FWD Engine for a Swap

The PT Cruiser Turbo engine is the same unit as the neon SRT-4 2.4L engine, but with a different intake manifold. You will probably find that you can buy a whole car with a blown head gasket or a dead automatic transmission for a few hundred bucks. Assuming that you want to run a manual transmission, you should probably try for a PT GT Turbo with a manual trans. The automatic trans control module is built into the ECM, and I don't know that it will operate well if it isn't attached to an automatic trans.

In terms of Value for powah, there's also the J-series of Honda V6s
They are available from a ton of oddesey minivans/accords and go for cheap.

Q: Since you mentioned "super secret" and "swap", are you planning on a Mid/RWD setup?

If so, what transmission would you be considering? The one that comes with your donor engine or another one that matches your application (say a VW bug transmission or Porsche G50 if you are going full cheat)
I have to imagine that a automatic would be the easiest to adapt from FWD to mid- or RWD duty than a manual.
Otherwise, you may be looking at adapting linkages for the shifter and clutch (hydraulic would likely be easier here) or a spendy adapter plate.

No matter what you choose though, it sounds like an interesting project.

Look at the B5 Passat, Audi A4 and TT FWD units.  Longitudinal mounted engine will fit better in the back of whatever you're looking at.

If you already have a BP, then I can't see using something else. It's reasonably reliable and free, which pretty much hits all of the high points for me.

I was talking a cable operated shifter.  I agree that a hydraulic clutch would be easier to relocate.

how are you planning to shift gears? mazda has hard shift lines on the back of the tranny, right? would your new line go below the engine? above the engine?

I am curious how is that usually done. would a cable-driven shifter on top like saturn work better for RWD swap? would automatic be easier for RWD swap?

Be right back, need to learn more about pneumatic.

Yes, the shifter on our VR6 works similarly to one on a Saturn...I have both, incidentally.

Shift rod would certainly be trickier.  I'd find a way to convert to cable shift either by swapping a different shift tower on, or fitting a mechanism to the top of the transmission that acted the shift rods and accepted cables. 

OR

I wonder if you could use some of the ideas from the shift by wire setup shown in the above video into making a simpler system that would be viable on a Lemons car.  Maybe that's electric solenoids mounted on the back of the transmission and microswitches on the shifter...I'm sure you wouldn't have any trouble coding it!  8-)

So russian is right.  The transmission is shifted by manipulating a shaft with a vertical hole in it.  When you move the sifter to the side it rotates and when you move it forward and backward it moves in and out of the transmission.  My plan to adapt it is to just run a bar under the engine and connect it by the same method as seen in this picture.

The purple blocks are bearing for the shaft and they are in line with the axis of the selector coming out of the transmission. The blue thing is the selector on the transmission.

Also russian,  I am the one that has been emailing you.  So you know the details to my super secret project.

I don't think this is what a pneumatic shifter actually works.  I am pretty sure that are not just actuators attached to the standard gear shifter, seams excessively heavy.

I'm pretty sure that proper pneumatic shifters use CO2 and are for paddle shifted dog boxes or something.