1.5L Turbo anyone?

[hockeyplaya310]

Hey guys, I know that the 1.5L engine from the JDM protege will fit into the USDM version, but I was wondering whether or not anyone has performed the swap and had decent success with it. Does it pull any nicer than the stock 1.6L? Also, are the aftermarket parts between the two motors interchangeable? This last question is mainly in regards to the hiboost 1.6L turbo kit that seems quite successful... Also, does the 1.5L share the same legendary strength of the 1.6L I currently have? I have decided that if this engine is as boost friendly as the 1.6L that I will keep the 1.6L as a spare engine and purchase a front clip from Japan and do the tranny swap from auto to stick in addition to the new block all at once while I have it apart... a company in Canada I called said the entire front clip would only be 2500 shipped, which did not seem too bad to me. Any help would be appreciated, just please don't bother to respond if you are going to attempt to talk me outta swappin to a stick from an auto cuz I love my baby car and would not sell it for another one... call me stupid but it has extreme sentimental value to me!

 

[hockeyplaya310]

help...

anyone?

 

[zerocover]

They are the same engine. With the 1.5 having 30 more hp. + it has shorter rods so they would be stronger still.

No one has done that swap that I know of but one of the engines has been sold here. The main problem is the ecu which you would need to swap over for the s-vt.

 

[island-p5]

1.5 svt japan spec.

i have a 1998-9 mazda 1.5 5-speed real good pulls sweet planning to turbo it it,s a sweet motor,with shorter rods it, should be stronger on broost.

 

[hockeyplaya310]

They are the same engine. With the 1.5 having 30 more hp. + it has shorter rods so they would be stronger still.

No one has done that swap that I know of but one of the engines has been sold here. The main problem is the ecu which you would need to swap over for the s-vt.

but i would have the ecu if i got the front clip right? i should have all that i need in theory... anything else i should know?

 

[truplayax14]

i thought about getting a 1.5l, I am still thinking about it

 

[pluto316]

It seems like a neat motor, subbing for intrest.

 

[TheMAN]

there's a NORMAL 1.5l which has even LESS power than the 1.6l, and the variable timing 1.5l which has MORE power with high compression pistons.... BOTH 1.5l engines have less torque than the 1.6

 

[truplayax14]

there's a NORMAL 1.5l which has even LESS power than the 1.6l, and the variable timing 1.5l which has MORE power with high compression pistons.... BOTH 1.5l engines have less torque than the 1.6

Thanks for the info

 

[mig360mBJ]

The man the JDM ZL-DE(1.5) and the Zm-DE(1.6) has the almost the same power.I race my friend 3rd Gen Pro(MT) and I have a 2nd gen pro(MT) with the ZL-DE and I was next to him.I driven both Zl-DE and ZM-DE both felt the same. The ZL-VE(MT) is faster than both Zl and ZM.

 

[hockeyplaya310]

So I'm still trying to figure out whether or not this is just an interesting thing to do to my car just to see little gain and say I'm different, or rather that this is a worthwhile investment to run this engine with a Hiboost turbo system and possibly a better piggyback ECU system... does anyone have any idea whether gains under boost are improved over the 1.6L enough to make my labors worth $2500? If someone with experience on this topic could step forward and grace me with their unending wisdom, I would most certainly be grateful.

I will also entertain answers on the topic using mechanical and theoretical reason if the above request is a little too much... You guys are great!! (first)

 

[truplayax14]

i would boost the 1.5L, even tho it has less torque, u could always run it at a higher psi

 

[steve_protege]

If the 1.5L and 1.6L are very similar, who is to say that the ZL-VE can hold boost better than the ZM-DE? If the 1.6L can safely boost about 7-8 PSI on stock internals, then that means that MAYBE the 1.5 can do the 1.6L one better by boosting 9-10 PSI?

 

[truplayax14]

the 1.5L (ZL-VE) Variable Timing puts out around 130hp.... And boosting would be a very good thing considering that compared to the ZM-DE, which puts out not even 100hp, You could run higher boost and gain a lot more horsepower...

 

[TheMAN]

The man the JDM ZL-DE(1.5) and the Zm-DE(1.6) has the almost the same power.I race my friend 3rd Gen Pro(MT) and I have a 2nd gen pro(MT) with the ZL-DE and I was next to him.I driven both Zl-DE and ZM-DE both felt the same. The ZL-VE(MT) is faster than both Zl and ZM.

that's not a fair comparison.... the 2nd gen is a lighter car, and you have a more "modern" engine swap in your car
of course they'll feel the same! they're both practically the same motors! except one has less work to do than the other because your car is lighter!

 

[TheMAN]

If the 1.5L and 1.6L are very similar, who is to say that the ZL-VE can hold boost better than the ZM-DE? If the 1.6L can safely boost about 7-8 PSI on stock internals, then that means that MAYBE the 1.5 can do the 1.6L one better by boosting 9-10 PSI?

uhh, read post 8

 

[zerocover]

As long as this thread is still around. The 1.5l and 1.6l have the same rods but the 1.5 has the stroke lower. Theres a chance the 1.5 is slightly stronger but its higher compression would make it worse to boost. Remember the 1.6 is proven to 30 psi, no one wantes to take it further 30 psi is a crazy amount.

Idealy you would want a 1.6l with the 1.5l vvt so you can rev the extra grand.

 

[TheMAN]

wrong
the blocks maybe the same between the 1.5 and 1.6, but all of the major bottom end parts are NOT the same

the ZL-VE gets extra revs because it uses even better internals (as well as having S-VT which promotes better high RPM VE) than the ZL-DE.... the ZL-VE uses the stronger B5-ZE rods and crank while utilizing its own specific high compresison pistons... furthermore, the extra *safe* revs comes from a better rod ratio than the 1.6..... so slapping on the ZL-VE head on a ZM-DE short block does not automatically make it safe to rev to 7500rpm for an extended time (especially under boost)... now I'm sure the 1.6 bottom end can handle 7000rpm safely/reliably (for an extended period)

 

[zerocover]

Better rod ratio you say. I need more reserch on this now, I remember reading the rod lengths were the same. I would imagine the ZL would get beefier rods but the engines are NA, so the rods wont make that big of a deal.

Can you get us the number the better rod ratio might be something to look into for us USDM guys?

 

[truplayax14]

If you got a a haltech or another ems, would that control the VVT on the 1.5?