How hard is a 1.8L engine swap for someone who is a noob?
 

I've never really done any engine work, swapped engines, etc. How hard is the 1.6 to 1.8 swap on our cars? I have a 1990...

I have friends that would help/have more experience, but overall how hard/long of a job is it?



Thanks fellas



JB

This past weekend:

Started at 10:30am.
1.6 out by 1:30.
1.8 in by 4:30.
Running by 6:30.

I ate breakfast, lunch, and dinner in that period. The only reason the car is not on the road right now is because the slave cyl failed and had to be replaced on the car (sucks, fucking curly-q) and it has some non-swap-related electrical issues that I'm working on sorting out. (LC-1 failed)

From a technical standpoint, the swap is very easy, there are some things to remember though:

You need to figure out how to mount the 1.6 coil packs.
You need to extend the CAS wiring.
Remember to swap the oil pressure sender.

For a first timer, just remember to go slowly and label everything. Masking tape and a sharpie will be your friend. Take pictures if you need to. Also, try going to B&N and picking up "MX-5 performance projects". It gives a pretty quick and dirty rundown on how to swap in a 1.8. Lots of other good info too. I see absolutely no reason why you couldn't have it done in a weekend.


Edit: A few more things.

If you run megasquirt, this swap is much easier, you can get away without using the VTPS or ISC if you arent running ac/ps. If you are running on a stock ECU, I suggest picking up the swap kit parts from FM to make the job a little easier with the throttle body being changed out.

Also, the 1.6 crossover tube won't work, you'll need the 1.8 one, or you need to rig something up (spare intercooler pipes work great)

I already told you this in email, faggette. I will also give you engine mount brackets on the cheap. don't go through life like a ******, build a 1.8. You need a new bracket for the coil pack but not the throttle body since you're on MS.

http://trackspeedengineering.com/sto...line-p-90.html

:hustler:

I told my friend to buy it a week ago and was ignored. After JayL and I had a hell of a time with my curly-q and I switched over to your SS line, I pimp that shit out to everyone.

I told him I didn't want to touch the car again until he gets that switched out.

you feel like punching me in the face? bring it on you ******. I know multiple fighting styles, and I also carry a switchblade with me at all times. Something fucking tells me that you'd be better off keeping your arms down at your sides. If you can't fucking put "cause" and "effect" together in that pathetic brain of yours, I'll help you out here. You'll be standing face to face with me, and let me fucking tell you, it'll already be too fucking late to back down at that point. You might decide "well shit, I might as well stay true to my word and throw a fucking punch". This is where you will go wrong. I hope you don't have a job that requires two fucking hands, because you're going to be missing one after I'm done with you. I'll casually divert your fist off to the side, as you suddenly realize you may have gotten yourself into something you can't back up. You'll try to regroup and pull your arm back, but that wont be easy when I jab my spear-pointed Benchmade switchblade straight through the bone in your forearm, and proceed to rip your entire fucking forearm and hand off in one quick pull. At this point, you'll probably spend 2 seconds in shock. I say 2 seconds, because thats the amount of time you'll have before I reverse the knife in my hand, and uppercut it straight through your throat. You'll spend your last few seconds gurgling blood, and wondering where you went wrong. After that, I'll be forced to take care of any witnesses who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Nothing a few quick choke slams can't fix, followed by a nice gentle slice across the jugular with the Benchmade.
Now, motherfucker, you sure you want to go through with that punch?

All I can say is "thats wrong!" You've freaked me out.

You don't know who you're fuckin with. I'm a 216 pound black man. I work as a security guard for a professional skater. I do carry guns, and I have been trained to use them in the event of an emergency and have been trained where to shoot to show self defense. That's totally not appropriate. I didn't even make that outrageous of a claim, but you definitely disrespected me, and the entire scientific community on that one. I don't care if you just know that much about the subject, or you are just ignorant to the facts that are in the field that I am an expert on, but come on. Don't bullshit the fact that I know more about this than you do. Just come straight and say you don't know what you're talking about, and we'll be cool. Seriously? This is fucking bullshit, you shouldn't get so riled up about such trivial things, but if you do, you're a fucking ******. Go home and make love to your fucking real doll. You don't know shit about what we're talking about and you need to fucking leave this thread right now. Buy a bullet and rent a gun, because sir, you are finished in life.

I've done this swap recently and its not too bad. Remember exhaust differences. CAS coils ( just go COP ) if you're MS already then no issues for IAC valve. Also get yourself a 1.8 throttle cable. Few pipes. Job done.

Thanks, I will def. need someone helping me. I always seem to mess easy stuff up. :vash::giggle:

wtf lol ^^ trying to picture this guy and all i c is steven seagal. i did my 1.8 swap in about 3.5 hours. But i did have the fm coil bracket and tb and my 1.8 had mounts already on it along with a tranny with a new slave cyl and the line that runs up the firewall already installed so that made things a lot easier. i would say if you had to swap the tranny off yours onto the new one + you are not experienced i would say you and a buddy should be able to do it easily in a weekend maybe 1 full day even. but dont forget to swap the coolant neck or do a reroute, i forgot to so my fan temp sender wire is on ground to make the fan stay on whenever the car is on.