Conversions & Swaps LSX Engines in Non-LSX Vehicles
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Ls4 in a Mini Cooper?

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Old Mar 26, 2020 | 07:03 PM
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Default Ls4 in a Mini Cooper?

I’m new to this whole engine swap. I was wondering if the ls4 will be able to fit into a 2012 Mini Cooper and if it does what other parts will I need to get this build together? Thank you!!
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Old Mar 26, 2020 | 08:10 PM
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Originally Posted by Frenchy115
I’m new to this whole engine swap. I was wondering if the ls4 will be able to fit into a 2012 Mini Cooper and if it does what other parts will I need to get this build together? Thank you!!
You can fit it into anything. The required parts would be, and I'm not exaggerating, about 70% of the entire car custom built. All the suspension, whole drivetrain, not enough room to even put a radiator in the engine bay...

Not to sound snide but if you are capable of doing this particular swap you wouldn't need to ask any questions on a forum about it. It's what I would label as expert level swap territory. It's building an entire custom car around an LS that looks like a mini when its done.
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Old Mar 26, 2020 | 08:19 PM
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yep
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Old Mar 26, 2020 | 08:55 PM
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That's how I feel when most people post that they want to put an LS into XX and need a parts list and instructions. It's like "If you have to ask, you can't afford it."

Jay
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Old Mar 26, 2020 | 09:09 PM
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It's an older Mini but it gives you some idea about packaging problems. This is with just a turbo four.

https://www.youtube.com/user/badobsessionmsport/videos

Ken
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Old Mar 26, 2020 | 09:59 PM
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Let's put it this way- Not a drop-in and weld up the mounts type of swap.
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Old Mar 27, 2020 | 10:13 AM
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Lol. Probably more of a "Cut the whole floor out, make a tube frame and weld it under the body" kinda swap. haha.
I'm midway through a very "relaxed-pace" S-10 LS swap, which seemed like
one of the better documented swaps, with plenty of aftermarket support. I started there...once I get it under my belt, I'll move on
to something more difficult.

V8/RWD swapping a front drive car would be pretty involved.

Jay
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Old Mar 27, 2020 | 10:23 AM
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RE: My last comment...I just realized you were planning to use an LS4. So, scratch the part about switching to rear drive. My bad.
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Old Mar 27, 2020 | 02:17 PM
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Originally Posted by JayinMI
Lol. Probably more of a "Cut the whole floor out, make a tube frame and weld it under the body" kinda swap. haha.
I'm midway through a very "relaxed-pace" S-10 LS swap, which seemed like
one of the better documented swaps, with plenty of aftermarket support. I started there...once I get it under my belt, I'll move on
to something more difficult.

V8/RWD swapping a front drive car would be pretty involved.

Jay
That’s what I was thinking. I’m really just going to have to build around this engine. How is your build going along? And a RWD Mini does should fun though lol
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Old Mar 27, 2020 | 02:25 PM
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Originally Posted by LetsTurboSomething
You can fit it into anything. The required parts would be, and I'm not exaggerating, about 70% of the entire car custom built. All the suspension, whole drivetrain, not enough room to even put a radiator in the engine bay...

Not to sound snide but if you are capable of doing this particular swap you wouldn't need to ask any questions on a forum about it. It's what I would label as expert level swap territory. It's building an entire custom car around an LS that looks like a mini when its done.
Thank you, I just didn’t really know if the LS would fit. Just wanted to make sure. Yeah I’ve got a friend ready to make me the parts when we see how the LS fits in. I’m really going to have to build around this engine huh? Lol thank you for letting me know!
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Old Mar 27, 2020 | 02:27 PM
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I think I'm on year number 4. lol. What I thought would be an easy fix (driver floor board), turned into lower a pillar structure (inner and outer), rockers (inner and outer), etc.
But since we're on "corn teen" til 4/14, I'm cleaning out the garage to get back on it. I'm basically working on it in 1/2 a 2 car garage, and with my table saw, router table, welder, air compressor and 20 ton press taking up space, I don't have a lot of room. If I pull it into the driveway for more than a day, someone calls the cops on me.

Jay
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Old Mar 27, 2020 | 09:16 PM
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Never say never....

Mini Cooper convert with LS power
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Old Mar 28, 2020 | 01:56 AM
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Originally Posted by Kenova
It's an older Mini but it gives you some idea about packaging problems. This is with just a turbo four.

https://www.youtube.com/user/badobsessionmsport/videos

Ken
Thank you for this link. I've sat down and watched the bulk of their videos and found myself fascinated by all the work they're doing.
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Old Mar 28, 2020 | 09:18 AM
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Originally Posted by JayinMI
Lol. Probably more of a "Cut the whole floor out, make a tube frame and weld it under the body" kinda swap. haha.
I'm midway through a very "relaxed-pace" S-10 LS swap, which seemed like
one of the better documented swaps, with plenty of aftermarket support. I started there...once I get it under my belt, I'll move on
to something more difficult.

V8/RWD swapping a front drive car would be pretty involved.

Jay
Jay lets see that S-10
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Old Mar 28, 2020 | 03:42 PM
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Frenchy - have you ever looked under the hood of a '12 Cooper? I think you may have more luck trying to do what the guys at MiniTec down in Georgia do with the old Minis. They shoehorn a Honda/Acura V6 transversely into the BACK end. This allows the FWD drivetrain to be moved to the back. Lose the back seat in the 2012 -- and build a subframe to put the LS4/tranny in the ***-end. Plenty of room up front then for cooling, fuel cell, etc. Voila - mid-engined, V8 Mini Cooper.

Oh yeah - bring a big checkbook.

Ls4 in a Mini Cooper?-frmfhff.jpg
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Old Mar 28, 2020 | 04:04 PM
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I wonder what could be stuffed in back of a Honda 600? The first imported Honda car...
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Old Mar 28, 2020 | 04:09 PM
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Front engine, rwd -- https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1972-honda-n600/

The audio is otherworldly -
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Old Mar 28, 2020 | 04:27 PM
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Originally Posted by Michael Yount
That is pure automotive orgasmic nastiness!! I could listen to that forever!
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Old Mar 28, 2020 | 09:14 PM
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There's a guy I follow on Youtube and IG who is building a turbo CBR600 powered (at least I think that's what it was...he's building 2 cars, I might have them confused) AWD N600.
On YouTube he's ChaseFabbed.

Not to Hijack, but 2ToeRacing: This is my build thread on S-10 Forum. Probably the one I've kept most up to date with.
https://www.s10forum.com/threads/let...86-s10.721241/

I also have threads on Pro-Touring, here (I think) and Caraudiojunkies.

Jay
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Old Mar 29, 2020 | 12:42 AM
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Originally Posted by Michael Yount
Frenchy - have you ever looked under the hood of a '12 Cooper? I think you may have more luck trying to do what the guys at MiniTec down in Georgia do with the old Minis. They shoehorn a Honda/Acura V6 transversely into the BACK end. This allows the FWD drivetrain to be moved to the back. Lose the back seat in the 2012 -- and build a subframe to put the LS4/tranny in the ***-end. Plenty of room up front then for cooling, fuel cell, etc. Voila - mid-engined, V8 Mini Cooper.

Oh yeah - bring a big checkbook.

thank you! I’ll look at what they’re doing and see how I can transfer it to a 2012. I was thinking of doing this, but wasn’t too sure on it because im in California and y’all know the stupid car laws here. You’ve gave me a push to do it so ima look into this more
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