MAZA BUSA

[Brian-ar037]

Have you seen this MAZABUSA. Hayabusa powered MX5

[Esceptico]

The busa engine is great in a bike. I think it may be okay in a very light car like a Caterham. Surely it will be st in a 1100 kg MX5 though?

[Brian-ar037]

I had a Busa in a DAX and it was very quick. This MX5 is lighter than stock due to the loss of the Mazda engine and gearbox. Also 190bhp vs the original 140 bhp makes a difference. It is great to use 11,000 revs and a 6 speed sequential gearbox....................each to their own

[Birky_41]

Quirky but you can see by your video its a tonne car with a low torque bike engine

Definitely different! Enjoy

https://youtu.be/zD2hAryAqjk

[f1nn]

Maybe it’s the video, but that’s making lots of noise but looks like it’s crawling past the camera.

[Brian-ar037]

Yes, the video doesn't do it justice,

[Rubin215]

Can't see the point of that to be honest.

Yes, a bike engine in a truly lightweight car could be lots of fun, but unless you have pulled all the unnecessary weight out of the Mazda (interior, deadening, heater etc) it's going to be a bit flat, especially compared to the original bike.

Generally I'm a big believer that if you want a faster car then buy a faster car but, if you do just want more power in the same package, then bigger engines, turbo/supercharging or loonytune stuff like nitrous is the way to go.

[f1nn]

What does it weigh?

[Esceptico]

f1nn said:

What does it weigh?

Looking on the internet it seems you would only save around 30kg in swapping engines. Not sure about the gearboxes. Even if you saved 100kg then in total it would still be close to 1000kg. Hayabusa engine only has torque of 100 lbft so think that would struggle with 1000 kg.

There is another engine conversion for the MX5 that uses a 2.5 six cylinder car engine that is the same weight at the original engine. 240 bhp, more torque and apparently great noise. That would be the way to go in my view.

[Brian-ar037]

I was bored over the winter and thought about a unique project. Maybe it doesn't make sense to everyone.
I have fast cars...........R35 GTR
The MX5 weighs about 950kg. Yes it's a bit heavy ( Caterham style roadcars are about 600kg) and yes, a stipped out car would be faster but I didn't want to end up with a typical Hayabusa powered Smart Car or Bedford Rascal van. The idea here was to keep the car as standard as possible from the outside. It looks the part, is modern, handles very well and still has some creature comforts.

[Brian-ar037]

Just for the record
MX5 .............power 124 bhp torque 120 ft-lb
Hayabusa......power 190 bhp torque 103 lb-ft
a loss of only about 15% torque

[anonymous-user]

so not so much "have you seen this maza busa" and more "look what I did"

Why the strange approach to posting?


Oh and I agree a hyabusa is awesome in a 7 style car, just weird in this though.

each to their own though, its your car and your money

[bogie]

Never saw the appeal of bike engined cars, except in a Caterfield style kit car where its purpose is to save weight and money. High power bike engines are usually a lot cheaper than a small high output car engine.

[Rubin215]

bogie said:

Never saw the appeal of bike engined cars, except in a Caterfield style kit car where its purpose is to save weight and money. High power bike engines are usually a lot cheaper than a small high output car engine.

The fire brigade up here used to use light portable pumps that were powered by Coventry Climax engines; fairly light, high revs, great power output for the size etc.

When they were changing over from these pumps to a smaller Nissan powered version, all the old pumps were returned to the brigade workshop to be disposed of.
One of the mechanics there then made himself a nice little pile by stripping the engines out of the obsolete pumps and flogging them to kit-car builders...

[f1nn]

Brian-ar037 said:

Just for the record
MX5 .............power 124 bhp torque 120 ft-lb
Hayabusa......power 190 bhp torque 103 lb-ft
a loss of only about 15% torque

Fair play to you for doing something different, but peak figures are only telling one page of the whole book.

[Yazza54]

Fair play for doing something different but can't help but agree it's a bit of a lardy car for the engine. I race in the 750MC RGB formula, my Cbr1000rr Spire is 580kg with me in it, the bikesports tuned busa engined cars ain't really any quicker in a straight line due to the extra weight and aero drag. Not that this is all that relevant to you building a unique road car but demonstrates the weight absolutely kills bike engined cars. Don't think you were ever gonna get people raving over this in biker banter

I suppose you could always turbo it though

Edited by Yazza54 on Saturday 18th May 14:29

[scorcher]

So good its up for sale on fleabay

[Birky_41]

That's what I'd do if I had it...turbo it

[ChocolateFrog]

scorcher said:

So good its up for sale on fleabay

And the reason for the attention seeking post becomes clear.

Always thought the RX8 was ripe for an engine swap, but not for less torque.

Just seen it's an MX5 so makes even less sense.

[poo at Paul's]

All show no go, sadly. Not impressed.

You'd be late opening the salon with that conversion.