Mr2 MK3 New engine suggestions

[MelMR2MK3]

Hi all. New to MR2roc! I just bought a used MR2 Mk3 and the engine just blown (I was expecting it). Can you please suggest what types of engines are easy to fit and of course to perform?

Are refurbished engines something to look at?

Thanks for your help in advance.

[Carolyn]

Bogeroo has a decent used 1ZZ for sale in Yorkshire.  Other engines (not 1ZZ) tend to get very expensive, very quickly.  (Thousands extra!).

Well rebuilt standard engines can be bought from MAG Engines.  (Beware of cheap British 'reconditioned' ones)  No change from 1100 quid, though!

The most common other engine swap is the Toyota 2ZZ.  Expect to spend at least £2500 for a proper conversion.  Cheap 2ZZ swaps have history of unreliability.  There's a section on engine swaps in 'Performance' on this forum.

If you want the least expensive option, a 'known' 1ZZ from a reliable source is best.

[shnazzle]

2500 for a 2zz conversion would definitely be about 85% DIY.
4000 is what good builders charge (Rogue). Rogue 2zz conversions have a faultless record (so far, that I know of). 
Drive in drive out. 

I'd bag a known decent 1zz like Carolyn said.

[105e]

My biggest complaint with the standard mr2 is it just does not have decent acceleration, 140 ish bhp just dosnt cut it. So if going to the bother of fitting another engine, fit something better..

[1979scotte]

My standard response is to put a V6 in it.

However the common sense option is to have yours fully rebuilt unless you intend to part with the car in 18 months or so in which case I would try a secondhand engine from Dean at Rutland MR2 or Dick at MR2 roadster recycling.

[tets]

I was looking at one with an ST220 V6 in last week - he said it was a really easy install and it looked really tidy to be fair! light all alloy V6 using the Ford mounts with only a couple of brackets on the chassis rails

[Topdownman]

I was looking at one with an ST220 V6 in last week - he said it was a really easy install and it looked really tidy to be fair! light all alloy V6 using the Ford mounts with only a couple of brackets on the chassis rails

Never heard of this swop before.

We need more info!

[shnazzle]

I was looking at one with an ST220 V6 in last week - he said it was a really easy install and it looked really tidy to be fair! light all alloy V6 using the Ford mounts with only a couple of brackets on the chassis rails

Never heard of this swop before.

We need more info!

Absolutely! Do tell us more

[1979scotte]

I was looking at one with an ST220 V6 in last week - he said it was a really easy install and it looked really tidy to be fair! light all alloy V6 using the Ford mounts with only a couple of brackets on the chassis rails

Never heard of this swop before.

We need more info!

Absolutely! Do tell us more

A bit more bhp but less torque than the 1mz vvti version.
Unless it's cheaper than the well documented 1mz swap not sure it's worth it.

[tets]

I don't know too much more but the engine mounts dropped right onto the chassis rails. They used them in a jag with more hp and they're probably as cheap as an engine gets these days!

[jvanzyl]

Patrick will know I'm going to say this ... but.
Have a look at Marc's work on the 2AR-FE conversion (Spyderchat).
He supplies the full conversion kit and the bonus is that the engines are NEW. He also said you could fit the 8AR FT engine (lexus nx200t) with very little trouble. He's putting together a youtube series on how to do the conversion work - it's quite simple, added to the fact he's cracked the ECU for the 2AR and he'll quite happily do the 8AR if people want it.

I'm keeping an eye out for a lexus NX200t that's been totally rear ended and t-boned and I shall acquire that engine for a future conversion... that's 350Nm /235bhp with a 10:1 compression ratio as STOCK... or you could nab a is300h and start with the NA version and turbo it later...