KLDE rods and pistons on K8

Jacbs2007 · Post by **Jacbs2007** » July 19th, 2006, 2:09 am

Well there's a set of DE rods and pistons in the f/s forum. I was hoping you guys could help me out with any information regarding putting these in a K8.

-would I need to change anything ecu or vafm wise?
-would this essentially turn my K8 into a 2.5l hybrid?
-Would it even work without changing the crank etc.
-difficulty of installation?

I'm just looking for any information about this subject, the search function turned up nothing relative to this after about 20 minuts of searching.

kiwi_MX3 · Post by **kiwi_MX3** » July 19th, 2006, 2:15 am

The K8 Block won't bore out to DE size,

Connecting Rod journal ( DE ) is bigger than K8

So in short NO.

lakersfan1 · Post by **lakersfan1** » July 19th, 2006, 8:47 am

kiwi_MX3 wrote: Connecting Rod journal ( DE ) is bigger than K8

That's a moot issue since you'd need the KL crank anyways. You can't use the pistons because the bore is WAY too different.

I believe if you use the KL rods and crank, you're at 2.2 liters using K8 pistons.

After the cost of a set of K8 head gaskets, you've already pretty much cost as much as a whole KL long block .......... so the idea is pretty lame anyways.

Steeb · Post by **Steeb** » July 19th, 2006, 9:53 pm

doesnt the k8 and kl use the same block bored to different specs? i thought that is why the kl fits in place of the k8. making a long rod k8 would be nice for boost since it still has thicker cylinder walls. ive been thinking a lot about that lately...

lakersfan1 · Post by **lakersfan1** » July 19th, 2006, 9:57 pm

Steeb wrote:doesnt the k8 and kl use the same block bored to different specs?

It's the same block, but the sleeves are different. Saying they are just bored different implys the that the outer diameter of the sleeve is different, but it's not.

Jacbs2007 · Post by **Jacbs2007** » July 19th, 2006, 10:32 pm

thanks for the responses everyone, i guess it's just gonna be an engine swap now

kiwi_MX3 · Post by **kiwi_MX3** » July 20th, 2006, 6:44 am

lakersfan1 wrote:
kiwi_MX3 wrote: Connecting Rod journal ( DE ) is bigger than K8
That's a moot issue since you'd need the KL crank anyways. You can't use the pistons because the bore is WAY too different.

I believe if you use the KL rods and crank, you're at 2.2 liters using K8 pistons.

Actully its not a moot point. using std mazda piston's

the deck height of a k8 is
deck height = Ch1.181+Rodcenter5.425+Crank2.74
=9.346
the deck height of a Kl is
deck height = Ch1.181+Rodcenter5.425+Crank2.92
=9.526

so by putting a kl crank in a k8 your going to have pistins popping
up by 0.180"

Sorry the maths say's it all you can't swap parts about. from the
k8 to kl blocks

lakersfan1 · Post by **lakersfan1** » July 20th, 2006, 9:59 am

There's no way in hell the deck height can be different ........

The same timing belt kit, same cam pulleys, interchangable cams...... if the deck height was different, the timing belt would not be the same, let alone all the other timing parts.

mrspanky79 · Post by **mrspanky79** » July 20th, 2006, 3:31 pm

kiwi_MX3 sorry to say but your wrong in your numbers some where. Im looking out the window and in my drive way theres an mx3 with kl rods and crank in a k8 that runs with no problems. But like stated i would not sugest doing. I only did it becouse i had all the parts lieing around (free) and an uncle that works at a plane plants so all the machening cost me a botle of rum. The big isue is the different pin sizes and getting the rod in the block, rod base is larger then the block bore.

kiwi_MX3 · Post by **kiwi_MX3** » July 21st, 2006, 1:09 am

mrspanky79 wrote:kiwi_MX3 sorry to say but your wrong in your numbers some where. Im looking out the window and in my drive way theres an mx3 with kl rods and crank in a k8 that runs with no problems. But like stated i would not sugest doing. I only did it becouse i had all the parts lieing around (free) and an uncle that works at a plane plants so all the machening cost me a botle of rum. The big isue is the different pin sizes and getting the rod in the block, rod base is larger then the block bore.

Well the Ch of a k8 piston must be very differnt to what is being
quoted on a engine rebuilders site, interesting. will take note of this.

I think we all agree for the poor wee bugger that start out this thread
go and buy a klze.

Any machist vacanices where your uncle works?

lakersfan1 · Post by **lakersfan1** » July 21st, 2006, 9:31 am

kiwi_MX3 wrote: I think we all agree for the poor wee bugger that start out this thread
go and buy a klze.

Agreed. The only ones that seem to be willing to go out of thier way to not get a ZE are the Euros. They must have some kind of crazy Draconian emissions laws.

Steeb · Post by **Steeb** » July 21st, 2006, 10:25 pm

mrspanky, can you tell us more about your engine build and how it feels? i have a spare ze and a spare k8 sitting in the garage that i plan to do build for future use and i am VERY interested in this setup.

mrspanky79 · Post by **mrspanky79** » July 21st, 2006, 10:50 pm

the pins are different sizes so you have to put bussings in the rods. next the rods dont fit in the bore so I groved the bottom of the bore so you so can put the rods up from the bottom and mechined the piston to hold ring clamps (making them free floating) then assamble the piston onto the roo from the top. As for feel not to sure what it would be on its own my motor is also turbo'd

Steeb · Post by **Steeb** » July 22nd, 2006, 12:38 am

very nice. thats exactly what i had in mind also and the only reason id build a motor like that for. i was thinking of destroking the kl for that purpose but if the k8 block can be used...

tell me more, if u dont mind. are your k8 heads modified? what turbo are u using?

can the k8 crank fit a kl block?