Just got myself a 1986 MR2. Comes with a stock 1.6 engine. I could, if I wanted, get a supercharged 1.6 engineered for the MR2. Which would be … nice. BUT if I wanted to get crazy, would I be able to cram a 2.0 or a 2.2 in there without any big headaches?
I don’t know, but you can put a Ford V8 in a Miata!
The MR2 is a mid-engine car, which would seem to complicate things.
If it is purely an issue of size, you might consider the engine from the Mazda RX8. 1.3L, 247HP.
You would probably have more luck getting answers on a Toyota board.
Here ya go. Some modifications may be required.
I agree with awldune. You’ll likely find plenty of details asking at a MR2 forum. The wikipedia article has links to a bunch of MR2 specific sites. It’ll probably require a fair amount of mechanical expertise or deep pickets, however. An aftermarket turbo or supercharger system would most likely give you around the same increase in power for less money.
I’ll prolly need to go to a Toyota place (but I still love Dope). And the Northstar MR2, while interesting enough, is a perfect example of what I don’t want to do. I just want to drop the current motor and bolt in another with no re-routing/welding/building permits.
I previously owned both an 86 and 88 MR2. Of course the 86 was the NA, and the 88 was supercharged. Both are a lot of fun, but the supercharger makes the 88 a dream car. If you can take the tiny little boxy looking car, it drives like a gocart. I’ve owned 4 MR2’s over my lifetime, an 86, 88, 91, and a 2001. I have to say that out of them all, the 88 is the one I enjoyed the most.
In any case, just my opinion.
Hi, Inigo. We are Toyota people and my boyfriend is an MR2 aficionado. Gen 1 and gen 2 have lived here, as well as a couple of AE86s. His quick answers: for bolt in: supercharged 1.6 (easier wiring swap), or the JDM 4AG Silvertop or Blacktop but these require extensive wiring. Favorite MR2 message board linky here.
J typed out the following because he is Awesome:
The hardcore swap would be the 2.0l 3sgte from the MR2 Mk2 Turbo. This requires welding in new mounts, extensive wiring and fabrication. There are several guides on the site www.mr2oc.com . The swap is referred to as a MK1.5. If you plan on modifying the car at all I recommend joining that site. Great people.
You can purchase the custom mounts and rent a jig to hold them in place when you weld them from:
The same procedure would have the be performed to install the non turbo 2.2l 5sfe motor so if you are going through the trouble go ahead and get the turbo. You can find JDM 3sgte rear clips on Ebay all the time and you really want a whole clip from a 91-99 MR2. The Celica clips will have a top mounted intercooler but you will not be able to use the transmission as the Celicas are AWD. Get one with an LSD if you can find/afford it as the 200+ HP in the lighter MK1 body will cause a scorching case of no traction.
The MK1.5 is a very involved swap but the performance will be phenomenal.
If you can do it at all, and want extreme performance, drop in the 3sgte. In the Japanese supercar racing series, they used to run THAT engine in the supras in stead of the inline6 TT, because they could shove it all the way back into the firewall for weight distribution, and tune it almost to 1000HP anyway. You can make that engine insanely powerful if you have the time/money to do so.
Just a note, if you live where there are smog inspections, several of these swaps will be hard to do if you want the car to be street legal.
Something you might want to think about.