher horsepower levels. You'd have more fun doing a JCW turbo swap, getting an big intercooler, and an ECU tune. This is one of the reasons why the R56 S when set up correctly is a beast on the track.
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#23
Seriously........He asked if it had been done not for what you thought of it. Who gives a damn if he wants to put a Honda motor in there. That is customization. Bet you don't say the same thing when a Classic does it becuase they are fast as hell. I have not seen a R56 do it but there is a R53 with a Honda swap and one with a 2L VW swap too. That hard is part would be getting everyting to work with a swap and make it a streetable car unless you want it for the track and then who cares what works.
#24
Seriously........He asked if it had been done not for what you thought of it. Who gives a damn if he wants to put a Honda motor in there. That is customization. Bet you don't say the same thing when a Classic does it becuase they are fast as hell. I have not seen a R56 do it but there is a R53 with a Honda swap and one with a 2L VW swap too. That hard is part would be getting everyting to work with a swap and make it a streetable car unless you want it for the track and then who cares what works.
1 + I agree 100 %
Do what ever you want and screw what everyone else thinks of your idea.
I would love to see it when it done.
#25
Older Honda B and H series DOHC VTEC engines were counterclockwise. But the newer K series DOHC VTEC engines are now clockwise, like most other cars, including the Mini.
Still sounds like a pointless idea though. The 1.6l Turbo in the Mini makes more torque, can make big power much less expensively, and gets better fuel economy than the Honda K series.
My Honda s2000 with a 240hp 2.0l DOHC VTEC (clockwise) is lots of fun, but the engine is a dog at anything less than 5000rpm. My MCS is much more fun to drive around town in. The MCS's punchy power at low RPMs is much more enjoyable in stop and go traffic than the S2000.
Still sounds like a pointless idea though. The 1.6l Turbo in the Mini makes more torque, can make big power much less expensively, and gets better fuel economy than the Honda K series.
My Honda s2000 with a 240hp 2.0l DOHC VTEC (clockwise) is lots of fun, but the engine is a dog at anything less than 5000rpm. My MCS is much more fun to drive around town in. The MCS's punchy power at low RPMs is much more enjoyable in stop and go traffic than the S2000.