First hand knowledge only please!

Chino921 · Post by **Chino921** » March 8th, 2005, 11:45 am

I've been reading posts in here for some time that suggests swapping the 2.5L V6 into an RS which originally had the 1.6L I4 is damn near imposable. However, I've never seen anyone give any real reasons for this. Anyone who has first hand knowledge, I would love hear how it went for them.

P.S. Yes I've seen Vaughn Nishimura's page on this. I didn't see anything that would deter me from doing this swap, so I thought I would check in here.

Post by **Custommx3** » March 8th, 2005, 12:31 pm

Its easy, unless you have a donor car its gonna cost you twice as much because you need about 60% of the front end of a GS (wiring, axles, ecu, sensors, all kinds of stuff)

Putting a B series is much cheaper and more simple than a complete engine conversion.

David Witherow · Post by **David Witherow** » March 8th, 2005, 12:31 pm

nobody said that it was imposible they just said that it would take a lot of work.....you need to change the wireing harness and ecu....brake master cylinder, engine, springs, and some other stuff

Chino921 · Post by **Chino921** » March 8th, 2005, 12:42 pm

I know it won’t be easy but I do have a donor car. '93 626. Everything under the hood is good except the trans. I just wanted to make sure there wasn't something that was going to cause a major problem. For example the engine mounts. do the ones with the V6 bolt into the Rs, or is there some fabricating that needs to be done? Stuff like that.
Thanks.

Post by **Custommx3** » March 8th, 2005, 12:56 pm

as stated above, you will ahve to change sprins, the weight is alot more on a v6 as opposed to a 4cl. We put 4cl lowering springs on a v6 and it was almost on the ground in the front.

Chino921 · Post by **Chino921** » March 8th, 2005, 2:04 pm

Yeah, I was kinda afraid of that, Ive got H&R's all around. What springs did you go with?

jaydog5678 · Post by **jaydog5678** » March 8th, 2005, 4:42 pm

Chino921 wrote:I know it won’t be easy but I do have a donor car. '93 626. Everything under the hood is good except the trans. I just wanted to make sure there wasn't something that was going to cause a major problem. For example the engine mounts. do the ones with the V6 bolt into the Rs, or is there some fabricating that needs to be done? Stuff like that.
Thanks.

No fabricating needed. There are still parts from the v-6 Mx-3 that you will need like....

The suspension of course...
mx-3 v-6 mounts
radiator and hoses
heater hoses
I would suggest the brake booster/master cyl and the rear disc conversion. There is probably some more things I left out too, but good luck with your swap.

Chino921 · Post by **Chino921** » March 8th, 2005, 4:46 pm

Thanks for the in-put. It is appreciated.

D323 · Post by **D323** » March 11th, 2005, 11:38 pm

Sorry for the bump.... but I have a related question......

I want to do the same thing. But in reverse.... I want to convert my 92 GS to be powered by a BPT. I know that the KL-ZE is easier... and all the other stuff.... but I want to do what hasnt been done too much.

So I have a few questions about what to do......

First off I was wondering since the GS speedo is electric and the BPT is cable driven, how would one overcome that? A few told me to use the Protege speedo and see if I can get it to fit into the MX cluster and use that. Ideas?

Next off, I am pretty sure I have an almost complete list of the basic swap parts needed. I know I will need the Protege mounts, subframe (under the motor), axles, ecu, harness, motor (duh...lol), and all the regular stuff to run the turbo and motor properly. Will a protege steering rack be needed, or is the MX one fine? I would like to use the MX one since I think it has a better ratio.

Is there anything else that I need to know?

PLease feel free to reply here, hit up my email, or aim me.

NotArrogant at gmail dot com
MimeAssassin on AIM

jaydog5678 · Post by **jaydog5678** » March 12th, 2005, 4:51 pm

If you go with the Protege LX or Ford Escort GT tranny, then use that speedo. Actually the Ford speedo gear is different from the Protege's. I have both type of gears but the Fords gear may adapt to the Mx cable. Find a gauge cluster from a 92-93 4cyl RS and a speedometer cable for the conversion.

I'm not so sure you would need to swap the v-6 crossmember as it is the same part as the Protege's. I did'nt have to swap out mine. I would also find a 4cyl radiator and hoses because the v-6 is quite different. You don't need to swap the steering racks.

D323 · Post by **D323** » March 15th, 2005, 5:46 pm

Ah ok. I have quite a few RS's in the j/ys I go to so that isnt a problem. I didnt realize the the RS was cable driven, but I guess that makes sense, since the b6 is a close relative to the BP.

I already have a 94 protege LX tranny and speedo cable that I was going to use. Do I need to hybrid the protege speedo with the RS one, or does the RS cable plug into the LX tranny?

Also there isnt a spot for the cable on the GS, I assume I will have to knock a hole into the firewall for the cable.

Again thanks for your input.

Anything else I should keep in mind?

I plan on getting a new radiator with hoses with the motor. Thanks for the advice on the 4cylinder one. Would the protege LX radiator and fan work? I have a friend doing the kl03 into his 94 protege so we may just swap needed parts.

Oh and after looking it up I am keeping the PS rack on the MX (better ratio) But one question comes to mind.... do I need the LX PS pump?

Josh · Post by **Josh** » March 15th, 2005, 6:01 pm

94 and up uses an electric speedo. im running an electric speedo on a por lx trans. all it takes is a half inch shim. i machined a spacer out of 1/2" plexy, works great havent had any troubles what so ever. took me less than a half an hour with what i had laying around.

jaydog5678 · Post by **jaydog5678** » March 15th, 2005, 7:08 pm

D323 wrote:
I already have a 94 protege LX tranny and speedo cable that I was going to use. Do I need to hybrid the protege speedo with the RS one, or does the RS cable plug into the LX tranny?

The 92-93 Rs cable will plug into the LX speedometer gear.

D323 wrote:
Also there isnt a spot for the cable on the GS, I assume I will have to knock a hole into the firewall for the cable.

Their is a hole on the RS models near the master cyl and thats where the cable would normally run through.

D323 wrote:
Would the protege LX radiator and fan work?

The radiators are slightly different then the Mx's. The core supports are different as well on the Protege. I'd try and locate one from an Rs.

D323 wrote: do I need the LX PS pump?

You do if you can't find a 92-95 RS pump.

D323 · Post by **D323** » March 16th, 2005, 5:40 pm

jaydog5678 wrote:The 92-93 Rs cable will plug into the LX speedometer gear.

I assume the other way works as well. RS cluster driven off of LX speedo cable.

jaydog5678 wrote:Their is a hole on the RS models near the master cyl and thats where the cable would normally run through.

awesome. I will look for the knock out in the GS firewall as mazda probably put it there, but plugged on the GS models.

jaydog5678 wrote:The radiators are slightly different then the Mx's. The core supports are different as well on the Protege. I'd try and locate one from an Rs.

the reaseon I ask is b/c I was thinking EGT radiator since they are all metal and dont have the plastic endtanks that are prone to cracking. I will pickup an MX-3 one tho and see how close they are if any at all.

jaydog5678 wrote:You do if you can't find a 92-95 RS pump.

I know I can get my hands on both easily. I didnt know if one was preferred over the other b/c of larger size or capacity or something.

Thanks again for all of your help/responses.

D323 · Post by **D323** » March 20th, 2005, 2:23 am

another question.....

Looks like the shift linkage is gone on the MX.... I assume the RS is the same as the LX. Is there a preference. I have access to both....

Thanks again~

~Donnie