When I was working at race related we put a 2.3 swaped miata on the dyno, it had the volvo head on it and a gt35r seemed pretty sweet but it threw a rod at 400hp, supposedly due to detonation cause by a bad batch of pump gas. Though i think thats just about the limit of those rods because detonation that sends parts flyin can usually be heard from across the shop.
Either way it will cost more to do the swap then it would to get the 1.6 sturdy enough for 400hp. If you did a 1.8 swap you could prolly get 400whp out of it before it sent a rod flying, it wouldn't last more then a few passes though.

It's retarded to consider a swap because a motor is cheap. In the grand scheme, the motor cost is probably 1/4 of the cost of a swap or less, depending on your ability to weld shit together or use a sawzall (faeflora).

I mean, hell, you can pick up an LS 5.3 truck motor for $500, flip the manifolds and throw a turbo on it if you're creative enough and make 500whp on a stock bottom end with a T70.

http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=423624

I dunno, those 2.3's with an Esslinger head seem to make a lot of power.

I think this engine would be great for the right kind of swap. Last night on my run I saw a Ford Tempo coupe with a stick... :D Just need to work out that transverse/longitudinal driveline thing.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1314793818

I can honestly say I've never seen a Tempo coupe....

There was a Fetiva for sale down the street in decent physical condition for $1k a few weeks ago...I really would love a BP-t swapped Festiva to fuck with people.

Thread hijack with volvo. Including cost of vehicle about 3-4k into it. When tuned should have no problem hitting 300+ hp and gets 25-28 mpg on the highway:

http://forums.turbobricks.com/showthread.php?t=225888

Also +1 for volvo swap.

I vote turbo Audi 20v 5-cylinder. XD

A buddy of mine had a 200 20v with a chip/exhaust/filter. The torque output was incredible.

You mean like... a miata engine? All these mills are cool and all, but till you start talking north of 400whp, none of them are a good idea to swap.

Why OEM MAF with megasquirt?

It's just kind of there not doing anything. Haven't gotten around to making a new intake.

My car came with the OEM maf still installed. Even though it's a Hydra car.

Apparently the PO thought it would let him pass smog? Yeah. That didn't work out so well.

Also keeps it CA stealthy for the smog police ;)

Quite true, I saw a street driven Fox Body Mustang with a built 2.3 turbo running high 9s at one of the NMRA events a few summers ago. Not bad for a 2,800lb car with an obsolete 8v head.

I have a turbo miata (FM2), and a Merkur xr4ti. I would consider putting a BP into the merkur, but NEVER a 2.3 into a miata. Not that the 2.3 is bad... it's just very heavy, and the head is poor. I don't think much over 300hp is possible before spending big bucks on the head. If you make the motor strong enough, and get a head that flows (Esslinger), of course you can crank the boost to the moon and run 9's. At that point it doesn't matter one bit what motor you started with.. you've replaced every part of it except the actual block.
BP=strong block, good head, much ligher.

LOL, local has one. It's red--ish with rust, dents and grey-ish bumpers. But it's quick.

A B230FK from a 97 or so is a plentiful and nice engine (if you an make it fit).
Those engines are used here in almost any form of racing (even fully built as N/A it's significantly cheaper to manage than BMW or Porsches, with similar efficiciency).
The 16V head flows really well so there is no need to shop Evo heads from Motor Design

It's a shame that the local Miata scene is too conservative, since where else would you guess to see a Volvo swap...