Project Rejuvinate

[Dras]

Avid readers of the site may have noticed that I have purchased a MIVEC motor from Bennoz, pictured below in all its glory. I thought I would put together something to let you guys know what I have planned and include pictures of the build.

I have owned my 95 FTO GR since 2002 and it is starting to get a little worn out. It now has nearly 190,000km on the clock and is starting to blow smoke due to worn value guides. I am sick of the smell of burnt oil so something needed to be done, either move on with a new car, possibly something European, or fix my trusty steed. After much toing and froing I decided a reconditioned MIVEC motor would be the go.

With a reconditioned GPvR manual gearbox and some relatively new coilovers, this should bring some new life back into my FTO.

The motor is currently being reconditioned, compression increased and balanced. I will hopefully have it back in the next few days with new pictures.

[Dras]

I spent most of today looking at the electrical wiring guide for the FTO and buzzing out how my GR loom compares to the GPX loom. The biggest obstacle seems to be that the GPX loom has traction control and ABS fitted where my car has neither. The traction control ECU communicates with the engine ECU using the same 2 wires that would otherwise go to an automatic transmission ECU if it was an automatic loom (if both are fitted, the engine ecu talks to the traction control ecu and the traction control ecu talks to the automatic transmission ECU).

Having done a manual conversion, I know that the engine doesn't start if the automatic transmission ECU is not present. There will be enough unknowns without bringing this into the mix, so my question is, has anyone tried to run a GR motor using a GPX ECU?

What I am thinking, if it is possible, is to replace the intake manifold with the GPX intake manifold (so I can fit the MAP sensor), leave the alternator off altogether and try and start the car. If it starts, it would prove that I have everything electrically correct. Does anyone know if the GR cam is close to the GPX non-MIVEC cam, or at least close enough for the ECU to be happy?

I realise that this is a fair amount of effort for peace of mind but the idea of extended cranking on brand new rings just eeks me.

[Bennoz]

Couple of people in the UK tried using non mivec intakes on mivec motors & vice versa. The result in both cases, was running like a dog. Plus you need to modify the intake to fit, from memory the end holes need to be elongated.

[Dras]

Other than having the additional sensor and a vacuum port for the MAP sensor, the upper intake manifold looked identical. I am not planning on modifying it to fit. As long as it bolts down, it should be able to do its job.

All I am after is 10 seconds of idle to prove that everything is working. Obviously, a smooth idle would be ideal, but if I know to expect a rough idle, it will at least prove that electrically I have everything right to get the motor started. If it can't sustain idle, then it is obviously not worth attempting.

[Dras]

Brand new 110 Amp alternator and 6 iridium plugs.

[Dras]

I got my engine back from the reconditioners today. Externally, I am quite happy with it and will post some pics a little bit later but what concerns me is the pistons. They told me I was getting new pistons and have charged me for them but when I look through the spark plug holes, this is what I see.

I was expecting something shinier if they were new. Can anybody comment whether they are definitely new or definitely old (in the order of 150,000km)?

[Sahin]

They look pretty new bro mine on my wreck look way more worn then that and don't have the writing on the top of them either

[Sahin]

Actually forget what I said, two of them do have the writing and one doesn't so I don't have any idea if yours are new or not

[Dras]

Actually forget what I said, two of them do have the writing and one doesn't so I don't have any idea if yours are new or not

Thanks for checking. I am probably just being silly but I would feel better knowing that I got what I paid for.

[Bennoz]

Yeah I dont think stockies have that lettering on the top..

[Dras]

Yeah I dont think stockies have that lettering on the top..

Sweet, I will go with that then.

[aza013]

If I can fined my old ones I will post up a pic for you. But it may not be until the weekend as I have to dig around a tone of boxes to track them down.

[Dras]

That would be great Aza!

[Dras]

As promised, pictures of my rebuilt engine.

Have they buggered up the installation of the 1/2 moon seals?

[Kustom]

Looks clean. Cannot comment on your seals though.

[silverGPX]

i really like your engine

[ObsidianRadio]

That motor looks hot. Can I have its number?

[Bennoz]

Hard to say from the pic. Want me to pop over & have a look?

[Dras]

Hard to say from the pic. Want me to pop over & have a look?

That would be great!

[Astron_Boy]

Nice piece of work so far.