1989 NA Mazdaspeed B-Spec

madjak · Postby **madjak** » Thu Jan 16, 2014 8:19 pm

I have had this car for around 8 years and dríven around as my daily driver for 5 years before sitting in a garage for the last few... It was imported from Japan and licensed here under the old 15 year rule. It's currently in bit getting rebuilt for sprints and I'm starting to see some special bits.

First off, upon pulling out the gearbox, it has a mazdaspeed clutch plate and what I think is a light chrome moly flywheel (5kg). These are getting replaced with a 1.8 setup.

It also has a mazdaspeed ECU (written on the ECU) which makes it really rev out from around 5,500 to 8,000 (7,800?) rpm before hitting it's limiter. It seams to have different cams though I'm not sure if that is just the tune.

Other minor bits that i have noticed are the Mazdaspeed white dash, Cusco adjustable coilovers, Cusco engine brace, Cusco rear roll cage. I think it has a quick steering rack though I'm not sure what a standard should feel like, and it also has a VLSD diff.

Does anyone know if these had any different engine internals? It's hard to find out any info on them. I read somewhere they may have higher compression pistons though it was never confirmed.

NMX516 · Postby **NMX516** » Thu Jan 16, 2014 8:21 pm

zero00 on here can probably shed some light on it for you - he has one too

madjak · Postby **madjak** » Thu Jan 16, 2014 8:33 pm

NMX516 wrote:zero00 on here can probably shed some light on it for you - he has one too

Thanks, I think I read his posts on here. I'll contact him.

I also forgot to mention the car has a few stickers and badges. One in the engine bay which is a Mazdaspeed serial number, the other is a B Spec badge on the glove box, and there is a sticker on the back that says "Kumamoto Sports Factory" which I think was the name of the Mazdaspeed factory though I can't find anything else on it.

gussy · Postby **gussy** » Thu Jan 16, 2014 10:48 pm

There were a few different B-spec cars.

One was a supercharged version.

The other 2 versions were Stage 1 and Stage 2. MS11 is stage 1 and MS12 is stage 2. You can find out which stage it is by looking at the plaque on the firewall. Stage 1 had around 130bhp due to bolt ons like the mazdaspeed exhaust etc. Stage 2 had around 144bhp due to exhaust, cams and high compression pistons. Zero00 on here bought my one - it was supposed to be a Stage one but I think he said when he did a rebuild it turned out that it had different cams and pistons so maybe it was a stage 2. It also had the Kazz Mazdaspeed plate type LSD. It certainly was a fantastic car and very quick.

madjak · Postby **madjak** » Thu Jan 16, 2014 11:19 pm

Thanks heaps for that info gussy. Exactly what i've been searching for.

Part number is MS11 so stage 1 then. The diff in it was a vlsd but I have a clutch type center to install in a 1.6l housing.

Mine definitely feels like the cams are non standard but I don't really know what a standard revs like. The car runs very rich and will dirty the rear bumper after a few weeks of running. The car has only 85ks on the odometer. I dont have and plans to open up the engine. Are there other ways to find what cams it is running?

I'm running it this year in the speed series so I'll see how she goes on decent rubber and brakes.

sailaholic · Postby **sailaholic** » Thu Jan 16, 2014 11:23 pm

Why turf the 1.6 flywheel for a heavy 1.8?

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madjak · Postby **madjak** » Thu Jan 16, 2014 11:47 pm

Its a very light 1.8 flywheel @ 9lbs. I intend on putting a turbo on the car at some point so figured it needed upsizing. I had issues with the previous clutch so I have ordered a stronger pressure plate, clutch and flywheel as a kit.

hopefully it doesn't add much weight.

I was going to upgrade diff and brakes to 1.8 but after reading a bit more I figured ill keep it all stock to keep weight light.

zero00 · Postby **zero00** » Sat Jan 18, 2014 9:21 am

Thanks Gussy!!

Mine's an 8/89 build NA Eunos B-Spec, the ID plate under the bonnet is MS11-20077

The actual number built depends on who you talk to but it was a limited run and none went to the USA

#41 is in Beadford UK
#144 is in Leeds UK
#64 is in Finland

After buying from Gussy in March 2011 I had Automotive Plus in Brisbane rebuild the engine. The camshafts would not run in a standard MX5, it required new pistons that albeit had to be handbuilt and all the 'techo' stuff i'm sure Danny or the boys can tell you, port & polish, port matching [whatever that is!] etc etc

The car came out excellent, I was a little too gentle and told get the revs up!! So now after around 20,000km since the rebuild it simply flys, uses no oil, sounds great and can handle Bellthorpe Range in 2nd at 7000rpm!

For the record, every fill averages out around 7.5L/100km, sits on 15 x 6.5 'King' alloys running 205-50-15 Kumho KU36's

Give me a yell for any more info required :wink:

zero00 · Postby **zero00** » Sat Jan 18, 2014 7:38 pm

What's your location Madjak?

madjak · Postby **madjak** » Sun Jan 19, 2014 10:13 am

Hmm my car number is #144. Must be a twin!

Motor is now out and front is all in bits. I wonder if there any way to find out more info about the car like the engine internals from mazda / mazdaspeed? Do you know if you can tell what cams are in it from just taking off the timing cover?

Im not touching the engine in this rebuilt as the car has to be ready for Feb 22nd. Drives nice already.

I'm in Perth. I'll upload some photos when the car is all back together.

zero00 · Postby **zero00** » Sun Jan 19, 2014 11:41 am

madjak wrote:Hmm my car number is #144. Must be a twin!

Motor is now out and front is all in bits. I wonder if there any way to find out more info about the car like the engine internals from mazda / mazdaspeed? Do you know if you can tell what cams are in it from just taking off the timing cover?

Im not touching the engine in this rebuilt as the car has to be ready for Feb 22nd. Drives nice already.

I'm in Perth. I'll upload some photos when the car is all back together.

Perth! Make me do a long drive!! I will check the other #144, that's the one in Leeds while #41 is in Bradford UK - I have no idea about telling what camshafts are in it, Gussy would know more than me as I'm not tech minded - mine still has the original stainless steel headers and full exhaust complete with 'MAZDASPEED' engraved at the end of the exhaust

Out in it again this morning, roof down and then it started to bucket down! I just kept driving while the guy behind must have laughed his head off waiting for me to pull over - I didn't!

Gussy had a topic here, I think simply put 'GUSSY'S B-SPEC' into the search tool above and lots of pics etc there - it truly is a beautiful fun car, I have no intent on selling but if I ever do, then the agreement is that Gussy has the first offer - we made that the night I picked it up

madjak · Postby **madjak** » Sun Jan 19, 2014 1:03 pm

Cool, I had a read through some of the older posts on here regarding the b-specs including Gussy's pics of his car. My car has the same exhaust which is beautifully made. I just pulled it out yesterday and noticed the mazdaspeed stamp on the them.

When I purchased the car I thought mazdaspeed mx5s where fairly common. I had to do all the conversations to the car to get it licensed here but other than that, this is the first time I've had a good look at it mechanically.

Anyway in a few weeks she'll be up and running all restored with new trims and paint. We'll see how fast she is against some nice NBs around the track.

gussy · Postby **gussy** » Sun Jan 19, 2014 5:15 pm

I'm not sure what cams were actually in it Rodger. I just remember the guys at MX5+ saying it had different cams and that the timing was advanced around 14 degrees too I think. (Maybe the cams are Mazdaspeed ones?) Thanks for remembering our agreement too. :wink:

zero00 · Postby **zero00** » Sun Jan 19, 2014 5:44 pm

gussy wrote:I'm not sure what cams were actually in it Rodger. I just remember the guys at MX5+ saying it had different cams and that the timing was advanced around 14 degrees too I think. (Maybe the cams are Mazdaspeed ones?) Thanks for remembering our agreement too.

There were quite a few differences when they stripped it down - main was the pistons not being 'off the shelf' and that was a major delay, decisions as to whether to get them from the US but in the end an engineer here effectively 'hand made' them from other Mazda pistons. I asked the question about the camshafts and Jason said 'no way you could run them in a standard engine - I'd assume they are the originals, from 3000+ it absolutely just flys!

After almost 3 years it's still the weekend 'fun car' and averages around 200-250km a weekend, no short stop-start runs and averages 7.5L/100km

madjak · Postby **madjak** » Tue Apr 22, 2014 8:07 pm

Updates:

I have done a fair bit to the car now. here is a quick list:

Cold air intake from MX5 Mania
Lightening (race seat, removed softtop, removed aircon)
De-powered Powered Steering
Carbon Fiber Hardtop
Camber set to max
1.6l Clutch pack diff from a Mazda Familiar

and in the next week I'll be installing a 6 speed box

I'll be running my car again at Barbagallo in a few weeks time so it will be interesting if it's much quicker with the different diff and 6 speed. The CAI has made a big difference, mostly to the sound, especially with the fan units removed from the car. You can definitely here the induction suck from inside the car so I'm not sure if the car feels faster due to the sound.

Overall the car is looking pretty good now, and drives great. Just needs a little more power!