1995 Miata + 2005 Ford Focus 2.0 duratec?

I have a 1995 Miata that needs the engine pulled out and replaced or rebuilt. I also have as of Monday a thoroughly wrecked 2005 Ford Focus.  I recall seeing something on this board  that was mentioning put in a duratec  into a Miata .  I'm kind of banged up and not really motivated to look around for information I thought maybe somebody here  would have an answer for me .  The focus was destroyed  when a gentleman decided to turn left in front of me .  I took the worst of it  had a little glass in my forehead in my cheek  a banged-up elbow  and wrist and ribs that hurt bad  but I am getting better .  Any info would be appreciated . Thanks again, Braden

I think the duratec swaps was into NC's, which have the MZR instead of a BP under the hood.

At least the easy swaps...

I think it's been done at least once. You'll want the transmission from an NC Miata, probably NC Miata intake manifolds and a welder.

I was looking for something drop it in maybe fab a mount or two and build a header. I will just stick with making one good Miata engine out of two blocks and three heads. Thanks for the info

A BP from an Escort or Protoge would largely swap over.  

Glad you're ok. That looks like it could have been worse. 

Thank you for the concern The car is worse than the picture looks 

Not gonna buff out!  

Wow, a tough week..on top of a tough year.  Hang in there!

Glad you weren't hurt worse. Hope you recover quickly. 

Hope you heal up well! Like others are hinting at, a Duratec in an non-NC Miata, would be like swapping any other non-native 4 cylinder into it. Probably more work than gain in the outcome.

• As I was sitting here thinking about life I remembered reading about duratecs and miatas . The engine in the Miata has been severely overheated. I have another engine that I pulled out of it that runs but Burns a quart of oil every 200 miles. I also have another cylinder head. I have a new radiator water pump all the gaskets timing belt . The plan is tear down both engines pick the best parts and put one back together putting new rings and new bearings in it. So when I remember the duratec I realized I have one that runs very well and if it would drop right in I would use it I don't feel like messing with a fabrication project right now

In reply to pilotbraden :

Yep, you’ve got the wrong gen Miata for an easy drop-in.

The combine two motors to make one good one, is a sound plan.  Go for it.

Either save the duratec for another probject (ahem: Midlana) or let it go on down the road.

In reply to RossD :

I looked it up and the Duratec is something like 80-90 pounds lighter than the 1.8, and makes a tiny bit more power and torque.  There isn't much benefit to be had, but there is some.

I would look into doing a cylinder leakdown test on the oil burning engine before taking it apart, if you can. If it passes leakdown there's a good chance the only reason it burns oil is due to valve guide problems or clogged oil drains in the ringlands. Either way would be a near-free fix, in your case.

In reply to Vigo :

Thanks for the tip, I am hoping that I can just swap heads and have a good engine

Yeah, wow, glad you're okay. Looks like a heck of a hit. 

John Welsh said:

Not gonna buff out!  

Wow, a tough week..on top of a tough year.  Hang in there!

Yeah, this.  That car looks bad.  I'm glad your prognosis is good.

Do the leak down test for sure. My 94 would burn oil like no other till it's first track day. Running the piss out of it for a couple hours burned all of the crap out and didn't burn oil again for a long time. When ever it did, I just took it out to the track for the weekend.