Is That Pea Heavy? and Why I Regret Turbocharging It.

[@forresteti]

Sound wise totally get and agree with you. Love your honesty. Still brilliant.

[@markwalton8644]

Another Vote for the 3.0V6 Duratec. Rocketeer convert Mk1/2 MX5's to V6. The Engine was Co-Developed with Cosworth and Porsche. Lighter than the Original B6 engine, NA And 250bhp+ and revs to 7k. Being lighter it should go through the Bends like a Scolded Cat with the Power on the Straight!!

[@Urchfab]

Its a good option for sure.

[@malcolmyoung7866]

‘Scolded Cat’…👍🏻 Clarkson’s famous ‘Scolded Cock’ got a few laughs and strange looks ‘back in the day’!

[@martinvanzeller8649]

My Rocketeer made 270 bhp revved to 7200 and was just brilliant. Rocketeer shared premises with Bassett Down Balancing in Hungerford but have now moved into Wiltshire. BDB will still build the engines for Rocketeer. Oh and it looks and sounds fabulous too!

[@jamesmarshal8675]

Always lovely to see the mushy pea, remembering all those summer episodes of rust removal & refab, through fabbing the arches & paint debacle; then the greatest day of track action, big heart build! As to engines, if ya fancy a high rev na screamer - how about an S2000 engine & trans & before you do a swap put up a gofund & we can all share a link on the socials; there may well be a fella with one sat on a pallet & the community is global! 😀🤞

[@Urchfab]

Before I did the turbo swap I was seriously looking into these, a great option for sure. I already have something special lined up though. Cheers

[@terryjacob8169]

Toyota 1.6litre 4-AGE. In Formula Atlantic trim, on carburettors, good for 240-250 bhp @ 9,500rpm. Same size/weight as a BDA, but slightly more power output for less outlay, particularly in Australia, New Zealand, and USA.

[@ferrumignis]

The surge of torque from a turbocharged engine is quite fun, but I agree that a nice revvy N/A engine is a much better fit to a small, lightweight car. This is especially true on a track where fine throttle control is important. A turbo is like using a meat cleaver to slice your veggies.

[@philtucker1224]

Well knowing how many steel brackets and strengthening they you made and fitted during the build, I’m not surprised it’s bloody heavy. It’s probably the strongest Ford Pop in the entire world!

[@Urchfab]

I'm actually happy with the weight bud. Its less than I thought.

[@philtucker1224]

@ 👍🏁

[@NSXWayneNZ]

Interesting comments regarding turbos and the overall driver feeling. I've always gone for supercharging which gives enhanced NA feel with way more torque throughout the rev range. Used to drive a Shorrock A35.

[@g0fvt]

Some interesting ideas in the comment section, the Jaguar version of the Duratec has a lot going for it. Stock they claim 250hp on E85 but the engine is very light and compact, I suspect most of it would be behind the front wheels. Looking around the net I see MK1 Lotus Cortinas listed from 775kG to 900kG the first figure being a dry weight. Mushy Pea with a rollcage, door bars and steel arches is not exactly porky.

[@ZspotMotorsport]

K24 w/ ITB’s is my vote!

[@NicAlberts]

I second that!

[@danpoxon2425]

I third that

[@Low760]

I have a 122s with twin 45mm Weber's and a big cam and high compression. It's not fast but I just love how it feels to drive it.

[@aarontena]

5 cyl volvo wouldnt be a bad call, besides they come with an aluminum block so you'll probably shed a couple kilos despite the added cylinder

[@S4mmyH]

K20/k24!

[@chrisadkin726]

I completely agree with you. I used to work on several customer Turbo`d MX5`s and i didnt enjoy any of them. So many people turbo charge MX5`s then sell all the kit when they realise they are not what they wanted in a car. My little MX5 is a 1.6 and people think im mad preferring the 1.6 to the 1.8 but it just revs and revs and i love it. It also sounds epic! Ive loved the videos of Pea and ive also just bought a Mini to play with again. Good luck with the move.

[@Urchfab]

Cheers and good luck with the mini.

[@merylpelosi8485]

In the mid 60's my brother repowered one of these (panel truck version) with an all iron 433 cu.in. W-series Chevy engine with a Borg Warner T-10 4-speed transmission, narrowed '57 Pontiac rear end, a Crosley straight axle front end with Airheart disc brakes.

[@harveysmith100]

"Just add lightness." Colin Chapman

[@deadprivacy]

@@harveysmith100" therefore drill holes in it anywhere you possibly can" -richard king, builder of the worlds lightest 911

[@Mrthegeeman]

My suggestion when you were thinking of turbocharging it was to use a Jag S type V6 with the Rocketeer adaptor plate. NA with easy 250bhp and significantly lighter than the cast iron MX5 lump. You can use the same gearbox and you would get back closer to 50/50 weight distribution. They can sound great as well.

[@malcolmyoung7866]

Interesting Matt, noted your thoughts in one of your short videos or somewhere else on the socials. Thats real passion to want to revert to N/A motive power, I can understand that completely. That said The Mushy Pea is an amazing little car and the envy of many a subscriber (though not in a negative way/envy being a sin etc) and others who no doubt come across the car when it’s about and about. Have heard many times that ‘a project is never done’ and that’s probably true in 120% of all cases. Keep on keeping on, Dude..

[@bigdineen4467]

Pinto power all the way !! Proper sounds and that retro look.

[@Urchfab]

Yes and yes.

[@BenRelle]

2.5 Duratec IL4. I note someone else said Pinto on carbs, but they're just too old now. I had a Pinto in a Dax Rush I owned - too heavy, too low revving and just no power or zing. Took it out and put a Zetec in it. I regretted that. Not because I wanted the Pinto back, but because the exhaust was on the other side - it took lots of work to put a Zetec in, when a Duratec was available at the same time. Although the initial cost of the Duratec was higher, the amount I spent making the Zetec fit with aftermarket this and that soon mean the difference was soon overcome. A Pinto's the right look, but with your skills, you can make Duratec look old school twin cam.

[@gargoreg]

Agree; More fun and reward, when driving a light car/bike with lower power; than needing to control an over powered beast. Don't get me wrong, I love the latter, but think the former is where the commitment is, carry speed into a corner, higher mid-corner speed etc..... that's for me where the adrenaline comes from...... Either way, you enjoy it, you're a winner.

[@GeoffreyDjango]

2l zetec blacktop. It’s Ford, can be made to look old. Loads of kits/bits to make it work. There is the option of those Weber carbs with injectors hidden in them if you wanted more tune-ability but whatever floats your boat

[@davidthehillbilly7995]

The Pea is crying for a light V8. Rover based perhaps, or a Windsor Ford based 427 if the budget stretches....

[@toxaq]

Rover V8 is alloy block and plentiful...

[@connerlabs]

But the weight distribution 😅 the MX5 engine is tiny

[@andrewharrison4723]

I have a 4.2 high comp engine on quad carbs if interested

[@andrewharrison4723]

Rover that is

[@Urchfab]

Too big for me I think.

[@itekani]

Looking forward to this. I always thought it should have been naturally aspirated.

[@nv1493]

That car is flat gorgeous. Lots of good suggestions, personally, I prefer NA almost anything over turbo something.

[@ZILAwelds]

I hear you. The power came on more linear …. And it is sooo much fun to squeeze every bit out of a lesser power car ….

[@branchandfoundry560]

Zila's everywhere...from NH to UK!

[@ZILAwelds]

@@branchandfoundry560he is in florida a lot … its nice and warm there … He recently was at fabtech in orlanda and then @Bodevision and @Fasterproms ….

[@brw2110]

I'm with you on the fun. Engine swap ideas. Either some sort of ford escort rally engine or an RX8 rotary lump.

[@robbell4339]

Hi Matt I’m with you: a low power normally aspirated car is more fun than forced induction: you have better balance to start with and you’ll have far more fun trying to extract 100% out of it - and in fact I suspect you’ll be gunning it at 100% much more of the time anyway. Slower? Yes more fun? Definitely

[@Typersx1]

K24 Matt. 😅😊❤

[@jonnybamber1772]

Maybe a Vauxhall red top on carbs! Or maybe a cosworth lump on carbs! But then a rover v8 weighs less than a pinto so maybe a rover lump on triple carb set up. Would sound awesome but not sure what power you would get. The tvr 3.9 rover lumps seem to make good power.

[@Urchfab]

I love a Redtop!

[@_Bram]

People are putting Jaguar 3.0 V6’s in Miata’s. To me that seems like a lot of fun!

[@hespie1]

Must be front heavy though.

[@markwalton8644]

​@@hespie1 There lighter than the MX5 engine as there All Alloy. Superb Choice!

[@deadprivacy]

​​@@markwalton8644its the go tonfor an mx5 swap. Been done many times too Someone out there makes kits i think..

[@jacqeusmouton4005]

I would go for the Mazda 2.0L 16 valve lump. Bolts straight up to your box and they are right up there with a Red Top in terms of hp.

[@hespie1]

Has to be a BDA Matt. It would keep it Ford!

[@Urchfab]

If money were no object I'd agree 100%

[@AlbertJanBloemendal]

5 cilinder. 2.3 liters Audi/VW engine. Sounds great. Lots of torc. Can be tuned all the way. Donkervoort uses them. Should be fantastic.

[@mattsnotfound]

i thought this but a 5 cylinder Volvo, decently priced and plenty available, been thinking about sticking one in my Audi 80

[@deadprivacy]

Or the jag v6 swap, common mod to the mx5

[@mattsnotfound]

@@deadprivacy is that the v6 that uses a v8 block with 2 blanked off cylinders 🙃i do cars broke one down, i laughed and shook my head.

[@deadprivacy]

@@mattsnotfound no thats the jag/ land rover v8 they put in range rovers too, i remember the first one i had to work on. Had me scratching my head as to why on earth anyone would be mad or cheap enough to do something quite so bonkers. did they actually put one in a jag too? For shame. Mad asf. And i owned a mazda xedos 9 supercharged Miller at one point though that was actually pretty good apart from its habit of cooking valve seals. The jag engine im talking about is the earlier Porsche designed duratec AJ series. Very compact and light v6, Rocketeer do a swap kit for it for the mx5/miata. Comes in a few flavours. 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 Used in the mondeo platformed x types. and i think maybe the ford mondeo st220 has one too or a very similar one. Mazda ,ford and jag were all doing similar v6 motors from the 90s onwards when they had their little love in. Even the Xj220 got a twin turbo adaptation of it. , xedos 6 and 9, x type, and the v6 mondeos. Basically all "duratec" type engines

[@ferrumignis]

​@@mattsnotfoundNo, it's basically a reworked Ford Duratec, since Jag were owned by Ford at the time.

[@155Ringman]

930kg is light for a Mk2 MX5 based car, they are around 1200kg from factory.

[@LuckyFruitRacing]

Yeah I was confused by his claim that it's heavy. The stock mx5 would have been closer to 1000kg, but then it's got a cage, a roof and a whole body with a lot more to it than an mx5. 930kg is really impressive

[@Farlig69]

6:58 2.3L Duratec 300 BHP, naturally aspirated, go on, you know it makes sense :p Or, the lord of all naturally aspirated in line 4's..... A Millington!!

[@pashakdescilly7517]

A Millington? They COST !!! Going Honda S2000 is far more realistic.

[@Farlig69]

@@pashakdescilly7517 Yeah but the sound, the glorious sound!!!! All Hail the Millington!! :P

[@Farlig69]

Chap I knew put a Raceline 2.3 into a Caterham, 308 BHP, in an R500 chassis, turning it into a naturally aspirated R618 effectively, probably more as everything was carbon (more money than sense). Now first & foremost, I'm a biker, but that thing was the closest ever I have come to a 4-wheeled motorbike, just amazing...

[@JohnSmith-wb6kq]

Any significance with the 23 Number? Wicked cool car bro

[@Urchfab]

My birthday is 23rd of May so it just looks right to me, I raced bikes with it in the past. Cheers

[@nicnoknoo]

K24

[@Thechief49-x4t]

Keeping it Ford and Mazda. Got to be a Duratec. Light, can make a lot of power and on ITB's, sound amazing.

[@Schnorbitz]

I’d put a Rover K series in it, VHPD spec, very light and perfectly reliable if you choose the right parts.

[@toxaq]

As a Ford purist, a black top Zetec well worked NA would be my choice!

[@turboslugfiero]

Yeah, my turbo setup added nearly 100kg to the overall weight of the Fiero😠. I get the fun factor; it's annoying to always back off for the bends. Or spin out beware! My engine has a very flat torque curve from 3000 rpm, so it's not like driving a widow maker 911😉

[@sjv6598]

I guessed 920, pretty close. Looking forward to seeing what engine you shoehorn in there 🙂

[@twocoolnerds4628]

Sorry you have to move again Matt. I HATE moving!

[@oikkuoek]

Turbos are for those, who don't know how to build a race car. Tik-Tok tuning. And basically, every short track except Goodwood serves natural aspiration over heavier forced induction. Also 250 is perfectly doable without a turbo. It just needs a bit more elbow grease than a box of bolt-ons.

[@ralphmillais5237]

You are not the first person I have encountered over the years that has regretted what have been in some cases very expensive turbo conversions. In extreme cases endowing a car with colossal power via turbo boost can destroy the whole feel of the car and make it literally undriveable. And there is a reason Gordon Murray went with natural aspiration with his Cosworth V12. There is something about the feel and sound of a natural aspirated engine. I suppose most people would suggest a Honda engine but what would be wrong with a 2 Litre Duratec?

[@Urchfab]

I think it just depends what people want from there cars but I totally agree. Duratec is a great option for sure.

[@GizFab]

K-Swap...

[@martinfletcher8275]

This ^^^^

[@NicAlberts]

Got my vote.

[@chrismechanic2000]

i agree matt i much prefer NA to a turbo, i changed cars recently, sold the old 2002 320i tourer and bought a 2014 320i GT, which is turbo 2.0 4 cylinder, its a very nice car and it goes well, but i so miss my old bmw, the tourer had a 6 cylinder 2.2 and had bags of torque, i love the extra power a turbo has but i hate all the pipes and tubes it adds, and that power is only up on high revs, the 6 cylinder gave power through the whole rev range which is more predictable in corners. as for a new engine could you fit a straight 6 in there? bmw do a nice 3.0 6 cylinder in a non turbo..

[@deadprivacy]

Would likely make the weight balance even worse, long block in teeny car...

[@Urchfab]

Its a good engine and I could make it fit with some serious chopping otherwise it would hang too far forward. Also it would look really out of place in there I think.

[@GetUpFalcon]

Matt what about a 2.0 from a facelift ND MX-5? Bit more torque from the extra displacement but 180hp at 7,500hp! In stock trim. ITBs and exhaust may provide a bit more power and all the noise.

[@Leofred2000]

3l duratec engine?

[@markwalton8644]

This! Rocketeer sell this Conversion for MX5's. 250+ bhp NA Great sound and lighter than the Original Engine!!

[@davethedog007]

I was miles out 😂. Ever since the very early videos I’ve been thinking about the V8 swaps they do to MX5’s in the States, but I don’t think that would suit it now. I know it’s been done to death on KZbin but I don’t think you could be a K20 swap at the moment. Have one of them on ITB’s that would be epic.

[@dsvejones2122]

What about a honda v6 bolted to the mx5 box crapenginering already do the adapters fot the box also do tubeler subframes with the right mounts its a no briner

[@FORDLYFAOTEAROA]

4A-GZE with a pulley upgrade would be awesome, hopefully you go saab or volvo conversion.

[@Hutchnike]

It's a tough call, i have a NA 106 (200Hp) Turbo'd 106 (Circa 400 Hp) I love driving the NA but the turbo'd one is night and day on the track. Partly to do with the Satchell Engineering suspension, plated Gripper bigger brakes over the GAZ coilovers, Quaife ATB diff, 306 Gti6 brakes in/on the NA. Maybe with some suspension upgrades and chassis setup will help with the extra weight when cornering? Mentioned already, K20/24 might be the way to go, find the extra NA ummf you seek?

[@mk2lewis]

Do the scales have adjustable feet to level them? I’m thinking about buying the same, seems like a great budget option 😃

[@baxdesign]

My vote would be for a Honda S2000/F20C if they can still be found or a K swap, otherwise a warmed up Duratec would look the part and go ok from what I understand.

[@meXicossie]

Yup that’s the reason I refuse to put a turbocharged engine in my Mk1 I enjoy driving my car & like to be able to drive flat out, everyone keeps saying to go turbo but nope…. It takes away the character of the car

[@Loztown]

You can’t put anything old in there. You’ve got a modern ECU. You need the best N/A 4 pot there is: K20a2 I’ve put one in my aw11 mr2, and it makes the right noises but it’s a rocket! It screams like a race car, and if you want to go faster… pick your poison. There’s more mods for k swaps than most engines combined.

[@Loztown]

ITBs of course

[@meXicossie]

I suggest a 2.0 Ti-VCT duratec with a little tuning & you can average close to what you are making with that turbo engine

[@mattsnotfound]

5 cylinder Volvo, cheep and loads on ebay

[@mrslowly9985]

Just chuck a rover V8 in it! Immense sounds, decent power but also wouldn't look out of place under the hood!

[@davidlee4966]

How about a 2.5 duratec with ITBs?, a good unit revs well and makes good power and torque and it will look the part.

[@davidlawrencebanks4610]

Surprising this one? But I've never been round a track in my life, I've always wanted acceleration. Nice to see you again bruv..... LAG....

[@Urchfab]

Its a lot of fun in a straight line if that floats your boat but I get bored of that pretty quick. Cheers

[@cam3002]

In total agreement at your statement of keeping it normally aspired. I'm a track day instructor and race a first gen MX-5 with the 1.6. I truly enjoy my car, lightly modified to meet the racing rules and rev's higher. On the more technical tracks in my area, I'm quicker than many of the cars with twice and triple my power levels.

[@jamesslade554]

As long as there is enough MX5 left, the Jag V6 will fit...

[@iancooper5615]

I said it on Facebook, XE all the way 💪🏼👍🏼

[@Urchfab]

Defo one of my favourite engines.

[@stevensmi1167]

ROTARY ZOOM ZOOM do it as a half way swap till you find something more suitable smiles for 65000 miles till a rebuild lol

[@Urchfab]

Don't think I get through any sound testing with one those noisy little things. would sound cool though.

[@glennwoods2462]

Very sorry to hear you have to move Shop again..... Cosworth RS500 engine swap ?

[@Urchfab]

I'm used to it now bud. Those ran a Yb turbo engine, rare and expensive!

[@johngibson3837]

Get it back to NA and enjoy

[@-MacCat-]

It's been a while since I've visited this channel but I'm glad the almighty Algorithm pointed me back here. I'll be interested to see what you pick from the myriad of great engines available.

[@Blortt5000]

Put a BMW K1600 in it

[@scoobysean555]

290 bhp per ton

[@Urchfab]

Thanks

[@EleanorPeterson]

Please note, I'm an old-school petrolhead and THIS COMMENT IS MEANT AS A JOKE! "Hey, why not make it an EV? The Teslamic faithful would flock to your KZbin channel and make you really, really rich! Goooo, Elon! Yay!!!" (🙄)

[@mej6519]

vauxhall red top on itb's or k24 on itb's.

[@philtucker1224]

Try a supercharger instead Matt, you get a lot more bottom end power.

[@ianthebastard8128]

Honda K20... Yummy

[@michaelmoore1403]

Another Volvo 5 banger?

[@gsh3159]

937kg.

[@animal_engineering]

Hayabusa, ha ha. Must say I do like the sound of many engines better as N/A compared to the same turbo'd

[@marty3469]

K swap 2.4 it

[@neilmchardy9061]

What about bike carbs?

[@Urchfab]

Been there done that. Overrated if you ask me

[@beltdrivetypea6534]

Time to hop on the k train

[@gsharp4396]

I would suggest a bike engine, would save a lot of weight, Revs mad, Sequential shift.

[@terencehawkes3933]

A Hyabusa engine is one of the biggest screamer bike engines but it only has 187 HP which is less than what he is running now. But the biggest problem is its low torque. Like all bike oversquare high-revving bike engines it is low on torque at only 110 ft/lb, so it's probably not going to give him what he needs.

[@Urchfab]

I've always wanted to do a bike engined car but the torque is an issue.

[@harryjones94]

No, I don't like the way turbos make a car feel, drive, sound or the complication of the system. Prefer NA every time.

[@planespeaking]

Take it out. You're not racing on time. No idea what to replace it with though?

[@clutchkikn.]

Is it road legal

[@Urchfab]

I only use for track really.

[@philtucker1224]

The weight of the car is the total of the four corner weights. (Did he say what that was?)🤔

[@vwbeetle5578]

If u want a fun motor to put in then use the engine from a toyota altezza the 3sge. 😎

[@coderedmotorsports]

Duratec with ITBs

[@1one3_Racing]

If the front end dropped by 10mm and you have 7k springs that means the turbo kit was 70kg?

[@Urchfab]

Maybe not 10mm then but enough to notice.

[@williamholmes9129]

I have something simular, a RWD steel bodied mini with a turbo'ed zetec weighing in at 875kg

[@Urchfab]

Sounds cool!

[@mikeyg4297]

Either supercharge the engine instead or fit a 2.5 litre engine

[@oliverstone9688]

Why not build a 270hp NA “k” series engine. Obviously the Honda kind not the river kind ✌🏻

[@chrislarn8675]

guessing 1.075 tons

[@davethedog007]

Ok people have said 1150 and 950. I’m going with 1050kg.

[@XJRRIDER]

You don't use this car on the road .... so why don't you put a Air to Air Cooler on the Turbo system?? save a lot of fluids and weight. And for what power band is this turbo made? maybe go to a smaller turbo that spins sooner so less lag , or to add more down end power en little bit more weight put a smaller turbo before the bigger turbo.

[@brw2110]

1150kg

[@toxaq]

1080kg

[@martinsmallwood9605]

K24.

[@doOf3r]

'Supercharger'.

[@SpaceShipDeathstar]

Next Problem: Blower surge and parasitic drag

[@tompirozek4490]

950kg