10 Cheap Mazda MX-5 Miata Engine Swaps

Mazda is a small automotive brand compared to giants like Nissan or Toyota, but their cars have shaken the sports car scene many times in the past. Machines like the mighty Mazda RX-7 once ruled the front cover of every car magazine known to humankind. One of Mazda’s more budget-friendly sports car options is the Mazda MX-5 Miata, a sweet and simple sports car that is very responsive and nimble on the road but doesn’t carry a lot of power straight out of the factory. This statement is especially applicable to older models of the car that are fitted with engines that barely deliver 140 horsepower. This problem calls for an engine swap, and tons of swap kits are available on the market to get that done. There are several engines that one can swap into the Miata as there is a whole tuning and modding subculture around it.

All engine swaps are going to cost some serious money. However, if you’ve bought some beat-up Miata from the ’90s, it was probably a cheap investment anyway. Here is a list of 10 cool engines one can mount inside their Mazda MX-5 Miata.

10 Ford 302 V8 Engine

The Ford 302 V8 swap for a Miata can be somewhat easy to perform, but it is more likely to leave a hole in your wallet when compared to inline-4 options. The expenditure also heavily depends on your luck in finding one of these engines in a half-decent shape. The 302 V8 is a 4.9-liter engine that can generate around 230 horsepower and 283 lb-ft of torque, though these numbers can be pumped up significantly. However, this is not the only Ford V8 that can be mounted in a Mazda Miata, because some other V8 engines like the Ford 289 can be decent options too.

Engine Specs

Of course, the expenses are not limited to the engine alone, as there are several other things one will need to perform the whole swap. A Mazda MX-5 Miata swap kit for the 302 including a custom driveshaft is needed, which shouldn’t be too much of a problem to find, as there is plenty of support on the market. One needs to be careful, however, as there are multiple engines on the market that carry the ‘302’ name. The regular Ford 302 engine is more commonly known as a Windsor 302 engine, but there is also the Boss 302 engine. The Windsor’s valves are aligned in a row, whereas the Boss has its valves angled in different positions.

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9 GM LFX V6 Engine

The GM LFX V6 engine can be a good addition to the Miata as it can be lighter and more fuel efficient, not to mention cheaper, than most V8 options. The 3.5-liter LFX can generate around 323 horsepower and 278 lb-ft of torque, which is nothing to scoff at. One can find several LFX swap kits for the Miata on the market that almost seem plug-and-play in nature. The engine has already been successfully mounted in the underrated Mazda RX-8 in the past and can be a good addition to the Miata too.

Engine Specs

The LFX V6 belongs to the General Motors High Feature engine series and is an advanced variant of the LLT engine. It has found its home under several Camaro and Impala models over the years. The engine may have been succeeded by the LGX, but it is still a popular option for engine swaps and can be found on the market easily.

8 Ford Duratec V6 Engine

Ford built the highly reliable Duratec V6 engine from 1993 to 2012. The most common swap kit available on the market is intended for the Duratec 2.5-liter engine that generates around 170 horsepower and 165 lb-ft of torque. There is also an SVT variant that can deliver up to 200 horsepower using its much larger throttle body and several other technological advancements. Both can be good choices and a good step up from the base model of any pre-2005 model of the Miata, as they generated just around 140 horsepower.

Engine Specs

The sound is also another big upgrade, as the V6 sounds significantly better than an old inline-4 engine, though some people don’t care for that. This swap is not as meaningful for modern Miata models, as they already generate around 181 horsepower, so it might be an unnecessary expense. But used models and project cars from back in the ’90s will benefit from it.

7 GM LS V8 Engine

The most common engine swaps for the Mazda MX-5 Miata include the General Motors LS engines. The most typical choices are the LS1, LS2, or LS3 variants, though LS1 engines are the most common on the market. Prices can vary a lot depending on where one lives, and it can be hard to keep the cost of the whole operation down. However, since the LS swap is so commonly performed on the Miata, it can be a more economical choice for some people if they really want that V8 sound under the hood of their car.

Engine Specs

An LS V8 can jump the power output up to 350 horsepower, and the torque can also increase to 360 lb-ft. Several cars like the C5 Corvette and the GTO have had these engines mounted inside of them. So, if owners of these cars are looking to dismantle them and sell their parts individually, one might actually be able to get their hands on a nice GM LS-based small-block that can upgrade their Miata’s performance.

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6 Nissan SR20 Engine

One could always go for a turbocharged Mazda BP, but the Nissan SR20DET might be a good bet for those looking for higher horsepower numbers. Keep in mind that blindly going after higher horsepower numbers and turbocharging can sometimes worsen the drivability of a car, and extra troubleshooting may be needed to keep the Miata from becoming unstable and losing responsiveness.

Engine Specs

However, if there is really a need to turn your Miata into some kind of drag monster, going through all the work of custom fitting the SR20 might actually be worth it. There is great aftermarket support in the form of engine swap kits for the SR20 engines. The SR20DET is pretty tall when compared to the stock Miata engines but can serve well, as it is rated as high as 247 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque.

5 Mazda 13B Rotary Engine

It might be a somewhat pricey, crazy, and unconventional idea, but rotary engines are just too cool to be overlooked. The Mazda 13B is the most widely produced rotary engine from the manufacturer. The 13B-REW variant might be a good choice for an MX-5 swap, though it is an unusual setup and will need extra work. It is a sequentially turbocharged version of the 13B that can deliver over 255 horsepower. A base 13B doesn’t have as impressive horsepower numbers, but it will still improve the car’s character.

Engine Specs

There are fewer moving parts in a rotary engine, as it has no lifters, no push rods, and no camshafts. The engine can rev much higher and delivers consistent power and awesome sound while only taking up half the room that other engines do. Unfortunately, the Wankel design also results in the engine using up a lot of gas, as the engine spits out some of the unburnt hydrocarbons due to its low compression ratio. They aren’t the most reliable options either, so they can result in long-term expenses in maintenance.

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4 GM Ecotec Engine

The General Motors Ecotec Engine is another popular choice that can be economically viable, though not as much as a J-series or K-series swap. The 2.0 LNF turbo and the LE5 are usually considered good choices for mounting in a Miata. The LNF engine comes with a twin-scroll turbocharger that can generate up to 260 horsepower and equivalent torque on paper. Turbocharging is a double-edged sword in the Miata, giving the driver more power and torque to play with but also introducing a lag in feedback.

Engine Specs

General Motors also offered a Turbo Upgrade Kit for the LNF engine back in 2008, which can theoretically increase the horsepower to 290 hp and torque to up to 340 lb-ft, depending on the model. The engine was utilized in machines like the Solstice GXP and has seen quite a lot of successful practical applications since.

3 Rocketeer’s Jaguar V6 Engine

Rocketeer Cars utilize something called the MXV6 engine, which is based on the Jaguar 3.0-liter AJ30 V6. The AJ30 is based on the Ford Duratec engine, so it makes sense that swap kits are readily available on the market, as it is a common swap choice. The engine can offer around 240 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque, which is a major upgrade when compared to the stock engine.

Engine Specs

Cars like the Mazda MX-5 Miata are known for their responsiveness and how well the feedback is delivered to the driver. So, strapping on a turbocharger can be considered a bad idea due to the fact that it introduces a lag in the response time. The AJ30 is actually a pretty decent naturally aspirated V6 engine that can be mounted inside the Miata to give it that character while maintaining its responsiveness.

2 Honda J-Series V6 Engine

Some of Honda’s J-series engines are preferred by technicians when working on project cars that need new engines due to their dependability. Cars like the Mazda MX-5 Miata can benefit a lot from engines like the Honda J35 V6. It can be significantly cheaper than most V6 swaps on the market, as Japanese engines tend to be more affordable. The Honda branding ensures more reliability too, and the size saves some space when compared to a V8 swap.

Engine Specs

When compared to engines like the Honda K20, the J35 is significantly heavier, so it isn’t exactly an ideal swap. The chances of the car making it to the highest-rated power output of 310 horsepower are quite low, and the engine might need to stick out from under the hood. However, J-series engines are still considered to be good for mounting in old Miata models due to their reliable nature and affordable pricing.

1 Honda K-Series Inline-4 Engine

The Honda K-series inline-4 engines are some of the most popular choices for Mazda MX-5 Miata engine swapping. There is a plethora of information and instructions readily available on the internet to help any technician or hobbyist perform this engine swap. Engines like the K20A or K24 can easily deliver a good power output as well as better performance numbers. Miata engine swap kits for the most popular K-series engines are readily available on the market as well. The fact that K-series engines are naturally aspirated will contribute to the Miata retaining its responsiveness.

Engine Specs

These engines have been mounted in the FWD fan favorite Civic Type-R, which proves its competence as well as reliability in the long run. However, it is always a good idea to take some advice from more experienced automotive technicians regarding what is the best way to get things done, so you don’t end up wasting time and money.