Hi guys,
Has anyone on here ever done and engine swap on an mk1 mx5? What was the engine and what was needed to be done?
What are the engine options etc? Is an sr20det possible?
Thanks for the help 
Miataforum has a huge section on engine swaps. I think pretty everything has been done, from all electric MX5s through to a V12 MX5.
The original swaps were the 1.8 swap into the 1.6; a kit from Flyin’ Miata allows fitment of the 1.8, while retaining the 1.6 ECU.
And the Monster Miata, which used a 5.0L (302) V8 Ford unit, which was available as a kit for a while in the UK. There’s also at least one LS6 kit around as well. Bullet Supercars sold in the UK a long while ago a kit enabling the fitment of the Lexus V8 (I think they are ostly concentrating on turnkey conversions, in Australia). Ford USA dropped in a 3.0L Jaguar V6 (with Lincoln heads), and raided the parts bin for Ford intake parts, in a Mk2 engineering study. Except for the bonnet, the car looked externally stock, and the engine had the usual cacophony of plastic boxes and covers.
i think this has been looked at several times on this forum.
anything will fit if you throw enough money at it but why not just whack in a turbo or s/charger?
unless you want a project those are the best options i reckon. do a search on sr20det.
there are some V8 mx5s around & they sound beautiful but not as quick as turbo conversions
good luck
Ive read up on turbo installs etc but considering the cost was trying to come up with a more wallet friendly solution…
Sr20det lumps put out more than what a standard turbo install will has lots of scope for tuning and the engines a prittu cheap… just wondering if there was anyone who’s done one can I keep original gearbox etc etc
Ill have a look on that other forum ta. My mate has a spare ca18det (I think thats the right engine code) the turbo lumo from the s13 sx with an s14 turbo on it…
Is the sr20det the engine from the S2000? If so check which way the engine turns. I think I heard that the VTEC engines turn a different way to most other engines so you’ll need to swap out the diff as well as the engine.
Ignore that, it’s a Nissan engine so it shouldn’t be a problem
The S2000 engine is different from other Honda engines in that respect, at least thats what someone was telling me as he pulled an engine to fit in his Volvo-Daf 340.
The SR20DET swap looks pretty involved. I’ve seen it done though. Stealth Performance in S.Wales can probably help with info - they built one that was used in the British Drift Championship, and there’s a second one around too (which apparently has some things done differently after the experiences with the first one.
There are some people putting Mazda V6 engines (KL series?) in. There’s a company called “CrapEngineering” that make a bell housing adapter to use the MX5 gearbox. I think they make a tubular subrame too, I’m not sure i that’s needed for the swap or just a nice weight saving feature.
One thing you can say with some certainty is that an engine swap will work out to be considerably more expensive than turbocharging or supercharging your original engine.
The donor engine rarely represents more than a few percent of the final budget. Unless you are a proficient welder with access to a good workshop to fabricate parts like an engine-to-gearbox adapter and modified sump, mounts and intake for your chosen engine, then you ought to be thinking in the order of £10,000+.