I've got my eye on a stylus with a 1.6 zetec, twin Weber 40's, type 9 gearbox and a live rear axle (presume MK2 escort).

I like the car bout would really like to put an aj-30 in it.

From what I've researched, I would need the engine, an mx5 or Jag gearbox. Then speeduino/mega squirt etc.
I would have to fabricate new brackets (which is fine).

Is there anything else major I have missed?

From memory of my Fury which has a similar chassis, the engine bay is quite small, a rover v8 will fit but this is actually quite a small engine having single cam shafts. Also I think the engine is slightly angles and off set to the passenger side so exhausts may not be equal, finally the tunnel is quite tight even for a type 9 so anything much bigger may not fit. Definitely worth doing some measurements to make sure it all physically fits.

I know there is at least one Mazda V6 engine in a Fury/Stylus (Claire Rule?) that might be worth looking at pictures for and there is a Jag V6 project on here that has quite a bit of info, worth looking to see if there is an adaptor plate for a 5speed RX8 box (which I think is the same as the MX5 but with different bolt pattern) that might fit.

Sounds like an interesting project but if it is a Zetec E (the 1.6 version is not up to much), not a Zetec SE, the easiest swap would be for a 2.0l version and twin 45’s or bike carbs. All the best and keep us updated on progress.

Driveshaft to get from the new box to the existing diff?

Will you need to 'adjust' the interior for the gearshift? That could be a challenge depending on how tidy the interior is.

Exhaust fabrication/routing?

Is the car on a Q plate? If so you don't need to worry about the change in emissions, if not then it could be 'interesting'.

As a side project I have been looking out for Jag/Mondeo V6's for my own car (not a Stylus), they seem to be a bit more expensive than they have been. I don't know whether they're getting harder to find in running condition? I'm not sure whether my selection criteria is a bit tight.

Please post updates though, I'm very interested in how you get on and any gotchas that you have to deal with.

[Edited on 11/4/26 by Slimy38]

If you look in my photo archive there are lots of photos

If you can find a Mazda KL V6 engine that's what I'd use. Smaller and lighter than Ford/Jag engine