Fair warning: this is going to be long winded. TL/DR: has anyone swapped a later Mazda L/Ford Duratec 2.3/2.5 4 cylinder DOHC, or a Mazda AJ30/Ford Duratec V6 DOHC engine into a B2600i 4x4?
I know this subject has been beaten to death, but I would like to try something different if possible. I also know the 1st Gen KIA Sportage FE3 swap is very common and relatively easy for the B2000/2200 trucks and there is plenty of documentation and threads on it. It's not as common for the 4WD trucks, but some guys use the B2600i R type transmission behind the FE3 motors. On the FE3 Swap page on Facebook, a few guys have successfully put FE3's in 4WD trucks.
That being said, it seems like the best choice for truck since the G6 spun a rod bearing and I can't justify the time and money to rebuild it if there are better options. The only reason I'm thinking about other options is that the FE3 makes more HP but less torque than the G6. Actual numbers vary depending on the source, but the G6 makes 121 HP and 149 ft/lb of torque while the FE3 makes 130 HP and 130 ft/lb of torque. Again, these are the best numbers I could find and are not real world numbers.
To increase the torque output of most engines, replacing the crankshaft and rods for ones with a longer stroke are generally used with other things like a better camshaft profile and other tuning. The issue with the FE3 is that there isn't an off the shelf "stroker kit" available. There are a couple of threads on custom grinding the rod journals to use Chevrolet rods, or using an F2T rotating assembly. Either option requires machining to parts and balancing them. I work in a machine shop that's mostly set up for tool and die making, not automotive machining. Plus, I'm not the most experienced. The guys I work with have been patient at the very least with teaching me how to do this kind of work.
All of this being said, what about newer engine options from MPV's, 6 series cars, trucks, or SUV's? They're much more powerful and efficient and they're generally cheap and plentiful. I know the bell housing will be the biggest obstacle. My initial thoughts are if it can be separated from an automatic transmission, make an adapter to the R type transmission. Or make an adapter from the engine to trans. Not to simplify things, but it would be a plate aluminum with two hole patterns in it. Most of the "organ donors" came with an optional manual transmission so a flywheel is available, and some are RWD/4x4 which makes engine mounts and intake manifold options easier to figure out.
So, what are the thoughts and advice of the community?
I know this subject has been beaten to death, but I would like to try something different if possible. I also know the 1st Gen KIA Sportage FE3 swap is very common and relatively easy for the B2000/2200 trucks and there is plenty of documentation and threads on it. It's not as common for the 4WD trucks, but some guys use the B2600i R type transmission behind the FE3 motors. On the FE3 Swap page on Facebook, a few guys have successfully put FE3's in 4WD trucks.
That being said, it seems like the best choice for truck since the G6 spun a rod bearing and I can't justify the time and money to rebuild it if there are better options. The only reason I'm thinking about other options is that the FE3 makes more HP but less torque than the G6. Actual numbers vary depending on the source, but the G6 makes 121 HP and 149 ft/lb of torque while the FE3 makes 130 HP and 130 ft/lb of torque. Again, these are the best numbers I could find and are not real world numbers.
To increase the torque output of most engines, replacing the crankshaft and rods for ones with a longer stroke are generally used with other things like a better camshaft profile and other tuning. The issue with the FE3 is that there isn't an off the shelf "stroker kit" available. There are a couple of threads on custom grinding the rod journals to use Chevrolet rods, or using an F2T rotating assembly. Either option requires machining to parts and balancing them. I work in a machine shop that's mostly set up for tool and die making, not automotive machining. Plus, I'm not the most experienced. The guys I work with have been patient at the very least with teaching me how to do this kind of work.
All of this being said, what about newer engine options from MPV's, 6 series cars, trucks, or SUV's? They're much more powerful and efficient and they're generally cheap and plentiful. I know the bell housing will be the biggest obstacle. My initial thoughts are if it can be separated from an automatic transmission, make an adapter to the R type transmission. Or make an adapter from the engine to trans. Not to simplify things, but it would be a plate aluminum with two hole patterns in it. Most of the "organ donors" came with an optional manual transmission so a flywheel is available, and some are RWD/4x4 which makes engine mounts and intake manifold options easier to figure out.
So, what are the thoughts and advice of the community?
