I've Really Killed My MX-5 This Time, So This Is The New Grand Plan

My famous little MX-5 has been through the mill lately, and this time, it looks like Phil's engine really is dead. So here's my new grand plan...
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If you’ve been following the popular Project MX-5 series on our YouTube channel, you’ll know that Phil, my trusty, turbocharged steed has had a tough time of it in recent months. After getting turbocharged and gaining almost double the power, a lot of extra strain has been put through the old 1.8-litre BP-ZE engine, which resulted in blown oil seals while at the Nurburgring and general rough running.

Rescuing Phil from the Nurburgring
Rescuing Phil from the Nurburgring

After rescuing Phil from the ‘Ring and getting the seals replaced, boost pressure was then upped (see video above) and I drove away (with a very angry-sounding clutch) with over 250bhp at the crank. ‘Great’, I thought, ‘this is now one of the fastest MX-5s in the country’. (Not the fastest by any stretch of the imagination, but still damn quick).

Well, after trying to start little old Phil up the week before last, I heard a loud bang coming from under the bonnet, which sounded as though a heavy piece of metal had fallen to the ground and through my heart like a Hummer-punch that inextricably imploded my world, tied me up and buried me underground with 100kgs of TNT, a lighter and 10 crocodiles that hadn’t eaten for 1000 years…

The engine cut out immediately, and since then, Phil has been in hibernation. Again.

252hp at the crank was eventually too much for Phil to handle...
252hp at the crank was eventually too much for Phil to handle...

Until my buddy Gareth and I strip the engine and take a look, I won’t know what the damage is, to either the engine or the turbo. But one thing’s for sure: Phil is/was/will be again my daily and I’m all through with him being less than reliable. So there’s only one thing for it…an engine swap!

Tom's Turbo Garage: LS3 V8 Miata Build - Project Thunderbolt
Tom's Turbo Garage: LS3 V8 Miata Build - Project Thunderbolt

So then, what are my options? Well, V8 swaps are popular, but I don’t fancy going down that road, partly because of our insane fuel prices (did you know that we pay approximately $9 per gallon in the UK?!), coupled with the fact that the MX-5’s fuel tank is pretty small, meaning more regular fill-ups, and ain’t nobody got time for that!

You guys are also crying out for me to look into a rotary swap, which would keep the car Mazda pure, but again, it’s not something that grabs me because reliability and smooth running is very important to me.

What does really appeal to me is a six cylinder engine. Naturally, a BMW M52 2.8-litre engine is right up my street, but without cutting into the firewall and massive fabrication, it’s not feasible on a budget.

Could the MX-6's 2.5 V6 be Phil's new heart?
Could the MX-6's 2.5 V6 be Phil's new heart?

After some digging on the internet and conversations with MX-5 friends, I’ve discovered that a Mazda-sourced V6 would work very nicely indeed. The 2.5-litre KL engine as fitted to the Mazda MX-6 and Ford Probe GT would also keep the car in the Mazda bloodline, and would provide great power (around 200hp), reliability, and an engine and exhaust note sweet enough to do really bad things to.

Here’s a short video of one such car that already has the V6 swap, to give you a little taster of what may be coming to the Project MX-5 series in the next few months…

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So to all of you who ask me how Phil is and what the plan is, this is your answer. Obviously, however, it’s very early days, but I’m excited at the prospect of maybe having a V6 MX-5 as a daily.

What are your thoughts, and what other options should I consider?

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Comments

Anonymous

What about the bpd or bpt turbo 1.8 i4 from the 323 gtx/gtr? Producing from 180 to 210 hp, group a rally engines

08/25/2016 - 16:43 |
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Anonymous

Why not do a Honda K20 swap? The adapter kit including a new front subframe and adapter plate for gearbox is available from a company called K Miata and you will have a lighter, more powerful, more tuneable engine that is easier to get parts for?
www.kmiata.com

08/25/2016 - 16:46 |
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Anonymous

Vr5 of vr6 from vw not much bigger than a 4 banger and awsome sounding

08/25/2016 - 16:48 |
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Anonymous

Why don’t you slam in there a motorbike engine? You can borrow a 1300cc Hayabusa engine and do all sorts of crazy stuff haha

08/25/2016 - 16:48 |
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Anonymous

Alex, do not forget all those very important things when dropping a new engine in the bonnet, like lightened flywheel, proper exhaust manifold and so on.. Please.

08/25/2016 - 16:56 |
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Anonymous

Toyota 3S-GE BEAMS

08/25/2016 - 16:58 |
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Lamborghini Murcielago Longitudinale Posteriore 670-4 Electr

You could do a 1G-GTE (or any other Toyota G series engine) it has all the upsides of a I6 (smooth, nice sounding) with the upsides of a V6 (short) as its only 2l big plus if you go for the GTE you wont need to turbocharge it as its twin turbo’d from the factory so it can make crazy HP (185-210 stock and plenty of torque)

08/25/2016 - 17:00 |
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Unknown

I don’t know if this is viable, but what about a Honda J Series swap? They are great and reliable engines

08/25/2016 - 17:14 |
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Anonymous

wait, do you really pay $9 per gallon?? Holy S&@! Maybe I should have known this, but I’ve been living under my $2.30/gallon gas rock

08/25/2016 - 17:15 |
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