Freelander 1 Freelander Turbo build

I thought I would start a thread about my freelander turbo project.

The head gasket blew this week after lots of warning. I have a rebuild kit for it but as from my previous thread about my freelander, its becoming a very valuable piece of kit for the farm. I thought now would be a good time to fit a turbo engine and use the rebuild kit for the turbo engine.

So an MG ZT-T is the donor for my project, unfortunately there is no ECU on the car and the wiring loom has been chopped by the ecu plug. Normal scrapyard issue.

It took me around 4 hours to get the block stripped and turbo off. I'm actually heading back down this morning to seperate the block from the gearbox.

monkfish24 said:

there is no ECU on the car and the wiring loom has been chopped by the ecu plug.

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A ZT-T ECU won't work on the Freelander anyway. You're best bet is use a stand alone ECU. Of hack the factory ECU to recognise positive manifold pressure.

Nodge68 said:

A ZT-T ECU won't work on the Freelander anyway. You're best bet is use a stand alone ECU. Of hack the factory ECU to recognise boost.

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Im going to run the ECUs in tandem, MG Ecu will run the engine, freelander ECU will run the dials and dash.

The freelander ECU doesnt have the connections either for the boost sensors.

monkfish24 said:

Im going to run the ECUs in tandem, MG Ecu will run the engine, freelander ECU will run the dials and dash.

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Good luck. Let us know how you get on.

T

Nodge68 said:

Good luck. Let us know how you get on.

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Thanks, ive got the block apart and the liners are level, the turbo looks clean and the cam carrier faces look good. This could be good!

This looks an interesting project @monkfish24
Keep us updated.

I think you've spoken to Mark Stacey? He may well be able to help so you can keep with one MEMS3 ECU...

rob_bell said:

I think you've spoken to Mark Stacey? He may well be able to help so you can keep with one MEMS3 ECU...

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Yeah, I rang him this week, all sorted now so I will get some more details up as I build it. To be honest, he makes it sound too easy. I can even use the freelanders crank sensor, I know Disco Mikey had a few issues with resolving that.

Yes, his map is fully compatible for the Freelander (and MGF etc) with the older CPS

I am not sure whether you have to use a different MEMS3 ECU - it is a question of whether the one in the Freelander has enough outputs (using the one from an MGF/TF step-speed auto seems to be the way to go); but Mark will be able to sort this out for you

rob_bell said:

Yes, his map is fully compatible for the Freelander (and MGF etc) with the older CPS

I am not sure whether you have to use a different MEMS3 ECU - it is a question of whether the one in the Freelander has enough outputs (using the one from an MGF/TF step-speed auto seems to be the way to go); but Mark will be able to sort this out for you

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He seems to think it will be happy to run with the MEMS3 ECU and an independent electronic boost controller. I like that though as it gives a lot more options like lowering the boost when needed and more control over the wastgate for keeping the turbo spooling.

Do you know Mark well? He is certainly very knowledgeable.

I have this idea of a Freelander Challenge toy. I live in Cornwall so I would never be able to get to one and dont yet have an MSA licence but there are a few hill climb events around here that would be fun to enter.

A Freelander would be an interesting and fun alternative to the usual Hill Climb fare - go for it!

I've met Mark a few times - and I may yet get him to do a custom map for when I fit multiple throttle bodies on my race car

rob_bell said:

A Freelander would be an interesting and fun alternative to the usual Hill Climb fare - go for it!

I've met Mark a few times - and I may yet get him to do a custom map for when I fit multiple throttle bodies on my race car

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Yeah, I got the hill climb car idea from the BMW powered Discovery. I think a strip out to shed unnecessary weight might help things too! I have been reading the MSA rules on the freelander challenge so I think I will build it to MSA spec and I may even get a chance to fire it along a rally course too!

Ah good, Mark seems like the guy to help.

Now Ive almost finished my bathroom rebuild, Im going to have more time for car rebuilds!

I managed to remove the engine from the ZT without removing the gearbox, I'd like to work out if thats possible with the freelander, there is more space and a smaller flywheel so it may be possible!

Ref the ecu, your only talking a 36kilobyte file here.

Just get the file changed from a 1.8 on mems3 to 1.8t on same ecu. Any competent remapped can sort this. Then you can use the loom from your 1.8 onto the 1.8t and wolla easy swap.

Then just use a manual boost controller, and your away. You only need a stepped ecu if you want to use the original rover 75 electronic boost control which having owned dozens of 75 and zt's is frankly useless anyways as it goes off spec as its in 2 parts. Assisted on a few zr zs conversions locally.

Max boost before fuel cut on them is 12 psi anyways and standard they sit around 9psi tailing of to 7 ish in the North of 5500rpm territory.

And start of with the standard map, try and source the zt 160 1.8t map over the 150 1.8t 75 map, both run same boost etc etc.

Of you want it mapped after this contact these guys. https://reidyremaps.co.uk

Responsible for basically the base and tweeking what every one has stolen over the last 20 years of mems remapping. These guys where doing odb programming when boys still needed to pull appart rover 200 ecus.

Customer myself. Several cars done by them, kv6 190, l series, 75 diesel etc etc.

Thanks Colin - that's very interesting. I have a K1.8T to fit in my MGF - a manual boost controller should make things a little simpler on most conversions.

Regarding the map swap, you'll need the turbo map for MEMS3 and the CPS - I guess you have a copy of this already? Mark has tweaked the map (to the best of my knowledge, he's the only one who has/can do this) and can get a nice reliable 200+ bhp from these engines

ColinNI said:

Of you want it mapped after this contact these guys. https://reidyremaps.co.uk.

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https://reidyremaps.co.uk
I didn't know about these guys, thanks Colin

Sounds like an interesting project. Watching this with interest.

Alibro said:

Sounds like an interesting project. Watching this with interest.

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It's bloody good isn't it. Impressive technical knowledge on the dark arts is being demonstrated. A stripped out turbo beast seems appealing.

Engine is stripped down to the head on the freelander. A stuck nut has stopped play!

Just a small update, in between renovating my farm, I have removed the old engine from the car without having to remove the gearbox which was nice. I removed the crank pulley and air con pump (that won't be going back on for weight saving, This thing is going to end up on a diet) and got caught up by missing a few bolts that attached the IRD end to the back of the engine but once the flywheel was clear of the gearbox it came out with no fight.

I sent the turbo head to be checked for flatness and unfortunately it did require a skim, I'm using a local company who have told me they have dealt with 1000's of K series and will make sure it's a very light skim.....

Ecu should be on its way back and I also have the turbo boost controller ready to fit.

I'll get some more pictures up once I retrieve my phone from the pub!