Another build thread

[Davidbolam]

Originally Posted by skov

That's what I thought
I seem to recall they're only allowed a head skim and a bit of porting, and have to run on the standard ECU.
I'd be surprised if they got 150bhp, let alone 250!



My thoughts exactly! I can pick up a 1.6 for less than £100, but chances are it's going to need a load of work too.

The other option I was thinking of was sticking a 1.8l Mk2.5 lump in there (~150bhp standard).
That's going to be a fair bit of work though, and even those are 10 years old and starting to go bang now...

Got the races mixed up. I know a company caled AK Automotive who ran a 1.6 in the Northern Sports and Saloon Car Championship that had been tubocharged to 250 bhp. they have now put in a 2.0 turbocharged engine and it has 350bhp. the car they run in the Ma5da races car no 90 which is a different car.

[james3004]

I would say 250bhp out of a 1.6 would make it fairly unreliable!

Go for a 1.8 john

[skov]

Originally Posted by james3004

I would say 250bhp out of a 1.6 would make it fairly unreliable!

I would have thought so too, but lots of people seem to manage to get that sort of power out of the 1.6 (or at least claim they do!).

I think I'm just going to rebuild the 1.6, then possibly think about adding a small turbo. I won't be trying to get anything like 250bhp out of it though!

Almost ready to get the engine out by the way James. Just need to undo the gearbox and engine mount bolts, so the sooner I can borrow your crane the better

[james3004]

Are to going to decompress the engine or just run really low boost?

I best get a wriggle on.....

[skov]

Originally Posted by james3004

Are to going to decompress the engine or just run really low boost?

I best get a wriggle on.....

There's no need to decompress unless you're going for silly boost.
Mazda used a slightly modified engine from the 323 turbo for the early MX5's, so they're already fairly low compression, and ideal for bolting a blower on

Don't worry about rushing, I've got plenty of other things to be getting on with!

[james3004]

You make it sound so easy

[skov]

Only because I've never done it before, and I'm still blissfully unaware of what's really involved

[james3004]

Originally Posted by skov

Only because I've never done it before, and I'm still blissfully unaware of what's really involved

how hard can it be!?!??

[skov]

Originally Posted by james3004

how hard can it be!?!??

Harder than I thought - just spent an hour trying to get a broken stud out of my turbo and I still haven't got the c**t out

[johnl63]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUKg...0U5 9RxFKwHWq
aussie boys run you through the process
john