Ponderings

"Scary__goongala!" (corymagee)
08/04/2014 at 22:37 • Filed to: None

Would the Eco-boost engine out of the new Ford Escape work in my Miata? I would think the transmission could come from a Focus or Fiesta ST.

DISCUSSION (21)

Übel > Scary__goongala!
08/04/2014 at 22:38

You're going to run into some issues trying to use a FWD transmission for a RWD car.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Scary__goongala!
08/04/2014 at 22:39

Duuuudddddeee! Mustang Ecoboost engine! All them ponies!

Scary__goongala! > Übel
08/04/2014 at 22:40

That was where I thought the trouble would be, switching everything from FWD to RWD. But now im thinking it could maybe be done with the 4 banger eco-boost being put into the new Mustang.

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > Scary__goongala!
08/04/2014 at 22:42

If they can fit an LS in there, I'm sure is can be done. I don't think the EcoBoost 4 is a very compact engine, though.

Übel > Scary__goongala!
08/04/2014 at 22:43

Well since the ST has a transverse engine layout and the Miata would be longitudinal, it would be effectively impossible to use the ST box without going mid-engined. You'd be much better off attempting it with the Mustang setup.

Scary__goongala! > Übel
08/04/2014 at 22:46

Im liking this idea for the future. I don't plan on ever parting with it so this might be a possibility for when the engine eventually goes caput.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Scary__goongala!
08/04/2014 at 22:48

No, unless you want to make it mid engined... 2.3L and transmission from the 2015 Mustang? Yes.

Scary__goongala! > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
08/04/2014 at 22:48

I doubt space would be a problem. And the extra bits like power steering,AC, etc could be done away with to.

Soloburrito > Scary__goongala!
08/04/2014 at 22:49

Just add a turbo to the miata. Why make this hard?

Übel > Scary__goongala!
08/04/2014 at 22:51

They already make kits for doing Ford V8s, so I wouldn't imagine it would be that big of a stretch to use one of those kits for an ecoboost instead. Seems very plausible.

Scary__goongala! > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
08/04/2014 at 22:51

Yeah definitely thinking that way is much more plausible. Now I just need to win the lottery or something.

Scary__goongala! > Soloburrito
08/04/2014 at 22:54

It would be in the future if and when the engine goes. Meaning I would have to replace the engine or major components anyway.

Captain_Spadaro > Scary__goongala!
08/04/2014 at 23:02

Actually, I THINK the block will mate up with the Mazda tranny...

Ask Zach Bowman from Road & Track, he's dropping a 2.0L EB crate engine in a Fox-body.

GhostZ > Scary__goongala!
08/05/2014 at 00:52

Go with an SR20DET. There's a better aftermarket, and you'll get the same 2.0l DOHC Turbo motor with about the same power output. However, the SR20 is a longintudinal RWD motor and transmission. If you can do the complexity of an Ecoboost swap, you can easily do the SR20DET swap instead for far less money.

Otherwise, turbo the existing motor.

Scary__goongala! > GhostZ
08/05/2014 at 10:42

I forget, what did the SR20 come out of? This is a down the road kinda thing when the motor eventually does so I'd have to replace it anyway.

MachineReplica > Captain_Spadaro
08/05/2014 at 10:47

This, it should bolt right up. The 2.3 and 2.5 "MZR" motors bolt right up to that Aisin six speed. I'm pretty sure the 2.0/2.3 EB motors have the same basic block architecture. There are a lot of guys that drop the 2.0 "MZR" head on the regular 2.3/2.5 Mazda 3 blocks for moar torques and HP. The Miata 2.0 is just a massaged 2.0 out of the base Mazda 3. There is a lot of commonality with the 00's Ford and Mazda parts.

I have no idea why you are even mentioning the transmissions from FWD cars.

MachineReplica > Scary__goongala!
08/05/2014 at 10:51

Your best bet is to just put a Cosworth blower on the factory head, if you want huge forced induction power. Look up websites like Good-Win racing and Flyin Miata. You can make a very respectable amount of naturally aspirated power out of that engine. The head is much better than the standard Mazda fare. Hell, if Cosworth makes parts for it, you are doing your engine right.

I honestly don't see the EB motor being worth it. Boosting the factory motor and putting stronger internals in there if necessary is much better. If you are going to swap, the only swaps that make sense for spending that much money are V8 swaps.

Scary__goongala! > MachineReplica
08/05/2014 at 11:09

It wouldn't be for massive power gains. Just more than what the stock 1.8 offers and a more usable power curve. To much power and I'd end up dead or in a whole lot of trouble very fast.

Captain_Spadaro > MachineReplica
08/05/2014 at 12:25

I think he (the guy who mentioned the FWD transaxles) got confused.

MachineReplica > Scary__goongala!
08/05/2014 at 14:25

Then definitely get some Cosworth parts for the stock motor and build that. Much cheaper, much easier, and proven. You can basically build the Super 20 concept car, flares and all, from parts that Flyin' Miata or Good-win racing sells. You could also go NA and make over 200 WHP as well.

GhostZ > Scary__goongala!
08/05/2014 at 18:55

The SR20 came out of the Nissan Silvia/240SX, but it was also in many other cars , because when Nissan builds an engine, they build it to be relevant for 25 years and put it in as many things as possible, most of which did not come into the US. Some companies sell them still as refurbished crate motors.

You can import a motor pretty cheaply, or you can get a FWD one out of a Nissan Sentra SE-R and quickly adapt it. Unlike the Ecoboost 2.0, it was designed as RWD motor and was adapted for FWD in the sentra. It's easy to undo the FWD adapation by using a 240SX transmission and adapter plate, I believe.

You could ALSO just find someone who already imported the SR20DET for their 240SX, and is now selling the motor and transmission to swap in something else, usually an LS.