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Re: new member mx5 1.6 conversion.
Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2015 2:58 pm
by wiggybum
I think this moment needs recording on Youtube if possible

Re: new member mx5 1.6 conversion.
Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2015 3:13 pm
by philgroom
before i forget i will explain how i got the rev counter working. with the mazda wiring there is a diagnostic plug socket and going into that is a yellow and blue wire. this comes from the ignitor module and went to the dash aswell, so if you connect that wire up to what was the distributor side of the coil wiring the rev counter will work. ive also bled the clutch and it works fine with the dolomite master cylinder. mines a landrover one but its exactly the same just half the price. ive moved the car backwards and fowards and can select all gears with my temp gear lever till i make the final one. any questions just ask. will be back on here when i get home later.
Re: new member mx5 1.6 conversion.
Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2015 6:39 pm
by philgroom
heres some pics of todays progress. trying to upload a video of it running but not going to well as im not the best with technology.
Re: new member mx5 1.6 conversion.
Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2015 8:11 pm
by philgroom
I've just managed to put a video of the car running on you tube. Title is. Mx5 1.6 engine in dolomite. Nhr
Re: new member mx5 1.6 conversion.
Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2015 8:45 pm
by wiggybum
philgroom wrote:I've just managed to put a video of the car running on you tube. Title is. Mx5 1.6 engine in dolomite. Nhr
It sounds so sweet, quiet and unassuming! Something tells me that exhaust may grow in diameter a bit in the coming weeks?
Re: new member mx5 1.6 conversion.
Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2015 9:04 pm
by philgroom
The only thing I was thinking of doing to the exhaust is make it twin pipes after the rear silencer but I'm going to wait till I've driven it a bit to see what the noise level is like. I think that it still sounds like the triumph engine did just a lot smoother. I've got the old engine and box still if you know anyyone that would be interested in 1500.
Re: new member mx5 1.6 conversion.
Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2015 6:15 pm
by philgroom
I have finally given in and bought a new back box for my exhaust. People kept saying it was a pea shooter. Got a universal sports silencer with twin outlets. Will put a pic on here when it arrives.
Re: new member mx5 1.6 conversion.
Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2015 6:21 pm
by philgroom
Been working on the car again today. here are some pics of the progress i made
Re: new member mx5 1.6 conversion.
Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2015 9:00 pm
by toromod
philgroom wrote:The only thing I was thinking of doing to the exhaust is make it twin pipes after the rear silencer but I'm going to wait till I've driven it a bit to see what the noise level is like. I think that it still sounds like the triumph engine did just a lot smoother. I've got the old engine and box still if you know anyyone that would be interested in 1500.
Flippin heck! There are restorations & restorations but the work you went through on this was amazing, especially electrical - how easy was it to relocate the battery into the boot?
On the exhaust tailpipe, did you consider the tailpipe from a GT6? Twin pipes & still Triumph?
Re: new member mx5 1.6 conversion.
Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2015 5:47 pm
by philgroom
Thanks for the complement its good when people see what work has gone into a project. Moving the battery was one of the easy parts. On the Mazda the battery is in the boot so there's already the positive wire there which is plenty long enough and on the side of the Mazda main fuse box is where it connects so I just connected all the wires that went to the live on the dolomites starter motor on the old engine to this point. It's an m6 stud that you can put extra terminals on. The ignition system was a bit harder to figure out! If you would like to know that just ask and I will try to explain it the best I can. With a gr86 exhaust they are hard to get hold of and the silencer is too big to fit under the car. I've gone for a cheaper universal one that I can get hold of easily. It arrived today and when I have a chance to fit it I will put pics on here.
Re: new member mx5 1.6 conversion.
Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2015 5:21 pm
by philgroom
so today i have managed to fit my new exhaust back box. i did this by cutting out the old inline one, fabricating a bracket to hold new backbox to underside of car then used the pipe i cut off to connect the backbox up. it sounds alot nicer now. got a nice rumble to it. i will upload pics and video when i have a chance to.
Re: new member mx5 1.6 conversion.
Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2015 6:30 pm
by philgroom
here are the pics of the exhaust, i have also put a video on you tube titled Nhr New back box. its being proccesed at the mo so might not work yet. i will keep checking it.
the section of pipe where the old back box used to be is the old tail pipe just turned around which was a perfect fit. i made the mounting braket out of 2 strips of stainless steel that i bent around the box. on each side of the box i bolted the strips to a rubber mount which i bolted through the boot floor,
Re: new member mx5 1.6 conversion.
Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2015 10:39 pm
by Pippin
Nicely done, although I don't feel an exhaust like that looks quite right on a car of this vintage. That said, I'd love to see the faces of any young boyracers who assume it's just a tarted up old car, little realising all the other work you've done on her!

Re: new member mx5 1.6 conversion.
Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2015 1:14 pm
by philgroom
today ive sorted out the idle speed as engine was idling at 1200rpm. adjusted the idle screw and got it down to 800-900rpm. i also tested the fan to see if it could cope. just waiting for the mechanical thermo switch to arrive that will control the fan.
Re: new member mx5 1.6 conversion.
Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2015 4:14 pm
by geeksteve
philgroom wrote:today ive sorted out the idle speed as engine was idling at 1200rpm. adjusted the idle screw and got it down to 800-900rpm. i also tested the fan to see if it could cope. just waiting for the mechanical thermo switch to arrive that will control the fan.
On the 1.8 I *think* the ECU controls the fan relay using engine temperature sender (relay is connected to ECU directly, the relay drives the fan). If you can find what wire that is/was you might be able to do the same on the 1.6
Steve