Mazda MX5 engine conversion

[Chipper]

Hi,

I have a '70 Traveller to which I fitted a 1275cc MG Midget engine and Ford Orion disc brakes, but I've been considering an alternative engine transplant, seeing as my gearbox & clutch are now a bit kippered.

Quite fancy the idea of a modern twin cam of 1.6-2.0 litres and a 5-speed box would be nice.

Fiat twin-cam engines seem a little hard to find now, and the cutting of the gearbox bellhousing to get it to fit over the Minor's steering rack puts me off a little (how would it fare in a crash? )

I'm also a little put off Rover K-Series after hearing of numerous head-gasket problems.

Has anyone tried fitting a Mazda MX5 engine & box?

Cheers,
Maurice (E. Kent.)

[bigginger]

It may be worth trying the Australian forum, as they are the experts at fitting Jap engines
http://www.morrisdownunder.com

[dunketh]

and the cutting of the gearbox bellhousing to get it to fit over the Minor's steering rack puts me off a little

The Minor box also has a cut in the same place, most boxes need a cut out the top to clear steering. Makes no difference in a crash.

I'm also a little put off Rover K-Series after hearing of numerous head-gasket problems.

Thats all scare-stories, the fault was addressed by Rover ages ago.

Has anyone tried fitting a Mazda MX5 engine & box?

No idea, but please do share your research. So far I've measured up a Zetec and an XFlow (I'm a Ford man) but havent really looked at anything else.
The old dato lumps the Aussies use are no use - you cant buy them this side of the world. Any 'fresh' engine ideas are more than welcome.

jon

[aussiemike]

I htink it would be a great engine and box combo. Only have to look on flea-bay at the moment to see you can pick up an mx-5 engine for around £250. Please let us all know how you get on and what you decide.
cheers, michael.

[8009STEVE]

(I'm a Ford man)

I have put an 1800 diesel fiesta engine/gearbox in my traveller.

[Robins]

Yes but steve yours is the wrong way round mate . I think they were trying to think of engines that would go inline with less work. Nice job you're doing though, is your traveller nearly finished yet?
After the work involved in the engine conversion on my van, I'll just stick with the 1275 I managed to find for my traveller at long last. I wouldn't say no to a civic type-R engine conversion if anyone comes up with anything.

[Scott]

The old dato lumps the Aussies use are no use - you cant buy them this side of the world. Any 'fresh' engine ideas are more than welcome.

While the Datsun & Corolla engines are the most common transplants, the Toyota twin cam (4AGE) is also a popular fit.

[jonathon]

We'll be launching our Ford Zetec conversion at this years National, which should prove popular with home builders as well as factory fits. We also have a silver top Toyota 1.6L 20valve in to design a kit for, these too are exciting engines but the 20valve versions are import only, however the mounting points are the same for the standard 16 valve versions.

[dunketh]

Finally! An out of the box zetec conversion.
I looked into this a lot and when I added up the price of a remote thermostat housing rail, a type 9 box and a rwd exhaust manifold it was too much for my menial budget. They already make RWD conversion kits for sticking a zetec in the escort mk1/mk2, The manifolds looked like they'd fit a morrie.
Any more info or is it all held back for the 'big release'?
Also, does it involve notching the bulkhead as by my measurements you could get one in without... albeit with no space for a rad.

[jonathon]

I'm afraid you will have to wait 'artful bodger' !!!

[dunketh]

You tease!

[Innovator]

I reckon the MX5 motor is too long for the stock engine bay.

[aussiemike]

I wouldnt have thought that the 1.6 or 1.8 mx5 motor would be physically that much longer than a zetec of a similar sizing?? Mazda do tend to make long-ish engine bays though !

[jonathon]

Good point Mike, as the Zetec SE and most focus motors were/ are Mazda units badged under the umbrella of the Zetec name.

[rio678]

How about the Vauxhall red top engine?

[jonathon]

T'will fit, if your prepared to cut the bulkhead to clear. Its a very heavy engine though. Easiest and best pick of the bunch are the K and Zetec's, followed by the old school Fiat TC's, X flow etc.

[aussiemike]

You get al alloy zetecs now so in my mind that would be a hard one to go past. Another thought might be a renault clio engine as they are decent performers and come in a vast array of sizes and hp outputs. Obvious downsize would be converting to rwd and matching up to a gearbox I guess. But again, smallish engine that perform well.
My daily driver is a 1.4 16valve clio and it is quite surprising how rapid it is.
cheers,m ichael.

[jonathon]

Yip, it's the all alloy Focus engines that we will be offering as complete packages. These are brand new 2.0L units with 130bhp standard, however with of work we'll be offering 150,180,190,200, and a surercharged 240bhp. We hope to have a base unit in a shell and a supercharged unit on show at the National, along with the established K series units.

[aussiemike]

oooh that all sounds quite exciting. For years now loads of other brand car enthusiests have had off the shelf kits available to them and now finally the moggy supporters will have more choice. Excellent!

[Chipper]

Well, in the end, I fixed up the 1275 Midget engine in the Traveller with a matching Midget close-ratio gearbox, new clutch and a late Metro unleaded cylinder head, and it's running sweetly with the addition of this neat little electronic ignition conversion:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Lucas-25D-electro ... 35aa2e874e

Last April, I purchased a 2-door saloon fitted with 2-litre Fiat twin cam and 5-speed gearbox, so I have been steadily working on it since to get it up and running.

The pair can be seen on Retrorides:
http://retrorides.proboards.com/index.c ... 056&page=1