Swapping a 1996 Mx-3

[Mentor]

Ok I have search all around the forum from mx-3.com, mx-3quebec.com, probetalk.com, and some other to find an answer to my problem with no luck... Ok look.

I have a 96 GS mx-3, I am planning to swap this winter, and I have bought a KLZE with curved neck IM...

But the problem is, my car is obd2... I know few people did the swap, and I got few possible setups... like

- Swapping for the KL-ZE ECU, and change all cable to be OBD1. Too much rewiring…

- Buying a SDS EFI stand alone computer... too much $

So I think to swap all my sensors over the KL-ZE for k8 ones. In addition, to keep my k8 ECU... but like everybody told me I will lose like 20hp, and I will run Lean.

So what you think of this...

Swap my engine, of course for the Ze, with curved neck IM, take my entire sensor from my k8 and plug it into an OBD2 ECU from an A-spec kl-03 (mx-6, probe, etc)...Put a Fuel pressure regulator for to correct the lean problem, and use a VRtuner to correct the VRIS opening... (Probably I will need a MAF instead of my k8 VAF to get no cell engine core.) Anything else ?

What do you think of that setup, did someone ever try this kind of setup, any mx-3 96 swap all around?

Does the a-specs kl03 ECU will help my engine, since the two engines are almost the same… or if it will be better to keep my k8 ECU, with FPR and VRTUNER.

I think that TekGuy (a veteran in the mx-3 swap...), have done something like this but there is no info on his site, and is email address does not work anymore...

Thank you. Any help will be appreciated.

[Buff1110]

if i were u i would just get a wire harness from an obd1 car and switch it. its not as much rewiring as u think. all the sensors get unhooked when u pull the engine so all u do then is take teh brackets off and get teh plug that goes to the ecu off. then put the new wire harness in and rehook up everything once the ze is installed. granted its a bit of a hassle but its the cheapest and best results route bc ur running the genuine ecu with the engine then. get full potential out of the motor with the correct fuel curve and vris opening points.
just my 2cents

[IanL]

Just a bit of info for you: 96-on 626/MX6/Probe 2.5 litre use VAF, not MAF, according to my Chilterns. Millenia uses MAF, but that's ATX only. The VAF is not the same as the K8 VAF.

My MX-3 is also OBD2, and your post has made me realise that a KLZE swap would have a raft of problems. Think I'll swap to a KLD

[Nd4SpdSe]

I would love ODB2! I could plug it into my carpc! But can you still use the ZE ecu or do you need something different?

[Mentor]

ze ecu is obd1, the obd2 is an north-america standard, and i want to keep a obd2 ECU for connecting my laptop on my mx-3 that's why a don't want to conert to obd1 wiring and ecu.
that's my 2 cent

IanL (btw, thank for the info.) there many people who have made the swap of an klze into a '96 mx-3, ... only here in quebec, i know 3 guy who made it. but 3 guy with different setup, everything can be done, i just want the best possible trouble free swap.

thank to all, any other comment will still be appreciated.

<small>[ November 07, 2003, 01:39 PM: Message edited by: Mentor ]</small>

[mike_moss]

I'm bringin' this post back from the dead!

I recently bought a wrecked '96 MX3 and swapped all the drivetrain into my '93 Protege GT. Taking the longer route to a KLZE since I'd like to weed out any problems with the K8 instead of messing up a ZE.

How did you guys find the swap? I need a follow-up report.

Thanks!