Has anyone installed a 1994 engine into an earlier Q45?

[Q45denver]

I just looked at the engine I bought for my 1990 Q45 which I had shipped to a local shop and it definitely looks like a 1994 or latter engine instead of a 1993 as advertised. I should have known better than get one off eBay especially since the picture wasn't very clear (see below) and the seller could not provide a VIN number. He could always claim it was manufactured in 1993 as most 1994's were. Is there anyway to get it to work in the 1990 without great expense. I would prefer the improved fuel injection system, and since the timing guides would not need changing I could save that expense. The injectors on my 1990 have plagued me since I've owned it and have been replaced several times. Also, is there some way to determine if it is a 1996? I question the sellers claim that it only had 56K miles since the valve covers were leaking badly and it didn't look that clean.

It was only $850 with the shipping and included all the components including the steering rack, sub frame and drive shaft. Guess I could always keep it as a backup but since the 1995 I just bought from Doc (John) only has 73K miles I might not need it in my lifetime and really don't have that much space in the garage. I was surprised that it looked almost 3 times as big as the Mazda V-6 it was next to at the shop.

Anyone need a 1994 engine?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...eName

[Q45denver]

I'll put this under the online mechanic section.

[Jesda]

Dennis had a previous post about one of his customers coming in with a 94 engine in an older Q. They had to do some really messy custom wiring.

[elwesso]

It will work.. It can be done..... Youll need to basically splice many of the wires in as the wiring connections are somewhat different.....

but other than that it will work..... Prolly not worth the PITA factor...

[Altiman94]

swap the entire wiring harness and use the gauge cluster from the year of the car the motor was out of.

[Q45denver]

I was thinking I might be able to transfer the fuel injection and ignition system from the 1990 over to the 1994 or whatever it is. That would be bulk of the connectors. The only thing that would be left would be the MAF and some of the other sensors. I'm not sure if the MAF from the 1990 would work with the replacement engine which did not come with an MAF.

[Q451990]

I believe 90-95 MAF are the same (different connector on 96)

The issues, if I remember correctly are the CAS connectors, etc. Bad idea to switch the injectors - they changed the runner length and injector spray patterns with the 94 update. I think it's better to find another engine

Heath

[Jesda]

The MAF connector changes in 1995. I believe this to be true because the MAF stocked by Scottsdale is for 90-94.

[elwesso]

Yes, because I had a 95 style MAF connector.....

I do sorta agree with heath... By the time you get it "working", youll wished you woulda found another engine

[Q45denver]

I just heard from the seller and he is as certain that the engine was from a 1993 as I am that it is from a 1994 or latter. Untill he comes up with the VIN number I won't know for sure unless there is some way to check via the engine number? Is it possible that some of the latter 1993 i.e. the ones with the redesigned guides had the updated engines installed. I guess if worse came to worse I could have the shop swap the block over to my old engine. Kind of a waste of a good engine however. Too bad new wiring harnesses are so expensive and all the used ones I've seen at the junk yards have been cut. If I had a harness I could run the engine outside off the car to see if it would work. However, I'd probably have to hook it up to a Consult to make sure there weren't any codes. It would be an interesting project to see what would be involved in conversion to the updated engine.

[elwesso]

Q45denver.... IF you are interested in my wiring harness, let me know!

[DAEDALUS]

Q45denver the heads arrived a few days ago and seem to be in good shape. 1 runner broke in shipping and 1 is missing. Nothing major, but if you find an extra runner lying around the garage, let me know and I'll send some funds. I can't believe those heads are so damn heavy!

Regarding your question, I believe all 94+ engines have solid valve cover gaskets. Look to see if there's a thick solid gasket under the VC or if there's thin blobby RTV. If you were running the engine off the car with stock harness you could always pull the codes off the ECU without a Consult. It'll be an interesting project...Have you considered doing a leak down test on the new engine?

[Q45denver]

Robert, Sorry about the runner, I'll send it out to you next week-on me as my mistake. I saw it on my workbench after I shipped the heads. Let my know which one was damaged as I will likely have another one I can send you once I figure out what to do on the engine swap.

I asked the shop to do a compression or leakdown test but they didn't seem to think it was worth the trouble and I think these tests are more reliable on a warm engine that still has oil on the rings. The seller said it was running good with no smoke before pulling it. I'll not sure yet if I'll keep the 1994 engine=I'll check with the shop Monday. There is a local recycler that says they have a 1993 engine with 90K for $950 delivered and they might be willing to do a swap for the 1994.

Wes, how much on the wiring harness, and ECU. Did yours have TCS?

[elwesso]

The TCS engine isnt really that much different...

I would have to work out something with you if you decide to go with the wiring harness and stuff...

[Q45denver]

I'll probably just swap it for the 1993 engine. I would like to have the improved fuel injection of the latter engines but it appears that it would not be worth the trouble or expense. Thanks for the input.

[Q45denver]

Does anyone know if the 1993 Q engine looks the same visually as the 1994? A local shop that specializes in JDM takeout engine replacements said that there was a change to a camshaft sensor in 1993 that carried over to 1994 and latter engines and he thought that the 1993 model year Q45 engine looked the same as the 1994. If that it the case then the 1993 engine that I got for my 1990 could in fact be a 1993 and not a 1994 or latter engine as I had initially thought. Also he said that they swap the fuel injection system with what is currently on my car because the JDM FI is different and they can't legally use the one on the JDM engine. He is quoting me $1250 for the engine and $900 to install it with a 2 year warranty. He said that would include swapping the parts off my old engine. So price wise it sounds like the best way to go since no one else in town seems to warranty these used engines. I just need to check their references and hope that the car will make it to their shop which is on the other end of town. One thing that had me a little concerned is the low price and that the owner drives a 1991 Q45 but had never heard of the problem with the timing chain guides.