preparations for NB6 engine into NA6

[SuperMazdaKart]

getting things ready for an NB6 engine going into my 89 NA6 over the next few weeks.

getting bit of a shopping list going at mx5parts, so far i have

*Camshaft Timing Belt Kit
*2x Camshaft Oil Seal
*Crankshaft Front Oil Seal
*Waterpump, 1.6 aftermarket with gaskets
*Clutch Slave Cylinder aftermarket
*Cam Sensor 'O' Ring
*Inlet & Exhaust Manifold Gaskets, Mk1 1.6 (are these generally needed? they are metal so I could probably re-use the old one?)
*2x Engine Mounting, Mk1 (how many is needed??)
*NGK BKR6E-11 Sparkplug Set
*Silicone Water Hose Set for Very Early Mk1 1.6


anything I'm missing?

[StanTheMan]

is there more power in the NB6's ?

also get all the Pulley & Tension Pulley's

I know they are a little different.

[SuperMazdaKart]

is there more power in the NB6's ?

also get all the Pulley & Tension Pulley's

I know they are a little different.

yeh that stuff is included in the timing belt kit. i've been trying to get info out of the UK forums but not getting much definate details. apparently the NB6s make 115bhp, pretty much the same as the original NA6 even though they have updated computer & electronics components. doesn't even look like anyone there has actually done the swap either. it's looking like Richard of MX5plus knows more about this engine then they do over there

[manga_blue]

Mazdaspeed engine mounts at $45 ea are cheaper and better than OEM ones. 2 needed.

There's no need to replace the crankshaft front oil seal unless it's leaking. The back one is more likely to be leaking than the front and much, much more of a PITA to replace.

Front belts? one for waterpump/alternator and one for air/powersteer if you have either/both. Pulleys are usually OK.

Clutch?

[JBT]

Why do you need all those parts? The engine itself should be fine - have assisted in dropping three MX-5 Plus replacements (2xNA6 and 1xNB8A) into cars and they just needed oil, coolant and started straight up. All still going strong with no dramas.

Biggest problem you'll face - I think - is the ECU/electronics required to make it run.

[SuperMazdaKart]

the donour engine is a long block. the original NA6 running gear will be re-used. alternator, ECU, inlet/exhaust manifolds etc etc. Richard will be modifying the inlet camshaft to allow the NA6 CAS to fit at the back instead of the front like the NBs have them.

i would think the timing belt kit & waterpump would be rather important to do.... & the oil seals don't cost much anyway so why not as bit of cheap insurance??

should i cheap out??

[StanTheMan]

I'd be inclined to do it. There is a good chance it doesn't need it.

but the waterpump my JDM import engine only lasted 70k km.

I bought the engine with 40 k on it, cheaped out. The only thing I replaced was the timing belt.

changed all the bits over last year you know all the bits for the timing belt & leaky waterpump. & it was running like a new engine. I guess it just depends how hard its life has been so far.

Admittedly, 10K km out of the current 70k km were pure Racing Km in Nick & matildas old racing car.

For the record. I'm not complaing about my engine. I understood excatly was i was buying. Just telling you how it was with me.

[JBT]

Aaaah, OK. When you said

getting things ready for an NB6 engine going into my 89 NA6 over the next few weeks...

I wrongly assumed that's what was happening. Quite a different fish if you're just using the basic engine and "NA6ising" it.

I'd go with whatever Richard recommends.

[Okibi]

Perfect chance to buy a wolf plug in computer and save trying to get the NB 1.6 running on your old ECU.

That way you can make even more p0w3r !

[SuperMazdaKart]

well i could do that but i'm heavily considering selling this NA6 after the engine is done & buying a particular Familia GTR. but i think chances are it'll be sold before i can buy it though

if not, then bye bye NA6. i'll be back in another MX-5 one day, when i can afford an SE. if the GTR is sold to someone else then i'll keep the NA6 & keep saving up.

[MxJadeMonkey]

splurge man, get a genuine water pump, not a sh*t box after market one!

you will thank me later.

I sell em all day, aftermarket one's are sh*t house. crappy paper gaskets and shotty workmanship.

only go aftermarket pump if it is a GMB from Japan.

[jules]

I have seen an aftermarket pump fail on assembly. Listen to the Monkey. You don't want to redo a pump.

Jules

[fattima]

If you are doing the timing belt I would replace the front pulley bolt as well, just a bit of cheap insurance. I presume the timing belt kit comes with a rocker\\cam cover gasket

[MxJadeMonkey]

Honestly man, I would only use Gates products to do my service, they do a timing tensioner kit here in OZ for around $185 I think, comes with idler pulley's, timing belt, front cam seals and the works!


Might be worth a shot!

[SuperMazdaKart]

well i don't think any of the stuff that mx5parts.co.uk sell is a bad product, if they were people would complain in the product reviews & there is no bad review of their aftermarket waterpump & its gaskets.. the current waterpump in the old engine is an aftermarket (bought at Mania) as well & has had no problems in the 66,000ks it's been used. but i don't know what brand they are selling in the UK.

i probably will buy the maz speed mounts (from Mania if MX5plus can't supply it with the engine, UK got oems only) but i'd like to keep costs down & minimise how many shops i'm ordering at.

i've been selling off few of my mx5 collectables & things to help fund all this