Possibilities going N/A

[TurfBurn]

Both the MSP and MP3 have a forged crank, which is an internal...The MSP has slightly redesigned piston crowns, for better quench area, and also has slightly different connecting rods...still not forged...

FWIW the changes made to the FS-DE for the MSP were performed in 2002.5...so any 02.5 car has an identical FS internally to the MSP...The 02/01 FS-DE's, which is also what is in the MP3, are all the same...Every Protege 2.0L FS-DE is immensely better and stronger than any other car it was ever in...(Probe SE, 626's, MX-6 2.0Ls etc...)

sorry for the thread resurrection... but was reading different stuff here and there... and wanted to make one correction...

The piston crowns are not any different.. I have a set of pistons from a 2003 MSP and 2001 MP3 and there is no difference in the rods or pistons in any way that I can tell from a pretty close visual inspection....

Install is always spot on and knows more than pretty much anybody on here... so trust what he says over me, but the above is what I found from a direct comparison.

Later!

Steve

 

[Installshield 2]

No problem man...The info I had on hand was directly from one of Ed's "contacts" a few months before the MSP's release...so that info came before the changes were actually made, all in all it may never have happened...But also remember that the supposed rod strengthening technique could not have changed its appearance at all...It may have just been manufacturing changes that marginally increased the rods strength...as well as the crowns...however it did sound as if these were noticable to the eye differences...so who knows...

The only thing I am absolutely positive about is the differences between the older Probe/MX-6/626 derivatives of the FS compared to any protege FS-DE version...there are some more noticable upgrades made for the Proteges version...

 

[igdrasil]

The only thing I am absolutely positive about is the differences between the older Probe/MX-6/626 derivatives of the FS compared to any protege FS-DE version...there are some more noticable upgrades made for the Proteges version...

which are?

Because, If I dont find a protege core, I will look into the Ford Probes to build my engine.

 

[Installshield 2]

any U.S. FS from 98 and before did not have a forged crank...

there are a slew of other differences to the head, oiling system, and recipricating assembly too, I need to dig it up...Some might be still on Ed's FAQ, but not sure...

 

[TurfBurn]

I can verify that the upper oil pan/main bearing support plate is different... the newer models have added structure for the contact points on the plate that are fastened to the thurst bearing main. So that's one thing you can add to that list .

 

[SpicyMchaggis]

Holy s***, that was a long read.

Everyone keeps talking about how much power they THINK they'll make NA, but no-one does anything to back it up.

Make your 150whp for $2000, and I'll eat my words.

2000$ wouldn't cut it. Maybe, if you had lots of discounts for all the bolt-ons. But the real nitty gritty like cams and head work can cost 2k$ in just labor..Sigh..

 

[Gen1GT]

That's my point. You CAN'T make 150whp NA for $2000.