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Im looking into a mx3 i found locally for pretty cheap. It is cheap becuase the v6 needs serious work from what i can tell. So naturally ideas of swapping comes swooping in. Im not big on power, i have an rx8 for that, im looking for reliable, gas efficient, and maybe a little pep to pass and be retarded with. I know of course the popular swap is the KLZE and who hasn't seen that story, but im goin for cheap here. Im not lookn to drop 2k for motor and tranny and wiring harness. So bascially i'd love to just replace the v6 and do that, or maybe of course a probe v6 if i can find one cheap enough, but has anyone used an escort zx2 engine yet? In a five speed they are mildly peppy which is plenty for me. Of course id love to do a millinia SC swap or SHO swap, but im trying to be realistic here. where can i find the v6 that came in it in good shape?

I'd probably go with a KLDE then in your case

Junkyard or import a ZE...those are your basic and best options. Where do you get 2k from for just an engine? I paid 800 for my ZE, another 150 in fluids, 250 for clutch, ~300 in other misc like plugs, flywheel resurfacing, plus if you're going to touch the mounts and add headers+exhaust the price will keep going up.

but has anyone used an escort zx2 engine yet? In a five speed they are mildly peppy which is plenty for me.

Nope

Of course id love to do a millinia SC swap or SHO swap, but im trying to be realistic here

Indeed, the Millenia S S/C motor is more realistic, but still barely fesible.

robert davis wrote:Im not lookn to drop 2k for motor and tranny and wiring harness.

You have a V6 Mx-3, so anything other than a KL will cost you over 2k, engine, tranny, axles, harness and alot of custom fit stuff to get stuff like A/C, power steering, motor mounts, shifter linkages (hopefully it's not a cable system)

robert davis wrote:maybe of course a probe v6 if i can find one cheap enough

The 2.5 KLDE from a Probe/626/Mx-6/Millenia would be your cheapest options. You get to keep your trans and harnes, just need to upgrade the clutch and get the proper ECU/VAF combo, and from there it's best to do preventative maintenance stuff while the motor is out if you want to make it cheaper in the long run, as well are more reliable. Because the KL was available in so many more vehicles than the K8, which was only in the Mx-3, you'll get more availability and for a better price, and if it's done right, should give you better milleage than your K8 did since it doesn't work as hard.

So does anyone swap for the older model turbo probe model?

Not in the V6...you'll need alot of other work. Rafi has done an FE3 swap in an RS w/ a huge turbo and is running 10's...but thats way more money than you want to spend

There is a reason most of us do the same swaps all the time - its the cheapest, and easiest option. The only thing you can do that most other people pass on is putting in a new K8...they should be ~4-500 instead of 800-1000 for a ZE. If you really dont want to spend that, then just get a junkyard DE and take your chances!

Going from a V6 to a 4 is going to cost and the time to swap stuff over. KLDE is fine but where do you find a low mileage one? So with that in mind the KLZE is usually the way to go simply because for the most part they're suppose to be low mileage and it's a straight swap. I use mine as a daily driver and am more than happy with the gas mileage and reliability.

That's an F-series motor. No one has put in an F2T into an Mx-3 as far as I know...the only person to put in an f-series is Bo0sted_Rafi and he put in an FE3N

http://www.mx-3.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=57088" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.mx-3.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=52108" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Unless you do the labor yourself, i'll easilly cost you over $2k. It probably cost him almost that much in parts with all the turbo stuff.

onlytrueromeo wrote:The only thing you can do that most other people pass on is putting in a new K8...they should be ~4-500 instead of 800-1000 for a ZE. If you really dont want to spend that, then just get a junkyard DE and take your chances!

Well i doubt a NEW K8 would be $500, more like $2000. Getting a junkyward K8 is no more of a risk than a junkyward DE, but at least you can choose what you want with a DE, and it should be the same, if not cheaper to get a DE, i know people pay more for a K8 because of availability.

Daninski wrote:Going from a V6 to a 4 is going to cost and the time to swap stuff over. KLDE is fine but where do you find a low mileage one? So with that in mind the KLZE is usually the way to go simply because for the most part they're suppose to be low mileage and it's a straight swap. I use mine as a daily driver and am more than happy with the gas mileage and reliability.

I totally agree! Rather than just upgrading the motor, doing any type of other swap besides for a K8/KL would require you do replace alot of other things in the engine bay to make it work. More parts to replace = more work to do = more money to spend too. You can't do something different and custom, while being cheap, it doesn't work that way.


Mine last 100'000k before a fluke with the throttle cable killed it, but it's not uncommon for us to get that kind of life out of an imported ZE, unless your really abusive or negletctful. My ZE got way better milleage than my K8 ever did, couldn't even get close. Mind you, the motor had the original 109'000km on it and it was burning oil and failed the emission test. My modded ZE could pass e-test with no EGR no problem, under K8 specs.

I guess I should have explained better...I didn't mean remanufactured K8...I mean imported JDM K8, same place you would get your ZE from, but they're usually half as much because no one wants them. I could get one for $400 w/ less than 30000 miles...thats pretty new to me!

Nd4SpdSe wrote:

but has anyone used an escort zx2 engine yet? In a five speed they are mildly peppy which is plenty for me.

Nope

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=52086&hilit=zetec+mx3" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



Yup.

SuperK wrote:

Nd4SpdSe wrote:

but has anyone used an escort zx2 engine yet? In a five speed they are mildly peppy which is plenty for me.

Nope

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=52086&hilit=zetec+mx3" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Yup.

I stand corrected

Guess it didn't jog my memory since I haven't seen any post, pics or vids of anyone who had actually done it...but it would still cost over $2k for that swap no doubt.

onlytrueromeo wrote:I guess I should have explained better...I didn't mean remanufactured K8...I mean imported JDM K8, same place you would get your ZE from, but they're usually half as much because no one wants them. I could get one for $400 w/ less than 30000 miles...thats pretty new to me!

Indeed, forgot about those.

One point on the imported K8, we're still talking no EGR so it might not pass emissions testing if that applies to you AND the Dealership couldn't give you a letter for Hot Rod staus since the K8 did come in the MX3. Installing the EGR is no good either as the intake isn't ported for it.

Dan, if you're worried about the intake on a new K8, why wouldnt you just swap it from your old K8? It should match up fine.

I also know of a guy in Quebec that put a Ztec in his RS! I saw it by fluke on Auto trader once! had pics and all!

onlytrueromeo wrote:Dan, if you're worried about the intake on a new K8, why wouldnt you just swap it from your old K8? It should match up fine.

Good point, he could do that and be legal if he's subject to an E test.
So in saying that we could get a North American Millenia intake and swap it for the non ported ZE curve neck if we wanted to pass an E test without going HotRod and yes Nd4spuds we all know yours passes already.