Escort Wagon GTX Swap

[cis2711]

I want to swap my gtx and harness into a wagon. I know I can do this into another 2nd gen like my 95 EGT but my question is can I do the swap into a 3rd gen wagon? Has this been done before by anyone? They come with a 2.0L IIRC and I'm wondering if it shares the same crossmember under the engine and if the motor mounts are the same as the 2nd gen?

[CODY004WD]

I've never seen it done, probably because of potential "legality" issues... That being said;

They share the same crossmember and mounts as the 2nd gen, meaning it will bolt up. Now, wiring will be somewhat of a mess, and if the wagon is anything newer than 1997 you'll have to add a return fuel line. You'll need your BP G-series shift linkage, and axles, they will fit the hubs just fine.

You could get tricky and run a modified NB miata harness and ECU to make it technically legal and OBD2, or just splice the OBD1 stuff into the wagon's under-dash connections for the gauges. You'll probably need to run the 2.0LSOHC temp sending unit to please the temp gauge, and tach wiring may or may not be tricky since the wagon is EDIS.

BP= 1.8L DOHC Mazda/Ford 4cylinder (L=Liter, DOHC= Dual Over Head Cam)
NB= 2nd gen Miata
ECU= Engine Control Unit
OBD2= On board Diagnostics 2nd revision
OBD1= On board Diagnostics 1st revision
SOHC= Single Over Head Cam
EDIS= Electronic Distributor-less Ignition System

[KAinjection]

Buy the factory wiring manual for both cars I am sure its a little more involved then swapping a BP into a 2nd gen LX but not much.

You can use my build thread for a rough guide since I don't recall anyone has swapped a BP into a 3rd gen.

[cis2711]

Hmm am I really going to run into an issue if I use my EGT harness and MS2 standalone? This will not be a factory build. Can you please spell out your acronyms? I can install an aftermarket tachometer if I need to. I wouldn't mind running the entire EGT harness and fuse block. Would that be a disaster?

[cis2711]

Well if I get my engine and trans in a 3rd gen and it bolts up...I WILL figure the rest out. It isn't if it is when and that depends on how involved it is. I just wanted to know if the two would be compatible mechanically and it sounds like they are.

[KAinjection]

Mechanically they are 95% the same as a second gen escort. It should bolt-in fine.

Do you have to deal with emissions?

[CODY004WD]

It WILL bolt in no problem. It WILL be more work than a 2nd gen. It WILL not be emissions friendly. It WILL be pretty awesome, as wagons are well, pretty awesome. Also, (I edited my above post to spell out the acronyms)

[atomicEGT]

It WILL bolt in no problem. It WILL be more work than a 2nd gen. It WILL not be emissions friendly. It WILL be pretty awesome, as wagons are well, pretty awesome (unless they're 3rd gens). Also, (I edited my above post to spell out the acronyms)

ftfy

[atomicEGT]

tach might actually work okay if you're using an EGT harness, EDIS or not- I had a 1.9 cluster in my wagon for a bit and the tach worked fine, signal wire is the same. ECT is definitely not going to work, the GTX uses a dummy on/off sensor and the wagon gauge is not going to be happy with that. I mean, you could tap into something with the stock sensor and wire it into the EGT harness and it'll work. Speedo might be an issue too? Third gens are electronic IIRC and while it'll bolt into a 2G G-series, I dunno if it goes through the ECU first?

[CODY004WD]

LOL true... 3rd gens are cool, minus the front fenders, headlights, and bumper, and that hideous interior... If you put a 2nd gen front clip and interior on one it'd be pretty awesome haha.

and;
FTFY= Fixed that for you
LOL= Laugh out loud

[atomicEGT]

It would basically be a 2nd gen at that point, in which case why not just get one of those instead of trying to fake it?

My biggest issue with the 3rd gens (besides how ugly they are) is that the rockers rot out WAY worse than the 2nd gens around here.

[CODY004WD]

That was kinda my point... There's a reason I've only had two 3rd gens (ugly) and the only reason I've EVEN had TWO; because S/R.

And wow, I had no clue they rotted like that. We just don't have rust here...

[KAinjection]

Make it an 03+ ZX2 wagon.....

That at least eliminates the ugly front end.