Which swaps require cutting / bashing frame rail and firewall

[Sleeper]

Hey guy's I'm looking at all of the options for a swap while I source out a clean car.

I want a clean swap that will not require cutting the frame rails or cutting / bashing the firewall.

I have a good idea of some swaps that do and don't, but it would be nice of to have a running list. This is what I know so far, hopefully you guys can fill in the blanks.

B6 1.6l SOHC( 323 ) no cuts with stock tranny, G series cable and hydro
B6D 1.6l DOHC( capri, mx-3, mx-5 ) no cuts stock tranny & cable G series ( not sure about hydro G series? )
B6T ( DOHC turbo capri/323) I believe with stock tranny location there is some cutting / bashing, The cable G series and B6T can go in no cuts, and not sure if the B6T / hydro G series can go in no cuts?
BP 1.8l SOHC ( No clue? )
BP 1.8l DOHC ( Escort GT / protege lx-e? ) With stock tranny it requires cuts / bashing with cable G series? Hydro G series?
BPT 1.8l DOHC turbo ( JDM 323 gtx familia / ? ) I know the intake manifold on the BPT is shorter, but unsure of stock tranny or cable/hydro G series

And of course cable G series refers to the manual 5 speed from 323 GT/ Capri and Hydro G series refers to Escort GT 5 speed.

Can you guys fill in the blanks?

[Festiver]

Hey guy's I'm looking at all of the options for a swap while I source out a clean car.

I want a clean swap that will not require cutting the frame rails or cutting / bashing the firewall.

I have a good idea of some swaps that do and don't, but it would be nice of to have a running list. This is what I know so far, hopefully you guys can fill in the blanks.

B6 1.6l SOHC( 323 ) no cuts with stock tranny, G series cable and hydro
B6D 1.6l DOHC( capri, mx-3, mx-5 ) no cuts stock tranny & cable G series ( not sure about hydro G series? )
B6T ( DOHC turbo capri/323) I believe with stock tranny location there is some cutting / bashing, The cable G series and B6T can go in no cuts, and not sure if the B6T / hydro G series can go in no cuts?
BP 1.8l SOHC ( No clue? )
BP 1.8l DOHC ( Escort GT / protege lx-e? ) With stock tranny it requires cuts / bashing with cable G series? Hydro G series?
BPT 1.8l DOHC turbo ( JDM 323 gtx familia / ? ) I know the intake manifold on the BPT is shorter, but unsure of stock tranny or cable/hydro G series

And of course cable G series refers to the manual 5 speed from 323 GT/ Capri and Hydro G series refers to Escort GT 5 speed.

Can you guys fill in the blanks?

You mentioned g series without cutting I believe that's incorrect (I could be wrong) but I'm almost sure you have to notch/bash 1/4" out of the driver rail no matter what engine follows anything more powerful than a b6d you're gonna want to go g series

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[shadetree]

Anything that has g needs adjusting frame rail on driver side ..
Anything that has 1.8 needs adjusting of pass side frame rail ..

[Advancedynamix]

B6t does NOT require any clearancing with stock transmission.
Miata b6d (b6ze) will require Capri/323 gt (or gtx) intake manifold, valve cover and exhaust manifold to fit without extensive mods.
Mx3 b6d intake manifold is too bulky to run with e series trans without clearance of firewall.
All b series engines will mount to any of the transmissions mentioned as well as a 2000-2005 KIA Rio transmission which is an F/G hybrid cable trans that has pretty good ratios.

[blake4591]

Anything that has g needs adjusting frame rail on driver side ..
Anything that has 1.8 needs adjusting of pass side frame rail ..

I didn't cut either frame rail for my B6D with G series but the car is lowered ~3". You may have to cut the frame rail on the drivers side with a factory height car.

Also one thing to think about is radiator positioning and clearance with the G series transmission. The G series moves the exhaust very close to the radiator and may require moving it forward depending on other things in the setup.

[Sleeper]

Are the 2000-05 Kia Rio tranny any less bulky than the capri/ 323gt or escort gt G series?

I guess my main concern is the affect of cutting or bashing your frame rails ( from a structural stand point ) not really from a safety stand point.... Otherwise I wouldn't consider a swap in a festiva lol!

[Advancedynamix]

The Rio transmission is shorter than the g series. It fits without clearancing of the frame.
I swapped a g15mr (Capri xr2) in to my b6t car without clearancing the drivers side frame rail, but it required shortening the passenger side axle and slightly modifying the IM shaft. Check "Tweaks rebuild thread" in the garage section for more info on this.
The passenger side axle (Capri Xr2 axles) did bind without being shortened. This was with Aspire front spindles. It didn't bind with the Capri spindles that I originally used.

[Sleeper]

So in theory a B6t with rio tranny and possibly rio axles might fit with no cutting....

[shadetree]

Yes but you would want to use the driver side (left side ) Capri xr2 axle .

[Mini62cooper]

B6t does NOT require any clearancing with stock transmission.
Miata b6d (b6ze) will require Capri/323 gt (or gtx) intake manifold, valve cover and exhaust manifold to fit without extensive mods.
Mx3 b6d intake manifold is too bulky to run with e series trans without clearance of firewall.
All b series engines will mount to any of the transmissions mentioned as well as a 2000-2005 KIA Rio transmission which is an F/G hybrid cable trans that has pretty good ratios.

Can you swap the 2000-2005 Rio trans or do you need a G-series trans as well to make the hybrid? Thank you

[Sleeper]

I think he is saying that the 02-05 rio tranny is a mix of an f and g series from the factory.

[ihasmiat?]

Yes but you would want to use the driver side (left side ) Capri xr2 axle .

I'm also considering using the kia rio transmission.

Would a non-xr2 axle work?

My local junkyard yard has a 1.6L n/a capri, and I'm going to snag some parts off of it soon for my b6ze swap.

Do I need to source different hubs/spindle? Or will the kia/capri axles slide right into the festivas factory fit?

And not sure if it matters across the different trim levels for hub/axle sizes. But I'm swapping a 93 GL with the 1.3.


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[ihasmiat?]

And what kind of clutch combo has anyone running the Rio transmission been using? Rio clutch disk, miata flywheel/pressure plate?

Or are they pretty much the same?

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[FestYboy]

There's a stickie about an axle cheat sheet in the drivetrain section...

[blake4591]

Would a non-xr2 axle work?


Do I need to source different hubs/spindle? Or will the kia/capri axles slide right into the festivas factory fit?

And not sure if it matters across the different trim levels for hub/axle sizes. But I'm swapping a 93 GL with the 1.3.


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non-xr2 axle will have the wrong number of splines on the transmission side.

The hubs all use the same spline so yes they will fit

And what kind of clutch combo has anyone running the Rio transmission been using? Rio clutch disk, miata flywheel/pressure plate?

Or are they pretty much the same?

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Normal procedure is to use the flywheel/ clutch assembly that matches the transmission you are using.