I know the 1.8 is the better motor and ideally a 94-95 block with 99head. But where I need guidance is I have all the turbo stuff already on the 1.6. So is it worth buying a 1.8 and building the motor and swap as much turbo stuff as I can over or should I stick with what I have and build that.

I have a gt2860 on the 1.6 now
found a 95 1.8 on CL for $450 complete engine

if I go 1.8 I would have to get the swap stuff and new header/downpipe and intercooler pipes

 

If you have a stock 1.6, I would sell it and get the 1.8. Some folks like to keep their cars 'original' and would like the 1.6 if they blow their stock one.

There's no reason for you to build it if you have the funds to get the 1.8.

So:
-Buy 1.8
-Buy manifold and downpipe for 1.8
-Sell 1.6 and 1.6 manifold. Keep the turbo.

And so on.

If you don't want to go through and swap everything, then either ride out the 1.6 till it blows or throw some rods in it and enjoy it for longer. The 1.6 will take boost like the 1.8 does, but has far less low end torque... which is the fun end of the curve for a street car.

Also, if you're running MS3, you want a 01+ head for VVT, not a 99 head.

 

Where do you guys usually source a block and crank from? the one on cl might be gone haven't heard back from the guy.

Then em as for a build plan I was thinking balanced crank wiseco pistons Manley rods then arp hardware and acl bearings.

 

As the resident devils advocate against the "you MUST have an 1800 or give up" crowd.....

The 1800 isn't a "better" motor.

What it is, is a motor that can make more power.

It depends on what your goals are, if you want a fast, fun car, you can do so with what you have.

If you want ultimate horsepower and to side with the cool kids, you can keep saving, spend more money, scrounge up parts and eventually have an 1800 turbo.

On this site the arguments are 95% 1800 but you can have a lot of fun on the road with a 1600 turbo.

If in fact you do track day you can still have a lot of fun with a 1600. You may NOT have the most powerful or the quickest turbo mx5 but driven hard and well, you also might

A 1600 turbo'd mx5 is still a very fast car, one that can and will beat cars you wouldn't ever have dreamed of.

Either way, stick with the project and you'll have a blast. We are

 

Actually, the 1.8 is really just a better head. The bottom end, other than being scaled up, is basically the same. The 94-98 head flows better, and the 99-05 heads flow even better than that. So net is more power at lower boost levels, better spool, more low end torque. Both motors will make similar top end power, but the 1.6 will take a bit more work and pressure to get there.

The idea is, that if you are gonna dump $2k+ into parts for building a motor, save up the extra few hundred and get the one with a better head. The extra displacement is just a bonus.

 

What is the problem you are trying to fix? Or what are you trying to accomplish? If the turbo 1.6 is running fine I don't see much reason to go to the trouble of swapping engines. I think the argument to ditch 1.6s for a 1.8 is really only when you are in a position of needing to put time and money into a 1.6, in which case the consensus is that the 1.6 isn't worth it.

 

The 1.6 currently runs great I just know eventually it'll go south. So my plan was to start getting my parts together for a quick swap when the motor does blow. Also would like to be in the 300hp area.

 

WRONG.

the 1.8L is a MUCHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH better engine.

the 1.6L is a **** stick. if you think a 1.6L is great, do the exact same thing on a 1.8L then die of being a retard for so long.

 

But what if I want a revvy motor?

 

Found a 1.8 block with pistons for 450 on here I'll probably get. If the local 1.8 engine sells before I can get it. But decision has been made to 1.8!

thanks for everybody's input and Brian I think I owe you 2 or 3 favors by now haha

 

Yep, definitely 1800.

I would think things are getting marginal on a 1600 at that power level, heat, boost levels, spool, longevity, driveability etc.

Wish we could find 1800's for that here....... $2-$3k in our neighborhood.

 

Put a **** cam in your 1.8L that prevents the turbo to spool below 5K as well, so the car feels faster as it revvs alive.

 

So the local 1.8 is still for sale the guy says he would take 350 for it complete! or i could get a block with 83.5 wiseco pistons allreadready machined for 450. Which one do i buy if i plan to swap out to a VVT head anyways

 

why choose?

Get both...never hurts to have spare parts

 

Because poor right now. Just put a roof on the house. I can get both if the block hangs out another month. Would I be better off just getting a 1.8 VVT

 

the one with wisecos would be the potentially be the better deal. But more info is needed.
What rods?
what bearings?
what are the gaps on the rings
was the crank ground?
was it balanced?
what are the oil clearances set on the rods? on the mains?


If you get the one for 350, you will have to tear it apart and see what the story is on it and spend more than 100 getting it up to par

Now, if the one for 450 is wisecos on stock rods, and just a back yard hone and slam some bearings and rings in it you may want to get the 350 core engine

Ideally, we need more info on both engines to know what way to point you

Now you can always take the low baller way n try to get both, show up look at the 350 one, poke n prod at it and offer 150, and with some luck, and a good poker face, you may get it for 200.... you can always leave your name n number with a standing 200 offer
I got loads of stuff playing the waiting game

you can also do the same with the 450 one, offer like 225 on it, tell him, if he dosent have the receipts or the spec sheets you just cant go that much on it

 

The one for 450 is just block pistons and rings nothing else. The whole engine seems to be the way to go if I get it before it sells