Question about 4g93 Lacner Swap into 4g15 Mirage

Doomslayer

Doomslayer

Active Member
Hey everyone. I have a 2003 Mitsubishi Mirage. I was just about to slam it with some springs but I ran into a boar and it smashed my front end up abit. So I decided to buy a car for parts to fix it and I found a Mitsubishi Lancer 2002 MR CE which had been smashed from the boot. It has the same everything minus the back end as my car. I bought it for 200 and I've fixed up my radiator air condenser and lights on mine, plus some upgraded interior parts (black console and a bouncy tacho) but now I've got a perfectly good 1.8L lancer engine that would fit in my car, plus all the needed parts from the lancer..

My question is: How easy/hard was it to swap the engine with basic tools? Any tips? Is it legal for me to do in brisbane? or on my p's? Any tools or things I'll need to do it by hand? is it worth it or would it take too long for the power gain?

Thanks abunch guys

p.s it was a fully specced out mr with I believe every option from factory
mirage.jpg lancer.jpg
 
Is it legal? Probably, have a read of this.
Doable at home? Yes, but you will need an engine stand + crane + atleast 4 jack stands + atleast two jacks, for it all to go mostly smoothly. An air compressor with a good rattle gun or electric alternative is a must. Other than that, its all do able with a $90 repco tool kit.

You may need to get some gaskets and service gear to ensure you have no leaks ect on your new engine. Set aside a month of weekends to get it done, and youll give yourself plenty of time to do it. Use the search bar to confirm all the things you need to bring over, many threads have talked about this before.

All the best with it!
 
And make sure you change the ECU, immobilizer, keys and key reader. Because almost everyone forget at least one of them. Unless your OG like us! LOL.
 
After research, I'm fairly sure it's illegal and I don't wanna get stitched up for it but I'd be tempted to do it after I'm on my opens. Sad to let a perfectly good 4g93 go especially when it would fit right in ;(
 
I’ve seen a few mirages converted to 1.8 and passed no issues.
Might just need to get a mod plate for QLD.

Maybe @rigby or @MOR31 might fill a gap here?
 
Technically yeah you'd need a mod plate but nobody would ever pick up that it's not the correct engine. Just claim ignorance that you bought it that way
 
Under "Section LA - Engine" of the "National Code of Practice for Light Vehicle Construction and Modification", Code LA1 (on page 17) states the following:

MODIFICATIONS COVERED UNDER CODE LA1

The following modifications may be performed under Code LA1:
  • Fitting of a replacement engine with not more than 20% greater mass and/or power output than engines offered by the first manufacturer as a standard or optional engine.
Because you have a 4G93 designed for the CE platform, it is a legal swap. I have done this swap a few times before (albeit it NSW) is has only ever been a case of proof of purchase for the engine, and an adjustment of records ie. blue slip.

Here is a link to referenced site:
https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Safety/V...cations/Light-vehicle-modifications.aspx#ncop
 
Surely it doesn't work like that and relies on chassis codes. Otherwise you could put a 4g93 from a cc into a ce even though its the wrong orientation, because cc and ce wagons are the same and cover both chassis codes. 4g93 wasn't an optional engine for a mirage which is why the mod plate is needed. But also as I said nobody would be able to tell from a glance and a thorough poke around the bay. But who'd do that for a stock 1.8L? You'd have to have been severely unlucky and a *Richard Cranium* to the officer for that to happen.
 
I swapped in Vic and confirm its all good. Its the CE series chassis, so 1.5 or 1.8 is fine. As long as the engine is younger than the shell the authorities wont care if its same generation engine:shell swapping.
 
I that AL OG Mmc77 did two here in NSW.
Just went and passed a blue slip and changed engine numbers with RMS.
 
You'll need to consider the P plates as well. Idk if that affects this because of the type of swap it is but in QLD they're Nazis for engine swaps of any kind.

Edit: apparently it's fine if it doesn't need a mod plate but it's also QLD where laws don't matter and you're never safe. Since this swap would need code LA1 it's not a legal swap for p platers. RIP
 
So what I'm hearing is swap it but it's not legal and she'll be right ahaha. It's probably not on my P's but I haven't seen anything that says it isn't? Never swapped and engine and only done light car mods but me and my mate are keen to give it a go
 
Doomslayer said:
Also what is the power difference like in the lighter body of the mirage?
Click to expand...

The mirage/coupe weigh the same. You could argue that the mirage a few kgs less, but you’d trigger everyone in the proccess. The difference is amazing. 1.8 has way more power the whole way through, and enough torque to keep you going in top gear up hills. It wont make you kill an evo or walk some HSV, but it makes the mirage a respectable, nippy car.
 
My advice is: just do it and don't tell anyone or say anything. Claim ignorance. Say you dont know cars, it looks stock blah blah blah. Insurance will void you in an accident though.
 
SDate42 said:
The mirage/coupe weigh the same. You could argue that the mirage a few kgs less, but you’d trigger everyone in the proccess. The difference is amazing. 1.8 has way more power the whole way through, and enough torque to keep you going in top gear up hills. It wont make you kill an evo or walk some HSV, but it makes the mirage a respectable, nippy car.
Click to expand...

Really? I would have sworn the mirage would be lighter? Ok awesome so you'd say that the power gained from the 1.8 is worth the swap. I've got a 140,000ks 4g15 and the 4g93 is 208,000ks. My mate and I are keen to do it over a 2 week uni holiday and just work it out.

rigby said:
My advice is: just do it and don't tell anyone or say anything. Claim ignorance. Say you dont know cars, it looks stock blah blah blah. Insurance will void you in an accident though.
Click to expand...

I've only got third party atm anyways so I just have to not crash into anyone or I'll get *fudge*ed
 
SDate42 said:
The mirage/coupe weigh the same. You could argue that the mirage a few kgs less, but you’d trigger everyone in the proccess.
Click to expand...

Did you just assume my car's weight?

FYI My 4G93+T Mirage weighed in at 1060kg at WSID.
 
I reckon it's lighter cause I can chop my mates 03 lancer in the early gears but either way I reckon the car will feel nicer in the higher gears. Not that it matters much just curious about how it'll match up to similar lancers
 
I've done the swap a couple of times and it can be done in a day if you know what your doing.
A couple of things that might help:
Leave the engine loom plugged into the engine, unplug it at the ECU and pull it through the firewall.
You also need to change the power steer hose from the pump to the canister to clear the pully.
Don't forget to change the exhaust as it's 2" on the 1.8 (bigger than the 1.5), it makes a noticeable difference to the power output. The exhaust is the same to the rear flange.
 
Zipper said:
I've done the swap a couple of times and it can be done in a day if you know what your doing.
A couple of things that might help:
Leave the engine loom plugged into the engine, unplug it at the ECU and pull it through the firewall.
You also need to change the power steer hose from the pump to the canister to clear the pully.
Don't forget to change the exhaust as it's 2" on the 1.8 (bigger than the 1.5), it makes a noticeable difference to the power output. The exhaust is the same to the rear flange.
Click to expand...

I've just taken out the exhaust from the mr lancer and it doesn't appear to be any bigger than the 1.5?
 
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