Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications 3.0L Duratec 3.0L "locost" build

Then convert over the heads to fit the Lower Intake manifold. So much easier that Fkkn with all that other stuff, fuel rail included. Two hours of your time also saves a lot of money.

For a quality engine, $600-$1000 shipped. Gaskets $200, only if you replace every single thing. I've told people often enough that all you need is new head, pan and timing cover gaskets at a minimum. I say this because you don't want to pull something in that area apart later. Obviously you inspect the valve cover gaskets for pliability, and other o-rings/gaskets like on the intakes. If they are still pliable and in good shape, reuse them. If they eventually go bad, changing them on this engine is easy at that point.

You will want to replace the rod bearings with clevite77 and that means a set of rod bolts (about $100 total), but you won't need to do the mains (never been a main bearing issue). This gives you a chance to pull each piston assembly for inspection. You can carefully remove the rings, clean them and the grooves, clean the pistons up then lube everything and reassemble. This is the time you decide if you need new rings or not.

No need to worry about pulling the mains as I said, and then you can have confidence in your new engine.

As far as the heads, I posted how easy it is to convert to fit stock contour intakes and it makes it sooooo much easier for future work too.
You don't need to worry about non-standard parts everywhere else, and if you have SVT PCM it will even run a 3L just like stock only a lot better.
So you probably won't need a tune for a while. Then of course you can do some porting on the heads to improve flow if necessary.

And if I didn't mention it, all valve covers, timing covers, fuel rails, everything just bolts right back up at that point like stock. Unless you are a perfectionist with a 3L drop in, this will guarantee higher reliability in the long run.

Just FYI, $1700 with me doing the labor gave me a 3L with worked heads producing 217 wHP. After exhaust, headers and an emanage, $2500 later I had a great, tuneable car. Of course now the xcal2 is better and only a little more than an emanage.

You have found more blown up Miatae than Contours? I simply can't believe that.

I have found more Miatas with short-nose crank or other issues than V-6, 5-speed, 4-bolt LCA Contours with blown engines. Contours in general are more common, but 5-speed V-6 cars are really hard to find.

Plus, there are Miatas on craigslist within a 4-5 hour radius of me every day that need engines. People throw away blown Contours, while Miatas hold enough value (and hold together well enough) to be worth selling.

Try looking for a car. I've found eight Miata project cars that tempted me in the last month. I've been looking for the right Contour for two years and never found one close to me. The ones I find are auto, 4-cyl, rusted out, or just disgusting.

So you mean only the early now 15+ year old 1.6s. Gotcha.

You should do a *real* 3L Locost. That would be sweet.

Thanks for the unnecessary post revival.

Well, you are entitled to your opinion...this once.

Not bad advice by any means but I have to point out that if there was obvious damage to an engine as from bad rods then I'd check everything out. I only meant on a good low miles runner I'd leave the mains alone. Low miles being less than 25-30K...obviously less, not one of those that looks like it had 200K that the junkyard sells claiming it has 500 miles on it. lol