Engine Swapping In Modern Cars - Electronic Solutions ?
Engine Swapping In Modern Cars - Electronic Solutions ?
Author
Discussion

V8RX7

Original Poster:

28,982 posts

286 months

Monday 9th September 2019
quotequote all
I have swapped engines in a few older cars and currently own a V8 IS200 where there is some trickery going on using both ECUs from the engine and the car.

I'm considering a V8 swap into a 2012 Ranger which will have a lot more integrated systems, who would I talk to about the electronics side ?

I have an engine guy who can wire the donor V8 ecu in, it's keeping the car's systems happy that I'm concerned about.


Krikkit

27,838 posts

204 months

Monday 9th September 2019
quotequote all
V8RX7 said:
I have swapped engines in a few older cars and currently own a V8 IS200 where there is some trickery going on using both ECUs from the engine and the car.
Have you a thread about it? Fascinating.

anonymous-user

77 months

Monday 9th September 2019
quotequote all
Presumably you're swapping a manual transmission engine for a manual transmission engine. All manner of mayhem can ensue if there's an auto box involved on either vehicle.

The usual way forward is to move the engine and its computery all as one piece. That still leaves the question of getting stuff like the instrument panel to work correctly.

V8RX7

Original Poster:

28,982 posts

286 months

Monday 9th September 2019
quotequote all
Krikkit said:
Have you a thread about it? Fascinating.
No, I didn't do the swap, it's a well known conversion with adaptor plates etc being available.

It is now for sale in the classifieds as I never use cars, hence wanting to convert a pick up.

V8RX7

Original Poster:

28,982 posts

286 months

Monday 9th September 2019
quotequote all
rockin said:
Presumably you're swapping a manual transmission engine for a manual transmission engine. All manner of mayhem can ensue if there's an auto box involved on either vehicle.

The usual way forward is to move the engine and its computery all as one piece. That still leaves the question of getting stuff like the instrument panel to work correctly.
Er no... the 1UZ only came as an auto - fortunately it's a well trodden path these days and all the engine ECU problems are taken care of for £650

Yes it's the car ECU problems I'm asking about, I know there are kits for getting over it when putting LS engines in MX5s, I doubt many have played with Rangers but you never know.

anonymous-user

77 months

Monday 9th September 2019
quotequote all
Sounds as though you are well on top of the main issues and I wish you good fortune in finding someone who can finesse the tricky details.

stevieturbo

17,967 posts

270 months

Monday 9th September 2019
quotequote all
V8RX7 said:
I have swapped engines in a few older cars and currently own a V8 IS200 where there is some trickery going on using both ECUs from the engine and the car.

I'm considering a V8 swap into a 2012 Ranger which will have a lot more integrated systems, who would I talk to about the electronics side ?

I have an engine guy who can wire the donor V8 ecu in, it's keeping the car's systems happy that I'm concerned about.
A Ford Ranger ? or something else ?

Have you done a diagnostic scan to get an idea of how many control modules there are in the car ? and that may be affected if you were to start removing some ?

Modern vehicles are ridiculously awkward in this respect.

Whilst cumbersome, leaving the original ecu in place, and perhaps offering it some sensor data from the new engine, and a crank trigger would be nice....might still allow a lot of the cars functions to run as normal, let the dashboard work etc....but still then wire in the new engine mostly as an independent unit.

V8RX7

Original Poster:

28,982 posts

286 months

Monday 9th September 2019
quotequote all
stevieturbo said:
A Ford Ranger ? or something else ?

Have you done a diagnostic scan to get an idea of how many control modules there are in the car ? and that may be affected if you were to start removing some ?

Modern vehicles are ridiculously awkward in this respect.

Whilst cumbersome, leaving the original ecu in place, and perhaps offering it some sensor data from the new engine, and a crank trigger would be nice....might still allow a lot of the cars functions to run as normal, let the dashboard work etc....but still then wire in the new engine mostly as an independent unit.
No I don't own one yet, I was going to go for an older Ranger but it seems the oil pump is crap in the 2012/13 Ranger so there are quite a few cheaply available but I want to see what I'm getting into before I buy one if possible

Yes that's the general plan but I know it's not simple