Does anyone know of anyone who has swapped a 2.3 svo mustang engine into the miata chassis. the motors are easily available around me and performance parts are cheap.

 

Probably not, be the first to do it.

 

Yes, it has been done. That's a very tall, heavy, cast iron engine with an 8v head that lacks flow to the point that the tbird/svo/merkur guys went to the trouble to modify a volvo dohc head to fit and improve performance. That engine in it's stock configuration has similar power potential as the 1.8 BP Miata engine in boosted form.

 

They're sturdy but heavy as hell and REALLY thrashy.

 

Just because you can doesn't mean you should.

 

Why not a 22RE?

 

Put a Volvo 240 DL engine block, those things are bullet proof.
Cheap, reliable and dime a dozen in junkyards.
Megasquirt with it...



On these things about turbos and engine modding, and if you are on a budget is good to jump in to a platform that is easy to replace by goin to your nearest jy, and does not cost an arm and a leg.

I have thought many times to get a DSM or a SRT4, but no junkyard has them, especially the u pick/ u pull ones. Finding a BP engine block is a breeze, if a Mazda does not have it, its a matter of checking the Escort GTs, Tracers or a Kia.

Duramax is a nice engine, try to find one...

 

duramax LLM 6.6
turbo 6.6L v8 with 16.8:1 compression.

 

What year did that engine come in the Volvo, are the electronics reliable, are they RWD, and can I get one in a wagon? What chassis codes am I looking for...and then off to Wiki. I'm toying with the idea of a bigger daily driver that offers turbo fun/mpg.

 

Ha.

They made them for a long *** time.

I sold a really clean one(with good tires, working A/C and a CD player) for $900 recently:

IMG_20101015_105739.jpg?t=1291870162

They run literally forever, and are stupid easy to turbocharge.

That's why I got rid of mine...didn't want another turbo project at the time.


Now the twin cam head I think didn't start until '89.

Check the turbobricks forum for info galore.

 

Yeah, I'm on it. I'm getting the van in the next couple of weeks, but I've been thinking about doing something just like this for a while. I'm getting bored and need a project. Old, wagon, RWD = win. This would probably be an ARTech job too. Ramhorn, 2871, 3", Bilstein shocks, modern leather interior...with cruise control. I want a car that pulls how my turbo car pull on the highway, with the trailer, at 3200rpm in 6th.

 

I warn you...it's a slippery slope...

I had 4 parts catalogs and 3 forum subscriptions before I finally stopped myself and realized it's a slow as 25yr old wagon that should just be used to cart kids and groceries.

 

I learned it the hardway, one day line up against a 240DL, with my H22 vtec, and got my fair share of humiliation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JNzv...yer_embedded#!

Swiss cheese 4 CYLINDERS!

Exactly the same engine block, let me know when you see a BP on those times...

Bonus:

Volvo turbo

 

the 1.6 in my car is boosted already. my buddy and i were walking through the junkyard looking for a part for his fox body and we came a crossed 3 merkur's with the same motor as the svo mustangs. just a thought, but if i was going to go through the trouble of a motor swap it would either be a 5L or a 1.8

 

Search for a M20. Shoe horn that bitch in and you are golden. Easy 350whp and 400+wtq.

Only an extra 80~ish pounds on the front of the car

On a serious note.....I almost did that swap

 

Might as well go FE or YBT.

 

**** that. If you want a stout BMW 6 cyl: M30

 

Stout is relative. The M20 can EASILY give more than you can handle on the street and save you 60lbs off the nose of the car versus the M30.

 

well i guess if i wanted stout i would wedge the new ford 5.0 into it. would need to widen the body about 4 inchs to mount that monster.

 

2.3's are stout, and the one we measured on the stand was no taller then an LS. It'd give a 5.0 a run for its money.... They are just ugly looking engines.