Engine swap questions. (technical people read)

[carsnrockmusic]

I searched and found a bunch of rambling and no answer.

Are there any direct swaps for the P5 without redoing the entire harness. Being able to tune the factory ecu would be great if that is indeed an option. Is there a piggyback/standalone or anything similar to work with the P5? This is more curiosity than anything else but I do see myself doing something with this car in the far future is the engine ever goes. I'd like to keep this car for a long period of time.

So basically if there's any swaps available what are they? I may look into swapping out for a manual as well since I never seem to put the "sport shift" into automatic.

Thanks in advance. (boobs2)

 

[magnumP5]

Short answer: no.

The most direct swap is a KL series V6 engine. The KLZE is rated at 190 hp but it required swapping out the wire harness and reverting the car to OBDI standards if I recall correctly. There are lots of other things needed for the swap as well. Don't get me wrong - it's a neat swap and the KLZE is a high-revving, happy motor; there are just more money-efficient ways of getting power out of these cars.

 

[carsnrockmusic]

I know that turbo is an option for more power but I want to keep it N/A. Has anyone ever attempted swapping the 2.3L? Also is the KLZE a Mazda 6 motor? I'm still very newbish. Thanks for the reply

Just noticed you got tuned at All Aspects...Kienan's a bud. He's worked on a my former Stage 4+ WRX and C4 Corvette. Are you in the Virginia area?

 

[mx-p5]

what's your budget?

 

[carsnrockmusic]

This isn't something I intend on doing any time soon as of now. With that said and with Christmas coming up and the motor working just fine...my budget is 0.

I'm more or less looking to educate myself about this car and for future reference. I'd likely do the motor install/wiring myself so I'm looking for simplicity. This will always be my daily driver even if one day getting another fast car.

 

[mx-p5]

As to motor swaps, without a fairly high budget, i'd say just keep it as is.

If you want to make it a little quicker, why not just put the MSP turbo kit on it?

If you want to stay N/A, Do a header, intake, midpipe, and catback exhaust. Then maybe do cam gears, MP3 ecu if you're a 5 speed, throw a better suspension on there and call it a day

 

[carsnrockmusic]

I'm not necessarily going go for faster...just an improvement if the motor ever decides to take a ****. This is the first car I've owned that isn't swap friendly at all apparently. The car is "sport shift" or whatever it's called and I don't feel like doing something too crazy. I figured if the motor went I could just swap something else with a little more power in the place of the 2.0 since it's kind of really slow.

I'll likely purchase something else when this car is paid off to toy with...something preferably already manual and turboed. For now I enjoy using 87 octane for thet first time in a LONG time.

Oh and if the motor ever did go my budget would probably be around $3k. If I still like this car enough to put that much into continue driving it when the time comes.

 

[mx-p5]

If you want more power, you'll also need a stronger tranny

And $3000 won't get you much in the way of any sort of swap for this car.

Just drive it for what it is, a sporty hatchback that runs corners like it's on rails and can stuff abuncha junk in the back at the same time

 

[carsnrockmusic]

That's my intention for the time being. I don't think the tranny would need replaced for an increase of 60 hp to the crank unless the transmissions are made of glass?

 

[mx-p5]

The auto tranny is not made to stand up to much more HP than it already has. I know there are at least 2 turbo'd auto's, but they won't boost over 6 PSI.

Yeah, the auto trannys are made of glass. lol

The 5 speed has more potential, but it also needs beefing up if more power is applied.

They did not build this car to handle power. It is made to handle the power it already makes, not much more

 

[carsnrockmusic]

Well it looks like it'll remain bone stock which is fine. I went through 3 transmissions in my WRX before I went PPG 1-4 straight cut dogbox. I'm still in college and work full time so extra time for all that mess is nonexistant. Thanks for all of your replies.

 

[mx-p5]

No worries.

You'll quickly come to realize the limitations on this car.

It's NOTHING like the wrx's and evo's or any other import with massive amounts of aftermarket available.

There really isn't much out there for the Protege. It's sorta the redheaded step child of teh import world.

It's got potential, just never really got "Accepted"

 

[magnumP5]

Just noticed you got tuned at All Aspects...Kienan's a bud. He's worked on a my former Stage 4+ WRX and C4 Corvette. Are you in the Virginia area?

I grew up in Virginia Beach and went to school in Blacksburg at Virginia Tech. I used to go to All Aspects for a number of things but all the tuning was done by myself. That dyno sure is a heart-breaker... Anyway, I graduated in May and took a job in Ohio so that's where I am now. The VA guys are trying to put together a dyno day and I'm seriously debating on bringing the P5 back because I've a decent amount more goodies than I did the last time.

Still, as for swaps, your best best is the KLZE (JDM MX6 motor I believe) as it's almost a direct fit but it does still require a fair amount of work. A N/A KLZE swap with full bolt-ons will probably net you over 200 whp and sound AMAZING! If I ever get sick of this turbo stuff I'd seriously consider doing it myself.

 

[carsnrockmusic]

Has anyone else done this swap? I looked it up and the motor along with manual transmission are both available for $2k.

I miss having a turbo but it is a money pit of endless possiblities.

 

[mx-p5]

i agree on turbo being endless money pit.

Stock MSP setup is MADE to be upgraded. lol