13b Turbo in an MX5 - How hard can it be???

[ebola]

Has anyone done this? What annoying details are involved?

[bruce]

Let me summarise the millions of pages written regards this;
How hard is it? VERY
Is it legal? NO

[ebola]

Not Legal?? Really?? =(

It sounds like too much fun... =P

[GS]

http://www.mx5cartalk.com/phpBB-3.0.2/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=31281&hilit=12a

[Hammer]

Have a read at orx626's thread regarding his NC Renesis build.

Though orx626 is doing a complete rebuilt and doing it the right way (ie. not cutting corners), using newer components (ie. NC shell & RX8 engine & drivetrain etc), I'm sure a 13b into an NA or NB is as complicated.

I've read that most people who's done this have only used their cars for track work. But i'm sure if you're willing to spend the money to go through the ADR stuff, you can get one certified for the road. Value for money might be questionable though.

[Duj]

By the time you buy/build a decent 13b block,add ecu,turbo,intercooler,diff,ppf modification, fuel system+labour costs=$$$$$ its just not worth it...

You're better off keeping you mx5 with the piston engine in and Buying a race import FD Rx7 for around $10,000 which you could then strip out for the track

Then you'd have 2 cars!

One you can thrash the absolute life out of, and something realiable for a daily!

[love5]

You can always do this

http://www.carsales.com.au/used-cars/dealer/MAZDA/MX-5/details.aspx?R=6305762&trecs=3&PriceMax=45000&postcode=4226&Model=MX-5&__Nf=p_GeoLocation_String%7cGCLT%20-28.05638%2c153.3849%2027.0&__Nne=20&Make=MAZDA&silo=1000&seot=0&__sid=11EBFFB9F5C0&PriceMin=15000&__N=4294965340%20393%20445%204294963961%20834%20285%20258%20287%201216&__Ns=pCar_StatusSort_Int32%7c1%7c%7cpCar_Price_Decimal%7c0&Cr=1&distance=25&__Qpb=true

[grump]

wow, thats the first time i've seen that.

[Tezzax5]

..

[love5]

Thanks for illustrating the point Grump & Tezza......

[mx52nv]

ebola aka "mx5cartalk noob",

I'll bite.

Firstly, did you use the search function first?

Secondly, what state are you in? Update your location please in your user control panel.

If you are in WA, then speak to John at Rotomotion (08 9452 1500) who has successfully engineered and complied a 13B Turbo in a NA6. Any other state, I doubt it could be done legally but I'll let the other state experts chime in here if they disagree.

Otherwise, Mazsports (in the USA not the Sydney guys) used to have conversion kits for sale but they don't seem to come up on my bookmarked page and Google did not help either.

Now - "how hard can it be?" ... it sure isn't easy. But if that floats your boat or you either have a workshop or the expense account then do what you makes you happy.

However, there are many reasons why I stuck to my little 1.6 litre 4 cylinder and turbocharged it. The most important was the availability of aftermarket and replacement parts. This made buying off the shelf parts much cheaper than custom parts on a converted rotary MX5.

To each his/her own and I respect that line of thought. Just be prepared to spend money in either direction (rotary conversion or turbo the B6/BP in the NAs/NBs). The NC is a whole other kettle of fish so I'll leave that to Danny aka orx626 to answer.

[madboy]

You can always do this

http://www.carsales.com.au/used-cars/dealer/MAZDA/MX-5/details.aspx?R=6305762&trecs=3&PriceMax=45000&postcode=4226&Model=MX-5&__Nf=p_GeoLocation_String%7cGCLT%20-28.05638%2c153.3849%2027.0&__Nne=20&Make=MAZDA&silo=1000&seot=0&__sid=11EBFFB9F5C0&PriceMin=15000&__N=4294965340%20393%20445%204294963961%20834%20285%20258%20287%201216&__Ns=pCar_StatusSort_Int32%7c1%7c%7cpCar_Price_Decimal%7c0&Cr=1&distance=25&__Qpb=true

that was forsale nov/dec last year when i was looking for a 5, i've also seen it parked in Labrador... i think thats where bullet have their workshop... its hideous to drive past, i wouldn't be seen dead in it, it just looks...wrong

[Benny]

As far as difficulty goes, just consider this one point.
The crankshaft of a rotary engine is in a completely different place (read much higher) than where the crank comes out of a piston engine.

A V8 conversion is probably easier, and I reckon, a lot more fun!

It's just a pity that V8 conversions aren't legal either.

[SuperMazdaKart]

Probably easier to get that Bullet Roadster & do some front end body work to make it look respectable or like an NB

[nfs13b]

they may be hard, but they are fun to drive around in...... I wish I still had mine on the road...