All,

Been a long time since I've been on the forums. Sold my '03 about 7 years ago, but my son was bitten by the Cooper bug even then. Just picked him up an R50 '04 about two weeks ago and we've been working on it that whole time.

About 200k miles on it, transmission was rebuilt about two years ago. Other than wear items, it's in really good shape. However, I'm doing a little planning for the future as I expect he'll have it a very long time.

Since it's an early '04, I was wondering what it would take to do a full engine/transmission swap from a getrag based later '04 to '06. I know lots have done the 6 speed swap, but I'm thinking more of a complete swap and then we rebuild the one we pull before he goes off to college in a couple of years.

If I bought an axle to axle full engine/transmission, how difficult would the swap be? I'm assuming some of the mounts may be different and I'll keep his ECU and such. Is it, basically, a direct swap since it would be a whole unit?

Thanks.

-Rob

 

I don't think that this is a direct swap. The Cooper S has a lower compression ratio as it is a supercharged engine. I think that you could do this but you would be left with less HP than the R50. You will have better internals so that later tuning and adding more power will be "easier."

 

Sorry, I meant an '04 R50 to an '06 R50. I know upgrading to a Cooper S is a huge swap, I just meant putting a lower mileage and Getrag 5 speed unit into his '04 body.

-Rob

 

The Getrag and the Midlands/Rover transmission are very different. My understanding is that you essentially need the same list of parts as with the 6 speed swap.

 

Bringing this back up as we continue to do work on the car. I found a local pick and pull with an '04 that "might" be the Getrag 5-speed as opposed to the Midlands.
If it is, I'm thinking about pulling it as transmissions are $150 at the yard. If not, I can keep an eye out for one with the Getrag 5-speed.

What else would I need to grab to convert the Midlands to a 5-speed Getrag?
Looking up part numbers, the axles seem to be the same. Is the clutch the same?
Looks like both the Midlands and the Getrag 5-speed also use the same flywheel. Shift cables might be different.
Looks like the motor mounts are the same, too.

His Midlands is getting whiney and might be better with a fluid change, but at $150 for a Getrag, that might be the safer option and from what I can tell, a straight swap. What am I missing?

Yes, I know the 6-speed is also common, but if I can get a reliable Getrag 5-speed as a direct swap, that seems to be a much cheaper option.

-Rob

 

My understanding is that the "teeth" on the ends of the axles that go into the transmission are more like the 6-speeds and are different from the Midlands. If not, that will make the swap a cheaper. But a $150 is hard to beat.


This swap is not widely done and I am not sure where you would be able to find a full parts list. You could call Way Motor Works, they do a lot of R50 transmission swaps, they may know.

 

Getrag 5-speed is not a direct swap. For that reason, you may as well swap to the 6-speed.

 

The only reason to not do the 6 speed is that you will be hard pressed to find a 6 speed for $150 - like it may not actually exist at that price. Still even if the parts list is the same as the 6speed, you will save several hundred dollars.

 

Wrong thread sorry.