WOW yep that all I gotta say, been thinking a bout a conversion for a long time now what can i say i've lived n breathed b6 n bp engines for years, perfect conversion to do
WTB- mazda mx5 supercharged bp/b6

the mx5 1.8 never came turbo and strggles with a turbo upgrade without looking at internals. I have a laser tx3 awd turbo that is awesomely quick so I wouldn't mind doing it.. the problem I thought of is that the aftermarket support for the b series engines is very minimal compared to the likes of an sr20.. but I just couldn't put a nissan in a ford.. I am just gunna save my pennys and go cossie.. why didn't you go a b6t out of an earlier tx3.. its turbo and would mate up to the gearbox perfectly?

try buying aftermarket headers, inlet manifold, pistons and rods, adjusrable cam pulleys.. they aren't just off the shelf items.. and according to my tx3 workshop manual the rods or pistons are not interchangable.. plus to get a tx3 engine to withstand the same pressures as a cossie you are up for some big dollars..

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Originally posted by bubba

try buying aftermarket headers, inlet manifold, pistons and rods, adjusrable cam pulleys.. they aren't just off the shelf items.. and according to my tx3 workshop manual the rods or pistons are not interchangable.. plus to get a tx3 engine to withstand the same pressures as a cossie you are up for some big dollars..

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Ok, first of all the extractors on mine are standard MX5 items, with one primary pipe modded. Off the shelf for $250 +$50 for the mod. To my knowledge there are very limited "bolt on" extractors for a cosworth in an Escort, most of the decent stuff is custom made.

The standard MX5 inlet manifold can be utilised, and there are custom plenums and quad throttle body set ups available.

Adjustable cam gears are available in at least 3 different brands, Fidanza, Mazdaspeed, and the items I purchased off Ebay for $120.
There are also numerous brands of aftermarket pistons, from standard replacements with solid skirts, to forged units, also available in different bowl sizes for all applications. Eagle, Argo, Carrillo and Spool to name a few all do conrods to suit as well, starting at about $500 a set. There is also a stroker kit available to take them to 2ltr. Big valves are available in at least 2 brands. ARP do bolt kits for them. After market cams are available too, including solid bucket conversions etc, and also valve springs to suit. Get the picture???? These are to name a few, and they are ALL OFF THE SHELF ITEMS.

The Standard BP rod is identical part number to the Turbo BP unit. The B6 turbo rod is slightly beefier than the standard B6. The rods from the BP and B6 engines are ALL identical in length and journal size. The pistons only vary in bowl size, apart from that they are exactly the same. Bits WILL interchange, but obviously you would use the items that suit your application.

The stardard BP and B6 engines are VERY robust and reliable and will withstand reasonably serious boost/power before ANY internal mods are required at all. A standard BP rod is good for a constant 8000rpm, and the standard B6T rod is slightly stronger. Cranks are bullet proof, as is the block.

I picked up a standard low klm BP DOHC for $150, complete with everything. (A cosworth is how much??)
Parts for them are generally ALOT cheaper than any of the Cosworth stuff (there are exceptions to the rule, but overall cheaper). I did ALOT of homework before fitting the BP engine, and if you think your going to do a Cosworth for anywhere near the same price you are sadly mistaken, and need to research it a little more.

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to build a Cosworth as they are a great engine, and do the same work done to it as my new BP engine, but my bank balance just won't handle it, as I have done my BP for half the price I could do a Cossy for.

Woz

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Originally posted by bubba

okay then.. you should get onto fordlaser.com cos those guys are always looking for parts.. i'd like to see a standard bpt rod last as good as you claim.. all I am saying is in my EXPERIENCE with bpts they aren't the best engines..for example my laser has gone through one and is onto its second(and its pretty much standard) and my sister has a turbo tx3 aswell that is on its second engine.. as for the rods having the same part number it would not surprise me that if mazda superceded the bp ones out for the bpt ones.. and sorry for hijacking your thread mr gmgeeman

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I am on fordlaser.com, and have been for some time, even in the old forum format. I have never seen anyone claiming that the parts you suggest are "not available of the shelf", as it is quite clear that they are readily available. There are also a number of people on that forum getting excellent results from basically standard internals.

I did alot of research before I fitted my engine, comparing it with Zetec, Mazda and Cosworth items as to what would be the best "bang for buck", and what I could get "goodie bits" for easily. I spoke to a number of people regarding problems with the Mazda/Ford engines. I also spoke to a number of people mainly racing these engines in the MX5 series about inherit problems. It turned out that a reputable race engine builder that I know had been building and prepping a few BP engines for sometime now. He ran his engines in full circuit race applications at 8,000rpm and 230hp N/A for 3+ years on completely standard bottom end internals with no problems, but when they started turning them to 8,500rpm the rod would fatigue and fail after 6-12 months of racing. This result was common to the others I spoke to also, failure was usually caused from 8,500+ rpm.

I didn't claim that they are "the best engine" or "as good as a Cossy". I am just stating that they are good "bang for buck" very reliable, and that the parts you claim are hard to get are not hard to get at all, you can basically buy whatever you want for whatever application you want, from standard to highly modified. Ok, yes you have had a bad experience, but let's face it, these engines have been around for 18+ years now, there are plenty still around. We see very few at our engine reconditioning centre, and they ones we do get are minor problems.

Gerry, sorry for hijacking the thread, was good to catch up today, and your car is coming along nicely!, and don't stress about your engine, it will be fine!

Woz

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Originally posted by G DUB

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Originally posted by bubba

the mx5 1.8 never came turbo and strggles with a turbo upgrade without looking at internals.

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Not true .... The last of the NB series MX5 in 2004 was available in the "SE" version which was a factory fitted BP 1.8 TURBO!

There was also the "SP" of which there were only a few hundred done by Mazda here is Australia where the Turbo's were added after they landed here.

Couldnt resist the bite ...

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easy to spot who else hangs around at mx5cartalk.com [88]

wozzah. check out these pipes