Best Bang for Buck Engine Swap? (1993 Miata MX-5)
06-03-2015 | 09:55 PM
#65
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 635
Total Cats: 322
^ this.
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06-04-2015 | 10:27 PM
#67
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 138
Total Cats: 5
**** the DISI motor, the HPFP makes you take a 5" hole saw to the firewall for clearance. The 2.5 MZR has a better power potential anyways. But I hear ya on the NC sub frame. FM Keith says the RX8 subframe fits the NC chassis, so the opposite is probably true. Not sure how the engine position would work out in relation to the firewall or hood with that setup.
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.
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.
What are the specifics on the transmission options for the MZR 2.5?
Some people are posting that a MZR swap into a NA/NB is difficult or near impossible... Any idea why this swap would be that difficult? Engine height or?
The NC oil pan should be rear sump and there are multiple options for dry dumps that sell for $1000 or less. These engines (2.0 and up) are popular in Europe for track cars, so there is aftermarket support that isn't too expensive. ITB setups, cams, etc.
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06-04-2015 | 11:03 PM
#68
Quad4Rods Duratec to T5 adapter. Options on the T5 range from $700 rebuilt world class (300ftlbs), $1800 T5z (500ftlbs RR, 310DR), or $2800 Geforce HD (500ftlbs). You match the starter to the flywheel you use (it was designed for ranger parts, but fwd flywheels work with the fwd starter, no confirmation on NC flywheels), and you buy a merkur T5 swap pilot bushing.
Not many even consider this swap because, well it used to seem dumb, people only saw NC MZR "power" and didnt see the 300hp N/A world challenge motors or the roundy round guys building 330hp N/A motors out of the ranger 2.3 which is literally the worst performing of the bunch due to having the worst head. If you get the front of the oil pan behind the steering rack it fits height wise with the NC pan according to the measurements of the motor online. I cant find one thats been measured with the EGR removed so I dont know if you can fit it that far back without modifying the firewall.
Not many even consider this swap because, well it used to seem dumb, people only saw NC MZR "power" and didnt see the 300hp N/A world challenge motors or the roundy round guys building 330hp N/A motors out of the ranger 2.3 which is literally the worst performing of the bunch due to having the worst head. If you get the front of the oil pan behind the steering rack it fits height wise with the NC pan according to the measurements of the motor online. I cant find one thats been measured with the EGR removed so I dont know if you can fit it that far back without modifying the firewall.
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06-05-2015 | 01:31 PM
#71
I always laugh so much when Leafy goes off on one of his "it's so easy, you just...." rambles, and people ACTUALLY take him seriously 
So E-Z P-Z you can do it in 2 hours
Dual engine cammed rotary compound charged rear mount awd? No problem bro, you just do this and this and voila, 3 hours later you're done.
So E-Z P-Z you can do it in 2 hours
Dual engine cammed rotary compound charged rear mount awd? No problem bro, you just do this and this and voila, 3 hours later you're done.
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06-05-2015 | 03:32 PM
#73
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 57
Total Cats: 4
I figured it wouldn't take a lot of common sense to realize someone should put the engine i mentioned in a miata or Rx-8 like the previous number of posts had been describing. It obviously is serving me no purpose.
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06-05-2015 | 04:10 PM
#75
Newb
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 12
Total Cats: 0
From: Crowley, TX
Just for giggles, PM me a price. You are just down the road from me, right? Houston?
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07-15-2017 | 10:50 AM
#77
Newb
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 1
Total Cats: -10
Best Bang for Buck Engine Swap?
Ok I know that this is a very late reply but if you want to do a swap don't be sacrilegious and be like everyone else use a Mazda motor you can drop in a Mazdaspeed protege or Mazdaspeed Mazda 3 motor in your Miata and upgrade the Turbo System if you want to make decent power to weight ratio
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