I’ve been looking for a good coolant reroute kit for the Mk2-2,5 for ages and they are either incomplete, over priced or look home made. Even under normal driving the Mazda BP engine is prone to excessive wear on the rear (number 4) cylinder due to the compromised cooling routes, this was partly overcome from 01-05 by blocking two of the front water paths in the head gasket forcing more water to the rear of the engine. This helped but isn’t really an ideal solution as by definition it is a “Restriction” and no restriction ever helped overall flow.
I looks well made, well designed and has all the auxiliary ports you could ever need. The only advise I would give anyone else wanting to install this or any other reroute kit on an 01-05 engine is that it is advised to fit an earlier head gasket without the front flow restriction otherwise you could start having problems elsewhere.
So as I said I want to import one of these kits as I’m sure many will if they take the time to give them a look, I’m hoping that maybe a forum group purchase or a UK distributor can be arranged with 949 racing to facilitate this.
Hopefully this thread will get a lot of responses and we can get something arranged,
949 can’t do anything but I have been speaking to Johnny @ Tagiwa imports and they deal with 949 as they import their wheels. I have initially highlighted the coolant reroute, the cometic head gasket for the 01-05 with the water flow holes of the 98-01 essential if you do a reroute on the 01-05 or you will melt the rings on cylinder 1. The head gasket is available in three thicknesses depending on if it’s standard or has a turbo and finally some uprated engine mounts available for all 5’s that are a lot stiffer and help stop those missed shifts.
There are lots more parts available through 949 and depending on interest Tagiwa imports will consider making them available.
Looks like it very high price items especially if you include postage, vat and import duty from non EU country.You can approx double the cost if you include all 3 additions?Vat 20/23%, Import duty 13 to 20% and delivery well maybe 50/100 pounds depending on size/item etc
Hmm, I wonder if this might be what was wrong with my daughters Mk 2.5 1.8 after the head was rebuild when it was boiled dry. Overheated in traffic and got hot on a run and dumped its water overboard, as well as throwing up a VVT fault.
Unless you plan to give your engine a serious hammering I wouldn’t bother. Just opening up the rear plate and fitting the manifold will leave you thinking why did you bother. Then basically all it is is some flexible pipe you put a spring inside to stop it crushing and an Aluminium housing to put the thermostat in which is left flapping about the engine bay. You will likely think it looks Heath Robinson when it is fitted as well as wondering is the actual water flow is improved at all. At minimum you would want to fit a larger capacity radiator to go with it, and as stated, if you have a VVi engine it is essential that you fit the earlier gasket.