Bengalari wrote:parts for the conversion would only run $5-6k
Where do you get your figure? Have you priced out the motor yet?
Bengalari wrote:Has anyone else considered this? I ran several different search terms through the forums, Google, and mazda24/7 with no luck, so I thought I would post to get feedback, ideas, see if I'm maybe overlooking problems with the swap.
That motor is very, very new. Most people don't have the budget to attemp that, and your only talking about a motor that's been on the market for what, 2 years? That's definitely not enough time to have people do that, if they will. Most would do a motor swap for performance reasons, it's not common for people to swap motors for fuel efficiency alone. You have to go back quite a bit into the older Mazdas to have it be a power increase as well. The problem with that is that you're looking at the Mx-3/323/Protege era of cars, where the community is slowly dying off, and they're dying off, rusting away. You'll find very little people with those cars with the passion and/or the means to do that kind of swap. You might be on your own for a while.
Bengalari wrote:The only part i have yet to find even a price quote for is the wiring harness, which if necessary I could fabricate.
Wiring harnesses are usually expensive, but to fabricate one? The problem with that is finding all the connectors you'll need to connect to the sensors and more importantly, the ECM. It should also be drive by wire, so look into sourcing and replacing your gas pedal system.
You'll get to make that ECM very, very happy. It's a precise high compression motor. If you half-a-- the install, and don't connect all the sensors it wants, I bet you it'll go into limp mode and stay there until you fix the issues, making all the money and time you spend on it not worth it.
You won't know until you take some measurements. You would have to look at all the other non-conventional swaps you can find to see what they had to do. It wont give you the answers your looking for to install a SkyActiv motor, but it'll give you an idea.
Bengalari wrote:I am also unsure as to whether I would need to modify the front cross-member to accommodate my new oil pan and trans-axle.
RogueWolf wrote:Fantastic idea... but I think that $6000 is not going to cover it.
I agree. You'll probably spend that just in parts.
RogueWolf wrote:Still, it would be FAST~!
155hp is still 155hp, no matter if it's an efficient SkyActiv motor or not.
It's not hard to beat that for power. A simple turbo kit would kill that, but for swaps. the KLDE or a B6T would easilly what you're looking for there.
RogueWolf wrote:Lots of research needed; you will need completely new wiring harness, computer, and all engine electricals. Best hope is to find one that's been written off and grab the parts as a whole.
Indeed
RogueWolf wrote:The Mazda 3 has a 5cm wider wheel base, (or about an inch on either side) which is enough to make putting stock Mazda3 axles in place a proper pain in the butt. But *maybe* they use the same splined shaft and you can get away with either MX3, 323, Mazda3, or Mazda6 axles... but that's where research is going to be needed.
The chassis and drivetrain is too different. Would be nice if the splines matched up, but I still guarantee custom axles will need to be made anyway.
RogueWolf wrote:The Mazda3's speedo runs differently than the old style used on the MX3... not sure how to get around this besides aftermarket gauges, which would solve most of the gauging problems (tach, temp, etc.)
The last gen Protege used the ABS sensors, but my buddy's Fusion 2.3's speedo isn't working and it's a sensor in the trans that needs to be replaced, so it depends on what they decided to go with.
RogueWolf wrote:that 6-speed manual gearbox is a pig, weighs more than 40lbs more than the G-series 5-speed gearbox.
Are you sure? They'd advertised it to be lighter and stronger, but maybe that's comparing 6-speeds, but I doubt having an extra gear would increase the weight by at least 40lbs.