TF engine into a 75 or ZT

[Gazmo65]

OK I have access to an MG TF 135 (its my sons and he has lost interest in it, SWMBO says it has to go) and I was wondering if the engine would go into a 75 or a ZT and would I need the ecu, this has been re-mapped in the TF , also would I have to swap the gearboxes or use the Rover or MG one, (this could be a plan to pick up a project, I may even consider a Rover 25 or 45 or MG equivalent) the TF was pretty quick with this engine and remap it was quick enough to keep up with a TF 160 so could be quite interesting in another car. I know Rover MG used a 1.8 120HP version in some models why not the 135 or 160.

[Crankyhorse]

You have to remember that a TF probably weighs 500kg less than a 75 so the power to weight ratio will mean performance will be well down in the 75..

Better to take the shell off the engine and rear subframe and turn the TF in to a trike.

[bradley]

i know i had a mgzs 1.8 and the engine was knackered it was a 120 ,so i bought an engine out of a tf 135 the difference was my 120 had a plastic inlet manifold and the tf had a alloy manifold still see it going around so must be allright.

[Shapfell]

The engines are all basically the same, it just depends on bracketry, inlet manifold, and electrickery gizmos to change the power outputs. Sticking a 160 VVC into a ZT would be more of a challenge...

[Southside]

Im not sure it would work without aftermarket engine management. A TF 1.8 120 engine would drop straight in and run off the 75/ZT 120 ecu but the ZR/ZS/TF ecu's are differnt to the 75/ZT ecu. If the 135 engine uses a differnt map the 75/ZT ecu wouldn't run right with that engine.

Also yes the 75/ZT gearbox is different as is the clutch and flywheel so these would need to be swapped also.

[seancar]

The basicbare 1.8 engine is the same rover75 freelander tf the cylinder head and block there is no difference as long as its the 1.8. The difference are everything thats bolts to it.

[pletevl]

Aren't the cams in the TF 135 different to the 120 bhp versions ?

[dadragon]

Originally Posted by pletevl

Aren't the cams in the TF 135 different to the 120 bhp versions ?

Yes they are.

A lot of people put the 135 cams in to their K-series 1.4 1.6 and 1.8 nasp engines across all series of Rover models, never seen them in a 75 though.

I understand the 135 cams deliver more power in the higher rev ranges, but with the 75 being a heavy car you might not see that much of a gain. I guess that's why the 75 got the 1.8 with a turbo and not the 135 cams or VVC from standard.

[2.2-600-vtec]

the 135 runs mems 3 and as all mems 3 ecu are identical only the maps are changed there is no reason why the 135 map cannot be copied over, also a 160vvc could be fitted and the map and modified loom fitted.

i am not sure how a vvc would or the 135 would work on a 75 as they weigh a lot more, the 120 lump delivers good low down power the vvc does not have that grunt but will rev out unlike the 120, i would have thought that the 135 is not much diffrent to the vvc,

i am not sure how clever the mems 3 ecu is as in self learning,

if it can then you can fit 2 vvc exhaust cams into your engine and then fit a 135 throttle body as that would be the same almost ?

[Robson Rover Repair]

Save yourself the hassle and buy a set of piper cams
http://www.pipercams.co.uk/pipercams...?pid=KK1%20HYD

Range available for power band adjustments etc, fit them to your oem head and then have the car mapped appropriately.

Imo you will see around 135 to 140 bhp when well mapped but it's how the torque carve will change which will transform the car.

Plenty of k series injector options out there also, combine it with a 4/2/1 manifold and your onto a winner. Was my. 4.2.1 manifold that made a huge difference to my old 200 16v.

Still love that car. Bog standard rover 214 16v on outside, had wild cams, full exhaust and sports cat, injectors, vvc manifold with the 56mm over the 52mm throttle body, really good sealed k and N kit and a solid remap. Took the car from 102.8 bhp on the rollers to just shy of 124bhp which for a 1.4 was amazing as it revd to 7500rpm.

Got the whole lot on eBay for less than £100 (12 years ago when real bargains where to be had!) and paid for a pallet to ship it here. Car was fantastic, sounded amazing, and didn't suffer any real mpg improvement reduction.

Ended up wrote off by an uninsured volvo Estate drive less than 3 miles from my house =(

Would I tuned a K series again? Yes.

Would I do it the same way? No.

Manifold, sports cat / back box (not to wild) , remap and a decent panel filter on a standard 1.8 after that I'd leave the car as is