How Much to Ecotec Engine Swap a Miata? 🤑 FULL BREAKDOWN 💰

[@ReneES-em1ye]

This was one of the best DIY video series I have ever watched. It was put together very well. I gained a lot of knowledge and it made me appreciate both yours and Matt’s skills. I have an Ecotecmiata swap that was performed by Matt several years ago. I have accomplished very little since that time due to my wife’s health issues but hope to get back into this project soon. One of the things I will need to do is install the updated flywheel kit and a 6-speed transmission I have acquired. I have all the parts already. I will need to decide if I tackle that myself or see if Matt has any time to take on that project. I hope he is still doing that. If I attempt it myself your videos will be a big help and provide encouragement. Thanks for this series!

[@mostlyuselessgarage]

That's awesome dude thx for the positive feedback. Glad to meet another local that knows Matt IRL!

[@justinw9633]

Appreciate the dedication to the quality of your videos! Keep it up!

[@mostlyuselessgarage]

Thanks for noticing!

[@anthonyacosta9762]

Nice! I paid roughly the same I spent about 1.5k on the engine only had 28k miles 500 to ship it 4,300 for the kit 300 headers 650 custom downpipe w/ resonator 150 starter 250 battery 200 alternator 80 Pedal 100 PS pulley and bracket clutch 500 50 New CMC Maf sensor 60 Sparks 60 Fluids 200-300 ish ( diff, trans, ps, oil, coolant, brake fluid for clutch) You may have to spend more if you don’t have certain miscellaneous tools like an angle grinder and such. I spent like a good $50-70 on wiring tools solder solder gun etc Wiring and miscellaneous hoses around $100 roughly Fuel filter/pressure regulator $60 Oil catch can $45 I’d say throw in another $200 for random things like cleaning supplies, fasteners, tools, gaskets, rings anything that I may be missing. Roughly 9k

[@mostlyuselessgarage]

Thanks very much for your summary of expenses. Based on your list we can see how you allocated more and less funds to certain components and came to around the same price. Questions: - What did you do about fueling? Made short lines to connect to the engine bay hard lines? - What about hoses for PS and PCV? - You reused an existing cat-back exhaust? - What about the ECU?

[@ldsiverling]

Swapping from a 1.6 is just painful no matter what now. non-VVT's are hard to find if you'd want that, if you get a VVT you might as well get a MS to control the VVT and for future mods + tuning and then yea, while it's out, get a 6 speed trans. And then exhaust stuff doesn't match up.

[@mostlyuselessgarage]

For sure, the 1.6 is early 80s tech and retrofitting a "modern" motor (even a 1.8 VVT) presents challenges. Didn't want to get into it in this video as it was long enough but it's an interesting subject for some that could be explored in detail.

[@hunterdelgado2402]

Nice video, great info. Looking at swaps myself for my 95 and I'm between this and a vvt. Would love to hear about street reliability and track reliability. Thanks!

[@mostlyuselessgarage]

Perhaps unexpectedly, I think I would lean toward the VVT based on your budget, DIYer skill level, and time. VVT would be the easy button, low complexity swap/ease, but not yield as much power potential. The Ecotec is actually quite reasonable in those areas but will be more cost, time, and more power stock. My recent dyno video may not be the best indication of actual power from a typical swap, stay tuned for why 😎

[@ohitstarik]

sleeper channel. really good quality videos. thanks for these

[@mostlyuselessgarage]

Thx bro, appreciate the support

[@BZXT]

Great breakdown viedo, thanks for posting. It may have cost 8k, but the knowledge gained is so much more.

[@mostlyuselessgarage]

You got it, the confidence boost that it gives to tackle other car jobs is real.

[@veloriderkm]

Well done video.

[@wils_builds]

Great breakdown! Production quality is superb! Man a lot went into this swap and it came out so nice 🔥can’t want to see you hit the track with this thing!

[@mostlyuselessgarage]

Thanks for noticing Wil, this was deceptively difficult. And yes in the spring there's definitely more to do.

[@wils_builds]

@@mostlyuselessgarage look forward to seeing updates on the build!

[@deesautohouse367]

I'm waiting for a track review update. I love your content, so I hope you don't completely stop!

[@mostlyuselessgarage]

Def not stopping! In Canada, we have this terribly inconvenient thing we call winter. Now that it's over, work can start! Thx for the comment!

[@deesautohouse367]

@@mostlyuselessgarage Being raised in Florida all my life, I forget others have to suffer for some of the year. I'm excited that more is coming!!!!

[@Bbeavis]

You did well to remember all that and speak to the camera ;-)

[@mostlyuselessgarage]

Thank you sir, it took many takes 😅

[@TheUberdelta]

Way better than the 30K it would cost to do an LS! Love the build!

[@mostlyuselessgarage]

Maybe more in 2024, but certainly not the same kind of power goals

[@philjones5728]

Great breakdown of your costs - and yes $8700 initially sounds like a lot but at least you know it has been done properly and to your own spec, which must surely be worth 25% of the overall cost. However, that must be some special exhaust for $2400!! (Presumably including the exhaust manifold?). Here in the UK I had a 2.5" stainless (304) turbo-back exhaust for my 1.6 (with hand-made resonator and backbox/muffler) built to my exact spec for £550 (it took a whole day while I waited). So I think I got off lightly in comparison to you 😄. I really like to see/hear how your car now performs at the track.... Keep up the great content

[@mostlyuselessgarage]

Thx Phil, indeed I feel that metal fabrication labour/materials here in Toronto Canada is definitely high. Got a few quotes for the job and they all came back in the same ballpark. For context labour is about $90-110USD/hour and the cat, resonator, muffler, and 304 tubing was approximately $1100 to $1400USD in materials alone. Also there are a lot of sketchy shops in our large metropolitan area so I splurged on taking it to a highly regarded shop that completed it quickly. As always thanks for the comment, I'd love to see your turbo beast on track too!

[@mazdamiatafied]

Great breakdown!

[@mostlyuselessgarage]

Thx dude!

[@patrickbramhill3434]

Great info my friend !👍

[@mostlyuselessgarage]

Thanks 👍

[@ethanschocke333]

I want to get a b207r ecotec turbo motor from a saab to do the swap

[@camelisator]

great video, great build but damn that is a lot of money for an ecotec.

[@mostlyuselessgarage]

What all-in cost have you calculated for other engine swaps considering each of the areas mentioned?

[@camelisator]

​@@mostlyuselessgarage other engine swaps are way more expensive for sure. I looked at the k swap and was too expensive all in, I went turbo. I don't do track days so it was not making sense to do a 15k$ swap. I understand that the ecotec is for track reliability, I was not trying to bash your build. Your video are well put together with great transparency And I appreciate it. From a fellow Canadian who pay way too much for shipping for car parts 😅

[@mostlyuselessgarage]

Turbo is ofc the most popular power adder for good reason. For a fair cost comparison to a swap, all costs should accounted including every coupler, fuel injector, AN line, etc. I tried to be thorough so putting the $s side-by-side with other swaps or turbo options should be similiarly thorough for an accurate comparison. Everything is expensive these days!

[@bakihanma7247]

I wonder if I can make some of this stuff work for an ecotec swap in a Subaru Gc8 🤔

[@mostlyuselessgarage]

Anything's possible with creativity and determination. Dunno if there's a kit but if you're good at fabricating, you could make it happen

[@bakihanma7247]

@@mostlyuselessgarage Hey man since you've worked with both Rwd Honda K-swaps and Ecotec in same car. Which one sits taller from oil pan to valve cover

[@mostlyuselessgarage]

@bakihanma7247 I haven't seen a KMiata in person, but since the K-swap needs a custom subframe it's obviously to provide more clearance for the oil pan. The Ecotec swap fits with the stock subframe and doesn't hang any lower than the Miata motor.

[@alexbeishuizen7960]

Thanks for the video, and especially the spreadsheet. Is it ok to send you a private message if needed when swapping? Don't wanna disturb you in your private time if it's not appreciated.

[@mostlyuselessgarage]

You might be the first to check out that swap spreadsheet! Shoot me an email if you wanna chat 📨[e-mail]

[@boiled4safety]

VERY NICEEEEE

[@breakfasteatre]

what a handsome dude

[@mostlyuselessgarage]

Was there someone standing behind me?