Hi, this post is for my girlfriends car; A 1990 mazda 323 hatch. The motor sucks, but the car is nice and light, so I was wondering if it is possible to throw in a d16, along witht the tranny and ecu.

The oem mazda motor is a sohc 1.6, so size shouldnt be an issue. What do you think about the possibility?

By the way, cost <U>IS</U> an issue, so if its just cheaper to rebuild the mazda, let me know. I just want her to have a cheap, reliable car that I can tinker with, without buying a new one. Thanks for the help guys!

 

It can be done but with custom motor mounts and wiring

 

You say "if its cheaper to just rebuild the mazda" well, obviously it would be cheaper to rebuild the 323 motor or get one from a salvage yard. To put a d16 in a 323 you would have to figure out mounting it, wiring it, coolant, transmission--it def. can be done--but it WILL be more money.....

 

Well, I guess I haven't looked into the actual cost of an oem rebuild, or a used motor. But I also liked the idea of being able to get more power and parts out of a honda motor. The 323 had about 90hp at the CRANK!

I work at a welding supply store, so the mounts aren't going to be a problem. But the electrical seems difficult. Is that expensive to get done?
thanks for the posts...