What engine to swap into a Mazdaspeed Protege?

Looking for options/opinions/insight on doing an engine swap in my 2003 Mazdaspeed Protege project. Current drivetrain in the MSP is of unknown condition, I bought it not running with a supposedly blown head gasket. The factory engine and transmission are known to be weak so I'm considering other options. 

Wanting suggestions of other realistic drivetrain swaps. Currently considering a K-swap, since I could buy a complete donor RSX or similar to get engine/trans/wiring harness/etc. What are my other options? Not looking for crazy suggestions like LS swap or AWD conversion, just a regular front wheel drive 4 cylinder. Overall performance is important, it's not going to be a DD, just a fun weekend car. My county no longer does obd-2 inspections.

Its not the most current swap, but the tried and true 2.5L KL V6 will fit in the nose of a Protege.  I think it has been done a few times before.

Turbo BP swap.

Yeah I'd be considering a KL ZE from Japan, or even a built KLDE would be good.

A turbo BP would be nice too. 

I don't like what I hear about K24 oil consumption issues, but I realize I am in the minority about being squeamish about them.

How bad is the current engine? I would also be looking into how to make the current setup more robust.

Do not put honda in that. Please. Bp-t is my choice. 

What? No "F2T ALL THE THINGS!" replies?

Will a Speed3 drivetrain fit?

VQ35 from an Altima or Maxima!

235whp with matching torque is about the starting point using a stock Altima computer, 260+whp with an UpRev tune, and 285whp+ if you get a "FWD HR" from 07+ Altima/09+ Max.

Junkyards are littered with them. I bought my wrecked 03 Altima donor car for $475 CAD and sold the shell to the recyclers for $225 after I was done taking everything I needed.

Curious to see what you do here.  The MSP is truly a car in search of a engine.  It felt like driving a 4 door Miata.

sergio said:

Will a Speed3 drivetrain fit?

This.

ccrelan said:

Curious to see what you do here.  The MSP is truly a car in search of a engine.  It felt like driving a 4 door Miata.

An autocross friend of mine has a 1.6 five speed protege with some suspension work and some MSP parts. Open diff, good tires.

He's really fast in that car. I'll concede that he's a good driver, but I can't imagine what he could do with a substantial power increase.

I'd do a KLZE. The only reason people don't like the MSP engine is because it breaks. Naturally aspirated KLZE makes more power than stock MSP and won't break. Also a sound upgrade. 

What are the transmission options with the KLZE and BP-T? The stock transmission is pretty fragile in the MSP so I'd like to get a stronger transmission with whatever engine swap I do.

I think that the first fwd Mazda manual transmission that isn't so easily broken is the unit in the 3's. Everything before that is some G-series derivative that just aren't that strong. 

BP+T and since you're getting a cheap motor, drop the coin on a PAR dogbox. 

Stock KLZE torque is not going to break anything in the absence of wheelhop and E36 M3ty shifting. 

How about a supercharged or turbo Ecotec?

If you want to keep it mazda

Turbo an FE3 from a Kia sportage

F2T plenty of torque but the stroke means it probably wont rev really high

So I've still been thinking about possible engine swaps for my MSP. However, there is a part of me that really wants to keep a Mazda engine in the car. So what's the pros/cons of an engine & trans swap from a Speed3? What kind of issues am I looking at as far as fuel system goes because the Speed3 is a DI engine? I would buy a complete wrecked Speed3 from insurance auction so I would have a complete donor car to get parts from.

Is there some major gotcha or issue that I'm overlooking?

Pros is it has an aftermarket. Cons is it has a powerband optimized for a truck until you modify it and they have been known to blow up in near-stock trim due to a combination of inadequate fueling and boost spikes. I honestly wouldn't go through the trouble unless this somehow costs you way less than upgrading the MSP motor, or you're going somewhere the stock motor/trans can't easily go, like 500hp.

Miller-cycle engine from a Millenia???

It seems like nobody really tried to fix the motor in these.  Like a good set of aftermarket rods, pistons, and a lightened / rebalanced crank.  I always thought that was odd.  The bones of the engine scream "average 90's Japanese four cylinder" so there should be something to work with there, right?

Pete Gossett said:

Miller-cycle engine from a Millenia???

Stillborn fetuses of doom. Cool as heck, but finicky as typical small batch mazda and mostly made of unobtanium

Vigo said:

Pros is it has an aftermarket. Cons is it has a powerband optimized for a truck until you modify it and they have been known to blow up in near-stock trim due to a combination of inadequate fueling and boost spikes. I honestly wouldn't go through the trouble unless this somehow costs you way less than upgrading the MSP motor, or you're going somewhere the stock motor/trans can't easily go, like 500hp.

The g trans in the MSP is stupid fragile, and the fsde.....

Speaking of transmissions. If you won't be using the limited slip from the MSP unit, I'll purchase the transmission to raid it for the factory limited slip. Let me know.