Rovertech 2.0

Because im utterly mad I want to remove my Rover coupes 1.8VVC, its loom and its mems2 ECU and swap it for a ZRs 1.8 non VVC, loom and MEMs3 ECU

the engine pulls like a train but is noisy (i believe the VVC mechs need a re-con but the whole reason for me getting this mad idea in the first place is that i know little about the VVC system) its done 70k miles

I'm looking for a low mileage (30k is fine) 1.8 non VVC 120 engine from a ZR to replace it... one with no issues, mine looses no coolant and has just been serviced... if yours needs a service we can work something out) i have a full service history for my engine and car.

so someone out there has the opportunity to gain 23bhp for free thanks to me being a total basket case

drop me a PM if you are interested... i can swap a K series engine in a day on my own and we can do the work at my house but i would ideally like someone willing to really muck in so we can do the work to the two cars at the same time

needs to happen either next week or in the new year due to my work commitments

Put some oil flush in then there. Then change oil will lose some noise.
A standard 1.8 will suck in a tomcat as they heavier than the ZR. 130ftlb at 2000rpm on the vvc. The solid cam comes no where near that!
Plus mems 3 is unreliable. mem2 is better so a very backwards idea in my opinion.

I have 4 theres on various sites telling me not to do this... i have my reasons and it's my car to do with as I wish... please tell me im a pratt on another thread lol (just for neatness sake )

btw:

ZR 120 Weight:1135 kg

VVC Coupe Weight:1090

Lol. Another thing is the grey plug wiring is in a totally different order so will be a days work just trying to get it wired up. Plus the exhaust is different as the ZR engine will have a cat in the manifold and wont mate to the coupe system unless u get the angle grinder out!

Thought the coupes where heavier as mine weighted 1160kg T16 and my ZR T16 weighted 1080kg

VVC MINI wrote:Lol. Another thing is the grey plug wiring is in a totally different order so will be a days work just trying to get it wired up. Plus the exhaust is different as the ZR engine will have a cat in the manifold and wont mate to the coupe system unless u get the angle grinder out!

Thought the coupes where heavier as mine weighted 1160kg T16 and my ZR T16 weighted 1080kg

they never made a ZR T16? check parkers buddy if you don't believe me

Id use the Coupes exhaust manifold and the ZRs loom and just plug it into the main loom at the dash?

ironically your the first person to help even think about potential issues even though i've asked on 3 forums

Ye i put my ZR and my coupe both with same engine at same weight bridge as i weigh all my cars

If you use the coupe manifold you will need to weld another lamba boss into it behind the Cat.
And the looms aren't plug and play. You will also have to figure out working the speedo on the coupe with a mems 3 ecu as it works though the ABS on the ZR.

VVC MINI wrote:Ye i put my ZR and my coupe both with same engine at same weight bridge as i weigh all my cars

If you use the coupe manifold you will need to weld another lamba boss into it behind the Cat.
And the looms aren't plug and play. You will also have to figure out working the speedo on the coupe with a mems 3 ecu as it works though the ABS on the ZR.

ah ok... so the coupe i assume reads the speedo from the gearbox?

could i simply swap the hubs from a ZR (i have several spare)

as for the lambda boss... could i fit an iliminator? like you do when de-catting a TF?

Adam-MGTF wrote:

VVC MINI wrote:Ye i put my ZR and my coupe both with same engine at same weight bridge as i weigh all my cars

If you use the coupe manifold you will need to weld another lamba boss into it behind the Cat.
And the looms aren't plug and play. You will also have to figure out working the speedo on the coupe with a mems 3 ecu as it works though the ABS on the ZR.

ah ok... so the coupe i assume reads the speedo from the gearbox?

could i simply swap the hubs from a ZR (i have several spare)

as for the lambda boss... could i fit an iliminator? like you do when de-catting a TF?

The majority of ZR's use a speedo drive in the gearbox, the same as a Coupe. Only later ZR's were run from the ABS.

Better idea just use the coupe gearbox and wire the speedo up separate. Is just a power, earth and a signal wire

as for the lambda boss... could i fit an iliminator? like you do when de-catting a TF?

Not 100% sure on that but should work.

You defo need to research the wiring mate. You will have to cut the wires just before the grey plug on the bulkhead and swap them around to the correct positions.

thanks Dan... nice to see a cool head arrive lol

VVC MINI wrote:Better idea just use the coupe gearbox and wire the speedo up separate. Is just a power, earth and a signal wire

as for the lambda boss... could i fit an iliminator? like you do when de-catting a TF?

Not 100% sure on that but should work.

You defo need to research the wiring mate. You will have to cut the wires just before the grey plug on the bulkhead and swap them around to the correct positions.

I'd be keeping the coupes gearbox and just changing the engine (id even keep the coupes inlet manifold and alternator etc if at all possible)

someone on .org suggested taking a K series head from a non VVC (i have several spare ZR 1.4 heads) and plonking it on the coupes block

if i did that I could save the chew of VVC blanking plates etc for up-rating cams

any ideas how (or if) i could then get mems 3?