RE: Rocketeer Mazda MX-5 V6 | PH Review

[anonymous-user]

vx220 said:

Not read all the way through the thread yet, but what about this engine in an rx8?

Perfect daily?

Now that would be of more interest to me despite being slower. It's a great chassis.

Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 2nd January 11:59

[Byker28i]

l354uge said:

biggbn said:

Is it not simpler to turbocharge or supercharge the existing engine? Surely less weight, less hassle and much cheaper, and more in keeping with the mx5 ethos?

NA is the mx5 ethos. So much that mazda has resisted calls to provide a turbo model despite pressure from fans and emissions for over 30 years now. (the mazdaspeed was a Mazda USA project)

Much cheaper to turbo yes, but heavier, less reliable and sounds worse. Give me a v6 with a great noise and throttle response over a turbo 4 pot any day

You could go the BBR route, and their turbo solution is very good, but this seems a brilliant conversion

[carinaman]

Elatino1 said:

vx220 said:

Not read all the way through the thread yet, but what about this engine in an rx8?

Perfect daily?

Now that would be of more interest to me deapite being slower. It's a great chassis.

Someone was making an AJ 30 to RX-8 gearbox adaptor.

[Sway]

akashzimzimma said:

V8 would be too big and heavy? Erm no,
An LS series would take up the same if not less space than Ford DOHC V6, it is most certainly lower and narrower with the pushrod set up, weight wise could be the same if not less.
Even a base LS3 would be a lot more powerful than this mediocre V6, & sound much better. They're also readily available as a crate package with accessories and adaptors for common trans set ups.

There's a full kit available to fit a LS into a MX5/Miata. There have been hundreds done in the States.

Check out Project Thunderbolt on YouTube for an awesome build series.

However - you're doing some fairly chunky rework to the firewall, trans tunnel, etc. Enough so that if anyone asked, you really should have got a IVA done to prove roadworthiness.

There's also a question of whether 400+ bhp is worthwhile in a MX5.

Middle ground between Rocketeer and LS swap is Flyin Miata's LFX swap kit.

[WarnieV6GT]

SpeedWeasel said:

I'm just coming to the end of my own Rocketeer build. It wasn't a massively rational decision to spend the money I have but you really cannot value the enjoyment I've had from building it. I've refreshed all of the running gear including suspension and brakes along the way and can't wait to start using it for many driving adventures for years to come. I know I'll never re-coup what I've spent, but for me, that was never the point



Mine was originally a 1997 1.6, so 90BHP. It should be a reasonable power increase

Blog here if anyone is interested - sixintofive.wordpress.com

Working my way through this now. Your attention to detail is brilliant.

[okenemem]

amazing

[biggbn]

l354uge said:

biggbn said:

Is it not simpler to turbocharge or supercharge the existing engine? Surely less weight, less hassle and much cheaper, and more in keeping with the mx5 ethos?

NA is the mx5 ethos. So much that mazda has resisted calls to provide a turbo model despite pressure from fans and emissions for over 30 years now. (the mazdaspeed was a Mazda USA project)

Much cheaper to turbo yes, but heavier, less reliable and sounds worse. Give me a v6 with a great noise and throttle response over a turbo 4 pot any day

Fair point, I'm just being contrary but it seems like a complicated and expensive way to get power up to cheap bolt on levels

[biggbn]

vx220 said:

Not read all the way through the thread yet, but what about this engine in an rx8?

Perfect daily?

Never understood why mazda didn't make a rotary mx5

[Lewis's Friend]

biggbn said:

Fair point, I'm just being contrary but it seems like a complicated and expensive way to get power up to cheap bolt on levels

Before doing my Rocketeer conversion, I had done some cursory research into turbos, and I got the impression you could have good conversions or cheap ones, but not both!

Others with more experience may be along to correct me, but to do a high quality turbo build can be a fortune. Just look at the price of a DaveFab manifold! Plus the power delivery is very different.

[biggbn]

Lewis's Friend said:

biggbn said:

Fair point, I'm just being contrary but it seems like a complicated and expensive way to get power up to cheap bolt on levels

Before doing my Rocketeer conversion, I had done some cursory research into turbos, and I got the impression you could have good conversions or cheap ones, but not both!

Others with more experience may be along to correct me, but to do a high quality turbo build can be a fortune. Just look at the price of a DaveFab manifold! Plus the power delivery is very different.

Again, thanks for this, my assumption was the likes of a BBR conversion would be tried, tested and cheaper than an engine conversion. Assumption living up to its reputation of making an ass of me!

[Lewis's Friend]

biggbn said:

Lewis's Friend said:

biggbn said:

Fair point, I'm just being contrary but it seems like a complicated and expensive way to get power up to cheap bolt on levels

Before doing my Rocketeer conversion, I had done some cursory research into turbos, and I got the impression you could have good conversions or cheap ones, but not both!

Others with more experience may be along to correct me, but to do a high quality turbo build can be a fortune. Just look at the price of a DaveFab manifold! Plus the power delivery is very different.

Again, thanks for this, my assumption was the likes of a BBR conversion would be tried, tested and cheaper than an engine conversion. Assumption living up to its reputation of making an ass of me!

Someone else will doubtless know more than me a I was looking at self build turbo setups, and bbr do seem to have decent similar power setups for a little less than Rocketeer. I guess it depends what kind of character you're after from the powertrain.

When I had my mx5 pre-conversion I thought the 1.8 engine was rubbish (although admittedly my example wasn't the best!) so bolting on a turbo wasn't that attractive...

Edited by Lewis's Friend on Saturday 2nd January 14:13

[CDP]

biggbn said:

Is it not simpler to turbocharge or supercharge the existing engine? Surely less weight, less hassle and much cheaper, and more in keeping with the mx5 ethos?

Turbocharging normally needs special manifolds and to do it properly is very expensive. Also I can't imagine the non-linear response of most turbos really suiting a car like the Mazda.

If one really wanted to do this more cheaply I'm sure a good low mileage S-Type engine wouldn't be too expensive assuming Rocketeer could supply the specialist parts.

As already mentioned this might be an excellent solution to a dead RX8.

Now wondering how well this would fit in a Locost...

[anonymous-user]

A quick look on eBay suggested £200-£300 for an engine.

[biggbn]

CDP said:

biggbn said:

Is it not simpler to turbocharge or supercharge the existing engine? Surely less weight, less hassle and much cheaper, and more in keeping with the mx5 ethos?

Turbocharging normally needs special manifolds and to do it properly is very expensive. Also I can't imagine the non-linear response of most turbos really suiting a car like the Mazda.

If one really wanted to do this more cheaply I'm sure a good low mileage S-Type engine wouldn't be too expensive assuming Rocketeer could supply the specialist parts.

As already mentioned this might be an excellent solution to a dead RX8.

Now wondering how well this would fit in a Locost...

Bbr conversion is 4950 for 262hp and 60 in 5 secs.

[PushedDover]

biggbn said:

Bbr conversion is 4950 for 262hp and 60 in 5 secs.

Do not want

[hairykrishna]

Is it really 15 grand for a turnkey one? Because it doesn't say on the website. The subframe and conversion bits are 5k+VAT, they want 4k+VAT for the engine then another £1.5k+VAT for the ECU+loom. So you're in for 12.6 straight away. I suspect that once you've bought a half decent MX5, refreshed the suspension and added in all the other bits and pieces you'll need you'll be way over 15 on a DIY build.

I like MX5's. I've had a couple. But this seems a fair bit of money to me. 15 grand will get you into a 996 911, a 987 Cayman, an Elise, a well sorted Chimaera, a vx220 turbo, an S2000 and a bunch of change. Any number of Boxsters. Many other options.

[biggbn]

PushedDover said:

biggbn said:

Bbr conversion is 4950 for 262hp and 60 in 5 secs.

Do not want

Each to their own man, I understand that.

[LordHaveMurci]

hairykrishna said:

Is it really 15 grand for a turnkey one? Because it doesn't say on the website. The subframe and conversion bits are 5k+VAT, they want 4k+VAT for the engine then another £1.5k+VAT for the ECU+loom. So you're in for 12.6 straight away. I suspect that once you've bought a half decent MX5, refreshed the suspension and added in all the other bits and pieces you'll need you'll be way over 15 on a DIY build.

I like MX5's. I've had a couple. But this seems a fair bit of money to me. 15 grand will get you into a 996 911, a 987 Cayman, an Elise, a well sorted Chimaera, a vx220 turbo, an S2000 and a bunch of change. Any number of Boxsters. Many other options.

I get your point but as a long term 996 owner there is still a huge part of me that wants one of these!

[the_hood]

I've driven an MX5 (mk 2.5). For me the MX5 is good at being an affordable roadster. Paying over £15 for an old (albeit refreshed) one wouldn't be for me. There's plenty of choice in £15 - £20 k price range. They won't be modified and may not be as 'chuckable' but I bet they'll still be fun. Each to his own though.

[Furyblade_Lee]

A1VDY said:

Strange they didn't go for the 2.9 24v Cosworth engine as fitted to Granadas..

I am guessing because it is a heavy rubbish crude engine in comparison, and will need rebuilding before sale to give a warranty?