Picking a motor to turbo...
 

Ok, really short...

Buy a 1.8 94-97 to rebuild. Have to get new one, got issues with block.

Buy a 1.8 99-00 to rebuild. Man these are rare.

Buy a 2001-2004 to rebuild. These appear to be everywhere. Why can't I drop one of these in my 96 miata?

Thanks in advance!

Your choice to turbo? I say get a 94 or 95 1.8, and turbo away. 96 and 97 work great as well. Throw a 99 head on there while you're at it. Really, just get what you can find for the best price.

The newer motors are higher compression.

You want the NA block, NB head, nbfl has variable cam timing, and if you cannot control it stay away from them....

NB block has higher compression (bad for turbo) and suppose to have weaker rods , bud not proved yet.

NA blocks 94-95.5 have the oil supply @ the exhaust side and a slightly lower compression then the 95.5-97 (but get the best one here,doesn't matter)

If you already have a 1.8 (or at least intake & oil pan) a other good source is the engine from an 323/protege, mercury tracer, ford escort...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/91-93...spagenameZWDVW

Interesting. A ford escort motor eh? Those are even cheaper arent they? Would I need to do anything to fix it up? I have a 1.8 96 motor. I am burning oil every once in a while in short 1 second plumes. The auto tranny just starting going all hokey, and I am at a loss to figure out what to do next. The game plan is to replace the tranny immediately with a manual. Then the motor is next I guess. I was trying to figure out what to do to the head and block while I have them laying around. Or should I just rebuild my current 1.8 block and slap that back in there? It has been run without oil once (jiffy lube sucks) and then it got hot and blew the had gasket. The head was shaved and plopped back on there. So I don't think this is a motor that I want to turbo. 145k miles.

The reason I ask about the 2003 motor is because the guy who I am getting the transmission from also has a 2003 motor.

1995
Engine
Mazda Miata MX5 4410-P $400.07 Auto Sport Unlimited USA-MI(Zeeland) E-mail 1-800-695-1021

1997
Engine
Mazda Miata MX5 03-97,RWD,EFI,MT,MX5 52K PARTS ONLY 52,000 A 009043 $400.07 Auto Sport Unlimited USA-MI(Zeeland) E-mail 1-800-695-1021

1994
Engine
Mazda Miata MX5 CKD5-4-5 PG1174 $400 Two Chiefs Used Auto Parts USA-VA(Suffolk) E-mail 1-866-846-7898 154

1994
Engine
Mazda Miata MX5 conv,1.8,EFI,AT,RWD, Factory 050093 $400 Heritage Used Car and Truck Parts USA-AL(Mobile) E-mail 1-251-375-2135/1-866-232-2948 854

1996
Engine
Mazda Miata MX5 181,000 V119 $325 Aviation Auto Salvage USA-AZ(Tucson) Request_Quote 1-520-574-1700 Request_Insurance_Quote
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