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I'm shopping around for a 99-00 1.8 to do an engine swap. Looking around online these engines seem to start at $750 and get up to $1500+. Do they deserve that premium, or is a good condition 94-97 engine almost as good. I may add FI at some point down the road but it's not a certainty.
Also, if anyone has any recommendations on where to look/buy that would be great too.
Thanks!
Rogue listed some sources in this thread -
http://www.dfwmiata.com/showthread.p...081#post207081
The 99-00 is the most desirable at this moment and does demand a premium. The head flows a lot better than the 94-97 head.
A shop told me I'd be better off with an 01+ engine with a 99-00 head because of the thrust bearing issue on the 99-00 engines. Anyone feel differently?
Are you ever going to add boost? The 01+ engine is higher compression, so with no boost a 01+ bottom end with a 99-00 head would be best, but with boost, you don't want the higher compression. I would not worry about the thrust bearing issue. Most engines with the problem would have been replaced by now.
Boost is a possibility down the road but not a certainty.
01+ does have a much stronger oil pan baffle too for what that's worth. Todd pretty much summed it up. 99-00 has the most potential for HP if you plan on going FI. However, in order to use the VICS on the 99-00 intake you will need either a programmable ECU like Megasquirt or a MSD RPM Switch 8950 or 8969 to activate it. It will make a seat of the pants diffeent if you can enable VICS.
VICS?
(I'm not up to speed on the acronyms yet)
Variable Intake Control System (just my guess)
I may add boost at some point, but maximum power would not be my primary goal. I'd opt for a system that was reliable at the track and forgoe max power numbers.
I've saved up $1,000 at this point. I'd like to swap the transmission for a 99+ (i'm told this is one of the strongest 5 spds...) unit while I'm doing the engine swap. If I need to save up more $ I will, but if I could do the swap and do it right for $1,000 or less that would be great. I'm open to suggestions and "this is what I would do if I were you" comments from those who know more about this than I do.
If it was me, I would pick up a 94-97 engine and a 99 head and intake to swap on to the engine. I would avoid the 01+ bottom end if you think you may boost some day.
All the info you need to understand all the differences in engines:
http://www.solomiata.com/Mx5Engine.html
Thanks Titus.
If I go that route, which exhaust manifold would I need? The 94-97 or the 99-00?
Thanks for the link.