[urq] Engine Rebuild?

[urq]

... since the MB engine is designed to go into the car I would expect it to
be a fairly easy swap.  The fact the transmission uses a center Torsen diff
doesn't mean anything as you will be keeping your car's transaxle.  Perhaps
the biggest difference "mechanically" for you would be the cooling system
changes needed for the afterrun system ... if your MB comes with the
electric water pump the rest may be getting the proper hoses.

My '83 urq now has an MC-2 engine installed ... the MC is not designed to
fit into an urq, so there was a bit of mixing and matching.  I paid a shop
to do the work, so my BTDT isn't direct, but I was involved with the
decisions that were made.  The fuel plumbing around the airbox on the MC is
different from the WX, in fact the airflow measuring plate is swapped from
behind the headlight to close to the wheel well.  I did manage to get all of
the MC plumbing to attach to the WX airbox, but the car wouldn't start ... I
believe this is due to an external pressure regulator I left off.  I wanted
to go with the MC intake manifold to make use of the air shrouding, but
there appeared to be a lot of fabrication needed so we went with installing
the WX intake plumbing and closing off the air shroud port on the head.  The
other place where an adaptation had to be made was the oil cooler ... the WX
has the dual filter setup where the MC has a single filter flange.  The
person who did the work welded pieces from both cars together to create an
adaptor, but I'm thinking I'll prefer adapters that allow AN fittings and
hoses.  

My car is currently running with the WX electronics ... which seem to
control the MC-2 just fine.  Eventually I want to install the MAC-14, which
will involve making the hole in the firewall larger.  

... you have options ... minimally you could take the "long block" from the
MB with exhaust manifold and turbo and attach all the WX bits currently in
the car and get a functional car ... or you can work the MB with all its
peripherals in.  Given the MB is intended for your car I'd push for the
latter myself.

Steve Buchholz

-----Original Message-----

Brief update: the head will be pulled for final inspection and I'm looking
for alternatives other than rebuilding the WR.

I do have access to a complete MB engine (harnas, ecu etc) and was wondering
if it's just a matter of dropping the WR and bolt the MB in or is it not
that simple?

I know the MB cars have Torsen diffs, hydraulic lifters and watercooled
turbo and different fuel injection system, all of which the WR's haven't.

I would like to believe I only need to bolt back my Dialynx exhaust
manifold, a new gearbox and digital dash and that's it... now does it?


Regards,
Maurits