Princess*Precidia wrote:Whats the difference between a KLZE and a regular engine?
That's a 2 part question;
First, there were 3 different motors available in the mx-3:
- 1.6L SOHC 4Cyl "B6DE": 88hp (1992-93 RS)
- 1.6L DOHC 4Cyl "B6DE": 105hp (1994-96 RS)
- 1.8L V6 "K8DE": 130hp (1992-1996 GS)
The KLZE is none of the above. It's a 2.5L V6 @ 198hp. However, that motor was only available overseas. In Canada (and the USA), we got the KLDE, which is the same motor, a 2.5L V6, but makes 165hp. The "ZE" version of the "KL" is the same basic motor, but has many minor changes to gain that extra 33hp.
Almost most Mazda motors from that era have both "DE" and "ZE" options. The "ZE" is a higher-tuned motor, giving a few more hp. There's even a K8ZE, but it's only 135hp, 5hp gain. As for the motors. K8 means 1.8L and KL means 2.5L. There's also the 2.0L KF and 2.3L KJ in this mix of Mazda's"k-series" motors. If you have a Mx-3 GS with the 1.8L V6 "K8", with the exception of the 2.3L KJ, you can literally swap in any of the motors with no changes or modifications, pop out and in like it was literally meant to fit. Mind you, there are a few small exceptions, but typically some minor modifications to sensors, swapping them around (OBDI/OBDII related), but that's very minor, but I wont go into details since it's not relevant.
However, you cannot easilly use any of the k-series V6 engines in your car since you have a 4cyl. Although the Mx-3 had both the 4cyl and V6 options, the engine bay of both is different to accept their respective motors. You can, and it had been done many times, put a 4cyl into a V6 Mx-3, and visa-versa, and it does requires (that i know) no custom modifications, but however, it does require you to basically get the front half of a V6 mx-3, and swap everthing over, wiring, mounts, crossmember, tranny, axles, etc...not the easiest and most economical of swaps, but very doable.
Princess*Precidia wrote:Then i got a 93 MX-3, also an automatic, and she still runs pretty good and is at 315,000 Already! but its an SOHC and to swap those two it would be alot of work and it would have to be modified as the bolts arent the same as well as the electrical. so now im stuck....i love the car and dont wanna give it up, but with that much km's on it...a day will come where she wont be roaming the streets anymore
(continued...)
On the 4cyl side, you have a few options
- 1.8L DOHC 4Cyl "BP": 130hp
- 1.6L DOHC 4Cyl "B6T": 150hp (turbo)
- 1.8L DOHC 4Cyl "BPT" GTX: 180hp (turbo)
- 1.8L DOHC 4Cyl "BPT" GTR: 210hp (turbo) (Import Only)
Since you have a SOHC 4Cyl Mx-3, you can swap in any BP/BPT (maybe the B6T, but I dont know, I'm not a 4cyl guy) like stock, even keep your wiring harness. I think the only thing that's recommended is to swap to a BP tranny to handle the power and have longer, more usable gears.
However, your main and only real concern, which everyone so far has failed to mention, is that you have an automatic, which wont take, or take any of the above swaps very well, not unless you convert it to a manual tranny Mx-3, which is farily common. Even those who don't upgrade their motors have swapped to a 5-speed manual for better performance, reliability and future engine swap potential. I dont know what's involved since mine was manual from the get-go, but that's where your problem will swapping to a more powerful motor will be.
