Garage Storage Organization and Garage Cabinets

edraws · **3.0 swap in 84-85 Mini**

I was just wondering this today because I used to have a '85 Voyager in good condition with a Mitsu 2.6.

Has anyone performed a 3.0 swap in a 84-85 mini?

mwinkle353 · 05-20-2006, 09:41 PM

None that I know of. But if you have the complete harness from a later (87+) mini, then I doubt it would be all that hard.

edraws · 05-20-2006, 10:24 PM

Yeah the harness would be one aspect. But I'm also wondering if the engine bay is identical to 86-90 engine bays.

It's just a thought actually. If I still had my '85 Voyager I would have seriously considered it.

The 2.6 was alright because it got wicked gas mileage but gosh was it gutless!

We have this highway that goes up a hill by a place called Lumsden and I could only make it a quarter way up and then my speed would drop to 50km/h and I had to crawl all the way up for the rest.

On level road, no problems but forget about climbing. Ha ha!

mwinkle353 · 05-20-2006, 10:58 PM

As far as I know, they also had the 2.2L motors in them. And from what I've seen, the 2.2/2.5 and the 3.0L vehicles have extremely similar, if not the exact same body mounts for the motor/transmission mounts.

If you were to get the complete motor/trans, with all the mounts and brackets, I don't see why it wob't bolt up directly.

big_P · 05-29-2006, 10:40 PM

that's correct.

1st gen minivans came with the 2.2L Carbed engine. Talk about gutless!

And, the 2.2/2.5/3.0 have the exact same motor mounts and locations.

edraws · 05-30-2006, 06:31 PM

Mine had the mitsu 2.6. It was good for driving but had very little HP.

Now if they had a Starion 2.6 turbo engine in there, hmmmmm....

But if I had my old van I would have done the 3.0 swap because the 2.6 was on it's way out.

Avenger · 06-01-2006, 02:07 PM

The harness, ECU, and possibly the fuel system would have to be replaced. Don't forget, the 2.6 Mitsu uses a carb, and the pump in the tank is going to be a low-pressure unit. Probably easier to just swap the tank.
As far as sheetmetal goes, I've seen the 84-86 front end on 87+ vans. Dunno why, it doesn't look as good IMHO, but maybe those were the pieces they had laying around.

Ondonti · 06-01-2006, 02:21 PM

ick the carbed 2.6 had NO balls.