Quote:
Originally Posted by strat61caster
Are you assuming lotus because midengined sports car? The law isn't so distinct, they just mean passenger vehicle engines into passenger vehicles not like a commercial towing engine into an F150 or Mustang because they have different emissions standards.
The two tricks are fitting all the emissions equipment from the donor car and finding a donor car that's the same year or newer, so the '00 Celica mentioned above would be a no go into OPs '02 unless the engine is indistinguishable from a later year, which I think is rarely the case as they check known markings and I believe will plug into the ecu which will likely carry a date.
OP drive both before writing one off, I've seen a couple Z3s driven hard and they're not so shabby and the MRS didn't exactly set the world on fire when it was new. Also agreed with above my money would go into a Miata but to each their own, I'd drive the Z3 and MRS before making the final purchase. Good luck.
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I do not believe the Celica ECU shows a date on the test equipment. You can run an newer engine but the later Celicas were drive by wire instead of cable throttles. The reason you want the 00 ECU is the higher fuel cut-off. The 02 ECU would also work but its fuel cut-off in 600 RPM lower. As you mentioned, in California you have to take the Celica exhaust manifold and modify it to fit in the Spyder chassis. It has been done and there are many 2ZZ Spyder certified and being driven in Ca. One will come up for sale about every 6 months or so.
I have nothing against Miatas except that I do not fit comfortably in one (6'2") Past experience has lead me to the point that I have sworn off German made cars.
Anyway, @OP best of luck with your search.