welcome to the forum by the way
Hi all. This site has been recommended to me loads of times and flicking around I see a few people I recognise.
I'll keep it short and simple. For a while I've been planning to fit a 2.0lt Zetec engine to my Herald but time and money always gets in the
way. This Saturday on the way to a car show my oil cooler decided to assist me in doing some rust prevention to my car. I think I may have
saved the engine but I'm not fully sure yet. Anyhoo, it's prompted me to get on with the transplant as soon as possible. The reason for the
Ford route is that others have and are doing it already so I've got a bit of knowledge I can tap into. But, something about it has always failed
to excite me. People have suggested an MX5 engine before and again, having driven a few and been rather unimpressed I'm not keen on them. But,
the reality of the extra costs involved in buying the Ford engine, gearbox etc and the time it'd take to fit one I've found myself trying to
learn about the MX5 option this morning. The prospect of fitting an engine and gearbox together appeals massively right now. Money is tight and going
to get tighter in the next few months and the car is my daily driver so needs to be completed as quick as possible. I'm talking a weekends
work or as close to that as possible!
So, can anyone offer advice? Fabrication shouldn't be a problem and only end up being an annoying addition to time required. My concerns are
costs and electrics. I'd love to be able to rip the loom, engine and gearbox out of an MX5 and fit it in to fire it up but I'm worried that
due to missing components and sensors that'd make it more awkward.
Either of those options will be pushing the herald chassis, suspension and brakes to it's limit - anything more exciting and you will need to
spend loads on upgrading all of these.
welcome to the forum by the way
Ford zetec for me out of those two. I think the mx5 makes a good all round doner (using the whole drivetrain) but I also found the engine in the 2
litre sport model, incedibly dull, and wheezy, and after about 3k rpm when power should start, it was already out and made a noise like an empty
biscuit tin..
Zetec has been used a lot on here, in many different configurations / set ups, so youll find someone on here thats done anything you ever plan on
doing to it. I think theres a lot more tuning options around for it too, if thats your game.
I'd go zetec myself
The Ford is the far easier option of the two.
But you need to do a lot to the Herald to get it to cope properly with a lot more power.
quote:
Originally posted by mookaloid
Either of those options will be pushing the herald chassis, suspension and brakes to it's limit - anything more exciting and you will need to spend loads on upgrading all of these.
welcome to the forum by the way
quote:
Originally posted by blakep82
Ford zetec for me out of those two. I think the mx5 makes a good all round doner (using the whole drivetrain) but I also found the engine in the 2 litre sport model, incedibly dull, and wheezy, and after about 3k rpm when power should start, it was already out and made a noise like an empty biscuit tin..
Zetec has been used a lot on here, in many different configurations / set ups, so youll find someone on here thats done anything you ever plan on doing to it. I think theres a lot more tuning options around for it too, if thats your game.
I'd go zetec myself
quote:
Originally posted by designer
The Ford is the far easier option of the two.
But you need to do a lot to the Herald to get it to cope properly with a lot more power.
IMO the MX5 lump makes a lot more sense in this instance. The gearbox and clutch all come together as a properly engineered solution, and the gearbox is a far nicer unit than the notchy old Type 9. It's a very strong, well proven engine and if you fancy more power then bolt on supercharger or turbocharger kits are readily available.
Years ago, someone fitted a Jag 6-cyl engine into a Vitesse chassis. (As reported in Hot Car mag, May '69).
So I reckon that the T9 g/box will fit fairly easily, together with a Zetec. Might need to re-work the forward tunnel cover, for the new g/box
profile, and possibly new engine mounts wil have to be fabricated.
Keep us posted on your project.
[Edited on 4/3/13 by Dick Axtell]
+1 for an MX5 transplant.
I am running a Ford Pinto and type 9 in my Indy because thats what was in it but when i was planning to build a Haynes Roadster from scratch i spent
some time weighing up all the options and decided an Mx5 engine and gearbox was the way to go.
No need to chase about for bellhousing adapters and clutch plates.
Ability to retain the donor's robust fuel injection and ignition.
Relatively light and compact.
Good mechanical longevity.
As you may have read elsewhere:
[In the Mark 1 MX5's ]
The 1.6 came in 2 states of tune; early ones (and all Japanese imports) being 115 bhp+ and the later UK spec 1.6s were 90bhp
The 1.8s were round about 130 bhp
The turbo charger from a (BMW) Mini Cooper can be made to fit in case you ever get bored.
The MX5 gearbox is wider than a Ford type 9, it's similar to the width of a Ford MT75 box. You would need to check this against the dimensions
of the Herald to ensure this woud fit once youve established how for fore or aft the engine is to be mounted.
I rebuilt a Herald many years ago and if i ever do another one would certainly use MX5 bits.
What engine do you have in it now and what is the end goal ( more power , better MPG etc ?)?, for ease of fitment how about the Vitesse motor, same
chassis and gearbox fitment pattern, I used to race a Vit, with a tuned 2.5 in it with a LSD, worked very well but mods are needed to the stock rear
susp to get it to go around corners properly.
[Edited on 4/3/13 by Westy1994]
Ta for the extra info. I'm going to try and dig to find out about the different engine specs. I'm not going to fit a 90bhp when there's
a 130bhp option! 
One thing I've learned is that although I can use the whole loom from the car if it's a UK spec one you have to keep the keys, immobiliser
etc or it won't fire. But a US spec car doesn't have that problem. I wasn't aware the gearbox was wider than the type-9. I think
there's a Spitfire with MX5 running gear but it's an auto. Anything can be made to fit in these cars...
Got the cooler off and it's wrecked so it's been bypased to reveal about 7lb at warm tickover so it's no well. Still, I've put in
some asbestos brake pads to replace the oil soaked ones and will be using it to get to work again this morning.
Zero chance of me fitting a 6-pot in it. The car is nice and nimble and I don't want a boat anchor up front! I've got a mk1 2000 sitting in
a garage waiting for me do replace the sills. I do miss it's engine - small bearing and revvy version. 
Anecdotally, people complain of lack of excitement in the MX5, but I am sure they are the cheaper/easier solution. I do know the ECU in some of them (the 1.8?) has to be modded or changed, to get around the immobiliser. No personal experience, just giving internet advice, which we all know is useless. Everyone thinks the MX5 is good for someone else, but their drivers always want to change cars or upgrade something to get more power.
Forget trying to modify the MX5 ECU it can not be done.....the MX5 immobiliser was years ahead of it time and can not be bypassed. I know this because
I fell foul of this issue on my build. After spending several months and speaking with industry experts from US and Germany, and after attempting a
painful re-wire of plugs , decided that it was easier to re-do using a non UK spec wiring harness.
You do not have to worry about sensors missed off etc. The engine loom incorporates all engine sensors and doesn't really need modifying. Rest of
the loom is pretty straight forward.
The MX5 lump IMHO is the way to go. You should be able to pick up engine and gearbox from a MK1 for approx £300. And the engine is easliy upgradeable
for more power as it is designed with Turbo/ super charger in mind (no expensive internal mods required.
I am about to embark on the Supercharge route and aim for 200+bhp 
HTH