Hey all, when my 2002 JCW nears the end of its life, id like to really tear it apart and make it a fun weekend driver/auto-x car. What're some viable swaps I could potentially do to the car? I was looking into an F20C swap from an S2000, or other VTEC swaps.

any other recommendations?

 

I've been looking into this for a few years also.....and honestly, unless you want to devote a huge chuck of time and money into fabrication work and electrical work....there is really no good option. It's not like a Miata or RX7 where you can pretty easily stuff an LS into it. At least for those type of cars, several people make adapters, mounts, and other things that make the swap pretty easy. I've only seen two Mini R53's that someone had swapped motors in. One was some type of Honda VTEC motor swap, and the other way some type of Acura/Honda motor (some guy on here). Neither looked easy at all.....you pretty much have to stretch the frame rails of the car out, even relocating several things just to get motor to fit. Once you get it to fit, then you have to worry about hooking it up to the MINI transmission(unless you swap that also)....and then you have to worry about all of the MINI PCM and all of the electronics and getting them to work. The PCM in the MINI's control EVERYTHING......dash gauges, switches, ABS, electric locks, electric windows, radio, fuel management, engine controls, air bags, etc, etc, etc. And there is absolutely NO aftermarket support for that kind of stuff when it comes to minis......so you pretty much have to design, fabricate, built, wire, etc, etc....everything on your own. Plan on having equipment and teh skills, or knowing someone who can shear and brake metal for you, weld up stuff, CNC out parts for you, etc, etc.......and for the extra power you might get from the swap (maybe 25-50hp depending on what motor you use), you would be money ahead just spending the thousands of dollars a swap would cost (if not much, much more) on suspension, braking, and R53 engine mods (BHV, cam, SC upgrade, IC upgrade, tune, exhaust, etc, etc).

Not so scare you away from trying it.....but there is a reason where there are tons and tons of other cars out there where people have done successful engine swaps, and only a couple where people have done it on minis......and I'm not sure that those swaps were really daily drivers.

How much time and money do you have to throw at the project?......that is the main determining factor.

Following this thread to see if anyone else chimes in.

 

If you have the skill in metal working and the time, lots of time, then the Honda route at least has some past experience to work from.

Some low budget but meaningful mods would be 1.) 21% pulley ratio via a 19% SC pulley and the Way ATI crank pulley, 2.) 380 injectors 3.) A cam such as the Newman PH 1/2, 4.) Water/Meth Injection to address the increased manifold temps from the pulley ratio, 5.) Stiffer rear swaybar 6.) Megan type coil overs, and 7.) An E-Bay header.

I am running a 19% pulley ratio and see no issues with a 21%. I did allot research on the matter along with how to assemble your own low budget Water/Meth Injection System. From additional research on cams, it appears the Newman PH 1/2 can be installed without requiring a tune. Although there are better, the MINI ECU is a quite adaptive motor control unit. I am thinking that between the cam and the header, the boost levels would be at or below the ECU maximum control point as well. If you can find a JCW at a junkyard, you could get a little better head as well as the 380 injectors.

 

That's really the ultimate point. Anything is possible with enough money. I would imagine at minimum you'd have to fab a tubular front subframe swap to hold the engine, trans, etc. Doesn't even take into account what IQ was talking about with electronic controls and integration into the car's existing systems.


No thanks, I'd rather just shove an LSx into a Miata and dance with the devil.

 

What about electric?

 

Better money/time investment would be to simply build the engine you have. Guys running 300-600 hp with that block.

 

If only I lived in an alternative universe where BMW had decided to turbocharge the Tritec . . . . . . . . .

 

Yeah, and as long as you don't mind throwing $6,000-$12,000+ at just the motor..........Hell, just a big valve head for an R53 will set you back close to $3,000...........and that's not even inlucing the tuning in order to make it work....might as well tack on another $500-$1000 for that. Then you have a 250hp mini........and you just spend close to $3-4k. Oh, and don't forget about the injectors, intake, exhaust, cam...and all the other stuff that needs to go with it. Money, Money, Money.....

Honestly, it's not worth the time/money to try to get big power out of a MINI unless you are racing it and/or have a sponsor that will front the bill. For the same price it would cost to built a 400hp MINI, you could built a twin turbo LS car making 1000+ HP and running on pump gas.

 

I can't comment on the cost of the motor(s), batteries, controllers, etc. But the integration into the vehicle would be the same as we mentioned above.


Exactly. The R53 is a good platform for a quick, fun car but the limitations add up quickly when it comes to making big power.

 

Yep .......once you do the basic power upgrades (intake, exhaust, pulley, injectors,tune).....you are at the limit of cost effective power mods. Anything more and you are entering the "I want more power, and have unlimited funds so I don't mind wasting thousands and thousands of dollars to gain a little more power) area.....for the majority of people, it's just not worth it.

MINIs are a blast to drive...even if they aren't making huge power.