Read a couple of blog sites about peoples builds of the Vortx and several have commented on how much of an easier life MNR's custom loom made their build.

Not knowing a whole hell of alot about this stuff i wondered the following (and if someone can break it down into simple i would be greatful!!!)

Planning on fitting an R1 engine (carb version to avoid to much technicality!) into the Vortx. The loom is what connects the controls in the car to the engine.....yes??

If so the R1 loom is useless so when looking for an engine all i will need is the block itself...yes??

And so that being the case i will need to tell MNR what engine i plan to fit to enable them to build a custom loom....yes??

And if all this is right then what sort of cost is the loom, did have a browse under the parts section but couldn't see it.

Sorry if this is a really stupid question or if i have it ar*e about face but this is all extremely new to me!!

Si

Well... the anser is pretty much NO to everything... except that the MNR loom made the job much easier

R1 engine: the injected ones are actually lees tech (in the assembler prespective) as all you need to do is plug 4 connectors and upload a map to the PC III USB; the carbed ones need to opne the carbs and reject (needles and jets, I guess)

The R1 is NOT useless; it's VERY important to have it totally complete, with all sensors and boxes (mostly, relays).

The MNR loom is a generic loom to feed the whole car except the engine! The engine loom will connect to the battery, as well as the MNR loom. The only point that they intercept is the power to crank the engine.

The loom, IIRC is around £195, and includes all the wiring, in the correct places for the lights, pump, brake fluid, horn, fan override, ..., all needed relays (fuel pump, hazard, dip / high beam, ...)

Hope that helps,
Joao

Yup - make sure that you get the loom, ECU, Rugulator/rectifier etc. The carb'd loom can be cut back to a few wires (I did exactly that - and it runs) which would then be easily spliced into any generic loom.

I kept the full bike loom and the MNR loom for simplicity. Both looms fasten straight to the battery.

I only needed to bridge 5 wires across the 2 looms:

Ignition
Crank
Main beam warning
L indicator warning
R indicator warning

You can just extend the bike loom to reach everywhere if you're keen. You need a car flasher for the hazard warning lights but the bike loom does just about everything else.

Sheesh - glad i asked!!!!! Ok the electrical side of things is my biggest fear with building this kit. Mechanical wise i am pretty onfident i will be able to find my way through the manual but the electrics just baffles me.

I understand i need both the looms (MNR and R1) but am baffled on the injection one being easier to install than the carb - i know it takes this a little off topic but still.

I was under the impression that the injection R1 engine was an arse with wiring all over the shop, think i read somewhere that for the first time builder the carb version was much friendlier??

I think to be honest i will buy an engine from Malc because i am guessing that what i buy from him will be exactly what i need - no more no less. There are several knocking around for sale but i am dubious because i truly don't know what i am buying.

Its just this decision over which version is a) easier to install and b) will potentially provide the most power??

Si

I heard the same about the injection engine and was quite surprised when it came to wiring it up.

I cut loads out of the loom and only needed to join the bike to the car loom at one point for the fuel pump.

There are a lot of wires for the injection engine but most of them are left as is. Plug in your powercommander, upload your map and then snigger at the poor sods faffing around with needles and the like

I was a first time builder and I found it easy to do, no major hiccups and it's a much more tractable engine (2003 5PW) It's also easy to drive in traffic

[Edited on 29/10/07 by chockymonster]

Cheers chocky thats encouraging - i will almost DEFINITELY need some help when i get to that stage but if the injection is a better all round engine and not so much of a mare to install then i will be plumping for one of those i think.

In relation to when people say 'cut loads of loom out' why is this done and how do you know what to cut out???

Just need to sell my damn car to get some funds.........

Si

Cutting the loom is just a matter of tideness... and weight
You'll sabe almost a kilo in wires

Actually you may leave it or cut everything related to lights and multimeter, if you fit an aftermarket dash.

I took several days with wiring, but if you can read a wiring diagram (just follow coloured lines ) you can do it.

Cheers,
Joao

MNr loom was great although 2 sections on mine was a little short and had to be extended, althought im sure this was down to the chassis design changing so bloody quick(marc you dont hang about) the loom maker has changed now i belive!

loom is worth the money, it will cost you more in time and effort + all the bits you need if you make it yourself!

Cheers Kris - sounds like a good investment.

Just been chatting with Chris from MNR and managed to swindle the day off in a few weeks to go and see them down at Exeter and have a better chat through things and take a look at a car in the flesh!!

Si

ill be taking a 4 hour drive back to newcastle in a few weeks when my car is SVAed, so if anyone wants a look at an MNR im sure ill pass you on the way. 4hrs in the winter with no windsdreen....oh i cant wait!