Transplants for a 95 BA Hardtop?

[couchy]

I've read as much as I can of the posts by others but have some questions.

I'm thinking seriously about doing a turbo engine swap into my 95 N/A 1.8 BA hardtop.

Once I save the money for the engine or halfcut (preferred) I don't want to have to spend more money for a little while. So I need to install and run for a while.

If I go the proven route of BP-T it sounds the cheapest way and easiest as it fits stright in etc. How long will the motor last or is rebuilding common? I'm looking for a simple plug and play option that doesn't require extensive mods to every part of the car.

Is there a more upto date motor such as a later model MX5 motor that is available? Is installation of them a straight swap or is there detailed mods required? I only ask because I'm concerned that I may be replacing a tired motor with a turboed tired motor from Japan?

Sorry if these questions are a bit vague but I'm a storeman not a mechanic I have friends who can do the work but i need to spend the money. I'm mechanicly handicapped

Cheers Couchy

[project.r.racing]

gearbox in your car is G or F series?

[RedLineResident]

95, id still assume G series.

in which case thats a good start.

[project.r.racing]

Originally Posted by RedLineResident

95, id still assume G series.

in which case thats a good start.

i asked cos the 2nd half of 95 they had a F series.

couchy - does your VIN number have a BA11P1 or BA11P2 at the start of it?

[couchy]

Its a BA11P1.
Will this answer the gearbox question or do I need to check?
How would I determine whether its F or G series?
Cheers Couchy

[Rupewrecht]

You're fine then - you've got a G series box

There is a sticker/casting number on the front (closest to radiator) of the gearbox that should be G25MR - i think next to or in a little circle.

[couchy]

With that sorted, what do you guys think do I go the tried and tested method of bolting up an import bpt or are there other options worth considering or are they too much trouble?
Cheers Couchy

[Rupewrecht]

Imported ones are getting pretty rare these days, but you can still find local ones fairly easily, but they've generally got more kms on them.

Have a look on fordlaser for one. But if it's been looked after, there'd be no more issues that if it was an NA BP.

There is turboed BG on ebay - buy it, swap engines, and sell the BG. It obviously wouldn't be quite as simple as that, but you get the idea.

[Aaron]

When you do the swap do yourself a favour and spend the $$ to freshen the engine while you're doing it.

By Freshen i mean replace all the water lines, vacuum lines and stuff like Timing belt, belt pulley and tensioner as well as the waterpump.

Cam, Crank and ream main seals can also be done.

These engines are all approaching 20 years old now and changing all these cheap items (under $500 will cover all of that stuff) will save a lot of effort changing them over the next few years.

Also if doing the swap keep your BA accessories like alternator, engine mounts etc, and use a BA style waterpump. The more "modern" accoessories will lett you access MX5 parts for things like belts underdrive pulleys and so on.

If you change the water pump inlet to the BA style one radiator hoses will fit better.

These are just a few things I've learnt from servicing a already converted car.

A.

[BigMal]

Didn't know about the water pump. That explains a lot as I had issues with the
water hoses having to cut off an inch and plce it in boiling water to force it
onto the outlet on the engine....

[Aaron]

Originally Posted by BigMal

Didn't know about the water pump. That explains a lot as I had issues with the
water hoses having to cut off an inch and plce it in boiling water to force it
onto the outlet on the engine....

Yeah the water pump outlets are quite different. The BPT piece is much longer and would be quite "interesting" to make the BA/KJ hose fit. At least that's a quite bolt-on swap.

The waterpump castings are different too, the BPT waterpump doesn't have the "ear" that the BP05/BP-ZE uses for the mounting of the alternator bracket/adjuster.

To use a BP05/BP-ZE waterpump you'll need to use the BP05 engine mounts also. The form part of the BPT alternator mounting setup. Or just cut off the "ear" from the BP05/BP-ZE pump so that it clears the BPT engine mount casting.

When/if I pull the BPT out of Stinky for a full freshen I'll be going full BP05/BP-ZE bolt-on bits so that all the KJ/BA parts can be used without thinking about hybid solutions etc etc.

A.