MZR in MSP, P5 or Protege?

[xxxmonoxidechil]

you dont need custom axles either. you just need to find a fitting axle that has the spline count and length you need. when we did the KL install on the protege, we ended up using a Kia axle that was the correct length and spline count we needed. its just having to sit down, and do the research.

and this swap wouldnt be as bad as alot of people are making it sound. most of the engine and trans mounting location area's are shared between both engines. Thats not saying it will bolt up, but the fact the mounts are in the same spots means not having to fabricate all new mounting spots which can be a MAJOR pain.

 

[tweety2300]

It's not horrible it's just strenghthining the metal that your going to use whether welding in a plate to drill into or something else

I'm planing to do a full evo swap into my 323, if you want to talk about a pain to research stuff, which is why I'm making it easier and just spending the extra money on custom axles and driveshaft, and stand alone. At that point getting the motor and trans in will be the hard part, axles, drive shaft, and wiring will be gravy. It depends on how much you're willing to spend and how much if a hurry you're in. Ill have everything done and put together and tuned by next summer or fall

 

[Preferio]

If you're really wanting to swap a motor and don't want tons of headache, do a KL swap. That's the first time and last that I'll EVER tell someone to swap in a KL.

 

[xxxmonoxidechil]

^
EVO swap into a 323 should be possible. there have been a few mx6's and probes that have done 4g63 swaps. and the 323 isnt much different engine bay lay out wise. Hell, there is even a Dodge Colt with a KL swap on Youtube. Which is kind of the same idea, just in reverse.

 

[jeffmsp]

Custom axles run 300-800 depending how strong you want them, wiring isn't a huge issue if you use a stand alone, mounts I'm not sure about as I won't be making mine, and since mounts are custom you can have them put the motor wherever you need it. Obviously a s*** ton of fabbing stuff but you make it sound 100x harder and more complicated than it is. You can get a block of steel for a couple hundred bucks and cut out a custom crossmember

First go find an ms3 and take measurements to make sure it even fits, that's the first step, then do research on how the fuel system works, as iirc they use a high pressure system for the direct injection.

a "s*** ton" of fabbing means it is not easy. there is no plug and play solution for anything to do with the swap. Easy means everything plugs in/lines up. The swap is not "easy" or everyone would have done it. Just cause it can be done doesnt mean its easy by any means. It is probably the most complicated engine swap you could do staying in the fwd mazda family. and how many people can take a block of steel and fabricate a cross member? You mean someone who already has tools and a shop and a welder and years of experience fabricating can make one in a day...ya real easy (lol2)

 

[jeffmsp]

you dont need custom axles either. you just need to find a fitting axle that has the spline count and length you need. when we did the KL install on the protege, we ended up using a Kia axle that was the correct length and spline count we needed. its just having to sit down, and do the research.

and this swap wouldnt be as bad as alot of people are making it sound. most of the engine and trans mounting location area's are shared between both engines. Thats not saying it will bolt up, but the fact the mounts are in the same spots means not having to fabricate all new mounting spots which can be a MAJOR pain.

what is your definition of "not as bad"? nothing is plug and play with the ms3 and the msp. nothing. that means it is hard. easy is plug and play. like your KL swap. plug and play and well documented by plenty of other people.

and you guys seem to forget about the potential firewall issues.

 

[jeffmsp]

and im not saying it cant be done, im just saying you guys saying stuff like "its easy" and "its not that hard" makes me lol you guys make it seem like an average joe with a $25 tool set, a set of jackstands and a spare friday night working in his driveway that a MS3 swap is "easy" I mean wow.

for someone with a shop at their disposal and tons of time to work out all the details and the fab skills and welder/materials necessary to make custom mounts/crossmember ...i still would not call it easy. more like tedious and time consuming.

having made custom mounts/crossmember myself I will testify that for the average joe making these things is not "easy" at all.

 

[jeffmsp]

^
EVO swap into a 323 should be possible. there have been a few mx6's and probes that have done 4g63 swaps. and the 323 isnt much different engine bay lay out wise. Hell, there is even a Dodge Colt with a KL swap on Youtube. Which is kind of the same idea, just in reverse.

I have also seen one in a 90s civic hatch with full awd swap and everything done nice. must be crazy

also fyi if my memory serves me correctly, years ago someone from this forum already tried to do a ms3 swap...and failed. maybe dig up their old thread to find the details. pretty sure it was firewall issues.

 

[tweety2300]

I'm not saying easy but not as bad as y'all are saying, fire walls can be cut out and re strengthened as needed. And it won't be a weekend project either. I don't have a bunch of special tools but I have a welder and an idea a space and a s*** load of free time. You don't need much else except for money, which is why I haven't started my swap yet

 

[bikingpro5]

 

[tweety2300]

No pics of the mounts?

 

[AzteCypher]

I knew someone had tried this already. Any specifics yet. What's the clearance to the firewall? Tons more questions....

 

[jeffmsp]

looks great but theres still a lot to do from what you can see in those pics. is that a speed motor or just a n/a 2.x? are those just the old pics from the last person who tried or are these pics from a project thats still going?

 

[xxxmonoxidechil]

its a n/a MZR. if it was a speed, it would have a top mount intercooler, not a engine cover. plus the speed engines have aluminum intake manifolds.

 

[peter25]

Thanks for the info guys. Maybe I'll make that project happen down the road. If I do I'll be sure to ask you all again for advice. And post pics and video!

 

[tonyprote]

 

[hornsfan10609]

We've all seen the pics... We want to hear the specs