The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

Has anyone put an MX5 engine into a Dolly?

I imagine it would be an interesting mix. I have an MX5 and it's a great engine if rather lacking in torque low down. It's a nice smooth and rev happy engine that seems to be pretty solid. I think it would fit in well enough, not sure if you could fit the gearbox as well?

^ +1.

It seems like a good idea and I've never actually seen one fitted. Personally I like the idea of a RWD Zetec on 45s which I think hasn't been done yet.
Is this an idea for a new project?

Dolly-Nut wrote:^ +1.

It seems like a good idea and I've never actually seen one fitted. Personally I like the idea of a RWD Zetec on 45s which I think hasn't been done yet.
Is this an idea for a new project?

No Mazda engine anyday. Zetec has been done in a Latham though I think it might be injected rather than carbs. persoanlly I hate the wavy torque curve the Zetec has and it's always going to be a compromise becuase it was primarily designed for FWD. As we've seen on here bolting a type 9 into a Dolly means a very long box and having to place the gearleve so far back it's almost neccesary to de-camp to the rear of the vehicle to change gear.

Staying with the Mazda theme, how's about a Mazda Rotary engine in a Dolomite? Any Dolomite with added Wankel has to be a winner?

Smifter's Bro-in-Law has acquired a Magenta Sprint (ebay) and has a tuned MX5 engine he wants to drop in. I believe he's making a drift car.

Rotary engine is my eventual plan. Start of with a 13B from an RX7, preferably a later single turbo model, end up with a 20B (2.0 3-rotor twin turbo, with a mild bridge port) from an Eunos Cosmo. It'll fly.

I started to put an mx5 engine in my dolly. I have now changed my mind due to the sump. I had the engine in and with the standard mx5 5 speed box. The mx5 sump is aluminum and is therefore a pain to weld/get welded. I think it is doable but you'd need to be able to fabricate aluminum yourself as finding someone to come out to fabricate is bloody hard work in my experience. You may also need a bonnet bulge/scoop as the engine needs to sit higher to accommodate the sump. It pretty much all revolves around the sump.

I have plans to MX5 a kit car soon. Soon as the wifes car rots a way. Have a German friend who has a RX7 powered kit car, claims it was fairly easy swap over, It sounds like a jet as he pulls into the garage Great fun.

What about an Evo engine, preferably the 6? They seem strong as hell.

Can we keep on topic please.

A guy in the local Shropshire TSSC has a Vitesse with MX5 power and it goes very well. As Richard says, the limiting factor is the sump and the Dolly's subframe with its plethora of crossmembers. It is practical and seems safe to redesign the front and rear crossbars on the sub but even I shied away from modding the centre one, which means a front well sump and quite a narrow one at that. If, as I suspect, all MX5 sumps are alloy and have a rear well, you are going to need an ally artist to bring this to fruition. With the right sump, engine height should not be a problem, there are plenty of upright DOHC (ie Redtops, Zetecs and knightriders Nissan S13 turbo) engines in Dollys and none of them have needed bonnet mods.

Good luck!

Steve

SprintMWU773V wrote:Zetec has been done in a Latham though I think it might be injected rather than carbs. persoanlly I hate the wavy torque curve the Zetec has and it's always going to be a compromise becuase it was primarily designed for FWD. As we've seen on here bolting a type 9 into a Dolly means a very long box and having to place the gearleve so far back it's almost neccesary to de-camp to the rear of the vehicle to change gear.

The Zetec engine is popular choice for modified cars. These can be mapped to suit the application.
The type 9 is indeed a long box but it is perfectly feasible to fit one into a Dolomite giving a gearlever position as per a Sprint
when using a slant four engine and three rail or single rail 1850 bellhousing.
Bellhousings are available for T9/Zetec combos.


RE the Mazda sump, if the alloy is good quality, I would persist with getting it welded......






Ian.

Zetecs are the default choice for many people, they just bolt straight up to a T9 box with the std ford bellhousing. Couldn't be easier.
And they work very well, producing an easy 150+bhp running carbs or aftermarket EFI. stacks of torque too......and economical. My zetec spit could easily do 38mpg at a steady 80-85mph (autobahn of course)
Downside of webers and dellortos is that they can flood of tight twisty stuff. On autosolos the car would choke up, and stalled a few times. Hence the new one will be EFI, an allround better choice. Bike carbs a possibility, but probably more faff.

I keep wondering what engine for my Tolly. I want to do the conversion for under £500, so a sprint conversion isn't going to happen. MX5 is vert tempting, buy an MoT failure for £3-400, sell the bits and bobs, weigh in th eshell so the bits I want don't cost much at all. I believe the mazda 6 1800 uses the same engine (needs veryfying) so it is worth seeing if that sump is a better shape.
Otherwise the trusty zetec is very possible, with an escort front bowl sump. But I like the MX5 idea, the EFI wiring is easier......

Mart,
This is a very rare early magenta Sprint. It would be sacrilege to modify this car. Why not do this with a 1500? Must be possible to swap this Sprint for such a machine.

Engine in my 1500 is way past its sell ny date what otber easy swap engines coulf be fitted ?