The blocks are different I think because of the revised coolant passages on the 9.

 

as far as I have been able to tell, the blocks are actually the same, there may have been some revisions to the piston design. I don't know that the block's revisions are enough to justify an entire short block unless you need a complete crate motor.

The easy part is the Immobilizer An engine harness for an IX is probably over $1500 new, however if you swap the entire harness and buy an IX ECU, you would have the least amount of headaches.

The Last link I posted was HKS's Mivec Controller, I'm not sure if its designed to function in place of the ECU, or IN-Line, but if it replaces the ECU control, then its the type of device to use if you want to add mivec to a non-mivec equipped car

Don't forget there's several components involved in getting this to work, if you seriously plan on doing this, compare the wiring diagrams from an IX and an VIII..

 

The next step in my car will be to do this...however, considering all the costs involved I'm on the 2 year plan (Every 2 years I do a bunch of mods). By then, hopefully, this swap will be de rigeour

 

that's funny

 

the troof

 

the revised coolant passages were in the head.

 

Yes Davy, but I think there may be a differences between the blocks too. I may be wrong, but if I am please let me know why since I think the 2 blocks have different part #'s. THx.

 

i just know that my friend bought a 9 block and he said that they're the same (of course he's just worried about the installation) the above thing that sounds like a paraphrase came straight from our online convo.

he's putting a 9 block into an 8... so i think that's about the same as putting an 8 motor with a 9 head.

more likely than not it's a problem of the ecu mostly because you can just redirect that oil line apparently or it IS redirected from the factory or something.

i do want this information corroborated which is why i keep sounding unsure

 

Hi guys,

I am in the process of doing this in the UK by bolting the 9 head onto the 8 block.

I have an autronic evo 9 pnp ecu which works in the evo 8.

apparently the chassis loom is the same and already has the additional wiring for mating with the engine loom.

from what i gather there is an additional pig tail loom that is separate and goes directly to the mivec actuator, I will be purchasing both of these separately.

Apparently, when using an 8 block, you need an external oil supply to the head for the mivec actuation. Evo400 in the uk has produced these as a lot of the rally guys over here are doing/have done this conversion.

The external conversion I think is a mini-manifold/adapter that uses the oil feed normally reserved for the oil pressure switch and redirects it externally, to the mivec head just by the inlet wheel.

To my knowledge it is all easily purchased bolt on mods, but anyone considering this email dave gammon @ www.evo400.com as he knows a little bit more about this than me.

 

finally the confirmation whew...

 

External oil lines around the back of the head, likely something to do with MIVEC actuation. Anyway, the Evo 8 alternator bracket isn't compatible and you'll need to find an Evo 9 bracket.

 

On that note, if anybody has one for sale than I'm looking and don't have enough posts yet to put something in the WTB section!!??

 

What I'd like to know is how to tell if an Evo has an 8 or 9 engine or just a head/ecu swap. I bought my 8 with Mivec already and don't know if it was a complete engine swap or not.

 

Aside from opening the blocks I don't know if you can say with 100% certainty. Although, on the drivers side rear of the block straight south of the intake manifold there is a oil temp or pressure sensor while on the Evo 9 engine this is replaced with an oil fitting routing to the other side of the motor just above the alternator. Also the reason why a Evo 8 alternator can't be reused.