Mk1 200SX engine transplant - talk to me

[Jag-D]

Got a few thoughts running arounf in my head at the moment and one of which is how much work it would take to drop a 200SX engine into an MX5

Either CA18DET or SR20DET

Anyone know anything about this?

[piefacemate]

Don't recall coming across one before. Got to ask the question though... why? Turbocharge the standard lump and you've got pretty much the same thing, and I suspect it might come in cheaper after you've paid for some to fabricate a subframe and make it all fit.

Now an RB26DETT conversion on the other hand...

[Jag-D]

piefacemate said:

Don't recall coming across one before. Got to ask the question though... why? Turbocharge the standard lump and you've got pretty much the same thing, and I suspect it might come in cheaper after you've paid for some to fabricate a subframe and make it all fit.

Now an RB26DETT conversion on the other hand...

Well this is why I'm looking into it

If there's little to no fab work needed then it could work out cheaper to drop a CA18 or SR20 in and be running a standard, unstressed 200bhp (ish) on a base that is capable of producing 300 reliable bhp.

It's all just a thought at the moment and instrumental in helping me decide which route I'm likely to take

[stu_the_flat]

I want a Alfa V6 in my MX-5... Just for the sound track!

[piefacemate]

Fair enough.

I'd try the Yank websites, the 200SX seemed to be bigger over there and they seem to fit a greater variety of engines into the Miata's; you can find an XJ12 engined one somewhere on YouTube.

Or, as another option, you could look at the 13b rotary. I believe they're relatively easy to fit and will get you 300BHP-ish out of the box. Of course you're trading off reliability and economy in a bigger way.

I believe the F20 from the S2000 is a mare to fit, pity really as it'd make an excellent engine standard or otherwise. Wonder if the Supra straight 6 would go?

[Jag-D]

Well if the Jag V12 fits (I've seen it) then an inline 6 would...but it would be a lot of work!

I like the idea of the 13B, but I don't want a Rotary engine sir no no no no

Just mulling over the possibilities at the moment and looked about the for Neesarn conversion, but not found a great deal

[piefacemate]

Jag-D said:

Well if the Jag V12 fits (I've seen it) then an inline 6 would...but it would be a lot of work!

I like the idea of the 13B, but I don't want a Rotary engine sir no no no no

Just mulling over the possibilities at the moment and looked about the for Neesarn conversion, but not found a great deal

There's a fair bit of spare room in front of the standard engine; obviously, complexities of putting an engine from something else in there aside, would there be that many difficulties? Possibly a bit of radiator relocation perhaps?

Thinking that:

a) Supra 6 is aluminium (I think?) so should weigh similar to the standard and not bugger up distribution;

b) Is 220bhp n/a / 320bhp t/c out of the box, so plenty powerful, and with 400BHP available without further ado.

c) Reliable as hell, and probably more economical with the torquey power band and tall gearing.

You've got me thinking now...

[Munter]

Would you not prefer the Lexus V8? You know if you are going to the hasle of a different engine. Might as well go for it.

[Jag-D]

Munter said:

Would you not prefer the Lexus V8? You know if you are going to the hasle of a different engine. Might as well go for it.

Lexus V8 isn't a bad idea, dont know much a about them like!

It all depends on price as if it coems in silly expensive it's not worth thinking about....unless I've got the expendable to drop a 383cui small block in

[rotarymazda]

Jag-D said:

Got a few thoughts running arounf in my head at the moment and one of which is how much work it would take to drop a 200SX engine into an MX5

Either CA18DET or SR20DET

Anyone know anything about this?

From memories of reading miata.net (US), the SR20DET has been done a few times. The RB26DETT is too long.

Although a 13b turbo will fit, it's a bit tight and a street ported 13b is only good for ~170bhp. I went for a 13b-msp from an RX8 instead.

There are V8 kits available.

[Jag-D]

I've read about the V8 kits, but the price is too extreme...for now

We're talking around £4.5k ish if I go for new kit and used lump. I just dont have that amount of cash

[vx220]

try PPC magazine website?

there was an mx5 with 200sx engine and box in their £999 challenge last year

http://www.ppcmag.co.uk/

[vx220]

"...a Volvo T5 inter cooler. Squeezing the engine under the Mazda's bonnet required the sump and the bulkhead to be cut and reshaped, plus some engine mounts made up and the prop modified"

[NeoVR]

As mentioned above.. why?..

The engines in the '5 were designed as turbo engines anyway with relatively low compression.. on a budget you could get near 300bhp for not much more than a grand... although the 5 speed box tends to go before the engine does.

[GravelBen]

SR20DET has been done down here in NZ but apparently took a whole lot of work for that particular car - ended up as basically a 200SX drivetrain shoehorned into an MX5 body. There is an outfit in Aus that makes a sump for the SR20 to fit in an MX5 more easily though.

Lexus 1UZ-FE V8 been done (with twin turbos!) no idea how much work that took.

I still like the idea of the KL-ZE Mazda 2.5 V6 - nice revvy lump, sounds sweet, 200bhp n/a as standard with potential for more, weighs the same as the MX5 motor. Also used in destroked form in the BTCC Mondeos, I reckon it would suit the MX5 character perfectly.

But if its just a power increase you're after rather than something different then the sensible option is to turbo or surpercharge then engine thats already in it - or to save money sell it and buy one with the work already done.

Edited by GravelBen on Thursday 29th July 07:01

[MX-5 Lazza]

This Rover V8 engine MX5 is for sale - I've driven it and can confirm that it is indeed very nice

Edited by MX-5 Lazza on Thursday 29th July 08:56

[PGD5]

You know there are threads on nutz covering these conversions, dont you?

A guy near me has the CA engine in his, its off the road at the moment being rebuilt but once done it'll be rapid. He'll do conversions for people too

Jamie K has the SR20 engine in and does very well drifing it

[Jag-D]

MX-5 Lazza said:

This Rover V8 engine MX5 is for sale - I've driven it and can confirm that it is indeed very nice

Edited by MX-5 Lazza on Thursday 29th July 08:56

No bloody Rover is going in my Roadster

PGD5 said:

You know there are threads on nutz covering these conversions, dont you?

A guy near me has the CA engine in his, its off the road at the moment being rebuilt but once done it'll be rapid. He'll do conversions for people too

Jamie K has the SR20 engine in and does very well drifing it

Actually I didn't know there were any threads on nutz covering the CA/SR conversion, must look harder next time!

[skinny]

Jag-D said:

Well if the Jag V12 fits (I've seen it) then an inline 6 would...but it would be a lot of work!

I like the idea of the 13B, but I don't want a Rotary engine sir no no no no

Just mulling over the possibilities at the moment and looked about the for Neesarn conversion, but not found a great deal

i know a guy at cosworth that's going to convert a few rx7 engines with rx8 rotors into a single 4-rotor rotary with proper intakes / outlets (apparently the stock inlets are crap for power, they are for idle and emissions - his won't idle below 2k tho), turbo's etc. should be a very nice engine, although he's looking to sell them for 30k ish

[Jag-D]

skinny said:

Jag-D said:

Well if the Jag V12 fits (I've seen it) then an inline 6 would...but it would be a lot of work!

I like the idea of the 13B, but I don't want a Rotary engine sir no no no no

Just mulling over the possibilities at the moment and looked about the for Neesarn conversion, but not found a great deal

i know a guy at cosworth that's going to convert a few rx7 engines with rx8 rotors into a single 4-rotor rotary with proper intakes / outlets (apparently the stock inlets are crap for power, they are for idle and emissions - his won't idle below 2k tho), turbo's etc. should be a very nice engine, although he's looking to sell them for 30k ish

Was talking to a guy at the autosport show that does a similar thing. They prep rotary engines and he was telling me about the standard porting being crap for power and flow