Kit for 1.6L to 1.8L upgrade?

Does anyone know of a kit that contains the necessities for swapping a 1.8L into an older (M1?) Miata?

I have a '91, and know that sometime soon I may need a new engine, and when that happens, I wannt go to a non OBDII 1.8L.

Thanks guys!

Reply to
John Smith
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Reply to
Lanny Chambers

"John Smith" wrote in news:445ab8a1$0$22506$ snipped-for-privacy@news.astraweb.com:

What, you can't type "Miata engine swap" into Google?

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FWIW, you'll have more performance with the 1.8 but in most other aspects it's an inferior engine. If it were me, I'd rebuild the 1.6 if and when it needs it, as always YMMV.

Reply to
XS11E

In what aspects other than performance are the 1.6 superior? And please don't insult us by mentioning fuel mileage.

Reply to
Chas Hurst

"Chas Hurst" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@comcast.com:

Longevity for one thing. Since the 1.6 was designed to operate with a turbo charger it's considerably "overbuilt". Fuel mileage for another, sorry if that insults you, I can't imagine why?

Reply to
XS11E

Both the 1.6 and 1.8 engines are based on the same engine. When Mazda removed the turbo for the Miata they also removed some of the strengthened parts. The 323 turbo and the early 1.6 both had a problem with the front pulley hub coming loose, terminally in some cases. And isn't performance the main reason for buying a Miata in the first place?

Reply to
Chas Hurst

Actually, I'm in the market for a Miata, and one of the aspects I'm looking for in a small convertible is good fuel economy.

With that in mind, what is the last year they made the 1.6L?

Reply to
Lee

"Chas Hurst" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@comcast.com:

Very loosely.

Not as far as I know.

Certainly not, if I wanted performance I'd have bought a Porsche, Honda S2000, Nissan Z car, Mustang, Corvette, etc.

The performance of the 1.6 is completely adequate for me.

Reply to
XS11E

Lee wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:

1993. See here:

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If you're thinking of getting a Miata, first get VERY familiar with
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Be sure to read

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and the links given in the article.

Reply to
XS11E

Yes, but "performance" != "horsepower".

Reply to
Grant Edwards

You indicate that you do not want performance, then declare that the 1.6 liter engine provides completely adequate performance. What is your definition of performance anyway, because there appears to be a conflict in either the terminology or consistency here.

Are you talking about those expensive cars that "Fish" in the turbo '94 miata was badly blowing away in that video?

Of course, I didn't see a Mustang in the video. It would be embarrassing to put one of those on a track with curves against anything that handled well at all.

Performance is much more than power, and even then, the miata can be taken to a fantastic power to weight ratio for a relatively small amount of money.

Pat

Reply to
pws

I would not expect a big difference in fuel economy between the two engines, the amount of gas that you use per mile will mainly be determined by your foot.

The miata has a small front area, but the aerodynamics are terrible, partly because it is a convertible. It does not get great gas mileage for a car that weighs well under 3000 pounds.

Ou of the first generation miata, I have driven a 1991 and a 1993 with a

1.6 liter, several 1994-1996 models with the 1.8 liter, and my current 1991 with the 1.8 liter turbo. They all got about the same gas mileage except for the turbo when I push it, then those 550cc injectors can move a lot of fuel really fast.

Pat

Reply to
pws

Here you see an "A" programmer saying that performance for the engine part of a car is emphatically mainly horsepower, or a "C" sort of programmer saying that the performance of the engine part has nothing to do with horsepower. :)

Leon

Reply to
Leon van Dommelen

"pws" wrote

Nicely put, Pat. I was pleasantly surprised to hit 30 mpg on our recent Interstate drive to Chattanooga and back in the '97. Around town I'm always leadfooting it, enjoying the sound of the Borla. Don't get anywhere near that.

BTW, I was severely disappointed that our return trip, very close to Deal's Gap, was in nasty weather, which precluded making a little 2 hour side trip.

Reply to
Ken Lyons

pws wrote in news:OzP6g.5818$ snipped-for-privacy@tornado.texas.rr.com:

Yup.

Nope.

Yes, I saw the video. It's obviously a fraud, watch it again.

Reply to
XS11E

It gets terrible gas mileage. My carbureted 1985 Accord gets 15% better mileage on the highway. Of course, it's dog-slow and boring as a television sitcom.

Reply to
Lanny Chambers

Very closely. It's the same basic block.

The connecting rods for the turbo engine are much stronger than those found in the Miata.

Reply to
Chas Hurst

I'm sorry, but what makes it obviously a fraud?

Reply to
Alan Baker

Alan Baker wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@news.telus.net:

Did you notice that every car that was passed slowed, pulled over and waved the Miata past? What the video showed was apparently not a race but a club event of some type, a practice session or such.

Reply to
XS11E

It was not every driver that waved, but waving a person over who is badly outdriving you is pretty standard. Once you realize that you are slowing them down, it is simple courtesy. Of course, you don't see this in truly professional events, but this video is not top-end racing. It is also not a fraud of any sort.

I really don't think the event was a conspiracy to make Porsches and Corvettes look bad. I can see the scene, "Ok everyone, let's use our lap time to let the old cheap miata pass us so that it looks good and we look like crap". You would never get even two Porsche owners to agree on such a thing. ;-)

From the

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website:

"Gone Fishin' is 11 minutes of exciting footage taken at the CIR Porsche Club lapping day in October 2005 at Putnam Park Road Course. "The Fish" is a 1994 Mazda Miata, weighing in at 2000 pounds with 250hp. Originally bouilt for the Grass Roots Motorsports $2004 Challenge, The Fish has a custom turbo system, roll cage and suspension mods. On the video, watch as The Fish passes everything on the track at Putnam Park Road Course, posting lap times of 1:18."

I'm outta here, have a good night....

Pat

Reply to
pws

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