From VN to Ecotec in Mazda Bravo

[VQ_Statey_Matey]

Hi there all, i am very new here so if im posting in the wrong place, or if someone has covered this before could you please lead me in the right direction.

OK. I have a mazda b2600 88 mod dual cab with a VN series 2 v6 and the t700 auto in it. Problem is motor is shot and tranny is pretty close as well. I also have sitting under my carport a VS series 2 V6 auto. I have the complete car. I want to put the VS engine and box ? into the mazda as they are both in good nick. Having the complete car i figure i should have most if not all i need. The mechanical im hoping is similar or same such as engine mounts, exhaust manifold outlet position, gearbox mounts and position but if anyone knows different let me know. Now after reading on here i am getting worried about the electrical side of things. Do i need to pull the wiring out of the mazda and fit the complete VS wiring loom ? what about the security ? Is it possible to run the current loom with the VS ecu ? Do i then need to connect the transmission loom into it ? is this a big job ? I am a reasonably good electrics sorta outa, lol, but i would like to do this the easiest way possible.
At this point im gathering as much info as possible to see if this is worth while to do or wether i should just rebuild the VN v6. I do like the idea of having sequential injection and better economy plus being able to adjust transmission shifting via software, very helpfull for 4wding. Maybe even possible to have switchable maps for on and off road driving ? Anyway, getting ahead of myself, just want to get it sorted as easy as possible as i miss my 4wd. Then ill worry about tuning and sorting.
Cheers to anyone helping out.

[Holden202T]

you can put a VS motor and box in, the engine mounts and gearbox should be right but the exhaust on an ecotec is different.

you will need to run the full VS engine wiring loom and computer for everything to work properly.

alternatively you can run the ecotec on a vn computer (with some mods) but it would need a vn/vp hydraulic auto.

if you want to run the VS computer you'll either need to disable anti-theft or run a bcm simulator which VL400 sells for them.

[VQ_Statey_Matey]

thx holden202.

I am thinking that ill go the whole swap with the VS motor and box. With this option, how far do i need to go with the wiring, i understand ill need the complete engine bay wiring loom and the transmission wiring loom, but do i also need to run all the dash and such?

The speedo is driven from the transfer case witch is divorced/ independent from tranny. After reading a lot on here, i think im right in saying that the speedo output from the auto also has something to do with the torque convertor lockup ? Goes through the dash and is converted for the ecu ? Well i dont have the dash, is original bravo, and if this is correct, this just might be why i never heard the auto in it lockup the torque convertor. I have a VQ v8 statey and do know the telltale drop in revs when the convertor locks up.

So if this is the case, is there a way around this ? a circuit that can simulate this signal ? or a manual switch on dash/ tranny shift ?

What are your opinions on the best motor box combo out of the 2 ? Anyone ? Best for tunability, best for economy/ power, best for longevity.
Also i have a modified sump to fit on the VN v6, can this sump be bolted onto the Ecotec ? I assume no as the ecotec is alloy one. this is another cost i would have to consider. Hmmmmm...

[Jayme]

you dont need the dash, only the engine loom and pcm. in the ecotec the speed sensor is hooked up directly to the pcm, then there is an output from the pcm to drive the speedo. I reckon the ecotec will probably be more economical, youll just have to weigh up the cost of rebuilding vs getting a sump made.
in the VP the speed sensor is ran through the dash, the dash divided by 5 then sends the signal to the pcm. you can actually bypass the speedo and hook it directly to the pcm, then edit the tune in the memcal for the new signal whilch is 5x more pulses than it expects, then yout tcc shoudl start locking up.

[Holden202T]

when i did the v6 conversion in the torana i used a vn/vr sump, and just re-drilled the holes in the back of the pan to suit where i needed them for the ecotec.

so you can see on the right of this picture where i have ground back the holes i filled up, then i just re-drilled new ones where they were needed.

P1020714.JPG

P1020712.JPG

and here you can see the difference in the gaskets, vn/vr = cork and ecotec = steel one.

P1020740.JPG

[VQ_Statey_Matey]

when i did the v6 conversion in the torana i used a vn/vr sump, and just re-drilled the holes in the back of the pan to suit where i needed them for the ecotec.

Does this mean that the physical shape of the 2 pans mating surfaces are the same shape ? If this is so then i could just use the sump thats been modifies already thats fitted to the vn motor and redrill it for the ecotec ?

What did you use to fill the holes ? Were they mig or oxy welded ? or was it some sort of 2 part steel filler ?
This would be a lot easier option. The exhaust i can mod myself with the use of the current exhaust on the VS.. maybe mating it to current one in 4wd.

As for the wiring, am i right in thinking that the engine loom for the vs will include wiring to goto the auto ? or is this a seperate loom ? or will i need to make a loom for this ?
I have found the BCM under the driver side dashboard of the vs, and the ecm behind the kick panel as usual, but where is this PCM module i keep hearing about ?

Is this a seperate unit or is it inside the ECM ?
Aside from the engine and engine loom, what else is required to run this from the vs engine bay ?

Thanks to all who have replied. From what ive read i think ill be neading to talk to vl400 about some hardware for tuning.
P.S. Do i need to mount all the warning dash lights ? are they checked by the ECM ? I assume these checks could be bypassed if needed ?
Another thing, i have a snorkel to fit, will the maf send different signals to ecm if i change its position and intake pipe length ? Probably would end up slightly closer to throttle body with a longer tube on other side going through fender and up to roof height along pillar.
cheers all.

[Jayme]

the PCM = the ECM
PCM is powertrain control module, because it controls the whole powertrain including the gearbox.
ECM is engine control module, becuase it only controls the engine (eg: manual transmission)

the gearbox wiring is part of the engine loom. comes from the back of the motor area down to the gearbox.

[Holden202T]

yeah sump rail shapes are the same other than the back holes being different, and yes just miged the holes up, grinded flat, then worked out the new holes and drilled them.

[VQ_Statey_Matey]

Update !

Have the VS engine and box out now. Still need to remove wiring loom from engine bay. Have the computer out.

Will i need the BCM or will i need to have the computer re-programmed to remove BCM stuff ?
I will be running the ecotec and electronic auto plus VS pcm and wiring loom.

cheers to all

[Jayme]

you dont need the bcm, and its useless anyway unless you plan on integrating the key head slip ring and key chip from the VS as well.... but without it then you either need a BCM simulator or remove anti theft from the tune.