My '88 323 is currently in the garage with the motor pulled out of it and ready to be rebuilt. I have access to two Miata 1.6L motors. There isn't a thread I can find detailing this type swap. Can anyone shed some light on problems or concerns I need to be aware of? I haven't taken a close look at the Miata blocks but it looks like the coolant routing is an obvious problem. Can that be switched or do I just need to pull the internals out of the Miata blocks and put them in my FWD block?
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Rebuild B6 or replace with Miata 1.6L???
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the coolant routing can probably be fixed by using parts from a B6 DOHC mx3, but i am not 100% sureEscort 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
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I'm comparing both right now. The water pump gasket, inlet gasket, and thermostat gasket are identical. I'm fairly confident that can all be sorted easily. What I can't nail down right now is what would be involved in sealing off the water outlet just above the water pump on the Miata block. It might be simpler to just switch the internals, but I'm not sure my block is in good enough shape.
I'm also looking at the DOHC swap, but I don't think it's going to be affordable right now since it appears to require a new harness and ECU.
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Originally posted by psiturbo View Post
The pic with those cross drilled rotors, those look very dangerous.
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if you take a look at any fwd BP head, behind the timing belt cover there is a freeze plug and two drilled and tapped holes. this is where the thermostat would have been, had the head wound up in a miataEscort 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
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Not sure if you've already sorted this out but I figure i'll share just so the knowledge is out there.
I have a 323 GTX block in my miata right now. Its a very straight-forward swap. I reused my miata head but ended up re-routing my coolant like the 323 anyway so I just threw a freeze plug in that coolant neck where the thermostat housing is in the miata. Very easy. Then you swap oil pans, oil pickups/windage trays, Coolant ports, etc. Its actually very obvious what you'll be swapping over and the last thing you should worry about is that silly freeze plug in the head.
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Originally posted by Wayne_curr View PostNot sure if you've already sorted this out but I figure i'll share just so the knowledge is out there.
I have a 323 GTX block in my miata right now. Its a very straight-forward swap. I reused my miata head but ended up re-routing my coolant like the 323 anyway so I just threw a freeze plug in that coolant neck where the thermostat housing is in the miata. Very easy. Then you swap oil pans, oil pickups/windage trays, Coolant ports, etc. Its actually very obvious what you'll be swapping over and the last thing you should worry about is that silly freeze plug in the head.
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