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Post by V6 on Apr 30, 2019 17:13:44 GMT
I have no intention of wading past 300bhp. If I do, it opens a whole can of worms. Not for the engine, but for the car. I'd have to look at upgraded shafts and hubs from Flyin Miata at a few grand. Then switch to a different gearbox, thus loosing the lovely feel and throw. Then perhaps look at another diff altogether and some fabrication. Loads of cost, probably weight, shipping and insane UK import tax. So ideally avoided. If you are going to go that far, you will be limited by the tyres you can fit on an MX5. The mega V8 conversions in USA stop laying down the power effeciently when you are past 500bhp. With my engine that level probably equates to a small centrifugal supercharger, at roughly £4k for that part alone. Back of the envelope calculation would suggest roughly £10-11k required to supercharge it properly. You could make double that with a Turbo kit, but there would be zero point as it can't be used. So if anyone mental wants to take this idea to another level thats what I'd suggest.
There are other ways to get the power of course. But none of them will be OEM weight. Not even close.
My intention is to keep it as simple and light as possible. Less stress on the car and transmission. Less weight and cost. More reliability. If I feel like it I may reduce overall car mass instead. Perhaps with some carbon fibre body panels and plastic windows, down the line. We will see. |
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Post by V6 on Apr 30, 2019 17:29:13 GMT
I also considered a Honda K24 swap. Those engines can make good power and seem very reliable, if you don't go too far. They are also even lighter than mine / OEM mazda. The only downsides I could tell would be: You need an offset asymetrical hole cut in the bonnet, you have to rev them pretty hard to get the power, the will be noisier and more harsh for road use, they don't look as cool under the hood. But aside from those things, I was seriously considering one for about a month. But then I'd probably want to supercharge a K24 at some point, then you go wading into the problems I listed above.
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Post by Vindi (Russell) on May 1, 2019 6:28:25 GMT
Pretty sure there are a couple of these already on the road in the UK, one down south for sure and I think there's one near Leeds that may or may not be finished. There's also a couple of kits doing the rounds, one Minitec and one a DIY kit
I had the DIY kit for a bit then sold it on, I think it has amazing potential but to me the sump is the key to this conversion ... it's way too low, so I'd look very carefully at where the engine sits, maybe even a dry sump conversion?
Edit - there'sa few ways to get a J engine in the UK. Variations of the J30, J32 and J35 can be found in Accords etc, but not the same spec as the JDM versions
Russell
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Post by V6 on May 1, 2019 7:26:16 GMT
Cool. Although different info to that which MiniTec gave me. If true maybe we can start the smallest group meet ever known hehe.
My first thought when looking at these was to go for the biggest engine option. But when you look at the weights it becomes a different matter. Wiki has some good info, as do the USA forums for Accord tuning.
When you look at the engines in real life they look pretty big. Then you wonder how they will fit. But once in they really do appear to shrink. All the height vanishes. They actually sit quite low and far back, so I suspect the handling will be great.
The massive OEM sump gets replaced with a new low profile alloy one. The pickup sits a bit lower in the front of the steering rack. We will make a steel skid plate guard for it with a kick up angle.
Will be fine around my area. Although you wouldn't want to go off roading in it. Sure a dry sump is certainly an option if I feel like it. Although it's not on my radar of concerns.
The only downside really is the lack of knowledge and engines here. But easily solved with a huge dealer Acura Workshop Manual, a spare engine, swift international postage for spares, plus some great technicians.
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Post by V6 on May 1, 2019 7:33:22 GMT
The only engines like this in the UK are pretty weedy 3.0 V6. If you are spending the amount of money to do all this you'd be insane to use one of those. It's not just going to 3.2 which makes the difference. It's the heads etc. Like comparing a bottom of the range Civc with a Type R. The cost of the engine is a tiny detail so pointless skimping there. It's also a false economy not to do the basic breathing upgrades too, IMHO. In the big scheme why cut corners.
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Post by V6 on May 1, 2019 7:42:40 GMT
Not everyone cares about handling or weight  ...
Crazy Americans... more is always better lol
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Post by Vindi (Russell) on May 1, 2019 9:56:18 GMT
I had thought that the J32 was the best as well, although I got a J30 engine for peanuts so went with that. I had sourced some worked on J32 heads and better cams to swap over, so I'd have been at about 260 -270bhp but they aren't easy parts to find in the UK.
If you buy all the parts from the states, it can get expensive but I was going a DIY route so buying an expensive engine didn't make sense for me.
I had a Minitec sump, but if you look at the guys in the US they are having issues with them, it's the lowest part on the car and an awkward shape, so catches on things. You'll be able to judge it once it's all assembled but I'd look at a sump guard, it's not uncommon to see a "well, it's happened to me too" post with pics of a mangled sump and a trail of oil down the road / track. You just need something to make it slide rather than digging in.
Which version of the gearbox adaptor have you got? Some Minitec ones had the starter at 6 o'clock but later ones moved it up a bit, which seemed better.
There are a few good J swap Facebook pages that are worth joining, you'll get a realistic view of how these cars are lasting long term, and what people have changed having lived with them for a bit.
I think it's a great option, but just go into the problems eyes open and work through them, I've not driven a J swap MX5 but a friend had a J swapped civic, and the engine sound is just stunning!
Russell
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Post by wannabe on May 1, 2019 10:13:30 GMT
re: the sump, could it be worth welding on some chunky metal bars to encourage sliding over things rather than digging in? So instead of this shape: ____...._ ......|__|.. it would be this shape, with the diagonals just being welded on chunky bars / sheet alloy? ____....___ .....\|__|/.. (pretend the dots are invisble) The diagonals have to be at a shallower angle but there's only so much I can do with symbols/characters on the keyboard  lol |
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Post by V6 on May 1, 2019 10:26:04 GMT
Before I ordered the kit they told me it's best not to live up a road with deep ruts or mounds in the way. So I was fully aware it sits low in the car. On that basis I was happy to proceed. As said, a dry sump is an easy solution if it comes to it. I have a spare engine sitting there which can be played about with. Last week I already brief the guys to make me an RC10 style kick up plate...
If I wanted an easy life I'd have ordered a Turbo kit from G19 for a fraction of the cost. Well, if you only did bolt on bits that is. But having had two standard low milegae Mazda engines die, I wasn't interested in adding more power to anything mazda. By the time you've fully rebuilt and forged the four pot, you are into a lot of money. By which time you are not mile away from a Rocketeer kit. But then that is a lot of money for 240bhp. Plus I'm not a fan of timing chains. I'd rather swap a belt on the front of the engine for £50 personally. So with wanting a bit more shove and it all JDM, it was this choice.
Add in my desire for a lovely sound track... case closed. I really missed the noise of my Alfa V6 and R32 Golf. It really shouldn't have any downsides at all. Same weight as OEM with probably better balance (engine site further back and lower), crisp throttle response for good on power control in the corners, OEM Honda reliability for the many years ahead, full standard Mazda transmission parts. Should be fun for a local hoon about, track use, or maybe even a tour.
V8's would sound better again, but that wasnt a compromise I was willing to take... weight, balance, sharp turn in, losing the gearbox feel, needing expensive custom shafts and hubs. Plus the fuel cost on my previous V8 cars was rather painful in the long run. But cool noise.
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Post by niklas on May 1, 2019 17:42:59 GMT
This is cool. I like it alot. If you ever get bored with keeping your spare engine around, shoot me a message  |
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Post by V6 on May 1, 2019 20:10:49 GMT
It may become a coffee table in my man cave workshop when we move
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Post by wannabe on May 5, 2019 13:04:40 GMT
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Post by wannabe on May 5, 2019 13:09:15 GMT
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Post by wannabe on May 5, 2019 13:12:55 GMT
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Post by wannabe on May 5, 2019 13:17:11 GMT
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...
lol
le sigh