Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

91-96 Escort GT vs. 90-94 Protege LX - important similarities and differences

Collapse
This is a sticky topic.
X
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

    91-96 Escort GT vs. 90-94 Protege LX - important similarities and differences

    So you heard your 91-96 Escort GT is "90% Mazda"?

    Heres a quick run-down of what parts are different, and what parts are interchangeable (with the 90-94 protege LX). I've also included some tips and tricks here and there. If you have any suggestions for things to add, feel free to post them up or PM me, and i will add them into this list. This is a work in progress, and i will be adding some photos when i have a chance.


    BRAKES:
    All the components at the wheels are identical. Pads, calipers, rotors, flex lines, etc. are all interchangable. 91-92 escorts share the same master cylinder and proportioning valve system as the 90-94 protege. from 93-96 ford went to a different style master cylinder, which has built in proportioning valves. because of this, the layout of the brake lines are also different. for these reasons you cannot do the millenia master cylinder swap which is commonly done on proteges, unless you replace all the brake lines and add an external proportioning valve.

    ENGINE ELECTRONICS:

    The engine wiring harness and ECU from a 91-94 EGT will, for the most part, interchange with the 90-94 protege. one issue you will encounter is that the firewall grommet for the engine harness is larger in diameter on the escort, in comparison to the 323/protege. all the major sensors, airflow meter, injectors, etc are all the same as well. one exception is the coolant temp sensor for the dash gauge, as it has a different resistance range. if putting a mazda engine in an escort, simply re-use your stock sensor, otherwise your temp gauge will not read properly. this is the very small 1-wire sensor that screws into the drivers side front corner of the block. in 95 the escort switched over to a 4 wire oxygen sensor, all other years used a 1-wire o2 sensor. you just have to use the proper o2 sensor to match your wiring harness/ECU. In 96 ford switched over to OBD2, so the ecu, wiring, and more of the sensors are going to be different. this OBD2 system is not interchangable with the protege.

    ENGINE INTERNALS:
    The engine block itself, the head, manifolds, cams, pistons, rods, etc are all identical. the one difference worth noting is that escort engines do not have a MBSP (main bearing support plate). this is a stamped steel plate which is sandwiched between the oil pan and block, and bolts to 4 of the 5 main bearing caps. it helps to prevent crank flex at high RPMs and high loads. if you can get one with the mounting bolts from a protege or miata BP it will bolt right up to your motor. its a nice thing to add if you have to remove the oil pan for some other reason.

    EXHAUST:

    The stock escort GT exhaust system is identical to that of the stock protege lx. therefore aftermarket headers and other parts will also interchange.

    FUEL SYSTEM:
    The fuel system is one part of the escort that ford decided it would be a good idea to do themselves. the gas tank, pump assembly, fuel lines, fuel filter, fuel rail, and fuel pressure regulator, are all different than the protege lx. on mazdas, the fuel lines are connected to the pump and rail with simple hose clamps. on the escort, special snap together connections are used. for this reason, when swapping a GTX or any other mazda engine into an escort, you should re-use the escort fuel rail and pressure regulator. functionally they are the same (same amount of flow), but it will save you the headache of redoing your lines during the swap.

    INTERIOR:
    Even though ford designed the interior, and it looks significantly different, a lot of parts are similar. For example, protege/323/MX3 front seats will bolt right into your escort. just make sure they come from a 2-door vehicle or no one will be getting in the back seat! swapping the back seat will take some minor fabrication, but it can be done. again, stick to seats from a 2 door, as 4 door rear seats do not have enough internal bracing (they are normally supported by the rear shelf). Other swapable parts include center consoles, carpet, some dash parts, etc. some things will take some minor trimming/fitting.

    TRANSMISSION / DRIVETRAIN:

    For the most part everything is the same. transmission, mounts, clutch, axles, clutch master/slave cylinders, shifter linkage, etc. the only difference is that the speedometer sensor and cable are different. you can, however, put an escort speed sensor in a mazda transmission or vise-versa, but your speedometer may be off by a few MPH.

    STEERING:
    The escort steering system is also different from that of the protege. the steering rack and its mounting bushings are different, as are the tie rods. all 91-96 escorts use the same lower ball joints, which interchange with 90-92.5 proteges. 92.5-94 proteges use a larger diameter ball joint. the only time this would matter is if you are replacing your spindle with one from a protege, you would need to make sure you use the correct ball joint to match that spindle.

    SUSPENSION:
    All the major suspension components are interchangable. this includes your struts, springs, subframes, control arms, rear suspension links, etc. If you have a 91-93 escort, only one of your rear lateral links is adjustable. This means if you lower the car a significant amount, you may have toe adjustment problems on that side. if you experience this problem you can replace the non-adjustable arm with one from any 90-94 323 or protege, or 94-96 escort. a cheap upgrade can be found on v6 mx3's, they have a rear lower tie bar which will fit any escort/protege/323. they also have longer lateral links and control arms, which have been used to widen the stance of a 323 before. although this is technically possible on an escort, the flat topped rear fenders could have clearance problems with a wider suspension stance.
    Last edited by therieldeal; 11-21-2007, 05:37 AM.
    Escort GTR -- 11.87 @ 117.6 mph -- 320 HP / 325 Ft. Lbs. @ 23 PSI
    ... The first FWD BG with a Toyota E153 transmission conversion in the USA!
    Looking for BP x Toyota E153 adapter plates? PM me or contact me on Facebook: Riel Performance Parts

    #2
    just to add in transmission/drivetrain that the gearing of the vehicule speed sensor is not the same on ford/mazda

    I have an escort gtx with ford BP tranny, with a protege cluster+ mazda Vehicule speed sensor , and my speed is falsed by 10 km at 100 kmph even if I have a protege VSS and the cable...

    Comment


      #3
      nice write up jon. keep that info coming.
      1993 Protege LX-Midnight's shadow SOLD
      1996 Honda CBR600-Wrecked. Damn Honda crippled me
      2002 mazda MPV-family truckster SOLD
      2010 VW routon

      Originally posted by jay
      .....they totally underestimated the number of gearheads such as myself that have families but refuse to grow the hell up and stop playing with cars, or that otherwise see the utility of having 4 doors. Obviously I ain't alone, as there are a helluva lotta sti and evo here. Bueler? Beuler? Mazda? Mazda?

      Comment


        #4
        Jon, please edit to add where not the Escort but only the Escort GT can interchange. I tried to have my tranny guy put my crashed 94's DX tranny in the 91 Escort LX and he said it would require bellhousing to be changed and something about the splines possibly being different too. Ofcourse, neither the Ford nor the Mazda was the better edition of either one.

        Comment


          #5
          Originally posted by mannydingo View Post
          Jon, please edit to add where not the Escort but only the Escort GT can interchange. I tried to have my tranny guy put my crashed 94's DX tranny in the 91 Escort LX and he said it would require bellhousing to be changed and something about the splines possibly being different too. Ofcourse, neither the Ford nor the Mazda was the better edition of either one.
          i considered that, but that would make the how-to a lot longer. thats why i titled it escort gt vs pro lx differences. i might add escort lx info in later on, but if i add that i might as well add in the pro dx and 323 too... see what i mean?

          Originally posted by JohnnyBees View Post
          just to add in transmission/drivetrain that the gearing of the vehicule speed sensor is not the same on ford/mazda

          I have an escort gtx with ford BP tranny, with a protege cluster+ mazda Vehicule speed sensor , and my speed is falsed by 10 km at 100 kmph even if I have a protege VSS and the cable...
          done, thanks

          thanks chris
          Last edited by therieldeal; 04-15-2007, 07:13 PM.
          Escort GTR -- 11.87 @ 117.6 mph -- 320 HP / 325 Ft. Lbs. @ 23 PSI
          ... The first FWD BG with a Toyota E153 transmission conversion in the USA!
          Looking for BP x Toyota E153 adapter plates? PM me or contact me on Facebook: Riel Performance Parts

          Comment


            #6
            I see your point about how much longer it would make the whole thing.

            Comment


              #7
              Going from my own experience. The ford rear strut towers are slightly angled in. Thus if you have for example a RARE Familia brace that has NO flex at the ends of the bar ie the regular bars have a bolt and can move the tower mounting point up/down. It will NOT fit!
              **SOLD** 93 EGT with more suspension mods then your average riced out civic's # of decals + useless "bling/style/culture" mods! **SOLD**
              95 EGT New beater! And gawd damnit shes NOT pink!

              Comment


                #8
                so the strut towers are actually closer together? i'd kind of want to measure and compare to make sure, because that familia bar came ONLY on the astina... which is rare and unique in and of itself. i also know that the 323 and protege differ slightly in that dimension.
                Escort GTR -- 11.87 @ 117.6 mph -- 320 HP / 325 Ft. Lbs. @ 23 PSI
                ... The first FWD BG with a Toyota E153 transmission conversion in the USA!
                Looking for BP x Toyota E153 adapter plates? PM me or contact me on Facebook: Riel Performance Parts

                Comment


                  #9
                  Great info! I finally know why my coolant gauge never read properly since I did my GTX swap. I always thought I played with the needle too much!

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Originally posted by therieldeal View Post
                    so the strut towers are actually closer together? i'd kind of want to measure and compare to make sure, because that familia bar came ONLY on the astina... which is rare and unique in and of itself. i also know that the 323 and protege differ slightly in that dimension.
                    Well. Kiddx had it on his Pro soooooooooo. Clearly it fits. And look at a pic of a Pro sometime in the rear. They are completely straight from top to bottom. Ours angle a smidge in.
                    **SOLD** 93 EGT with more suspension mods then your average riced out civic's # of decals + useless "bling/style/culture" mods! **SOLD**
                    95 EGT New beater! And gawd damnit shes NOT pink!

                    Comment


                      #11
                      yay for more rear camber on the EGT

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Also, if you swap the cluster to Ford to mazda or Mazda to ford, you needle wont read properly the gas level

                        I have an escort and did a mazda cluster swap, when I full the tank, it goes in the Empty section, when its empty , the needle indicates the half

                        Comment


                          #13
                          power steering pump fittings are different from Escort GT to Pro LX. Alternator attachment is also slightly different. The passenger side engine mount is also different but will bolt on as long as you have the right harmonic dampener.

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Originally posted by Lex View Post
                            Alternator attachment is also slightly different. The passenger side engine mount is also different but will bolt on as long as you have the right harmonic dampener.
                            Are you ****ting me?! That makes two parts i got useless now!
                            **SOLD** 93 EGT with more suspension mods then your average riced out civic's # of decals + useless "bling/style/culture" mods! **SOLD**
                            95 EGT New beater! And gawd damnit shes NOT pink!

                            Comment


                              #15
                              this helps me out lots man... i am planning on doing a egt swap into a protege like next week
                              Daily Driver--'07 Traitor Corolla--Traded for a '11 Chevy Cruze--Traded for a '12 Dodge Charger
                              Project Car - looking for a clean AWD Protege, or maybe a monster Miata donor

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              X