Eye on a future project

I've just scored a K series 1.8 VVC motor and g'box out of a Rover 216Vi. 110 Km!

I'll go back and get the ECU and wiring too, just in case. My plan is to check it over and recon as necessary. With luck the key fob/s may be with it too.

This could make and interesting transplant in the future. I imagine this has been done before. Advise welcome!!

The torque is in the wrong place for the freelander really..

Are you gonna do it for shts and giggles or are you doing it to use as an all Rounder? For a road motor it will be good, easiest if the hippo and the engine are both dizzy less.

I was thinking of carefully doing up the 'short block' and then fitting the VVC head as it breathes better - bigger valves... better ex manifold... has the larger throttle body too [52mm?]. Excuse my ignorance but can that head be fitted less the VVC gear and use std cams?

Yes it's dizzy less.

VVC would be a lovely power unit for a Freelander. The VVC has a much better torque curve than the standard K series 1.8. It's basically flat at around 165Nm from 2500 to over 5000 rpm.
Looking forward to seeing it in action

Nodge68 said:

VVC would be a lovely power unit for a Freelander. The VVC has a much better torque curve than the standard K series 1.8. It's basically flat at around 165Nm from 2500 to over 5000 rpm.
Looking forward to seeing it in action

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Nodge, can you tell me what bits and bobs I'd need from the donor car [1990s 216Vi] to enable me to fit it to a FL. I've got the motor complete, ECU, exhaust set up. I'm going back to see if the key and fob/s are in the wreck.

My MG has a 5AS alarm unit, which need to be coded to the fob for the immobilizer to work. If you are going to have a look for the key/fob, perhaps this could of some use? Just a though.

htr said:

Nodge, can you tell me what bits and bobs I'd need from the donor car [1990s 216Vi] to enable me to fit it to a FL. I've got the motor complete, ECU, exhaust set up. I'm going back to see if the key and fob/s are in the wreck.

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It's not a conversion I've done myself on a Freelander. I can take an educated guess though.
You will need the engine bay harness. Possibly the immobiliser unit and CCU.
Mechanically the engine will fit ok and all the mounts should swap no problem.
I can't remember off hand if the Mems 1.9 ECU uses the same code sequence as the VVC s Mems 2J system. I think I would try recoding the VVC ECU to the Freelander's immobiliser and see what happens.

Nodge68 said:

It's not a conversion I've done myself on a Freelander. I can take an educated guess though.
You will need the engine bay harness. Possibly the immobiliser unit and CCU.
Mechanically the engine will fit ok and all the mounts should swap no problem.
I can't remember off hand if the Mems 1.9 ECU uses the same code sequence as the VVC s Mems 2J system. I think I would try recoding the VVC ECU to the Freelander's immobiliser and see what happens.

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Thank you Nodge.

I'm quite keen to give this a go. I've confirmed the cars 'milage' as 109654km. There are sale servicing papers in it. It's a 1997 car from Japan.

I'm not familiar with the 216 - can you tell me where the CCU and immobiliser units are fitted?

Reprogramming will be an issue for me. In Rover and perhaps LR terms I might as well be on the moon with regard to getting that sort of help.

On the 'Kengine' site they discuss the VVC head swap and mention a kit available from Pipers to use an existing dizzy set up. That may be the direction I go in.

Is it definitely a K series rover engine? Some early 200 rovers had Honda engine's. The gearbox is on the other side on those.

Nodge68 said:

Is it definitely a K series rover engine? Some early 200 rovers had Honda engine's. The gearbox is on the other side on those.

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Definitely a K series.

htr said:

I was thinking of carefully doing up the 'short block' and then fitting the VVC head as it breathes better - bigger valves... better ex manifold... has the larger throttle body too [52mm?]. Excuse my ignorance but can that head be fitted less the VVC gear and use std cams?

Yes it's dizzy less.

Click to expand...

I'd use the complete but possibly rebuilt VVC engine. It's better than the standard K series. There are better pistons and rods in the block. The head is completely different with larger valves/ ports. The VVC mech prevents a standard dizzy being fitted so it runs a DIS system.
The standard red light is 7100 rpms so they rev really well.
It will have a 48mm TB, the 52mm TB was only fitted to the later 160 Bhp VVC engine. It is retrofit able though.

I'd avoid dumping the VVC system in the Freelander application as this results in a massive shift of torque to the upper rev range. Obviously not ideal for a heavy lump like the Freelander.

Nodge68 said:

I'd use the complete but possibly rebuilt VVC engine. It's better than the standard K series. There are better pistons and rods in the block. The head is completely different with larger valves/ ports. The VVC mech prevents a standard dizzy being fitted so it runs a DIS system.
The standard red light is 7100 rpms so they rev really well.
It will have a 48mm TB, the 52mm TB was only fitted to the later 160 Bhp VVC engine. It is retrofit able though.

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I've been re-reading some web sites re power improvements for MGs. This site The MGF Gallery has some impressive graphs clearly showing the potential for differing engine specs. I'm very impressed with the MG ZT 160T motor! Max torque 215Nm @ 2000rpm! Disco_mikey is trying to do that, I wonder how he is getting on with that?

I'm going back in the morning to get the VVC motor and g'box out and home. That 216 has discs on the rear - I'm tempted to get them too - perhaps a FL1 with 4Wdisc breaks?? I have another fossick inside to see if the key/fob is in there. I'll get as much of the engine bay wiring as I can will have to put labels on where I can to help me remember!.

The junk yard also has another Rover hatch which I'll check out as well.

@ htr, a remarkable project, look over this page can help

Stu's BRM - Forged 1.8 VVC K-series turbo build - MG-Rover.org Forums

tonytherunner said:

@ htr, a remarkable project, look over this page can help

Stu's BRM - Forged 1.8 VVC K-series turbo build - MG-Rover.org Forums

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Hi Tony, that was interesting to read! That motor would be perfect for a track car! I'm wanting to know if the VVC will behave well in a FL1. I'm very unlikely to ever rev a FL1 motor much over 4500! It's a balance of power/torque and economy.

Really needing to find out what electrical bits I'm needing from the donor car. ECU, engine bay wiring harness. What else?

If anyone's interested I tried out a basic water injection set up. It improved mpg a bit. I regularly get 31.5 on a run [100km] and it went up to 33.5ish. Cost of set-up = <£5!

Nodge68 said:

I'd avoid dumping the VVC system in the Freelander application as this results in a massive shift of torque to the upper rev range. Obviously not ideal for a heavy lump like the Freelander.

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Yes I'm coming to that conclusion too. However, the head and induction would make an improvement over what I've done to date. Just need to sort out what's needed to fit solid cams and a dizzy.

That's what I rad tiring to say earlier about the donor engine and the Freelander either both being dizzy or both being coil packed.

htr said:

I've been re-reading some web sites re power improvements for MGs. This site The MGF Gallery has some impressive graphs clearly showing the potential for differing engine specs. I'm very impressed with the MG ZT 160T motor! Max torque 215Nm @ 2000rpm! Disco_mikey is trying to do that, I wonder how he is getting on with that?
.

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ECU issues resolved, aiming to have it on the road in Feb

htr said:

Yes I'm coming to that conclusion too. However, the head and induction would make an improvement over what I've done to date. Just need to sort out what's needed to fit solid cams and a dizzy.

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I'd stick with the VVC head, working as a VVC. This will give you the low down torque , while giving you power up top too. Changing to solid cams with give you little, if anything over the standard Freelander engine.
Don't get hung up on the ignition side of things. It's much easier to use the VVC ECU and DIS system than make the VVC head take a standard dizzy.
Using the VVC ECU gives you the benefits of using a correctly mapped ECU rather than trying to get the Freelander ECU mapped to the new head.
Do a complete VVC swap for best results.