Fact: Eric Hsu will be picking his favorite tech question for each installment of Question IT over the next few months, and we’ll be hooking up whoever submitted it with some new threads from our go-fast homies at Eat Sleep Race. Jose grabs the swag this month for asking if dropping a Mazdaspeed3 engine into his Mazda3 will work, and what all else would be needed to get the job done right. Eric lays out several option for Jose, based on how much funding he has for the job , and even offers tips on how to up the power if that’s in the budget.
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This Month’s Winning Letter
Calling Bluff
I own a Mazda3 hatchback and have been doing some research on a controversial subject matter I read about on the Internet, that the Mazdaspeed3 engine is a direct swap into the Mazda3. Is this true or are there just some lying bitches on the web? Also, are there any other engines that might fit into my Mazda?
-Jose
via importtuner.com
The Mazdaspeed3 engine (DISI) will indeed fit into a Mazda3 (in place of the MZR engine), but the transmission, drivetrain, engine control, electronics, induction, and exhaust are all completely different. Could you spend the cash and the money to do a swap? Sure, but MS3 engine swaps aren’t nearly as cheap as a B-series swap in a Honda, so it probably isn’t going to be very cost effective. If everything you needed happened to drop into your lap and you had more time than money, I’d say go for it. Or if you wanted to do a barebones swap and use only the superior MS3 turbo block and keep your MZR head, transmission, ECU, and electronics, that would be a much easier and more cost effective plan. The DISI engine’s design in the MS3 is based on the MZR engine in the Mazda3 so the engine mounts will bolt to both engine blocks. The DISI cylinder head’s design is loosely based on the MZR’s, but the intake manifold and bolt pattern are completely different. The exhaust manifold bolt pattern is the same as an MZR’s so you can also run a turbo and exhaust manifold from a stock MS3, but you’re probably better off getting a turbo system from Tri-Point Engineering in Canoga Park, CA, for more power. Remember that the DISI’s block and head are completely different castings than the MZR castings and are superior in many ways since they are designed for both direct injection and turbo, and definitely the way to go if you’re planning serious power.
Junkyard Rebuild
I recently bought a ’92 Mitsubishi Lancer EVO I GSR (JDM) at a salvage auction. The Carfax indicated the car lost control and hit a pole just behind the rear door on the driver side. I have been looking for parts for it online for some time and have come up with squat. I am in need of a driver-side quarter-panel, rear window, taillights, and rear suspension. I hear that half-cut chassis are a good source, but I have been unable to locate any. Any help is greatly appreciated.
-Allan Westwood
via importtuner.com
The parts you need are going to be relatively tough to find and/or expensive. You’ll need to either be able to read, write, and speak Japanese, or you’ll need to know somebody who does and knows enough people in Japan that are willing to go purchase the parts and then ship them to you. Ebay doesn’t exist in Japan for one reason: Yahoo Auctions, and it is the absolute best source for used JDM car parts. Unfortunately, the site is only in Japanese, and most people in the car business in Japan are located in suburban and countryside type areas and generally do not speak shit for English. You can try and call a Mitsubishi dealership or junkyard in Japan, but it is unlikely they will ship directly to you, not to mention many do not accept credit cards, and the Japanese banking system does not use ABA routing numbers so it may be difficult to wire money, too. There are people in the U.S. that have ties to junkyards in Japan that buy parts, have them shipped over in containers, and then resell on forums, websites, and eBay, but these people don’t work for free and are going want to make some money for their troubles, naturally. You might try some of the guys who sell JDM Honda parts, used JDM wheels, or companies who import a lot of JDM parts in shipping containers, like Bespoke Ventures. Shipping is only going to be affordable if your parts are shipped in a container due to the size. Companies and people like these are probably your best source. On a more positive note, many OEM parts for older cars are still available from dealerships in Japan. As an example, I have absolutely no problems getting various OEM trim and seal parts for my ’93 BNR32 Skyline GT-R from the Nissan dealerships.