New member 1996 Mazda B2300 looking to do an engine swap

[MrJiggyFly$]

I have a 1996 Mazda B2300 2wd 5 speed that has been in my family since new. It was my Uncle Allen's truck originally, he then sold it to his brother my Uncle Wayne then it was passed top my father when my Uncle Wayne died, and when my father passed, it came to me. The speedo has not worked since Christ was still a Jewish carpenter but my guestimate would be that it has 300K+ on it. It has been a legit champ of a truck. Now that the little 2300 motor is fairly lifeless..it runs great but could not pull the skin off a bowl of pudding, I am trying to figure out what engine would make sense. I could buy a rebuilt 2300 long-block, but I would like to put something in it that I could actually tow something with. While i am by NO MEANS an actual mechanic, I a bit of a gearhead, and have restored about a dozen cars over the years, so I know how to get my hands greasy and my knuckles bloody. LOL I would like to put a motor in it that would allow me to tow my classic cars on a trailer with. I was curious as to what swaps people have done. I was a little curious about doing a GM Atlas 4200 swap but am not married to that by any means. Plan is to do the motor/tranny swap, get it repainted and eventually give it to my nephew. Any help or thoughts will be GREATLY appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

 

[Blmpkn]

I have a 1996 Mazda B2300 2wd 5 speed that has been in my family since new. It was my Uncle Allen's truck originally, he then sold it to his brother my Uncle Wayne then it was passed top my father when my Uncle Wayne died, and when my father passed, it came to me. The speedo has not worked since Christ was still a Jewish carpenter but my guestimate would be that it has 300K+ on it. It has been a legit champ of a truck. Now that the little 2300 motor is fairly lifeless..it runs great but could not pull the skin off a bowl of pudding, I am trying to figure out what engine would make sense. I could buy a rebuilt 2300 long-block, but I would like to put something in it that I could actually tow something with. While i am by NO MEANS an actual mechanic, I a bit of a gearhead, and have restored about a dozen cars over the years, so I know how to get my hands greasy and my knuckles bloody. LOL I would like to put a motor in it that would allow me to tow my classic cars on a trailer with. I was curious as to what swaps people have done. I was a little curious about doing a GM Atlas 4200 swap but am not married to that by any means. Plan is to do the motor/tranny swap, get it repainted and eventually give it to my nephew. Any help or thoughts will be GREATLY appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

Legally/liability-wise.. that truck isn't gonna cut the mustard for towing old iron around with. Doesn't matter what motor/trans/axles you swap into it.. the vin is what 'holds' capacity ratings.

Put a 2.3t in it and have a fun little hot rod..

 

[MrJiggyFly$]

Legally/liability-wise.. that truck isn't gonna cut the mustard for towing old iron around with. Doesn't matter what motor/trans/axles you swap into it.. the vin is what 'holds' capacity ratings.

Put a 2.3t in it and have a fun little hot rod..

Thank you... sounds like solid advice. What year 2.3T will swap??? Or perhaps, what is needed to do that swap?

 

[Blmpkn]

Thank you... sounds like solid advice. What year 2.3T will swap??? Or perhaps, what is needed to do that swap?

You could find an entire factory turbo motor/ECU/harness combo and swap it all in.. you could send your current motor to a machine shop and have it built.. you could purchase a reman turbo motor.. there's plenty of different approaches.. all with varying levels of expense and involvement.

@scotts90ranger has a turbo swapped truck.. he'd be able to fill you in with better details and such.