NB8A front bumper on SE

phatty · Postby **phatty** » Thu Nov 21, 2013 10:38 am

Hi All,

This might seem like a strange idea but...
I've been checking out some SE Turbo NB's but I much prefer the look of the front bumper on the NB8A (more classic, reminds me of the e-type or viper).
Would it be easy enough to backdate the front bumper to one of an NB8A? Any issues with clearance on the cooler?

Cheers,

Phatty.

KevGoat · Postby **KevGoat** » Thu Nov 21, 2013 10:48 am

Funny you should bring this up. I have always thought I preferred the NB8B front, especially the SE, but at the weekend my NB8A was parked next to an SE and I thought mine, which has the lower lip fitted, looked better than the SE!

I was surprised ...

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KevGoat · Postby **KevGoat** » Thu Nov 21, 2013 11:06 am

BTW ... don't know about the fit to the cooler, but the bumper should fit. But you'd also have to fit NB8A headlights as slightly different shape. Expensive exercise.

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Regie · Postby **Regie** » Thu Nov 21, 2013 2:18 pm

yep I don't see why it wouldn't fit

you might even find someone on here with a 8A that's after the 8B front end

will have to swap headlights also

timk · Postby **timk** » Thu Nov 21, 2013 2:35 pm

It won't work if you swap to the earlier headlights as they block the hole used by the SE cooler piping.

KevGoat · Postby **KevGoat** » Thu Nov 21, 2013 2:42 pm

Regie wrote:yep I don't see why it wouldn't fit

you might even find someone on here with a 8A that's after the 8B front end

will have to swap headlights also

Had I not seen mine next to the SE, I'd jump at the idea of swapping. Mine's looking more & more SE as it is :mrgreen:

OP, if you prefer the look of the NB8A, why not save the trouble and the difference in cost and buy an NB8A to start with and put the difference towards a turbo. End result, more power ....

phatty · Postby **phatty** » Thu Nov 21, 2013 3:49 pm

Hi All,

Thanks for the responses. I'd love to turbo an NB8A but I believe its a painful excercise in vic.
Maybe I should move north?

Cheers,

Phatty

Postby **Okibi** » Thu Nov 21, 2013 8:44 pm

Wheel inner plastic splash guards are also different between the NB models.

If you reroute the intercooler piping i'll send you some NB8A headlights and front bar and pay for you to post the SE ones to me. :mrgreen:

Shambler · Postby **Shambler** » Mon Dec 02, 2013 3:38 pm

Not strange at all, I used to have a NB8A before my current SE, at first I think I preferred the SE front but now I sort of wish it was more like my old 8A!

AntHarmer · Postby **AntHarmer** » Mon Dec 02, 2013 3:47 pm

I just wish they made aftermarket headlights for the 8A. That's the only reason I would prefer an 8B

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hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Mon Dec 02, 2013 3:55 pm

phatty wrote:Hi All,

Thanks for the responses. I'd love to turbo an NB8A but I believe its a painful excercise in vic.

It's basically impossible to do legally here.

The only possible way to do it (other than buying an SE/SP) is to use an NB8A and put all the gear from a 100% stock SE into it.
It really depends on the specifics of the "engine from a newer model of the same" rules, it may be able to pass, or it may need to be engineered. (i'm not an expert in the engine swap rules by any means)

The problem there is that to do that you need to buy an SE to use as a donor, so there's the cost of that, the cost of engineering, and you still end up with something only as good as teh SE you chopped up but it cost a lot more and can still be refused insurance or defected.

So yeah, if you're in Vic and want a turbo MX5 that looks like an NB8A, it's most cost effective to just put an NB8A front onto an SE and pay a panel shop to paint it.

Postby **Boyracer** » Tue Dec 03, 2013 11:52 am

I'm doing the opposite, fitting NB8B front on my 10AE, really prefer 8B...will get some photos up when it's finished.

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Tue Dec 03, 2013 12:42 pm

hks_kansei wrote:
phatty wrote:Hi All,

Thanks for the responses. I'd love to turbo an NB8A but I believe its a painful excercise in vic.

It's basically impossible to do legally here.

The only possible way to do it (other than buying an SE/SP) is to use an NB8A and put all the gear from a 100% stock SE into it.
It really depends on the specifics of the "engine from a newer model of the same" rules, it may be able to pass, or it may need to be engineered. (i'm not an expert in the engine swap rules by any means)

The problem there is that to do that you need to buy an SE to use as a donor, so there's the cost of that, the cost of engineering, and you still end up with something only as good as teh SE you chopped up but it cost a lot more and can still be refused insurance or defected.

So yeah, if you're in Vic and want a turbo MX5 that looks like an NB8A, it's most cost effective to just put an NB8A front onto an SE and pay a panel shop to paint it.

timk put an SE engine in his NB8A for legal reasons regarding the turbocharger (ie. it's easier to get compliance on an engine that came turbocharged in the first place).

Sal.kalandos, after your SE's misfortune, for this very reason you might be able to get a good price from a Victorian buyer on your engine if you decide to part it out?

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Tue Dec 03, 2013 12:56 pm

Lokiel wrote:timk put an SE engine in his NB8A for legal reasons regarding the turbocharger (ie. it's easier to get compliance on an engine that came turbocharged in the first place).

Yep, but that's in QLD where the modification laws are a lot easier than in Vic from all accounts.