Engine swap for dummies (D7F -> D4FT)

[CreweTube]

Hi all,

Looking to build up my knowledge (forewarned is forearmed or something) before taking the jump into doing an engine swap in nearish future, watched a few YT videos for the process in general but wondering if anyone has a good resources for this particular swap in particular (D7F 1.2 NA -> D4FT 1.2 Turbo) in a Twingo Mk2.

At a very simplistic level I understand the actual physical process of draining fluids, disconnecting wires/lines then hoisting engine then reverse to refit, but a lot of my questions come down how everything goes back together as I'm assuming there are bits that won't just plug and play:

1. ECU, is this on the back of engine or the one attached to the battery box (or both), presume this needs switching too?
2. How does the key/immobiliser factor in to all of this if at all?
3. Dash instrumentation will work fine again?
4. Given both engines were standard fitment, hoping driveshafts will slot back in fine..
5. Presume new exhaust will be required for completely different flow requirements

The car is road legal at the moment and whilst it probably wont stay that way long term, anyone been through the process of updating DVLA and then MOT/VED impacts as heard some horror stories.

Project thread is here for background:

Twingo - John's £150 Twingo Extreme Trackday Project

Hi all, Been lurking for a while but have been following Adeys adventures over on the Twingo OC facebook group and has finally prompted me to make an account and join as i'm on the edge of making a very dumb (?) decision with my poverty spec Twingo 1.2 EXTREME 60. I'm not sure whether this is...

turborenault.co.uk

 

[CreweTube]

Following on from the build thread:

Twingo - John's £150 Twingo Extreme Trackday Project

Booked a full day at Oulton Park on Feb 16th with Javelin (£160 incl Garage cant be sniffed at, will be splitting the garage cost too so really £140), will hopefully force me to get everything thats scattered around the shed fitted and we'll see what the car is like with the changes. Probably...

turborenault.co.uk

Thought it makes most sense to contain all the technical stuff here for any future idiots wanting to convert their Extreme (or Bizu/Dynamique/Expression/Freeway/I-Music/Pzaz 16v) into a "GT" powered car.

The donor car is one that was being parted out as owner had enough of it not working (good sign #1) and couldn't figure it out, @YamYamRob went to grab some parts and put me onto this lead suggesting it was just a turbo fail (good sign #2) but when we were there it wasnt a clear cut fail but having all the below for £200 its worth the punt. Doing some FB sleuthing on the originals owner posting history on the RTOC facebook page I have the following info about history:

• Feb '21 - Driving fine
• Apr '21 - Pass an MOT with a few advisories unrelated to anything I've taken
  
• Apr '21 - Asking for help working out what pipes are missing(?!) as it goes into limp mode, lots of smoke under bonnet and says theres an oil leak.. (good sign #3)
• May '21 - Say it goes into limp mode around 3.5k, fine under it. Says new plugs/HT leads/oil/rocker cover gasket installed and now no smoke under bonnet only exhaust
• May '21 - Selling car whole
• Jun '21 - Selling for parts

Herewith the first pile of parts rescued from the donor car, unsure if all needed but took what I could:



Starting top left and going clockwise:

• Loom from ECU to BCM(Interior)
• Intercooler
• Aux belt (absolutely cracked to shit)
• BCM + ECU
• Key + Ignition Barrel
• Dashboard clocks
• Some brackets
• Cat + Downpipe
• Dogbone mount for gearbox
• AC Pump
• Alternator
• Pedals + clutch pipe
• Gearstick + cables
• NS driveshaft

A few gotchas sprang to mind taking it all, my Extreme is a rod shifted and cable clutch where as this is cable shift and hydraulic clutch so hopefully we got everything for that. The Extreme doesnt have AC so took the pump to just run disconnected for now.

Next pile in the trusty wheelbarrow (soon to be RIP)


Thats hopefully all the pipework, sans the intake pipe to turbo which was missing

Lastly the main event:


One engine and gearbox, with loom still attached as much as we could.

Next steps?

1. Ignore this for a bit and make sure the car is ready for its track day next month with the current engine
2. Give this all a damn good clean
3. Source the missing pieces I know of
   1. Throttle Body
   2. Thermostat
   3. Intake piping (probably just silicone hose it to my current Ramair filter)
4. Wait for warmer weather and give it a good service:
   1. New plugs
   2. New aux belt
   3. New timing belt/water pump set
   4. Gaskets?! (Head+Cam/Rocker?)
   5. New clutch whilst its all out
   6. New turbo
5. Get upgrades ready for it going back in
   1. Front Mount Intercooler + Piping
   2. New Radiator
   3. Clio 182 injectors
   4. All new oil and fluids

Its currently in the shed drying out as it was damp af so I'm sure that will come back to haunt me later. I give it a quick blast with some brake/clutch cleaner everytime I go past to try and get it a little bit cleaner but that'll do for winter.

 

[CreweTube]

So, bored at work and thinking future thoughts, any recommendations for preventative maintenance beyond the below:

1. New plugs
2. New aux belt
3. New timing belt/water pump set
4. Gaskets?! (Head+Cam/Rocker?)
5. New clutch whilst its all out
6. Fit replacement turbo

Any suggested straight swap upgrades for any key parts? My ultimate goal is 200hp/ton so would be looking in the 150-170hp mark so probably up against the upper limits here.

 

[DaveL485]

So, bored at work and thinking future thoughts, any recommendations for preventative maintenance beyond the below:

It's your usual big service list - belts and tensioners, plugs, oil, oil filter, fuel filter, air filter, cabin filter, gearbox oil, steering fluid (unless its EPAS), coolant.

 

[Shafak]

Hello everyone. I am working on my friend's car and it has a D7f 8v engine. While I am at it, I am thinking of putting a 16v cylinder head on it. I made a brief observation and I think it will fit without any problems. What are your comments on this subject?