Best Bang for Buck Engine Swap? (1993 Miata MX-5)
#48
Sorry to necromance a thread, but it seemed like an appropriate thread for my question.
Speaking of less common swaps that are probably uncommon for a good reason...(putting on flame suit)...
There are a lot of 1.8L Miata engine swaps. What about the later 2.0L NC Miata? Is that too different to swap easily? I'm guessing the mounts are probably all different. What about the bell housing bolt pattern?
What about a same year 2.0 from a 626 into a Miata, say a 2000. (I have a 2000 Miata with a bad engine. And (93-02) 626s with bad transmissions can be picked up cheap.) Obviously the ECU and sensors would need some work, probably major work but will the trans and mounts bolt up.
Not making firm plans, just curious.
Thanks,
Idiot
Speaking of less common swaps that are probably uncommon for a good reason...(putting on flame suit)...
There are a lot of 1.8L Miata engine swaps. What about the later 2.0L NC Miata? Is that too different to swap easily? I'm guessing the mounts are probably all different. What about the bell housing bolt pattern?
What about a same year 2.0 from a 626 into a Miata, say a 2000. (I have a 2000 Miata with a bad engine. And (93-02) 626s with bad transmissions can be picked up cheap.) Obviously the ECU and sensors would need some work, probably major work but will the trans and mounts bolt up.
Not making firm plans, just curious.
Thanks,
Idiot
#50
If you're going to swap a motor, make sure it's a better motor than what you're replacing.
Hint: The 2.0 in the cars you're referencing is called the FS-DE and it's one of the worst things Mazda has ever done. Has next to nothing in common with the F motors that don't suck dick.
As for the MZR: Been done. Maybe twice. Different bolt pattern, whole host of other challenges. Probably not something to attempt if you're asking these questions. (No offense meant, i wouldn't try it, myself.)
I like the F2, and will put one in a Miata myself, but won't suggest anyone else do it, as it won't clear the hood. FE3s are cool, though.
Hint: The 2.0 in the cars you're referencing is called the FS-DE and it's one of the worst things Mazda has ever done. Has next to nothing in common with the F motors that don't suck dick.
As for the MZR: Been done. Maybe twice. Different bolt pattern, whole host of other challenges. Probably not something to attempt if you're asking these questions. (No offense meant, i wouldn't try it, myself.)
I like the F2, and will put one in a Miata myself, but won't suggest anyone else do it, as it won't clear the hood. FE3s are cool, though.
#51
Ban was premature. If we don't educate the noobs, where else are they gonna learn? From the "SR20 swap" friends? Father sounds more reasonable. Maybe he told the kid to do some research, instead of just telling him he's wrong.
At least he wasn't getting all butthurt over it. I think he is/was just young and ignorant. It is our responsibility to correct that, not just shut them out.
At least he wasn't getting all butthurt over it. I think he is/was just young and ignorant. It is our responsibility to correct that, not just shut them out.
#54
If you're going to swap a motor, make sure it's a better motor than what you're replacing.
Hint: The 2.0 in the cars you're referencing is called the FS-DE and it's one of the worst things Mazda has ever done. Has next to nothing in common with the F motors that don't suck dick.
As for the MZR: Been done. Maybe twice. Different bolt pattern, whole host of other challenges. Probably not something to attempt if you're asking these questions. (No offense meant, i wouldn't try it, myself.)
I like the F2, and will put one in a Miata myself, but won't suggest anyone else do it, as it won't clear the hood. FE3s are cool, though.
Hint: The 2.0 in the cars you're referencing is called the FS-DE and it's one of the worst things Mazda has ever done. Has next to nothing in common with the F motors that don't suck dick.
As for the MZR: Been done. Maybe twice. Different bolt pattern, whole host of other challenges. Probably not something to attempt if you're asking these questions. (No offense meant, i wouldn't try it, myself.)
I like the F2, and will put one in a Miata myself, but won't suggest anyone else do it, as it won't clear the hood. FE3s are cool, though.
#56
****, ive pulled several motors, been wrenching on big jobs in my spare time (turbos, clutches, pulling engines to build etc) for like 8 years and after looking at the cost and complexity of putting anything other than another 1.8 in my NB2 ive all but given up.
The miata gets a reputation as this easy swap platform since lots of people with time and money do it, and it makes average Joe think its as easy as just dropping another motor in. Hell, i had dreams of putting a K series motor in mine until i really started doing the time and math...
Ive also been tuning mazdaspeed3s for a few years since ive owned 2 lol, and ive thought more than once about one in the miata. Awesome as it would be, it would just be a massive pain in the ***.
The miata gets a reputation as this easy swap platform since lots of people with time and money do it, and it makes average Joe think its as easy as just dropping another motor in. Hell, i had dreams of putting a K series motor in mine until i really started doing the time and math...
Ive also been tuning mazdaspeed3s for a few years since ive owned 2 lol, and ive thought more than once about one in the miata. Awesome as it would be, it would just be a massive pain in the ***.
#60
But lets talk about the MZR swap. We had one posted on this forum, and I saw a 2nd in the life and talked to the guy who built it. The one I saw was an off the wall road race car and had the firewall channeled like 4" back, the entire motor including the crank pulley was behind the steering rack, and practically behind the subframe. I believe there's a couple more floating around. I'm highly confident we can make this motor fit a stock unmodified subframe car with just the NC oil pan. And of course there's the option to put transmissions capable of 600ftlbs of torque behind it using only unmodified off the shelf components. You can pull the 2.5 version out of ford escapes for ~$600 all day, literally check car-part I bet theres more 2.5s near you under $700 than there are of the good k24s. They're also good for 350-400hp on stock internals, or around 200 wheel with bolt ons, tune, and cams. Now figure this, you can get a motor for $700, a rated to 500ftlbs road racing 310ftlbs drag racing tranmission for ~$2500 or just one rated to 300ftlbs for ~$1200, and then a swap kit that is just engine, tranny, and diff mounts. You're taking about a motor swap that gets you basically what a built BP gets you for power handling, but gets you a tranny stronger than the 6 speed, no more vibrations breaking ****, and ~70lbs off the nose, all for around the cost of what it costs to do a full build on a BP. That sounds damn enticing.