2.3 to 2.0 engine swap

[dom240sx]

Hey folks,
I'm new here and I want to talk about a little project I'm starting right now I'm a freak always building some crazy s*** in is garage (300zx with RB26 engine, mods rotary engine, tercel with nissan engine, etc) and last week a guy went to my job with a 2004 Mazda 3 2.3L full full full (leather, electric windows, doorlock, sunroof, etc).... After a little inspection why the car won't start I found a hole in the engine Hooooooo poor me I was able to buy it for 300$ :laugh2:
So I started to look for an engine to but it back on the road (I'm tired of my non-electric **** all junk protege my brother give me back in the days )
After some call I was shocked.... WHAT THE **** 1500-2000$ for a short block (2.3L) :squint:
After some research I want to put a 2.0L in it with all the sensor, intake, exhaust, ECM of the 2.3L
So here I am, a french Canadian on a budget to rebuilt a car without putting money on it :wiggle:

So here's the car :

And a little extra for you My little summer b****/drift car :

So if you have some info on this swap, things I should know before starting this tell me here I'll post update

 

[iPhoneGawd]

Hey nice b****/drift car!!! I am a northern ontario french canadian who has done this swap its physically the same for both engines and tranny the difference is the harmonic balancer for auto/manual transmission. As of now it dint work the car starts fine but does not idle. The pcm from the 2.3 needs to be flashed with per user data which is being done tomorrow and i will post if it works... I got the motor from quebec 2.0l from lecavalier via ebay 900 dollars shipped. I had to use the intake manifold from the 2.3 everything else just fit be sure to get a 2.0 from 2006 to 2009 since it has vvt and all 2.3's from 2004 to 2009 has variable valve timing.

 

[dom240sx]

Thanks
Is it possible to put the 2.3 head on the 2.0 base??? I have found a nice 2.0 for 300$ but it's from a 2004 too (no VVT ) So I'm looking for info on putting my head on this one (I know that the oil feed for the VVT is on the front timing cover and that the oil pump is not the same)
I may buy it anyway and start disassemble it too look if I can do something and start a complete built thread with pics and info on this

 

[iPhoneGawd]

Thanks
Is it possible to put the 2.3 head on the 2.0 base??? I have found a nice 2.0 for 300$ but it's from a 2004 too (no VVT ) So I'm looking for info on putting my head on this one (I know that the oil feed for the VVT is on the front timing cover and that the oil pump is not the same)
I may buy it anyway and start disassemble it too look if I can do something and start a complete built thread with pics and info on this

I came back from Mazda dealership today and he did flash the pcm but it did not idle properly or at all. So I got home and I remembered removing the 4 butterfly flaps in the intake manifold to get more hp, well I put them back and hold and behold I have a slammed Mazda 3 S/I LOL sport 2.0l. as for 2004 head I am not 100% sure but I think and looking at pictures it can be done as it's physically the same by looking at it. Id suggest getting vin# from the vehicle the motor comes from as before the flash the exhaust manifold got red hot within 2minutes runtime. It will be a lot of mix matching due to the oil pump would need to swap the whole timing chain cover with the one from 2004 pictures don't help that much but if you want the shop manual for 2004 to 2009 I will email it to you so you can see the engine combination and differences. Good luck and if you need help I will try and provide you with what knowledge I have of these cars. I see mazda produced 4 engines 2.0l, 2006 and up VVT 2.0l, 2.3l, speed 3 2.3l turbo

 

[Deehsar]

I am a out to attempt this swap.I swap the intake manifold and camshaft. Can I reuse the 2.3 ecu?

 

[JoshBelton28]

Hey nice b****/drift car!!! I am a northern ontario french canadian who has done this swap its physically the same for both engines and tranny the difference is the harmonic balancer for auto/manual transmission. As of now it dint work the car starts fine but does not idle. The pcm from the 2.3 needs to be flashed with per user data which is being done tomorrow and i will post if it works... I got the motor from quebec 2.0l from lecavalier via ebay 900 dollars shipped. I had to use the intake manifold from the 2.3 everything else just fit be sure to get a 2.0 from 2006 to 2009 since it has vvt and all 2.3's from 2004 to 2009 has variable valve timing.

Hey man, alright so I need to know if you could help me with this, Ive taken a 2.0l 2008 mazda 3 motor(Auto) and put it into a 2007 mazda 5 2.3l (Manual), everything mounts the same, (kept 2.3 ECU in the car) and I attempted to start it but the engine would never turn over and actually start. (It backfired) I went back and checked only to see that ignition coils were only firing on 2 cylinders and the other 2 were not firing at all. What do you think the problem is??

 

[JoshBelton28]

I am a out to attempt this swap.I swap the intake manifold and camshaft. Can I reuse the 2.3 ecu?

I've tried to use the 2.3 ECU but when I attempted to start it would never turn over. I don't know if this means I should use the 2.0 computer that came with motor or to reflashed the 2.3 ECU to make it run the 2.0 engine

 

[DarkRyder]

the ecu that came with the motor will always have less headaches to start.

 

[JoshBelton28]

the ecu that came with the motor will always have less headaches to start.

So I should use the ECU that goes with the motor?

 

[JoshBelton28]

Im going to haul the mazda 5 to the Mazda dealership and im going to let them reflash my manual 2.3 computer to run the 2.0 automatic motor that is in it, after that it should start and run fine im assuming right?

 

[JoshBelton28]

Hey nice b****/drift car!!! I am a northern ontario french canadian who has done this swap its physically the same for both engines and tranny the difference is the harmonic balancer for auto/manual transmission. As of now it dint work the car starts fine but does not idle. The pcm from the 2.3 needs to be flashed with per user data which is being done tomorrow and i will post if it works... I got the motor from quebec 2.0l from lecavalier via ebay 900 dollars shipped. I had to use the intake manifold from the 2.3 everything else just fit be sure to get a 2.0 from 2006 to 2009 since it has vvt and all 2.3's from 2004 to 2009 has variable valve timing.

Hey did you reflash your 2.3 to run the 2.0 and did it work??

 

[#mazda808]

Hey did you reflash your 2.3 to run the 2.0 and did it work??

Hey new member here, just wanted to follow up with the 2.0 swap to mazda5 as I am in the process of doing the same project.

 

[Bradmyers99]

I am just wondering if you can either swap a 2.5l head or a 2.3l head on a 2010 2.0l. I heard 2.5l goes well with a 2.0 head so I'm assuming if that's possible then that answers my question but I only saw it one place either on this thread of another, they are all running together. Basically what I want is turbo and about 250-275whp. I know it's going to take more than just shoving the motor in and it sings. I'm just looking for the best safest combo to get to that point. I'm not sure if they make a procharger/supercharger for any of them but I would go that route because of reliability so if anyone knows we're I could find either one or anything else in the list, let me know.