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Honda to Mazda Community
Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2016 12:29 am
by JN8x
Hi all,
First of I'll start off with my name I'm Nate and currently own a 2006 Honda DC5 Type S.
I'm really considering switching over to the Mazda community.
At this point and time I have come to the point in my life were I would like to own an MX5.
My plan is to sell my DC5 and save up for a fair bit then purchase a NB SE if I can find a good example for a decent price. However I've put countless hours into my DC5 for around 2 years now and have made it to what it is today. (Mechanic by trade) which makes it hard for me to let her go. I can either begin to take it further with my DC5 or start fresh with an MX5.
Okay enough of me ranting haha
My point is if I do decide to sell my DC5 i really want to own a Turbo MX that I can build up over a life time. It's going to be my daily/track car. Will be my daily until money permits on having a second car. I understand it will be hard to have both but currently my daily is my DC5 which i do use as a track car also it's lightly stripped and rough as guts to drive on the street with my suspension set up but in all honesty I don't mind it. It's loud and obnoxious at full WOT (120db+) not that I drive it like I stole it often haha.
Also if I do not end up finding an SE I plan to drop a K20 swap in it someday
Any advice would greatly appreciated
Here are some pics for those that are interested



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Re: Honda to Mazda Community
Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2016 1:20 am
by luzinit
Welcome to the forum. Nice dc5s u have there. As someone who used to own an EK4 for 10 yrs and then a NB8A followed by a NB8B SE, I'd say go for it! FF cars are great fun and a real hoot to drive but I get a lot more enjoyment out of a FR car.
Putting a K into a mx5 is a very costly exercise and I was looking into it as well at one stage. The thought of a responsive NA motor in a great rwd chassis makes a lot of sense but the costs don't add up for a lot of ppl. Imo you're better off with a S2000 if a NA honda motor tickles your fancy.
You'll also find a lot of mixed opinions about modding a SE on here. By the time you are finished, you've spent about double the outlay compared to purchasing a cheaper NA NB8B then turboing that!
Whichever you decide, I'm sure you will have a lot of trials and tribulations along the way, backed by a great community. Enjoy the ride...
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Re: Honda to Mazda Community
Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2016 6:28 am
by Apu
Welcome! I'm also a Honda owner - have a stripped out, track-only DC2R and a turbo NB.
I just found the DC2R more fun to drive on the track, much less so on the streets - you've got to wring it's neck to really enjoy it. The NB by comparison, I'd be happy to cruise around with the top down and still enjoy it, but with the turbo, I can just open it up and have fun as I please.
Search for the SE vs turbo NB threads. The main benefit if getting an SE is that you have a car that is complied as a turbo and will have less legal issues modifying it (I assume you know what I mean from an legality perspective).
From a cost vs outcome perspective, you will be better off getting an NB and turbocharging it yourself.
Re: Honda to Mazda Community
Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2016 6:39 am
by oztrackdays
Was mine the only K swapped MX5 in Oz ?
It is expensive and has serious packaging compromises, that being said how can
you put a price on 8500 rpm (with Torque) Naturally Aspirated and Rear Wheel Drive
I would just Rotrex your DC2 and keep on lapping the SE's.
Are you saying you want to change cars, or communities ? both Honda and Mazda crowds seem nice to me.
Re: Honda to Mazda Community
Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2016 8:50 am
by JN8x
Thanks guys,
I have been reading the forums for a while and it it seems to me that there a very few good Nb8s around. We're as most SE I have found have been better kept. Saying that the dollar difference between the two is not that much $9-$11k vs $11+. The man to talk to about the conversion would be nitro dann is that correct? he seems to have a the best kit for sale in Aus. Honestly seeing all the clean 300+ hp NB's makes me want one even more.
I've thought about the cost for me to rotrex my car and it just doesn't seem plausible I'd need to factor in an LSD also to get the power down as well which isn't cheap unfortunately.
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Re: Honda to Mazda Community
Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2016 8:53 am
by JN8x
oztrackdays wrote:Was mine the only K swapped MX5 in Oz ?
It is expensive and has serious packaging compromises, that being said how can
you put a price on 8500 rpm (with Torque) Naturally Aspirated and Rear Wheel Drive
I would just Rotrex your DC2 and keep on lapping the SE's.
Are you saying you want to change cars, or communities ? both Honda and Mazda crowds seem nice to me.
May I ask how much your conversion cost you?
More so my car but the Honda community is has been slowing down lately with all the P platers with engine swaps in civics ect
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Re: Honda to Mazda Community
Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2016 10:01 am
by smy0003
JN8x wrote:Thanks guys,
The man to talk to about the conversion would be nitro dann is that correct?
I've thought about the cost for me to rotrex my car and it just doesn't seem plausible I'd need to factor in an LSD also to get the power down as well which isn't cheap unfortunately.
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That would be the correct guy to talk to. Although the high power builds require built engines which is not cheap.
That's a nice looking Integra, the Honda world is split down the middle with some really nice builds such as yours, and then there's the P plater Civics, S2000s and Preludes that have every stick-on eBay part imaginable on them. But then again I see plenty of pretty rough MX-5's with blacked out lights etc. etc.
A properly done S2000 or Integra is really something to drool over, though.
Have you dríven a turbo 5 before?
Re: Honda to Mazda Community
Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2016 12:30 pm
by JN8x
smy0003 wrote:JN8x wrote:Thanks guys,
The man to talk to about the conversion would be nitro dann is that correct?
I've thought about the cost for me to rotrex my car and it just doesn't seem plausible I'd need to factor in an LSD also to get the power down as well which isn't cheap unfortunately.
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That would be the correct guy to talk to. Although the high power builds require built engines which is not cheap.
That's a nice looking Integra, the Honda world is split down the middle with some really nice builds such as yours, and then there's the P plater Civics, S2000s and Preludes that have every stick-on eBay part imaginable on them. But then again I see plenty of pretty rough MX-5's with blacked out lights etc. etc.
A properly done S2000 or Integra is really something to drool over, though.
Have you dríven a turbo 5 before?
I want to have around 300hp that is reliable. I estimated cost of around $8k?
Yeah lately that's all I seem to hear about with Hondas.
An s2000 is something also to consider but I wouldn't want to cut up and modify one to the extent I'd like to to be honest.
Unfortunately not I have only drive an NA which was bone stock performance wise.
Re: Honda to Mazda Community
Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2016 12:36 pm
by smy0003
You'd have to talk to Dann ideally, or one of his recent customers who have power in that ball park.
He seems to extract 240hp from a stock motor with just a turbo, as soon as you open the engine the price will jump.
I'd wager more than 8k for that much power, but don't ask me, mine makes a lot less than 300hp.
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Re: Honda to Mazda Community
Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2016 12:49 pm
by JN8x
smy0003 wrote:You'd have to talk to Dann ideally, or one of his recent customers who have power in that ball park.
He seems to extract 240hp from a stock motor with just a turbo, as soon as you open the engine the price will jump.
I'd wager more than 8k for that much power, but don't ask me, mine makes a lot less than 300hp.
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Even at the ball park of power it would be fun to drive.
My DC5 only makes 220hp at the wheels so any thing above that is a blast to drive.
My girlfriend currently owns a 300hp Renault Megane which is a blast to drive on any circuit. I think that's more so the reason why I would like roughly around that much power even though the weight difference would be around 200kg between the Renault and an NB Mx
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Re: Honda to Mazda Community
Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2016 6:29 pm
by speed
Welcome. You will definitely want Dann's twist mount manifold, dump and 3 inch exhaust and possibly his secret clutch plus tune.
Being a mechanic you can do the forged motor yourself.
Now the decision is to buy an SE or a really good NB to turbo...
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Re: Honda to Mazda Community
Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2016 11:50 am
by JN8x
speed wrote:Welcome. You will definitely want Dann's twist mount manifold, dump and 3 inch exhaust and possibly his secret clutch plus tune.
Being a mechanic you can do the forged motor yourself.
Now the decision is to buy an SE or a really good NB to turbo...
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Thank you,
That's is the question I've been looking for a good NB but pickings are little at the moment.
I'll be posting my car up for sale today hopefully it goes for what I'm asking. Then I'll be able to hunt for the right MX
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Re: Honda to Mazda Community
Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2016 2:31 pm
by NitroDann
Bring a car with pistons/rods/pump done and 8k will get you the rest.
300-350whp of the smoothest fullest powerband you could want.
Dann
Re: Honda to Mazda Community
Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2016 11:45 pm
by JN8x
NitroDann wrote:Bring a car with pistons/rods/pump done and 8k will get you the rest.
300-350whp of the smoothest fullest powerband you could want.
Dann
Thanks dann! Will definitely come down some day
My car is officially for sale, 5 days no bites a lot of interest just nothing worth noting.
Re: Honda to Mazda Community
Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2016 12:09 am
by davekmoore
NitroDann wrote:Bring a car with pistons/rods/pump done and 8k will get you the rest.
300-350whp of the smoothest fullest powerband you could want.
Dann
True. Ask me how I know.