Mk.1 Engine Change

[MonkeyRacing]

I'm sure i've read somewhere it's fairly straight forward to drop the 1.8 motor from the Mk.2 into a Mk.1? Been looking at a few options (turbocharging/supercharging) but an engine change seems the most cost effective route to more power; looking for 150ish brake. My 1.6 has just passed 100k so any forced induction may finish it off anyway.

I'd use the search function but it ain't working so i'm hoping some people have some experience? Are there different types of engine for the mk.2? Which is the easiest to slot in? What about ECU/electrics?

Now i'm not that mechanically proficient so can anyone recommend an MX5 specialist in the south-east that can do / has done this for a customer? What sort of cost am i likely to be looking at?

My car has uprated suspension and i'd sort the brakes but will the gearbox/clutch/diff/driveshafts be up to the task?

Apologies for all the questions but any help much appreciated.

Cheers
Simon

[MX-5 Lazza]

FM do a kit to fit a 1.8 Mk1 engine into a Mk1 1.6 but it would be way more cost effective to swap the whole car. You can fit any engine you like but none are just a case of drop-in and run.
At 100k your car is only just run-in. A base level turbo or SC won't break it

[Munter]

A base level SC would be cheaper I'd think. Or if you don't want to pay for modified car insurance, sell and buy a MK2.

[MonkeyRacing]

Cheers...... do you have a link to something i could view? Cost?

[Munter]

I think this is probably the most expensive place to buy one:
http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/Shop/ViewProducts.asp...

Then
http://www.performance5.com/supercharger.asp

or someone like OnlyMX5ives http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?h=0... can supply and fit.

[MX-5 Lazza]

Or take a look on Nutz and search for Mini Supercharger

[seismic22]

I have been offered an excptionally low mileage mk2 140bhp enngine for 200 quid. Mines a 1.8 mk1 so apart from sorting the VICS out a mk2 unit should "just drop in" and that would be an easy extra 10bhp and a fresher engine. 1.6's need a little more work.

Edited by seismic22 on Friday 15th October 23:48

[MonkeyRacing]

Doesn't seem as though an engine change is that tricky: http://www.mx5nutz.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=6...

The mechanics at work are quite keen to have a crack at it and i'll have free workshop access :-)

This must be a cheaper route to approx 25% more power than forced induction...... well i'm hoping so. The 5 is my daily driver as i'm lucky enough to also have a modified 944 Turbo.

[Munter]

Ahhh free workshop and cheap mechanics.... That changes the equation a bit!

Get photos. Oh and don't let on I called them cheap...

[Gizmo!]

150bhp?

Hardly worth it - you could produce a similar effect by going on a diet and stripping stuff out (stereo, carpets, spare wheel, etc).

M45 supercharger will do 170-180bhp for not a lot of wonga, especially if you have a friendly spannerist to do the oily stuff.