Mazda3 Engines

I may have found a good deal on an 04' Mazda3 in need of an engine for a good price, and now I am trying to figure out how much it would cost to fix up again.

What engines can I use to replace the stock 2.3L?

Mazda6, Focus, Ranger/B2300, 2.0L Mazda3? I am not well versed in the year to year differences or crossovers between cars with the 2.3L MZR engine.

In reply to Nitroracer:

You could use the 2.3 out of a Caterham R400.

:)

The Mazda5 also runs the 2.3. I think that for the most part the engines are identical excet for the bolt on parts you would already have . The ranger doesn't have the balance shaft IIRC

I'd head over to the some of the Mazda forums.

I'm sure you'll find somone who has swapped the turbo engine into a non-turbo chassis.

I suspect the Ranger engine is not related in any way to the Mazda3's. Pretty sure you'll get no love there.

Alan Cesar wrote: I suspect the Ranger engine is not related in any way to the Mazda3's. Pretty sure you'll get no love there.

They are very, very related. Ignoring the details like mounts... the only major difference between the Ranger/B and the 3/focus/6/fusion 2.3l are the cams.

But.

I don't know if the RWD block will translate into a FWD spot. May, or may not.

Mazda 3, 5 & 6 has the same motor. The Focus and Fusion had similar engines (I think they're the same block). The 2.3 Focus is a bit rare, not sure about the Fusion.

Throw in a skyactiv motor and call it a day. :)

Megasquirt a Speed3 engine? What happened to the original one? Is it rebuildable?

How about the latest 2.5 MZR? People crash new cars just as often as they crash old ones.

I have a .pdf of the assembly manual for the 1.8/2.0/2.3 (DI/Non-DI) Focus/Mazda3/Ranger Duratec Engine. It's 266 pages of excellent technical information. The website that provide me with the link to this document is no longer around but I am willing to share this document, but it's 50 mb.

I think the Mazda3/5/6 engines have variable valve timing where the Focus 2.3L does not.

z31maniac wrote: I'd head over to the some of the Mazda forums. I'm sure you'll find somone who has swapped the turbo engine into a non-turbo chassis.

Can you recommend a specific forum that is good for 3ees?

twolittlebroncos wrote: Mazda 3, 5 & 6 has the same motor. The Focus and Fusion had similar engines (I think they're the same block). The 2.3 Focus is a bit rare, not sure about the Fusion. Throw in a skyactiv motor and call it a day. :)

Looks like any 3, 5, or 6 with the 2.3L will fit the bill. Any year to year changes you guys know of?

4Msfam wrote: Megasquirt a Speed3 engine? What happened to the original one? Is it rebuildable?

Going to look at the car this friday afternoon. Owner tells me the engine was low on oil and needs rings but I think she means bearings. It still runs, but I am not expecting much.

MazMart may have a motor: http://www.mazmart.com/Parts.aspx?n=used&m=1

I believe they are a Mazda specific recycler. I've bought performance stuff from them in the past and they are top notch.

chaparral wrote: How about the latest 2.5 MZR? People crash new cars just as often as they crash old ones.

that 2.5 is surprisingly good. My friend brooks has a 2010 3 s with the 2.5, we dyno'd it and it got 156 whp/160tq completely bone stock, and its only rated at 160 some bhp.
on this same dyno, in similar conditions, we ran my kia, and it got 128whp/125 tq, being rated at 156bhp
so they definitely weren't far off in their ratings, and they are quite peppy with the six speed.
that'd be awesome to put in one of the older bodies, too, with the better looking front end (in most people's opinions)
His suffers from unimaginably bad body roll for a "sport" version, though, and coilovers are outrageously priced. Maybe a coilover solution for the older body will be more reasonable? (or maybe they don't have that crazy roll)?

Forums:

http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php

and

http://www.mazda3club.com/

The 2006 and later cars came standard with ABS

2006 and later automatics are a 5 speed instead of a 4 speed.

Not finding as many engines for the mazda 3 as I was expecting. Looks like each year has a slightly different ignition timing setup too. Lots of cheap two liters though.

Any idea where to look for a rebuild kit?

For anyone else looking at these, it seems that a lot of 2.3L cars have been run low on oil while the 2.0L cars don't have as many issues. One factor may be that the bigger engine runs a cartridge style oil filter with a plastic housing that cracks and consequently causes a leak. Luckily the 2.0L uses a spin on oil filter and can be adapted to the 2.3L block.

4Msfam wrote: Megasquirt a Speed3 engine? What happened to the original one? Is it rebuildable?

AFAIK, all DI engines are not, yet, MS'able. And IIRC, the MS3 motor is the FWD version of the MS6 motor- a DI turbo 2.0l. Nice engine, for an early DI engine.

alfadriver wrote: They are very, very related. Ignoring the details like mounts... the only major difference between the Ranger/B and the 3/focus/6/fusion 2.3l are the cams.

How does one go from a E36 M3ty ranger engine (my friend has a 2010 deranger 2wd, regular cab, 5 speed, and what a god awfully slow vehicle) to a peppy Mazda 3?

Makes me think twice about a Mazda with that motor...

alfadriver wrote: They are very, very related. Ignoring the details like mounts... the only major difference between the Ranger/B and the 3/focus/6/fusion 2.3l are the cams. But. I don't know if the RWD block will translate into a FWD spot. May, or may not.

Oh, I see. I'm not really up on recent Rangers; I was thinking they still had an evolution of the old twin-spark 2.3-liter engines.

HiTempguy wrote:

alfadriver wrote: They are very, very related. Ignoring the details like mounts... the only major difference between the Ranger/B and the 3/focus/6/fusion 2.3l are the cams.

How does one go from a E36 M3ty ranger engine (my friend has a 2010 deranger 2wd, regular cab, 5 speed, and what a god awfully slow vehicle) to a peppy Mazda 3? Makes me think twice about a Mazda with that motor...

Cams and intake, mostly. The Ranger is set for more low end torque, being a truck, where as the cars are set more for power. Looking at how they are used, it's not all that surprising.

The motor used for the car is sweet- Focus/3/Fusion/6- 2.0/2.3- they all run really well. I'm a big fan of them. (but I AM biased)

I heard the ranger has a lighter crank, IIRC...? I also believe the ranger lacks the balance shafts. Cosworth provides a blank off kit for $40 for said shafts. http://www.cosworthusa.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=23&idproduct=352

I forget, the NC Miata has the same motor, too.