B2600i Motor Swap w/ JE SOHC V6

[MazdaJack]

Greetings All,

New to Mazdas 24/7, hope to learn alot.

I have an '89 B2600i 2.6L 4cyl. It runs, but not well. Where to start...

Idler pulley is bad and squealing. Head gasket is blown between 3 & 4, overheats once a week if I don't top off the coolant. Timing chain is stretched, whines. Think the oil pump is going out, unless I'm still hearing the chain whine. Lifter seals on 3 & 4 are bad, most start ups it ticks for about 10-15 miles until pressure builds up. Injectors are leaking, cylinders get washed out on hot days, hard starts in the afternoon. It's funny as hell, it'll crank and crank for up to 5 minutes until I very gently tap the throttle, my battery has never died!! what else? oh, burns oil real bad, rings & lifter seals are to blame for that. I bet the cylinder wear out on 3 & 4 is thru the roof! Clutch, tranny and 4x4 work great! Oh, need two CV Axles as well! HAHA!

I could rebuild this motor, or swap it. I choose swap. I have located a JE SOHC V6 from an '89 MPV, $850. With parts to recondition & bring up to snuff, it'll be around $1,000. I'm a mechanic, so it all comes cheap for me ;-) I'm pretty sure my research is correct and that this V6 will bolt directly into my truck & directly to the tranny, is this true?

I also need to know how to get or if I will need a computer & wire harness...??

If the computer comes from an automatic, will it set codes when used on a manual? My concern is that as I'm driving, the computer wil expect to see a shift, change of RPM, or vaccuum kick down from the trans... If ti does not see those, it may set a code or run rough....

What is the best & easiest way to hookup this JE V6?

Also, while I have the JE on a stand & I'm working on it, can i do a cam swap for more performance? Can I adjust valves or port the heads to get more power?

I'm a mechanic, not an engine builder, there IS a difference! I'm am trying to build this right and to last.

Also got a 351W I'm building as a racer, going to drop it in a '68 Falcon Sport Coupe...

Thanks for the help, I'll check back in a few hours! =)=)=)

 

[speed3 britz]

This is not really the best place to ask, trucks are just not common here... better off trying on mazdabscene.com or mazdatrucking.com, both truck oriented forums. As for the JE V6 dropping in, this topic has been discussed a million times, however with any definite answers. I know, I searched and searched to do so in my 93. The conclusions that I did reach were that the trans should bolt up, and the motor mounts I would think have to be close since the MPV used the 2.6 G6 4cyl in it just like the truck. As for the PCM/ECU if it would work is the question that I never got answered, would probably need the whole harness from the MPV chassis to work or build a Megasquirt system. If you have all the pieces, you would be the first to attempt that I know of and see what results you get. I ended up just rebuilding the G6 that was in my 2600i and calling it a day.

 

[Antoine]

Welcome!

Thread moved to our Truck Forum Mazda MPV, Tribute & Trucks

 

[jmuse8482]

Greetings All,

New to Mazdas 24/7, hope to learn alot.

I have an '89 B2600i 2.6L 4cyl. It runs, but not well. Where to start...

Idler pulley is bad and squealing. Head gasket is blown between 3 & 4, overheats once a week if I don't top off the coolant. Timing chain is stretched, whines. Think the oil pump is going out, unless I'm still hearing the chain whine. Lifter seals on 3 & 4 are bad, most start ups it ticks for about 10-15 miles until pressure builds up. Injectors are leaking, cylinders get washed out on hot days, hard starts in the afternoon. It's funny as hell, it'll crank and crank for up to 5 minutes until I very gently tap the throttle, my battery has never died!! what else? oh, burns oil real bad, rings & lifter seals are to blame for that. I bet the cylinder wear out on 3 & 4 is thru the roof! Clutch, tranny and 4x4 work great! Oh, need two CV Axles as well! HAHA!

I could rebuild this motor, or swap it. I choose swap. I have located a JE SOHC V6 from an '89 MPV, $850. With parts to recondition & bring up to snuff, it'll be around $1,000. I'm a mechanic, so it all comes cheap for me ;-) I'm pretty sure my research is correct and that this V6 will bolt directly into my truck & directly to the tranny, is this true?

I also need to know how to get or if I will need a computer & wire harness...??

If the computer comes from an automatic, will it set codes when used on a manual? My concern is that as I'm driving, the computer wil expect to see a shift, change of RPM, or vaccuum kick down from the trans... If ti does not see those, it may set a code or run rough....

What is the best & easiest way to hookup this JE V6?

Also, while I have the JE on a stand & I'm working on it, can i do a cam swap for more performance? Can I adjust valves or port the heads to get more power?

I'm a mechanic, not an engine builder, there IS a difference! I'm am trying to build this right and to last.

Also got a 351W I'm building as a racer, going to drop it in a '68 Falcon Sport Coupe...

Thanks for the help, I'll check back in a few hours! =)=)=)

The JE Engine has a different bell housing than the B2600i. Engines that are bolt in for the B2600 are as follows : Mazda FE3 DOHC 2.0 and or the Kia Sportage Variant (95-2003) of this engine which would be easier since its all ready setup for RWD. Mazda FE-SOHC, Mazda F2 engine, The R Series Diesel, and of course the G6 engine which you have. The G6 Transmission is a R box. Identical in many ways to the RX7 Turbo II (R) box. Difference include Input shaft length, gear ratio's and tail housings and Bell housings. Neither variant is known to be stronger than the other. The only vehicle that the JE bell housing can be found in is the Mazda 1989 929s model. Very rare these beasties are. Both the G6 and the JE (at least in the MPV) show to have the same part number for the motor mounts. So with the bell it should be almost direct fit in the B2600 (Maybe haha . ) I have heard the MPV had the JE (w) a 5 speed but i have yet to find proof. Ill post some examples of my JE bell and the G6 bell :

B2600 Bell :

JE Bell :

B2600 R Box (w) JE Bell Going in my Miata :





But here is some info if you guys ever want to do this kind of swap and you are having issues finding the bell housing, kinda wish i had this info when i went on the long hunt for mine. This info was lifted from another forum i am a member of from a friendly Ausie :

"Globally there weren't many JE engined 929's with manual transmissions. However early HC models were available with the JF (2.0L V6) and the part number for the clutch housing (which is what Mazda call a bellhousing) is JF0116210D and it is theoretically still available as a spare part from www.amayama.com".........................."The parts manual I was looking at shows the same part being used on the JE, and it looks like an R box but it is hard to tell just by looking at the illustrations. *edit* by looking at the part number for the casing: R50517200A it is an "R" box......AFAIK the JF was just a destroked JE, but there was also a turbo version of the JF. A lot of that had to do with Japanese motor vehicle tax. Cars with engines sub 2.0L had a much lower tax rate hence a turbo charged 2.0 version as a substitute for a 3.0L which were mostly for export. I remember seeing one here that someone had grey imported from Japan."

 

[mymmeryloss]

^ what he said