Rocketeer Jag 3.0 V6 conversion

Rocketeer Jag 3.0 V6 conversion

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rossb

Original Poster:

627 posts

220 months

Thursday 25th May 2017
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Just put deposit down after a go in the demo car at the weekend. Have also bought a brand new Jaguar 3.0 V6 engine - 6 Jenvey ITB's - engine will have same induction as the jaguar jp1 - which will necessitate 6 trumpets sticking out of bonnet covered with a clear perspex cowl - should sound sweet! Kit delivery should be early August.

Bought a friends eunos v special a month ago and had obligatory welding done on rear sills - but otherwise pretty clean - ultimate end game is to have a reliable unstressed 250 odd bhp - obviously with decent suspension/brakes - so it's fun on the road and will make a fun trackcar which i can drive to a circuit opposed to using a trailer. Yes - i know could have turbocharged/supercharged it for less money - but that's not going to sound the same and i like the idea of 6 trumpets sticking out of the bonnet - anyway already have a manic high maintenance track car - hopefully this will be more of a fun gt which can also cut it on the track. Also love idea if it is a wet track day of having the luxury of such refinements as a roof/screen/heater!

I had no real interest in mx5's before - other than being surprised how well-driven and track optimised derivatives go on track - but used this little car to come into work today and i am really charmed by it's sheer fun factor - it just needs a bit more go!

Anyone else on here buying a kit or done anything similar with a mazda/duratec v6?

lucido grigio

44,044 posts

162 months

Thursday 25th May 2017
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Interesting.

I had a look at Rocketeer's FAQs ,is the conversion kit going ahead or still waiting for enough orders ?

rossb

Original Poster:

627 posts

220 months

Thursday 25th May 2017
quotequote all
lucido grigio said:
Interesting.

I had a look at Rocketeer's FAQs ,is the conversion kit going ahead or still waiting for enough orders ?
Yes - i went over to see the guys on saturday and have handed over money - kit due early august - best to speak to them direct

rossb

Original Poster:

627 posts

220 months

Thursday 25th May 2017
quotequote all
rossb said:
Yes - i went over to see the guys on saturday and have handed over money - kit due early august - best to speak to them direct
edit to add that i think they are having a stand at Goodwood FOS - order status etc on their site - "how to buy"

scrwright

2,602 posts

189 months

Thursday 25th May 2017
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nice but out of my wallet range. Currently working on fitting this into mine



Long term project, but budget is around £1500. Have motor & lightweight subframe so far, plus a few other bits, spent £600

rossb

Original Poster:

627 posts

220 months

Friday 26th May 2017
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scrwright said:
nice but out of my wallet range. Currently working on fitting this into mine - Long term project, but budget is around £1500. Have motor & lightweight subframe so far, plus a few other bits, spent £600
Cool - assume that is J series motor? - you can do the jag conversion for the something not dissimilar to your budget - if you fabricate your own subframe/use 2nd motor/budget ecu etc - or Rocketeer do a kit for under £1700 plus the dreaded if you just want key components. I want to do my conversion asap to get some summer use - ideally over a weekend excluding mapping and other bits - so have gone the easy + less skilled route!

fido

16,752 posts

254 months

Friday 26th May 2017
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Been following their progress on FB and it looks like a tasty upgrade for the Mk1/2. I'll probably go the turbo route on the Mk3 or 4 as it's probably lighter than a V6 albeit an alloy one - but no doubt this will sound fantastic in an MX-5.

rossb

Original Poster:

627 posts

220 months

Friday 26th May 2017
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fido said:
Been following their progress on FB and it looks like a tasty upgrade for the Mk1/2. I'll probably go the turbo route on the Mk3 or 4 as it's probably lighter than a V6 albeit an alloy one - but no doubt this will sound fantastic in an MX-5.
I understand the alloy v6 is more or less same weight as the 1.8 twink in my mk1 (i will try to weigh during build) - and even with g/box adaptor plate the engine as a v6 is further back in the engine bay with commensurate handling upside. Anyway turbos/superchargers are all good - think i am still traumatised after a lengthy bmw m20 build with a roots blower years ago - and i now just something as "easy" - famous last words!

scrwright

2,602 posts

189 months

Friday 26th May 2017
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I keep looking at turbos for the J, it takes them well, and 380bhp is possible on stock internals....

MrBrightSi

2,912 posts

169 months

Friday 26th May 2017
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Have always wanted my mk2.5 to have more grunt for a long time, the way it drives has even suprised a mate who owns a bmw650i and after all the tired out jokes, gave the car a go to actually see him smiling and him eating his words.

The price does attract me for the full in-house build (around £10000 odd +vat) as i had become very taken by the Abarth spider, with it's softer than mk4 looks, but just do not want to let go of my mk2.5, it might not have pop up lights, but i've always loved everything about it, even with it's sowing machine tapping, constant aux belt eating and general 25mpg insane road tax cost, i just enjoy everything about it, when the evil rust worm is sorted, i'd be seriously considering one of these kits, FI doesn't compare and as the old saying goes, no replacement for displacement.

To add to this, my mx5 for all it's flaws managed a road trip to Germany for 6 weeks and didn't miss a beat, did wish the thing was diesel for the comparative cost of petrol over there, but at the same time, east Germany has a lot of big horizons and windy roads that just make the car so worthwhile on any kind of road trip.

rossb

Original Poster:

627 posts

220 months

Sunday 28th May 2017
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scrwright said:
I keep looking at turbos for the J, it takes them well, and 380bhp is possible on stock internals....
- i don't doubt it - i am conscious of the fact there is probably a sweet spot of 250-270 bhp - after which significantly upgrading running gear comes into the equation and it becomes a more involved project - but if you are doing over time 350-380/ton is appealing

ChrisPackit

244 posts

122 months

Tuesday 30th May 2017
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Anyone interested in crazy engine swaps in the MX5 can see my Toyota 1JZ engined MK1 build and see how I've managed 525hp in it (at the minute!) and around 500hp per tonne :-) Full details on the MX5Nutz website...

Cheers

VladD

7,853 posts

264 months

Wednesday 31st May 2017
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ChrisPackit said:
Anyone interested in crazy engine swaps in the MX5 can see my Toyota 1JZ engined MK1 build and see how I've managed 525hp in it (at the minute!) and around 500hp per tonne :-) Full details on the MX5Nutz website...

Cheers
Could you post a link please?

Podie

46,630 posts

274 months

Wednesday 31st May 2017
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I've been following the development of this with interest, so nice to see someone has put a deposit down. Looking forward to seeing how it comes on!

drgoatboy

1,611 posts

206 months

Thursday 1st June 2017
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VladD said:
Could you post a link please?
http://www.mx5nutz.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=109544&page=1

Koje

55 posts

88 months

Saturday 22nd July 2017
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I love the look of this. I watched all of Tom's Turbo garage LS3 V8 swap into an MK2 on youtube, the guy has a serious eye for detail and what a thing.

This really appeals as a fun project for a second car that would be rare and fantastic fun at weekends, would also be fantastic on track with upgraded brakes and coilovers. Plus you would be very attached to it after doing the conversion yourself. The Car Throttle video shows the car off really well.

If only i had the spare cash and balls to spend that sort of money on a Mk1....

rossb

Original Poster:

627 posts

220 months

Monday 24th July 2017
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Just received an email to say that my kit is no.20 and is scheduled for delivery for September 15th.

i have other cars to use but i have been using the eunos more or less daily unless i have a long haul trip - where the extra legs of the jag motor would come into it's own - can't wait!

Podie

46,630 posts

274 months

Monday 24th July 2017
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20 kits sounds positive too!

threespires

4,289 posts

210 months

Monday 24th July 2017
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Podie said:
20 kits sounds positive too!
Yes, good news.

Sway

26,070 posts

193 months

Monday 18th September 2017
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rossb said:
Just received an email to say that my kit is no.20 and is scheduled for delivery for September 15th.

i have other cars to use but i have been using the eunos more or less daily unless i have a long haul trip - where the extra legs of the jag motor would come into it's own - can't wait!
Has it arrived?

Good god man, there are people attempting to live vicariously through your posts!