Questions and Answers
Protege Engine Swap
Q. I have had to replace my 1995 Mazda Protege engine due to head or cylinder damage after the timing belt tensioner came loose. I have been able to pick up a 1998 model 1.5 liter (same as the original) engine, but have noticed some differences in the intake manifold appearance.
Can you give me any hints on possible problems getting the 1998 engine running in the 1995 car? Any differences in electronic ignition, or harnesses that will be difficult to work around?
Thanks,
GeorgeA. What I have always done in a situation like this is simple. First I strip everything off the old engine; distributor, brackets, manifolds, etc... and put them aside. Then I strip off all the parts from the replacement engine. Now the parts I took off the old engine go onto the replacement. I clean and check each part as I put them on and replace whatever is worn out or broken. By putting the parts from the original engine on the replacement, you avoid having to worry about what will work and what won't. As you replace each part you can easily compare it to the parts from the replacement engine. If they match up, then keep them for spares. Electronic parts such as the distributor and sensors have to be cross referenced to see if they will interchange with the older car. In general, sensors change very little from year to year.
Rubber parts such as fuel and vacuum lines get replaced whether they need to or not. Cheap insurance against having something ling a missed cracked vacuum line cause you headaches when you start it up.
