V8 Mazda guys please read!!

Whats up fellas, Ive torn my mazda apart and im halfway done with the b/d (only bed to go) and im now starting to look at the empty space where a motor used to be and im wanting to fill the gap with a V8 probably a 350 b/c of the ease of finding them....

will i have to modify my firewall?
what kind of oilpan issues will i run into?
and are there issues with the headers hitting things on the sides??

thanks alot for the help!

We'll im not 100% sure on a 350 i have a Ford 351 winsor in mine, I didn't mod the firewall but everything's real close and i have my electric fan on the front of the rad behind the grill b/c of clearence issues. You might have to notch it for the distributor though on a chevy im not sure. My motor have a rear sump ford van,truck oil pan on it, the oil pan bolt is about 1/2 off the ground layed out, I made my motor mounts that way though so i could keep it low as possibly, because i was tryin to get it under the stock hood(didn't work). Also if you bd'ed u probably already cut out your front inner fenders That will get u away from alot of the clearence issues with the headers, but make sure u run shorty's!

i'll try to find my old magazines, but yes the chevy v8 required to modify the firewall for distrib. clearance, motor mounts need to be moved back and i casn't remember what other things needed to be done too. i went with a 302 ford and really hadn't had to do hardly anything. i made the motor mount holes a little bigger and dropped my motor in the first time to see what other obvious things would have to be changed. there is a place in canada that makes install kits too, but they told me i'd never get a serpentine belt system work!! the thing is i already had it sitting in the truck when i called so take things in consideration when talking to different people. make sure you ask detailed questions. good luck and if you decide on the ford i'm sure baggedb22 and i know i would definately try to help you out.

Good overview of the install.

quick question for you guys. the stock 4cyl isnt workin out too well for my liking in my 86 b2000. what would the chances of finding a california smog legal v8 to drop in be?

I have a serp setup on my 351w just got done putting it all together about a week ago..

From what I understand - as long as the replacement motor is newer than the old motor, AND produces the same or lower amounts of emissions than the stock motor does, it can be used for the swap.

awsome thanks. what engine would you guys reccomend? i have rebuilt the engine in my 89 so i am comfortable with an engine but im looking for something clean and a little less complicated.

Doesnt work

Yeah that site has just recently gone down.. no one seems to know why. I would guess they are either making a new webpage or have gone out of business...
Mike