mgs_freak

Anyone here know if the miata 1.8L engine is the same as in the 99-2000 protege? I found a SC kit from Jackson Racing for a 99-00 miata 1.8L and I wanted to know if that would fit my 2000 1.8L pro.

Thanx

P.S. I know I could just ask them, but I'm looking for a quick reply.

Roddimus Prime

nope, won't fit. Engines are different. Besides, roots blowers are terribly inefficient. I'd suggest going with a $500 nitrous kit before buying a $2500 blower from JR.

mgs_freak

No way! I'm not puttin that in my car. I care too much for it. Plus, I want the power all the time, not just to show somebody up. It's looking like I just gotta face the music and go with a turbo.

Roddimus Prime

Nitrous has always been my favorite power adder. I wouldn't knock it too much. It gives you the best of both worlds.....you don't have the excessive additonal maintaince that you get with a turbo, you dont have to run premium all the time, you maintain your gas mileage untill you WANT to hit it. You don't have to worry about unexpected power delivery in the rain or in a turn or anything. It's MUCH cheaper. It's easier to hide and make a "sleeper". There are less problems with a good n20 set-up...etc...just depends on what you want though.

eggynatey

The engine on a Miata is positioned front-to-rear where the Protege/323 is side-to-side.

It won't fit.

mgs_freak

Is it the same engine though? I know the miata is rwd but roddimus said they're different engines.

Roddimus Prime

look at the intake manifold on both the miata and the 1.8L protege....the miata has the pulleys/belts on the front of the motor and the protege on the left...if you turn the miata engine to the left to line it up as it would be in your engine bay then your intake manifold would be 180* opposite of where it is on the protege. The TB would be on the left, not on the right. You'd have to relocate your TB and wiring harness to the front of the motor and a lot of other worthless junk.

Roddimus Prime

assuming the heads are the same you could possibly buy a Miata intake manifold and TB and make it work...if you wanted to cobble somethign together it could be done.

juddz

Agreed. The good folks over at Nitrous Express can spec out an EFI kit for your car, and add in necessary extras, for good, clean power on demand without durability issues. If done right, and if you are using premium fuel when you play with it, it should be ok.

Also, I have to agree with Matty on the Miata engine. I read up on it, and our FS engines have nearly nothing in common with the Miata 1.8L. I can post more info on it if you are curious. If Miata parts worked, there would be a lot of open doors here. Such as the Jackson Racing kit. But please keep in mind that there are plenty of nice turbo kits available already (Wagner, Bell Engineering to name two) plus supercharger kits are in development (WOMP).

Roddimus Prime

if he's willing to bring the car to me and pay for it I'll make the jacksonracing supercharger fit onto his protege....but it'll cost ya!!

eggynatey

heh, I was thinking about the 1.6L from the NA Miata. There are a few parts that are interchangable between those cars(1.6L Miata and the 1.6L 323/Protege), but I dunno about the 1.8L.