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engine swap or hybrid build [nc]

Posted: Wed May 23, 2012 3:37 pm
by liad
Hi all,
Im lookin into upgrading my enginebay aftr some conrod and crank damge.
I'm now looking into 2.5 hybrid builds and 2.3 swaps.
The big issue here is that I want everything to keep looking stock and reliable with a performance. Boost.

I have seen a 2.3 swap on miata net, this is the more reliable option I think, and after ecu correctly he got nice numbers with a stock mazda 3 2.3,189 whp and 180.2lbft torque.
The other build I have seen floating around is the 2.5 shortblock with its crank rods and pistons, mated to the 2ltr head.
The numbers and reliability are not as obvious to me now so I'm looking for answers from people who have experianced the 2.5 hybrid.
By the way the 2.5 is a bit easier to find here and i think I hwve found one already.

I have gwr header and midpipe, and qn inbox k&n
What do you think I should do?
Thanks! !!

Re: engine swap or hybrid build [nc]

Posted: Wed May 23, 2012 5:30 pm
by Brian
The bottom end of the 2.5 comes from the factory with more stout bits than a stock 2.3 bottom. And going forward we expect the newer 2.5 will have better parts support (currently there are tons more bits for the 2.3 but the market is slowly shifting to the newer 2.5). Thus, decision in favor of the 2.5 seems an easy choice to me if you don't want to build it. If you do want to build it from scratch, you can go either way.....but I still come down in favor of 'no replacement for displacement' and pick the 2.5.

Re: engine swap or hybrid build [nc]

Posted: Wed May 23, 2012 9:16 pm
by liad
How does it run? Do you have any idea on reliability and charecterisics of this hybrid?
Will i need something special?
Or its just a story of bolting on the 2.5 short block with its crank and pistons, cancel the balancer shaft and good to go? how dose it run on stock ecu? And how good can it get?
Also hownwill putting a 2.5 with the nc valve cover and oil pan work?
Is it the same end result?

Thanks brian!

Re: engine swap or hybrid build [nc]

Posted: Wed May 23, 2012 9:38 pm
by Brian
Detailed thread on using the 2.0 head on the 2.5 at Miata.net.....

Click the video on the front page to watch our built 2.5 run....

Re: engine swap or hybrid build [nc]

Posted: Thu May 24, 2012 2:03 am
by liad
He faced lots of reliability issues after the swap
I'm now looking into the 2.3 sswap as it would just be alot easier to do, the guys here wont take responsibility. For a 2.5 build and they event might refuse doing it,
I wish i could have gone 2.5 but I suspect I will face a big deal of trouble wih it.

The 2.3 buiod is plug and play,
Disable balancer shaft, and putting on some parts from my 2.0 engine on my valve cover.
A miata net user is running strong on 2.3 for years
With ecu he stands on 189 whp and 180.2 lbft
The 2.5 is troublefoe,but I will keep in mind

Re: engine swap or hybrid build [nc]

Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2012 7:02 pm
by MichaelBrown
Hey Brian,

Is this the thread you're talking about?

http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=426092

Re: engine swap or hybrid build [nc]

Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2012 11:46 pm
by Brian
Yes, that is one of them.

Re: engine swap or hybrid build [nc]

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2012 8:06 am
by grippy
try http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=454099
I have been flogging my 2.5 for 2 years now (track only), I don't see where the reliability concern comes from. There should be no difference between the 2.3 vs. 2.5 except the 2.5 has better crank and rods.
The torque increase is great!

Re: engine swap or hybrid build [nc]

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2012 9:51 am
by Brian
Indeed I don't understand any concerns on the 2.5, it is a stronger motor and thus preferred. We have been pushing it hard in our NCLIGHT project for a few years now....doing constant high rpm 270 hp on the stock crank with no issues.