Freelander 1 1.8 Turbo

All this conversion work to EV and Automatic has generated a desire to build my 'forever' Freelander.



I want all available comforts, sensible but fair amount of power and simplicity of future repairs and maintenance.
I have bought a rusted out HSE for interior trim, seats etc. A very good condition Tangiers 1.8 with badly neglected maintenance, engine probably blown head gasket. Coolant terrible colour etc.
Plan is, strip, renew all brakes and bushes. Professional underbody clean and underseal.
Fit HSE seats and trim. Repair windows and sunroof .
Fit MG6 Turbo engine. Here lies the questions:
1. Have contacted KMap and they supply a plug and play Freelander turbo ecu. BUT it will require a separate boost controller that fixes boost for the turbo. I would like to use a Rover 75 Turbo or MG6 turbo ecu with variable boost according to conditions. Would this be better ? If Philip PScan can get a Rover 75 ecu working with HDC then this would be a splendid swap and preferred I think. Am I right ?

2. Is the crank sensor different and can it be changed or converted? Think, again, Philip has got a convertor.

3. What to do with the engine loom for the turbo controls ? Hard wire or use a Rover 75 one.

4. Air con looks to be differently wired, this is likely to require a bespoke loom. Any simple solutions? Looking at circuitry the wiring between air con and ecu is different and a tri switch is used on the Rover with a pressure sensor on the Freelander.

5. Will the clutch and gearbox / rest of drivetrain be up to the power ? If not is there an upgrade? Particularly clutch.

So, watch this space. Have found a MG6 engine but might be better to get scrap car and use loom and ecu ?

You're going to have a lot of cars sitting on the drive to pull bits off!

Good luck.

If you want your forever car, then obviously you need to make sure the body will stand the test of time.
I'd be checking inside the box sections and under the plastic covers, where they can rust unseen. Deal with any rot, and then get the rest up to scratch.

Didn't you buy an immaculate Freelander? Is that you one you're making immaculate?

How about going electric? Using an early Freelander is easier that a later one, due to regulations and vehicle type approval changes.

No, the immaculate one belongs to my wife. No mods allowed, except when it needs repair !

Think I will always be a petrol head. I love what Ali is doing but think a petrol turbo sounds more suited to my very rural environment.

Can't see point in a new ECU and a seperate turbo boost controller. Better to use a Rover 1.8T ECU or am I mistaken ??

Ok, best not mess with the immaculate one then.

I'm also a petrol head, but after having the opportunity to try a couple of EVs, somehow internal combustion engines feel old fashioned. It's like the equivalent of going from an old 60s dial phone, to a modern mobile phone. I wish there was a simple way to make my FL2 electric, as it's just so good to drive, with the exception of the rather agricultural PSA diesel that provides the power.

I can see why a separate boost controller is fitted, because the standard FL1 ECM will only recognise inlet pressure below atmospheric, not above it.
If it's possible, it's best to run an ECM which knows what positive boost pressure is, so a 75 ECM may well be the way forward.

Or, found a good price rebuilt VVC. Anyone done it? What is a VVC likely to be like in a larger vehicle ? All rev and no grunt ?

The VVC is a fabulous engine. It's got more torque at lower RPM than a normal K series, and much more power at higher RPM. It hasn't got the torque of a turbo K, but is definitely better than the standard N/A unit.

Would be a simpler swap I think. Don't know about the crank sensor and whether this is in the same position and of the same type as the Freelander. There are also Freelander VVC ECUs available and no space problems, intercooler problems, just bolt in with engine loom, get the ECU security matched to the Freelander and maybe have to crack the accelerator switch issue that Pscan has identified.

Yes, it would be an easier swop, but that comes at the expense of the extra torque the turbo adds. Maybe VVC it then add a turbo if you feel it's needed?

So, the headache is the ECU. The rest I can do. VCC only comes from vehicles with a different cooling fan and air con set up. Turbo needs a separate boost controller.

Anyone know of a guru that can blend the F1 ECU with VCC controls or adapt the Turbo ECU to fit a F1 ?? I know Pscan is trying to fit a Rover 75 ECU to F1 so that should help!!

In the meantime a VCC rebuilt 160bhp unit has come along. Can I fit without the VCC working to start with, any benefits if the cams don't move ?? Better than standard ?

Or anyone cracked the ECU for a VCC properly ?? Thanks.

What about after market ecu? Something you can set up yourself and tweak on rolling road if necessary. Accelerator input could either use existing if it works or new pedal that matches ok. Could be worth looking at the kit car setups.

Thanks for input all.

Have made a start on the project. Must take camera out there !! Keep forgetting.

Stripped out interior of HSE and cleaned and treated leather.
Taken broken headlining board and all the mess out of the 1.8. What a mess!! Foam flakes everywhere. Will be doing the interior and trim first, rustproof and replacement of any running gear / suspension second, then rustproofing and replacing arch liners and bumpers.

Then on to the engine. Then 1.8 in the car works ok. Have flushed and put coolant with antifreeze in. Will be using for a bit to see what happens. It badly needed bleeding and may have been reason fans came on. Seems to be ok now. Sorted oil leaks and cam seals.

BUT the dilema. ....... there is a genuine 46k miles 1.8T Rover 75 not far away from me. It is overpriced but half the price of an engine rebuild to T standards !! Is it sacrilege to use it as a donor engine and loom ??

Is there anything else on a Rover 75 that fits the F1 ? It looks to have a large display unit in the radio space, standard ?? Probably not.

Or does anyone want a mint looking Rover 75 without an engine !?!??!

andyfreelandy said:

Or, found a good price rebuilt VVC. Anyone done it? What is a VVC likely to be like in a larger vehicle ? All rev and no grunt ?

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VVC's are great engines. In some ways a bit like Honda VTEC but a progressive change rather than a stepped one as the revs rise.

Is it all revs and no grunt, no certainly not. But the VVC engine makes Peak Power at something like 7000rpm. So to get the most from it you will want to "drive" it.

andyfreelandy said:

Thanks for input all.

Have made a start on the project. Must take camera out there !!

Then on to the engine. Then 1.8 in the car works ok. Have flushed and put coolant with antifreeze in. Will be using for a bit to see what happens. It badly needed bleeding and may have been reason fans came on. Seems to be ok now. Sorted oil leaks and cam seals.

BUT the dilema. ....... there is a genuine 46k miles 1.8T Rover 75 not far away from me. It is overpriced but half the price of an engine rebuild to T standards !! Is it sacrilege to use it as a donor engine and loom ??

Is there anything else on a Rover 75 that fits the F1 ? It looks to have a large display unit in the radio space, standard ?? Probably not.

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You'll need the whole vehicle for a donor, so it's going to work out cheaper than buying the parts.

As for parts that fit. Probably more than you think of. I know the R75 and FL1 did quite a bit of component sharing, so door latches are the same, probably the fuel pump assembly, and lots of other bits n pieces.

Yes but seems a shame for the 75 brigade. I think they look fairly unattractive and old man ish but beauty is in the eye etc......

andyfreelandy said:

Yes but seems a shame for the 75 brigade. I think they look fairly unattractive and old man ish but beauty is in the eye etc......

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Having had the privilege of driving and maintaining several, I wouldn't own one myself. They are very much an old man (I'm not there yet) car, they even drive like an old man car. However I loved my MG ZS180, which felt like it was made for a much younger driver, which of course I was when it was new.

How about donating it to someone in the R75 owners club?

It's a 2004 1.8T. Had Rover sorted the head dowels and gasket by then or would it be wise to re-do it ?

andyfreelandy said:

It's a 2004 1.8T. Had Rover sorted the head dowels and gasket by then or would it be wise to re-do it ?

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By 2004, the K series was made to the latest specification in production, so should have the steel dowels and strengthened oil rail.

Thanks John.

I already have a Rover 75 ECU working in my (wife's) Freelander 1 as you know. The Freelander 1 1.8 PG1 gearbox has a VRS crank sensor whereas the Rover 75 ECU expects a hall effect output signal. Andrew Revell managed to do a hardware / firmware combination that converts from VRS to hall effect and it seems to work.

Also, if you want to stick with ECUs that will work with a VRS and a turbo out of the box you could talk to SAWS. They can modify MEMS3 tunes by email using your pscan to do it and I think that they've done lots of turbo conversions.