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Engine swap /auto to manual /electrical different manufacture?
KFC - 20/10/13 at 09:32 AM

Just that really.
I really like the RX8 but not the engine. They are cropping up cheap all over the place. I'm a mechanic so I can do all the work and fabricating but the electrical side is my weak point. I need to keep it cheap so what I've found is...

S-type jag 3.0L /LPG auto with a torque converter fault, £600.
RX8 with no engine in very good condition, £400.
I want to put the 3.0L with LPG in the RX8 with the jag loom and management.

Is it possible??


[Edited on 20/10/13 by KFC]

twybrow - 20/10/13 at 09:56 AM

Anything is possible! I would think the mechanical work will be harder than the electrical work if you use the jag loom and just take power feeds and earths back into the rx8 loom. It might be tricky to get the clocks to work fully, but not impossible. A good auto electrician would be able to do it, but it will cost you!

Why do you want a slow auto gearbox in a sports car?

britishtrident - 20/10/13 at 11:25 AM

The complexity of modern car electronics means it is likely you will just end up with two unfinished unsellable hulks.

The Jag gearbox fault might not be worth getting checked out properly istr these used the Jatco 5 speed and there is a known problem with the valve body cracking on cars built before 2003, on the other hand older petrol Jags fetch buttons at auction so even repaired the value is low.

KFC - 20/10/13 at 11:57 AM

quote:
Originally posted by twybrow
Anything is possible! I would think the mechanical work will be harder than the electrical work if you use the jag loom and just take power feeds and earths back into the rx8 loom. It might be tricky to get the clocks to work fully, but not impossible. A good auto electrician would be able to do it, but it will cost you!

Why do you want a slow auto gearbox in a sports car?


Thanks for the info, that's encouraging. Oh, I don't want the auto gearbox, I'll use the RX8 gearbox, adaptor plate. The question was meant to be, will the engine ecu get confused when there's no signal from the gearbox to change gear? I'll change gear.

big_wasa - 20/10/13 at 12:00 PM

Yes the ecu used on the auto will not work with out an input from the gearbox.

Auto limp home mode.

The ecu on the s type is jags own, the ecu on the x type is ford. Now that I can do.

I am sure I can do the manual s type if I get a cheap donor.

[Edited on 20/10/13 by big_wasa]

KFC - 20/10/13 at 12:03 PM

quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
The complexity of modern car electronics means it is likely you will just end up with two unfinished unsellable hulks.

The Jag gearbox fault might not be worth getting checked out properly istr these used the Jatco 5 speed and there is a known problem with the valve body cracking on cars built before 2003, on the other hand older petrol Jags fetch buttons at auction so even repaired the value is low.


The jag is a X reg 2000. I only know the basics of the electronics, another reason for choosing a 13yr old car as a doner. As for a 2005 or 2003 RX8, I don't know if there's any changes to the electronics.

big_wasa - 20/10/13 at 12:06 PM

A 2000 x type will be Obd2 but the rx8 will be full blown canbus.

britishtrident - 20/10/13 at 12:11 PM

engine management also gets input from the power steering pressure switch, AC trinary switch, brake pedal switch, wheel sensors, ABS, Cruise control, BCU, immobiliser, ambient air temp...................................................................................................................................

KFC - 20/10/13 at 12:16 PM

quote:
Originally posted by big_wasa
A 2000 x type will be Obd2 but the rx8 will be full blown canbus.


Hmmm, bloody canbus...

big_wasa - 20/10/13 at 12:37 PM

Can bus maybe a good thing. Ecu may talk to the clocks.

The electrics would be no walk in the park. VVT, dual stage inlet, returnless fuel pumps needing driver moduals.

It does indeed have inputs as Bt says but some are just basic load switches and some use separate ecu's .

big_wasa - 20/10/13 at 12:49 PM

quote:
Originally posted by KFC
quote:
Originally posted by big_wasa
A 2000 x type will be Obd2 but the rx8 will be full blown canbus.


Hmmm, bloody canbus...


If you want an idea of the work involved have a look at my budget st170 thread. The electronis are going to be similar to the st220. Jag 3.0 maybe a little different.



KFC - 20/10/13 at 08:19 PM

quote:
Originally posted by big_wasa
quote:
Originally posted by KFC
quote:
Originally posted by big_wasa
A 2000 x type will be Obd2 but the rx8 will be full blown canbus.


Hmmm, bloody canbus...


If you want an idea of the work involved have a look at my budget st170 thread. The electronis are going to be similar to the st220. Jag 3.0 maybe a little different.





Yeah that's cool. I've done quite a lot of diagnostics with modern turbo diesels which I think are quite tricky to fault find as it can throw a few curve balls.

I think it will be a fun challenging little project so I think I'll have a go at it.

big_wasa - 20/10/13 at 08:24 PM

If you use the ford engine / ecu ive already done half the work for you

KFC - 21/10/13 at 09:47 PM

quote:
Originally posted by big_wasa
If you use the ford engine / ecu ive already done half the work for you


As in a 4 pot duratec or the V6? There's the 2.5L V6 and the 3.0L V6 Duratec but I was thinking of the Jag V6 as I could use the inlet and exhaust. Well, I still don't know if it will all fit. I would need to see a RX8 with the engine out to measure up...

[Edited on 21/10/13 by KFC]