Top 5 Engine Swaps For the Mazda MX-5 Miata

Let's look at the top 5 engine swaps for the Mazda MX5 Miata! This list includes realistic, relatively easy, and tried and true swaps ranging from bigger 4 cylinders, to V6s and V8s, to rotary engines. This is MY top 5 list, based on realistic swaps that have swap kits and prefabricated parts available, so you can do these swaps without doing all the fab work yourself. Enjoy!

1) Honda K-Swap (K20 or K24)
2) GM Ecotec Swap (2.0, 2.2 or 2.4L
3) GM LS Swap (Many V8s)
4) Honda J-Swap (3.2 or 3.5L)
5) Rotary Swap (1.3L rotary)

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[hermionegranger]

You missed out the best swap of all… the Rocketeer. 3 litre Jaguar V6 (AJ30). 240+ bhp, no weight penalty and a fabulous soundtrack.

[toedSloth]

To say that the 13Bs are misunderstood would be an understatement. They can be reliable if you know how to build and take care of them. I've had them for decades. A rotary Miata would likely be the best balanced too, so long as you're able to mount the engine low and super close to the firewall as most of its weight are in the 3 iron plates. Add an appropriately sized single turbo to something like a properly kitted 13B-REW and you've got a pretty monstrously fast machine that is also super nimble and fun to drive.

[baneofpain]

My dream swap is a KL 2.5L v6 from the MX-6 or ford probe. Such a small, peppy, and great sounding engine. Plus, its nice to keep mazda with mazda.

[prophetcarason]

Dream setup is either a k24 or a renesis 13b, preferably on ethanol and naturally aspirated

[scooter]

doing a ford 302 in mine now changing tranand solid axle rear end ford 8.8 and other like supercharge or turboing it.

[davidmccaughan]

There's an LFX swapped NB that comes in and kick's all our butts on the Lime Rock go-cart track every year. But I'm going J, OZ kit like you showed too.

[joldsaway]

My NB is currently in the shop getting a J32 swapped in. Can't wait to make twice the power with no handling losses.

[miatamike]

I like the idea of the Mazda V6 like the KL-DE or the KF-ZE. Also yes, Mazda has their own K series of engines.

[johnjones]

I always wanted to put the 1.8 V6 from Mazda's MX3 in a Miata, but my 1st choice would have to be a Japanese spec MX6/Probe 2.5.

[catjudo]

I've had the thought of putting a Buick-Rover 3.5 liter V8 into a Miata. I like the simplicity of a pushrod V8 combined with the lighter weight of the aluminum engine. More power with less weight penalty, plus the added fun of being able to fit the older tech that I understand better because I'm old and weird.

[alihn]

My dream swap would probably be a Busso V6 from my old 2004 Alfa Romeo 147GTA

[ditto]

I wanted a J series for the longest time, but seeing how much cheaper I could do a turbo build made me change my mind on that. Btw is the ebay turbo still holding up?

[Koopagamelouda]

Mk3 MX-5 with a Hayabusa V8 and side exit exhausts is my dream car.

[RudebwoyRacing]

J series is very capable of revving to 8k but you have to upgrade springs and retainers and your power drops rapidly after 7.2k. If anybody is interested in a j swap I recommend j32a2 fbo no tune 300whp plus on a 800 dollar engine all motor.

[kevinsellsit]

*Dream* swap? Well an all wheel drive 8 injector race tuned Cosworth Sierra swap sounds fun. A six speed RWD Ford (Yamaha) 3.0 SHO swap would be fun but the K-swap is 1/5 the cost and much more sensible overall.
I'm glad you gave realistic yet optomistic prices for these swaps. As a master mechanic I could easily beat any of those prices with contacts and wholesale sourcing, but would charge quite a bit more for a walk in customer. That said, I can't afford either of my *dream swaps* lol.

[scottex.]

sr20 is my dream. I'd love it but without building it too much, something around 300 hp would be more than great. The problem is that the engine costs a lot rn and i honestly don't think there are companies doing kits

[cartermaneki]

I have a '92 I did the LE5 swap on and am a big advocate for the swap. I enjoyed the car for a bit naturally aspirated, then switched to a wet nitrous setup, and now the car is undergoing a full top-end rebuild and M62 supercharger swap off the Cobalt SS. You can get the M62's used for dirt cheap.

[colinw]

You forgot to mention the first of the big daddy engine swaps that started it all with quite a few magazine articles to boot. I remember back in the day that the Ford 5.0 liter Windsor engine out of the contemporary Mustang GTs was the big swap candidate for the MX5 Miata especially the first NA chassis cars.

[reallyanti]

Why no Jaguar V6?
That's my current plan with my ridiculous cyberpunk Miata build.

Right blend of sound and performance, the only real problem is a lower potential power ceiling compared to K swaps or LS swaps.

[anglegrinder]

I want to swap a Saab B204/B234, a few people in europe have done it and make over 400/500