Hi

I've just picked up a B6t motor for a conversion into a Mk2. I'm just in the process of deciding which way to go with the gearbox and was wondering if there is any advice out there from people who have done the conversion. The way I see it there are 2 options really:

1. Stick with the stock escort box, make an adaptor plate, hybrid the clutch and then not have to worry about new prop shaft, hydraulic clutch, speedo drive etc bearing in mind it will probably fall apart at about 250hp

2. Change to an mx5 box, mx5 clutch. Need to have custom prop shaft, speedo drive, hydraulic pedal box and still resign yourself to the fact it will probably fall apart at around 250hp

Hope someone out there has some advice

Cheers

Nick

Hi Nick,
 
although i have not fitted a B6T i have fitted its bigger brother the BPT, So i may be of some help to you. I used a MX5 gearbox and converted to a hydro pedal box too. They do tend to fall apart above 220hp depending on how you treat them, but my current one seems to be holding 300+hp at the moment as has for around 2 years now.
 
If being fitted to a escort you will most likely need to run a MX5 sump to have the bowl section in the rear rather then the front and to make routing the cooler piping, if you plan on running a cooler. a mx5 inlet manifold will point the throttle body to the front of the car rather then over the rocker cover as the do from stock, you will also need to look into the direction that the std turbo faces, as they all face backwards to what is commonly used in rwd format.
 
hope any on this has been helpful
 
cheers
Zac

Hi Zac

Thanks for the reply, your car is a big part of the inspiration for this and a credit to you. I've covered off the sump with a mx5 item already and rwd turbo manifold. I'm on the hunt for a mx5 inlet manifold and water outlet for the front of the motor.

What did you do for engine mounts? Did you start off with the mx5 mounts or did you start from scratch; just looking at it roughly it looks like you could get away with the mx5 mounts if I could find some rubbers which are offset by 20-30mm.

Cheers Nick