2.3l MZR Engine into the 2?

Well It all comes down to the question. Can I upgrade my 1.5l to at least 250+ horsepower? Because the swap for the 2.3l would give me 265hp
 
Unless you build race cars, I don't see how this is going to work. If you've only seen the pretty, finished product pics, take a look at Team ZoomZoom Nation on facebook for some "during" pics. There is also an older thread on this forum about the build. It was a very, very intensive project.

There is also the cost of the project car and the donor car, in addition to anything extra needed to get things to fit/work.

I was also not very impressed with the race results for the Autobarn car. It didn't do that well because it continually needed repairs and missed a lot of racing.

I just don't see the point in spending that much money, time, and effort (assuming you even know how to do it all), to have an unreliable car. You can buy a Mazdaspeed3 for under $30k. You can buy a GT-R for $100k. That same $100k can buy you a used rally car, if all you want is something different and badass.

If you have a very specific reason for wanting to do the swap and the money/skills/tools/experience to do so, then it's an awesome project. However, if you have the money/skills/tools/experience to do it, you're probably not making a forum thread asking what would be involved...

Not trying to be a buzz kill, just my thoughts on the pitfalls.

-Matt
 
Unless you build race cars, I don't see how this is going to work. If you've only seen the pretty, finished product pics, take a look at Team ZoomZoom Nation on facebook for some "during" pics. There is also an older thread on this forum about the build. It was a very, very intensive project.

There is also the cost of the project car and the donor car, in addition to anything extra needed to get things to fit/work.

I was also not very impressed with the race results for the Autobarn car. It didn't do that well because it continually needed repairs and missed a lot of racing.

I just don't see the point in spending that much money, time, and effort (assuming you even know how to do it all), to have an unreliable car. You can buy a Mazdaspeed3 for under $30k. You can buy a GT-R for $100k. That same $100k can buy you a used rally car, if all you want is something different and badass.

If you have a very specific reason for wanting to do the swap and the money/skills/tools/experience to do so, then it's an awesome project. However, if you have the money/skills/tools/experience to do it, you're probably not making a forum thread asking what would be involved...

Not trying to be a buzz kill, just my thoughts on the pitfalls.

-Matt

I don't consider anyone to be a buzz kill but the way I am I need reality checks sometimes. I'm just trying to make the best car I can from my 2 because I still have some time to pay it off.
 
I don't consider anyone to be a buzz kill but the way I am I need reality checks sometimes. I'm just trying to make the best car I can from my 2 because I still have some time to pay it off.

Reality checks are helpful for me too!

Are you saying that because you have some time before your payments are finished, you have time to find parts, plan, and get ready? or are you saying that you want to make changes and get the most out of your car while you make payments?
 
Either way, I don't think the 2 is the right platform for 250+HP. Putting 150-180HP down to the wheels would be easily obtainable, given the internals can handle it, and still turn this car is a godsforsaken monster. If you think about it, it's one of the lightest, if not the lightest, car in it's class already. It's 100hp is laying the smackdown on the Hondas, Fords, and Minis with more HP, AND it can outhandle most of them. You add 50% HP while keeping all the plus sides to the car, and they won't even stand a chance.

However, putting that much power into a transmission like the one on the 2 is kinda pointless given the poor gear ratios. This is where a nice NA engine and matching transmission would work well. Like the 2.3l from the 3. Plenty of HP, transmission to handle it, and you aren't going to need to reengineer the entire car just to be able to launch it without tweaking the frame.
 
Yup well I'm going to have a fair amount of money starting next year (graduating school) so I plan on putting some into my car which still has 4 years (as of today) worth of payments left.
 
Either way, I don't think the 2 is the right platform for 250+HP. Putting 150-180HP down to the wheels would be easily obtainable, given the internals can handle it, and still turn this car is a godsforsaken monster. If you think about it, it's one of the lightest, if not the lightest, car in it's class already. It's 100hp is laying the smackdown on the Hondas, Fords, and Minis with more HP, AND it can outhandle most of them. You add 50% HP while keeping all the plus sides to the car, and they won't even stand a chance.

However, putting that much power into a transmission like the one on the 2 is kinda pointless given the poor gear ratios. This is where a nice NA engine and matching transmission would work well. Like the 2.3l from the 3. Plenty of HP, transmission to handle it, and you aren't going to need to reengineer the entire car just to be able to launch it without tweaking the frame.

This is why I'm thinking of supercharging the 2, a SC would make the engine feel bigger and work well with the gear ratio of the tranny. But a MZR 2.3l N/A would be a good swap too.
I need to find a place that can make me a custom mounting bracket for the idle pulley and the supercharger. The rest I can fab my self. Injectors and tuning will be an other thing to decide what to do or get
 
Well It all comes down to the question. Can I upgrade my 1.5l to at least 250+ horsepower? Because the swap for the 2.3l would give me 265hp

I don't see why not... 250hp crank is just over 210whp, and quite a few 10+ year old Honda, Nissan and Toyota 1.5 and 1.6 blocks with boost on stock guts make that much power. If you're willing to throw in strengthened pistons and rods, you can push all kinds of boost into an engine and make more power than you would ever use in that car.

Either way, I don't think the 2 is the right platform for 250+HP. Putting 150-180HP down to the wheels would be easily obtainable, given the internals can handle it, and still turn this car is a godsforsaken monster. If you think about it, it's one of the lightest, if not the lightest, car in it's class already. It's 100hp is laying the smackdown on the Hondas, Fords, and Minis with more HP, AND it can outhandle most of them. You add 50% HP while keeping all the plus sides to the car, and they won't even stand a chance.

However, putting that much power into a transmission like the one on the 2 is kinda pointless given the poor gear ratios. This is where a nice NA engine and matching transmission would work well. Like the 2.3l from the 3. Plenty of HP, transmission to handle it, and you aren't going to need to reengineer the entire car just to be able to launch it without tweaking the frame.

Power is power? If you can put down 180hp all motor, you can put down 180hp turbo- it doesn't take too much suspension tweaking to make the new batch of small cars handle extra power. The 2/Fiesta is a pretty good chassis- it can definitely handle more power than the factory gives it.
 
Even getting 140hp out of the oem NA 1.5l would be nice, remember the Suzuki Swift GTI? That lil car was a blast and it was quick enough to be fun with out braking the bank.

I'm going to look into a engine swap just for kicks, it's worth it and may be a simpler way to get the 2 up to speed :)

look at this, these parts are still available for the Duratec at FSWERKS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLbPsyE_E4Y

http://www.fswerks.com/collections/...rth-intake-manifold-ford-focus-duratec-kk3240 < sexy manifold :)
 
Last edited:
I'm thinking about all options to be honest. I'm in contact with Autobarn dealership to see what kind of work went into it. If it's too expensive or not worth the time I won't bother but I like going for broke.

Found this quote from Andy Hollis: " Autobarn Mazda...now CJ Wilson Mazda. Eric Vates is probably who brought it out since he masterminded the build. Teething problems at One Lap included cv joint boots self-destructing due to clearance issues, a blown motor at CMP, and then brake line problems. They missed a couple of stops as a result, but the car was fast at the hands of pro driver Charles Espenlaub. They won the (un)coveted Diamond Jim Brady award after the event, given to the team that gets the least from the most.

Speed3 drivetrain in a 2.

Car was later wrapped in the new graphics and displayed at SEMA last Fall. Garnered a lot of attention and media."

Andres
 
IMO it's pointless because a speed 3 is a FWD and it's irritating to try to have traction with that car and torque steer. Speed 3 is a lot heavier than the 2. Imagine putting that kinda power on that little car. Like others have said in this thread, 180whp for this car is more than enough in this car. I know where you're coming from because I own a 2 and a speed 3 and the speed 3 gives me a damn headache to get traction and when I drive the 2 it's really fun taking corners hard and realizing that this car can handle! Just a little lack of power when you need that push. My friend used to own the last gen Celica and that thing was pushing only 200-220whp and it was felt hella fun just riding in it. I think it's the same concept with the 2. Good luck
 
Power is power? If you can put down 180hp all motor, you can put down 180hp turbo- it doesn't take too much suspension tweaking to make the new batch of small cars handle extra power. The 2/Fiesta is a pretty good chassis- it can definitely handle more power than the factory gives it.

Yes but the difference in 180hp all motor and 180hp turbo is that the all motor (2.3l swap) is infinitely more reliable with less things to break or maintain than turboing the stock engine. AND you then have to worry about our transmission, 180hp input into our little transmission that can't will cause 2 problems. 1) The gearing SUCKS. It's means for city driving and fuel efficiency almost doubling the horsepower you can just skip 1st gear, and 5th gear is going to feel like driving everywhere in 3rd. 2) The internals will not be able to handle that amount of power for long.
 
Last edited:
Well I'm convinced that it's probably more trouble than it's worth. I think I'll just turbo the f*** out of it and do other modifications. :) Thanks everyone for your input
 
I'm looking into the NA MZR/ Duratec 2.0l 2.3l engine swaps and it could work but it seems to be too much money for what it's worth.
 
I'm looking into the NA MZR/ Duratec 2.0l 2.3l engine swaps and it could work but it seems to be too much money for what it's worth.

Set of the cosworth throttle bodies, high compression pistons, big cams = win!
 
Set of the cosworth throttle bodies, high compression pistons, big cams = win!

Are talking of the 2.3l in the mazda2 Derrick? What is your input in this subject Derrick, 2.0l/2.3l in the mazda2... is it a easy thing to go with?
 
If you want 260+ hp sell the 2 and get a ms3.
It is that simple.
 
Are talking of the 2.3l in the mazda2 Derrick? What is your input in this subject Derrick, 2.0l/2.3l in the mazda2... is it a easy thing to go with?

If someone was to swap in a 2.0 or a 2.3 might as well go big.

-Derrick
 

New Threads and Articles

Back