Rocketeer MX5 Review - Is This Jaguar V6 Powered Miata The Perfect Sports Car Mazda Never Built?

Today I am driving "The Rocketeer" - no, not the 1991 Disney movie. This is an MX5 with a heart transplant, featuring the 3L Jaguar AJ30 V6, as seen in the S-Type.
The aim of the project was to improve on the marvellous MX5, without ruining it - but has Bruce Southey achieved that?
www.rocketeerca...
#Mazda #MX5 #V6
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[@Jerakeen2826]

The reason the turbo oil feed was there was because the engine was originally fitted to the 323 turbo

[@gavinivers8941]

Agreed! DOHC Turbo 4x4 ,they even rallied it.

[@johngriffiths2881]

Engine bay is a work of art. Please take my money... And yes, the movie.

[@keithjackson4985]

😆 lol 😆 hilarious. Love that statement!

[@arisaga822]

Glorious as it is, I would love to see a Busso in one...

[@supportdesk7703]

Every car benefits from a Busso ;-) But please put mine in a Stratos replica..

[@markwalton8644]

Although it would be heavier and less powerful!!

[@Rascularvideos]

@@markwalton8644 I was just gonna say this. My presumption is that the Busso would be quite a bit heavier.

[@Element_y]

You read my mind I thought the exact same thing

[@weeirishpete]

@@markwalton8644 Why heavier? Busso is all alloy as well is it not? It would be down on power, at least as standard - but they are tuneable. Need me one of these Rocketeer coversions

[@andy96007]

I visited Rocketeer with my mx5 to consider a restomod and drove this car, it was utterly fantastic. Bruce is brilliant to talk to and gave me the full afternoon to go through plans and put a quote together. Personal circumstances, other projects and indeed COVID travel restrictions in Wales have got in the way, it is on hold for now, but I highly recommend Rocketeer. This video is making me want to get on with it again!

[@mrminiature11]

Have you done it?

[@Boric78]

I don't know bruce or his company. But he is obviously a genius.

[@davespooney8472]

Love the Uncle Buck jacket. You’re just a trilby and a cigar away from greatness 👍

[@Rascularvideos]

I was trying to pin down who he reminded me of in that coat, which I like. You’ve absolutely nailed it and made me chuckle. God that film takes me back.

[@davespooney8472]

@@Rascularvideos Haa same here, I’ve seen it in a few vids and it just clicked this morning 😂 great film 👍

[@S-Ltd1000]

Uncle Buck lol. Cannot now be unseen. 🤣

[@Rascularvideos]

@@S-Ltd1000 I’m picturing JayEmm turning up at the party in that belching land yacht.

[@davespooney8472]

Yeah, with a pair of bolt cutters and a drill 😂

[@carlmarkwyatt]

Alex from CarThrottle .... "its a Porsche derived V6!" haha

[@lewis72]

The Jag V6 has different, Jag designed, heads and different, variable length, inlet tracts.

[@PlayinWithMahWii]

@@R400TVR Yes, but it's not anymore. It's been practically butchered. You can turn a steak into ground beef, but not the other way around.

[@marvetheman]

@@PlayinWithMahWii Butchered? Not hardly, I had an Escape with the 3.0 Duratec, 260,000 miles and still ran like a champ. The later 3.0 V6 in the Escape and the Fusion, here in the States, made the same 240 HP as this Jag unit. You can pick one up for next to nothing, there are jillions of them.

[@jeeves_uk]

CT has just become a podcast these days 🤣

[@mugdays]

@@PlayinWithMahWii Is ground beef not "derived" from a cow???

[@keithjackson4985]

As usual, your commentary and flow are presented in a classic old school british way. Not boring, especially considering vehicles I'm not particularly interested in. Watching, I became interested in this vehicle.

[@JayEmmOnCars]

Thankyou

[@AutoVidzzz]

*Your

[@keithjackson4985]

@@AutoVidzzz Yea.

[@AutoVidzzz]

@@keithjackson4985 😂

[@keithjackson4985]

@@AutoVidzzz You got me. Made a grammatical error. My bad...... Lol😳

[@duckman5642]

This channel just gets more and more interesting 👍

[@Fee.1]

2,000 for the labor is a steal. You’re right though, you’re still left with a Miata and the best way to buy one of these is when someone else sells theirs 😂

[@davidstuart4915]

soo. using a good, used standard Jag V6, adding an exhaust + presumably less than £2k labour (far less upgrading) means a £2k Miata could be a V6 Miata for £5k? - Now that kinda makes some sense and a queue should form, which may later lead on to Carbon plenum upgrades - over £20k for a £2k Miata with a nice engine...well, ...not so much IMHO

[@Fee.1]

@@davidstuart4915 no, close, but the labor doesn’t factor in they’re cost if the rocketeer hardware they created to adapt the Miata chassis to the jag v6. Idk what that cost is, but yea once you have an engine and that it’s you can “only” spend 5k more. I know of cars where 20k is the cheapest you’re getting a motor swap done for like the 911, 10k if you’re special

[@Fee.1]

@@davidstuart4915 for an LS swap, and the LS is cheap, it’s the labor and fabrication that kills you

[@tngtacticalmiata1219]

You have a point.

[@tngtacticalmiata1219]

@@Fee.1 And the transmission and rear end and driveshaft and radiator and engine management and bracing....I could go on but.... you get the point. To do an LS swap in a Miata, the engine is the cheapest part. The problem is there's SO much work involved to make the rest of the car able to handle that engine without self destructing. Not to mention, when you're done you have something that is arguably over-powered. Great for roasting tires but....

[@marcdelaunay1]

There’s that trench coat again, like some Nordic noir detective from the eighties lol, love it! Great car. Great vid as ever sir!

[@JayEmmOnCars]

Wallander does cars

[@marcdelaunay1]

@@JayEmmOnCars hahaha. There’s a series there mate!! I’ll Pitch it to the beeb with you mate!!!🤣✌️

[@RobManser77]

Reminds me of the first MGB V8. The standard 4cyl engine had a heavy iron block, so that too had the weird situation where the aluminium block V8 was the same weight. I own a racing one, and I’m now considering swapping to one of these Mazdas for the road instead. I also happen to live only a few miles from Rocketeer’s workshops.

[@markdoyle6414]

That engine and gearbox in an RX8, could be both good and sensible.

[@jase_llan]

As an alternative, a built 2.3 Duratec I4 will get you similar power and the extra cost of building the engine is saved in the fact it can drop right into the car - at least, as I have it; the RX-8 and NC MX-5 share a front subframe design, and the NC MX-5 comes with a variation of the Duratec.

[@chrisjean-guillaume6456]

no way youre fitting a rotary in there easily

[@brianiswrong]

Number plate is a nice touch.👍

[@timorgano]

I love the look of that engine. It's a beautiful setup, and fits perfectly in that engine bay. I'm just not sold on the noise, sadly, and that's such a shame

[@crazehayes1]

Have to agree. I was looking forward to the sound but to me it sounds like a normal mx5 with a horrid thing screwed on to the tip of the exhaust.

[@markir9]

That was what I thought too! I wonder what it would sound like with the Racing Beat exhaust (which certainly improves the sound of the 4 cylinder motor)?

[@metalgt6828]

All ya need is a different tailpipe, right?

[@fteoOpty64]

Now, this car makes that glorious noise.

[@JayEmmOnCars]

Does indeed. Sounds more straight six than vee

[@3ducs]

The exhaust sounds too blatty to my ears, sounds cheap. The British car industry relied for many years on an American V8, the Buick 215/3.5 aluminum engine found in Rovers etc. Back in the day it was popular to put Ford 260/289 engines in Volvo P1800, there was even a book published on how to do it. Even Rolls Royce was not immune to American V8s, for many years they used what was basically a large Buick V8. GM used to have a 60 degree V6 2.8/3.0, a compact engine that would be right at home in a MX-5 engine bay. Racers could get them with aluminum blocks, I doubt they would be any heavier than a Mazda engine, mate them to the Mazda NC transmission and you would have a pretty good package.

[@subarnosinha8042]

@@3ducs the Rolls Royce/Bentley 6¾litres L-series V8 (1959-2020) was designed in-house by RR, not by any American company. It's sheer size and displacement may confuse other people into thinking of it as an American big block, but it was completely designed and developed by RR.

[@3ducs]

@@subarnosinha8042 My research bears out your assertion, I fell prey to the earlier rumors. The only American connection seems to be with hydraulic tappets. RR came to America and bought machine tools to make them, but in the process improved metallurgy to make them more reliable. The American 215ci/3.5l V8 did turn out to be very popular with British manufacturers, it is a sweet little V8, the Oldsmobile version was thought to be the best of the American variants. I bought one of those engines that was to be used in a Volvo P1800e, sadly that project never came to fruition. Those engines had a very nice exhaust note.

[@richardharrold9736]

@@3ducs the Rolls-Royce V8 shared its bore spacing with the Buick 455, nothing else, and the Rolls-Royce engine existed first, it dated back to 1959. The old Buick nailhead of that era was entirely different.

[@Sir-Prizse]

As the owner of a stock MX-5 NB from 1999 with the 1.6 I am absolutely delighted, what a great job and great sound. That's why I've always been excited about the NB, it looks like the baby of a Jaguar E-Type and now it also sounds like a Jaguar.

[@stuartmorris1689]

Brilliant work as per usual. My mate Mat watson loooooves Mx5's. He's had one for years and I'll be sharing this beautiful honker with him. "Jay?.....You did good"

[@JayEmmOnCars]

Thanks Stuart

[@smilepermile8165]

Ever since you showed us that you had this car on instagram and on the livestream, I've been eager to find out your thoughts on Rocketeer's MX-5! Personally, it would be the dream to get the proper coupe version of the NB MX-5 (sold in Japan only, 179 examples) and do this V6 swap... I'd probably be paranoid of taking it out to 8/10ths because of how rare those cars are :/

[@davog1946]

1.6’s has oil feed from from the factory because they were designed to be turbo charged, then they changed their mind.

[@giulioposenato9332]

Actually the engine came from the 80’s Mazda 323 Gt that was indeed turbo, they just removed the turbo and adapted it to be mounted longitudinally. That’s why you can turbo it without changing the internals until you reach the critical 280bhp (on an healthy engine). And then BBR turboed it again in the mid 90’s giving the 1.6 around 150 bhp.

[@Retrobeemer]

@@giulioposenato9332 I used to drive the BBR test mule when I worked for Mazda UK looking after their press fleet. It was properly quick as it ran more boost than the conversion they finally offered. We nearly wrote it off over a hump backed bridge in Staplehurst though.

[@global_nomad.]

must be one of your best reviews for a while...really feeling the engagement and satisfaction...had a look at rocketeer a few years back and made some enquiries but other priorities took over. would look again though

[@JayEmmOnCars]

Thanks

[@marcuscopley131]

Beautiful little sports car, finally has an engine it’s chassis always deserved. Wish Rocketeer would transform the the NC with the same installation

[@sportzntouring]

What a little pocket rocket! I bet that was a lot of fun! That engine bay looks epic!!

[@johnacteson5503]

Mad. I was looking on the rocketeer website last night. I'd love this in my Harvard which has been sitting in my garage for the last 8 years.

[@acchaladka]

Yours is the reason I decided not to go with the Rocketeer kit a few years ago, all that work and it’s still a five or ten year-old interior. Your channel is also a reason I decided I want a Fiat 124 but boosted reasonably...then I got t-boned, we got a Tesla, and the pandemic hit. I suppose in three years I’ll want something else for fun. It is regrettable that Rocketeer doesn’t do more car models and isn’t located here in Montréal. Thanks for the blast Jay!

[@timprice5]

That was part of the reason i'm also not going to have one in my Mk2.5. It's otherwise an immaculate car (one of the last Euphonic editions) but when I can get a really nice, much newer 987 Boxster S for £15k-20k, this becomes an expensive outfit. Not knocking what Bruce has done, as it's one of the best and cleanest MX-5 engine swaps i've ever seen (some oil starvation issues aside, i hear!) but as Jay says, when the car is otherwise worth at best £2-3k it's very much a false economy.

[@swiper1818]

Sounds like a superb conversion and decent value for what you get

[@ovaload0019]

this video is like a song that i cant stop listening to, absolutely beautiful car. Love they way you have those segments for just hearing the car!!

[@GW8419]

That thing is perfection 👌 This channel just gets better all the time. Great stuff.

[@Ben-Rogue]

I love these conversions, but I can't help but feel that Mazdas 2.0 K-series V6 would have been a good affordable option too. It's a transverse design, but there have been a few fitted to MX-5s. The engine itself can be gotten pretty cheap, is smooth, high revving, fairly punchy and sounds amazing!

[@ingrampowell9111]

Ben I, too, should prefer a Mazda engine in a Mazda, but assume that the (RWD) Jaguar swap would be more straightforward. Using hybrid mounts and the original Jaguar engine management tune, it surely need not cost anything like this rich-boy's swap!

[@Jo3man96]

The jaguar v6, being based on the ford duratec v6, will be easier to get parts for too, given that there’s a good chunk of MX5 owners that use them every day and it’s their only car.

[@Marine475]

@@ingrampowell9111 This engine was also fitted to Mazda 6 cars and the heads look very much like a mazda design. I would argue it's in fact a Ford block with Mazda heads engine fitted to a Jaguar. I'm doing this swap at the moment and it's quite cheap however I'm designing and fabricating myself.

[@ingrampowell9111]

@@Marine475 You are incorrect. The "Jaguar" engine is the original engine which Ford bought from Porsche, made redundant when the 968 was not replaced. It is a modular design, the v8 destined for the first abandoned Panamera, and the v12 for the 928 replacement. Mazda designed their own heads with variable valve timing, and Cosworth designed a "budget" head for Ford, which does not have VVT. Neither Jaguar nor Ford had any significant design input in any of these engines.

[@Marine475]

@@ingrampowell9111 So a ford block with mazda heads. Thanks for the input.

[@Gardus82]

I'm doing the Rocketeet swap, almost finished now, and I come back time and time again to your video, as it was one of the reason I pulled the trigger...

[@andrewnorris5415]

Turbo/Supercharging also stresses an old engine too much. Look at Phil Mk1. A fine example of how expensive that can be.

[@drewwagar]

If you keep it below 250bhp you're fine. It folks who push them too far that break them. Mine has been supercharged for 10 years. No issues at all.

[@R03333]

It's a question of how much not just because it's forced induction. You can have 200-250bhp all day long and have no problems, get a bit greedy and up the boost and you shorten the likely lifespan.

[@gregblack3860]

250 at the wheels is pretty good in these cars .

[@thebaphomet9436]

I got a mx5 nbfl on 63k miles do I turbo it or just keep drifting it as is because tbh it sits on the limiter most of the time

[@daveb5211]

Bruce is really a top man. If you want to upgrade your mx5 then you'll be in very safe hands.

[@jamiefisher1430]

Really appreciate the detailed driving impressions. I'd love to see more V6 options for the current ND generation MX-5 - so far, there's a LFX 3.7 V6 from the Chevrolet Camaro but I don't really like the way it sounds. This AJ30 V6 sounds like it revs more 'freely' than that GM unit.

[@jamiefisher1430]

Although if a company like BBR GTi can come up with a ITB naturally aspirated tuning package for the ND, I'd be happy enough with that.

[@cliffwill]

no, the lfx revs very freely. 7200 redline. very, very flat torque curve. a better engine all around than the jag. but, you'll need to replace the entire drivetrain.

[@jamiefisher1430]

@@cliffwill 'a better engine all around than the jag.' - define 'better'. If the LFX conversion involves using a lightweight flywheel unlike the Rocketeer, thats not a fair assessment to make from this comparison

[@2stepsaway820]

Could look at Kia's twin-turbo 2.9l unit

[@carreviewer6345]

I think mazda should've had a v6 option I understand that the point of the miata is being light weight but they could take out some other features to make it as light weight as possible while having a beautiful v6

[@chromedoranges]

Fantastic work by Rocketeer and a great video.

[@MrMairu555]

Your opening statement is so true. Spent my yoof swapping engines in and out of Mk1 & Mk2 Escorts, and later Sierras. Swapping Kent, Pinto, Essex, and Cologne engines, gearboxes, and even axles between them all was so simple. I remember the 2.8i Capri motor slotted into my mates 2.0 Sierra pretty much "plug'n'play", and even the inner wings were pre-marked for things like the V6 airbox and fuel meter... you could virtually throw a motor into an engine bay, and it would fit itself back in the day!

[@superjosh3864]

That sounds fantastic :D Bruce is now working on a MK3 NC version, which is really tempting

[@mmrahman82]

Nice to see a proper indepth review on a Rocketeer car. I've seen the car throttle vids but that mainly focused on the conversion side of things. Also nice to know that Rocketeer will also restomod the car to your specs.

[@chrisdavidson911]

Always thought they should've given it the MX-3's V6 as well as the regular MX-5 engines

[@vossler360]

As I understand, Mazda did briefly consider a V6 option for the second generation MX-5 during its development in the 1990s, although I'm not sure why Mazda decided against it. As far as V6 options go, the only problem with the 1.8 V6 from the MX-3 was that it made around the same power as the 1.8 four, something around 130 bhp.

[@JowoHD]

@@vossler360 but the noise... worth it

[@crazehayes1]

I had 323f 2.0 v6. 140bhp. Very characterful and nice sounding.

[@MalcolmXpat]

I though the mx3 was a v6...

[@crazehayes1]

@@MalcolmXpat it is

[@rakeshraghunadhan1080]

A Porsche derived engine - Alex Kersten

[@ailestriker9888]

That name screams big bang theory

[@Pr0vost]

@@ailestriker9888 Couldn’t have insulted him any more

[@acchaladka]

@@ailestriker9888 Sod.

[@ross6460]

Great and fair review. Actually I think it is great value comparing the costs I have had running a couple of ferraris, and I agree it is all about the driving experience. I suspect the clutch and gearbox has had a hard life considering the number of times it has been launched on other review videos so I would forgive that issue.

[@charles5399]

This is something i have considered for my Mk1. However the cost is a major obsticle currently. I have no intention of getting rid of the car for a long time, so i somewhat hope this will be something i can posisble do in the future. It looks and sounds absolutely marvellous!

[@Abogado-Del-Diablo]

I agree this kit is extortionate I would suggest to do some research there are a number of engine options including Nissan VG30 12v and most Toyota V6’s including the 1MZFE that would work. They would all marry up to the Std MX5 gearbox. I am doing a V6 swap on my mk2.5 and have costed it out at less than £5k. Good luck

[@Marine475]

I'm finishing doing this swap, however I have designed and fabricated everything myself with a lot of off the shelf (junkyard) parts.

[@eoghanhennessy15]

Point on the suspension setup, if it was stiffer it would rely a lot more on the tyre. So a progressive setup is probably allowing that 205 square setup to work quite well. Plus nobody wants a stiff car on UK roads :-D great review overall, think I agree in terms of £20k versus other used performance car options... but if you just have to have it... you could do a lot worse.

[@barry5138]

Great channel Jay. We need a video on high mileage motoring, most suitable cars and maintenance required

[@RobWhittlestone]

My pristine 2009 True Red NC 2.0 Sport with sports exhaust and only 30k miles sounds great - but I would LOVE that Rocketeer V6 in my car. What a dream! That's music! All the best, Rob in Switzerland

[@UKfromadrone]

this is what CarThrottle's Alex could never achieve! A fully finished, running, engine swapped v6 mx5!

[@stevechristian7477]

He's had a complete running and driving v6 mx5 for well over a year now?

[@Lazy_Jay_Racing]

Love it 😉👍 a friend of mine is currently working on building/converting his MX5 in to a Rocketeer v6. 👍

[@colinmclean2523]

"...joyeous menage a trois of motoring pleasure" Excelling yourself there JayEmm! I want one.

[@RzogL]

This is what the MX-5 should have been like from the start. From the factory, it only ever got the performance it deserves with the recent 180 hp ND. I always thought the NA in particular should go like a baby RX7 (howzzat for a Mazda swap? Stick a wankel into an MX5!). This example appeals to me far more than an S2K, there is nothing wrong with the interior as far as I'm concerned, but the reason I never considered buying one (apart from insufficient crash protection) is the propensity of these cars to rust. As a restomod it would make sense, if they galvanise the chassis. Still, it looks like great fun to drive. BTW The Rocketeer is a truly wonderful film and although somewhat Disneyfied, I think I even prefer it to Dave Stevens' 1985 comic book, which is also fantastic and helped bring Bettie Page back from cultural oblivion.

[@Silverhks]

I have been in the planning stages of swapping the other way for awhile. This v6 into an rx8. Finances have put it in the back burner but I'm hoping to get it moving soonish. Project cars though... 😉

[@RzogL]

@@Silverhks Yeah, the big issue with RX- rotaries is reliability, so going the other way is understandable. I have heard of Americans LS-swapping RX-7 FDs, but I don't understand why they don't just buy a Corvette in the first place. Yours should be pretty sweet when it's done!

[@AndrewDobie]

I've just started my conversion - the engine and subframe arrived today! Great review as always :)

[@Team3Games]

Great review. I've actually been slowly building my own Rocketeer conversion (MK1 in British Racing Green) and am about to get it on the road. To that end I haven't driven it further than out of the garage and back in. Agree with your comments about it not being the most rational choice - I'm not a die-hard MX5 fan (although it's not my first) but I'm definitely a "quirky petrolhead" :)

[@Fee.1]

knew he knocked it out of the park day 1 when I saw this years ago I hope he’s selling a good bit

[@chrisbaxter5041]

Definitely one of your best reviews 👌

[@CarBore]

Put it in an NA and you have a deal 😁 I'm a bit biased but.

[@cirian75]

Thats what Phil is

[@CarBore]

@@cirian75 I know, there's also a few more NAs kicking about with it. I'm not jealous at all!

[@peterwood2633]

It is naturally aspirated. What you on about

[@TheFlyingClutchman]

@@peterwood2633 he meant the NA mx-5 cos the vid has the NB 😭

[@CarBore]

@@TheFlyingClutchman Yep 👍 The price is the only issue 😂 would have it in a heartbeat if it cost £4.50..

[@grahamnutt8958]

That soundtrack is reminiscent of a classic 60's Sports car; even the Jaguar saloon sounds rather similar imo (see the car chase in Callan - 1974). Cracking review. As for "Some of you might not want to hear me...." - lmfao 🤣🤣.

[@Erebus-PCFX]

Mazda could have put their amazing K-series 2.0 V6 in the MX-5. They did it in the MX-3 (albeit in 1.8 form) and it was amazing. Their K V6 is really a free revving, superb sounding, reliable, overbuilt and lightweight engine. It would have been perfect. Also, James, you should try a Mazda 323F Type-R V6 or even a Mazda Xedos 6 V6, rare gems that have almost disapeared but just unique experiences.

[@desertwindauh]

That was a brilliant review, the best antidote for the Focus and Nissan errors of judgement that slipped through the net.

[@DanLMH]

Superb work as usual James!

[@mindspinn311]

Also, the B6 and BP engines were designed to be turbocharged, but it has to be done right. The FM2 turbo kit is worth every penny and with the smaller turbo option have almost no lag or lack of throttle response. It drives how I wish every factory turbo four cylinder was tuned.

[@flush_entity]

When I first saw Rocketeer on Car Throttle, I've had my eyes on them more and more. This example is the perfect one for me as I used to own an NB miata. Now i'm highly considering a repurchase

[@ukcg348]

I'm a fan of the V6 but personally love my V8 swap! It's small with not the most amount of HP but it still drives surprisingly like a normal MX5 just with alot more Tourque would love to see more mx5s with engine swaps

[@eze8970]

Great review of a concept & v6 sound that works so well. Thanks J!

[@MrRoyck10]

This is one meaningful MX5 I would love to drive and own with a decent V6 engine, I like it a lot.

[@davidwatson4728]

"The menage a trois of motoring pleasure". Very good... 😊

[@TOFAST4YOUFOOL1]

Here in NZ they are putting V8 in them, they are a beast

[@simonbailey2151]

Great content, really enjoyed that.

[@klasseact6663]

Looks OEM in its fitment, well done👍😎❗

[@shaneweightman]

To the average person , it’s just a mx5 , bit of a sleeper car , and that appeals to me , cheers Shane uk 🇬🇧

[@rafagelzok1746]

I have Boxster 986 2.7, but this MX5 with Jag engine is really great car!

[@Hypersonik]

Fit a proper LSD to your boxster and enjoy

[@sergiopereira9546]

a v6 is probably the best way of not ruining the mx5 balance ,it would be awesome if somebody built it with the lotus/toyota 3.5 v6 supercharged

[@JimCraig_riced]

The version from the is/gs 350 would be a riot.

[@etherboy3540]

Interesting video. Here in the US Flyin Miata has sold many v8 kits along with comprehensive instructions and a very detailed parts list. But as an MX-5 owner I've always felt like 400-500 HP is too much, and that 10 gallon gas tank won't last very long if you get the revs up. To me, 300 naturally aspirated horsepower is a much better match for this car. I'm not sore you can get the Rocketeer or the base engine very easily here in the US, but V8 Roadsters sells a similar kit using the GM LFX V6 engine, which also has around 300 HP.

[@JayEmmOnCars]

400+ hp is just gonna be too much for one of these

[@vossler360]

I think that part of the appeal of the Rocketeer kit is that it retains the remainder of the Miata powertrain, as the output the AJ3.0 is still within the torque ratings of the transmission and differential.

[@simonbussey7530]

Nice. But I can't help but think a trip to BBR and a supercharger install would give you that linear power delivery (all be it without the soundtrack), for a fraction of the cost.

[@WhiteMouse77]

Stunning engineering! Applause!!!!

[@perjian1697]

Turbocharging doesn't always create lag in response. It all comes down to proper turbo selection for intended use and of course tuning. It is entirely possible to be turbocharged and have a negligible amount of lag that would be noticeable to most.

[@RobertERensch]

Great video! Love the series two Miata. The upgrades sound like a logical factory option extension to me. They did the Mazdaspeed turbo for a year... I would like very much to convert mine. I’d have to have it restored first. A touch of rust here and there. ✌️

[@bradw922]

I hope this is California legal. I have had my beloved NA since 1992 and it is approaching 230000 miles. I am not concerned about resale value as I plan to be buried with this car, so it would be a nice option if the engine ever goes. Great review James. The reviews always are, but anytime with a Miata is extra special

[@bigglesfm]

Very interesting vid. You're right about the old days of engine changes especially minis. Happy days. I can't help thinking how nice these cars would be by dropping in a lotus twin cam. Wouldn't it look nice ?

[@stevehedger9909]

Just finished mine and wow what a power plant with out all them turbo damaging money pits pops and whistle

[@DutchBane]

Imagine this with a vr6😍😍

[@the1beard]

Great review 👍

[@simontedcoram8005]

Love the content. I enjoy the eye for detail and facts. The depth of review and also the angle of review(I very much agree with you). I just find the story a bit flat. Would just love some ups and downs in the journalistic storytelling.

[@jacksaul6234]

Absolutely fantastic review as always. Making me reconsider my KLDE swap in mine

[@richardharrold9736]

The Mazda K-series V6 is a fine engine, especially the KL-ZE. The Jag AJ30 is perhaps a little more relaxed in character, but I've seen videos of KL-ZE swapped MX-5s with ITBs screaming up into five figures of RPM, and they sound fantastic...

[@michaelw6277]

This is the Miata I dream of. That engine is glorious.

[@SPENJERE]

Great review, Rocketeer seems to have the quality and the appeal nailed down. That being said, It appears that the US home of Rocketeer is no more, so sad. Really want to see an example of one of these swaps here. Mazda " Miata " = BEST CAR EVER MADE ! I'm so glad I drive one of these little gems ❤, she will be mine until I die...

[@cadeng8168]

Thanks for referencing my favorite movie:)

[@jamesstaggs4160]

That even looks like a tiny Jaguar XK. Never noticed how similar they looked.

[@mindspinn311]

6:12 Yes!!! Criminally underrated film!

[@jacobfoster6773]

Although I doubt I'd ever turbo my own 5, I disagree that a turbo ruins the car providing it's tuned correctly, and tastefully done with an upper limit of say 200 whp. These engine's were quite literally designed with turbo's in mind for the Mazda Familia!

[@timprice5]

Or Supercharge it - which i've done to mine and it offers bags of torque low down and just under 200bhp which is plenty for a car that size.

[@glynnc3488]

Great review, I don't know about others, but I would much prefer to hear what it sounds like inside the car, for the driver, than it does to hear what a microphone sat next to the exhaust pipe picks up.

[@hardyschilling644]

Fun fact about that "pre drilled oil feed line": Its not there to make it easier for the tuning crowd to turbocharge the car but because the original MX-5 came out of the Mazda 323 Turbo that was, well...how to put it? Turbocharged :D Edit: Colin Ashdown beat me by a whole day...

[@X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X]

How I love the sound of the Jaguar V6 - I grew up to this music! Love the sticker at 8:42

[@X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X]

@@Anttihii It's the variation of a Ford V6.

[@rmatt375]

Interesting conversion. My brother in US was tempted by the MX5 turbo that Mazda marketed there but several of his Miata mates went down the super charging route that seemed to be popular there. I think they used to get about 250bhp out of them. But my question is about gearboxes. I have owned both the Ford ST24 and the ST220. Both had really nice V6 engines, very smooth and docile at low revs ( very little torque) but very enjoyable from 4000rpm and above. The ST24 came with a 5sp gearbox and the ST220 has a 6 speed box. I thought the 6sp would be better but I actually prefer the 5sp. Am I alone in my preference for 5 speed? The reason I feel this is because I love B road driving. The top gear is a cruising gear. On a 5 speed box I use 3rd - 4th for having fun on the B roads. On the 6sp box I need to use 4th- 5th and that's a cross plane gear change that is slower and less fun. Does anyone else out there prefer 5sp to 6sp for the same reason?

[@Dave-in-France]

Brilliant video Jay, thoroughly enjoyed it. Now that is my idea of a proper sports car - unfortunately I suspect I will never be able to afford it :-(

[@davidarter9670]

I wonder if this would work on an ND? It would be fabulous over here in Australia

[@raupenimmersatt6906]

If even the ND fits an LS engine- yeah the V6 should fit. Just search for LS Swapped ND from the bald guy driving cars in cali backroads

[@heikopanzlaff3789]

Have ND from 2016. From the visual impression in the Video my ND is faster than that V6 NB... A ND with a 18 A rotary would be nice , or with the Yamaha ( Volvo, Noble ) V8 .

[@drewwagar]

I have a supercharged mk1 mx5 as I agreed that the turbo idea ruins the car... however, this would by my ideal engine swap. To rich for the wallet alas! :) My supercharged mx5 is 210 bhp and cost me less than £4k all in!

[@drewwagar]

@@stoutain Been running for 10+ years no issues. :) The key thing isn't to boost to high so the torque doesn't break anything. I'm only running about 6-8 psi.

[@Marcke-tb1hb]

Great review (as always) and what a glorious sound. The perfect MX5.

[@perjian1697]

That a30 on single turbo with a stock manifold is an absolute beast. Saw one in a ford ranger and it ran like an absolute hot rod. LoL

[@phantomflame0658]

Yep ever since my dad had an S-Type with that engine, it's been my dream to build something like a Nissan S15 with a single turbo AJ30 at around 500hp. You can buy forged pistons and other supporting parts for cheap and it's a relatively easy engine to tear apart. I just gotta save up some dough and get it done! Should be a riot!

[@carlosalenduran4630]

Sounds fantastic I love that car

[@markwalton8644]

What a glorious, sonorous sound almost 911 boxeresque sound. And to think it gives the MX5 an 260+ bhp per ton n/a performance!! With Porsche Heritage!!!

[@grecoconduris6716]

Very nice. Sounds great. There is a kit that also puts in the all alloy GM V6 in the MX-5 too. Costa from Onelapheros has that engine and there is a guy in timeattack too. I wonder which engine is the pick?

[@chicolittle5409]

I can't remember who it was, but a KZbinr but a hellcat motor in a Miata, and that thing was scary fast.