Rocketeer V6 MX5

It looks like at least 25 kits have now been sold in the UK as of August 2017. Ā Has anyone in the MX5 OC got an order in?

http://www.rocketeerltd.com/

It would be interesting to read some first hand feedback, reviews of how the project turns out, photos, videos, etc, in due course.

They have a distributor in the US also so they have big ambitions.

Ā 

Nice

Whatā€™s not to like?

I imagine the cost of 6k for the basic kit is just the kick-off given any Mk1 would need a full (eg Meister/Mk2.5 big brake)Ā  upgrade to keep the thing on the black stuff. Whatā€™s not mentioned is whether the mills are crate enginesā€¦or reworked Iā€™d think they would fresh.

At the end of day if the whole thing ends up at 12/15k to include ensuring the tub is solid etc so what? I donā€™t know of anything (Mk1 oriented) non-FI that could deliver the aural & performance experienceā€¦leaving aside honking great V8s. If I had the dosh, Iā€™d be right in there!

Old school Alfa /poor manā€™s Ferrari-esque. Lovely!

( So long as they are all BRGā€¦eh VRB?)

Want Want Want Ā Ā 

Ā 

(11Q, 23E - or SU).

`

 

Lets not get ahead of ourselves, it is a Jaguar version of  Mondeo engine. From what I read, there is a bit of a demand from S-Type/X-type owners due to bottom end failures

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=1349006

I thought the original cost did not include a motor.

The video on their website says the engine was a Porsche design that Ford took over and developed with Cosworth. Ā The Rocketeer guys used to work for Overfinch too, so they should know what theyā€™re doing :wink:

The kit has a new cast aluminium sump with baffles so hopefully the inherent engine ā€˜issueā€™ has been sorted. Ā I guess theyā€™ve delevoped their own bespoke sump, along with many other bespoke parts in the kit.

It definitely isnā€™t a cheap upgrade but if I had the money Iā€™d be very interestedĀ 

Maybe the cost will come down once they get into mass production mode and once the orders increase. Ā At the moment they presumably need to recoup their development and tooling costs.

Porsche also did the engine in the original Seat Ibiza, as well as finessing the Rover K-series

 

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RM7qfje__U#t=228.05025

Some nonsense - but certainly gives a good flavour, especially the soundtrack. Ā 

Ā 

Thatā€™s my inheritance spent.Ā 

Rocketeer are exhibiting at the National Rally at Gaydon on 24th September so a great opportunity to see (and hear) the cars and ask questions

10mins of sheer porn. id buy that car in a heartbeatā€¦will be great to see it in the flesh at Gaydon

 

Does anyone know if the car theyā€™ll display will be complete; running with all the production parts?

Perhaps thereā€™s a source of info thatā€™s kept more current than their websiteĀ http://www.rocketeerltd.com/ but I havenā€™t seen a car in running condition beyond their original project car on throttle bodies.Ā  Something I found on Pistonheads had one buyer saying he expects his kit to be delivered in mid September.Ā  Might be a bit of a race to meet that deadline.Ā  Though Iā€™m interested, I wasnā€™t keen enough to put a grand deposit on a kit that didnā€™t then exist and so far as I can see still isnā€™t completed let alone had a decent amount of shakedown road testing.

I really do hope this kit works out and becomes a commercial success for them but Iā€™m not interested in putting that sort of money into ā€œversion 0.9ā€ of a kit followed by a series of revisions and upgrades.Ā  Kinda been there/done that years ago with the early BRP supercharger kit.

Hi,

My car is in progress at the moment, and will be the first turn key.

My MK1 was on the Rocketeer stand at Gaydon, if you were there.

Canā€™t wait to pick it up.

Then, Andy, youā€™re the MX5OC official Rocketeer spokesperson.Ā  Iā€™ve just appointed you.Ā 

Please, please keep us updated every step of the way, as many of us, myself included, will be living your experiences vicariously.

Well jell.Ā Ā  As I believe the young people say.

Ā 

Steve

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Thereā€™s a small piece about it on evo

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Congrats Andy !! Ā As Steve says please keep us updated, would be great to see/hear more about this :slight_smile:

What region are you in Andy, Iā€™m sure a lot of people would love to see your car at a future club meetĀ 

Ā 

The Evo review can be found here:

http://www.evo.co.uk/mazda/mx-5/20122/rocketeer-mazda-mx-5-v6-review-big-engine-and-big-character-for-mazdas-small

Ā 

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Brilliant.  Yeah, I bet you canā€™t wait. :slight_smile: Very much looking forward to seeing a finished version myself.  The newest EVO article still showed the prototype setup, with car running ITBs, and Iā€™ve been checking daily for any news of a finished car actually running all the production parts.

Sounds awesomeā€¦but putting this 275 bhp motor in a 25 year old car would surely involve considerably more than it appears at first glance.

Apart from the already mentioned brakes, what about transmission and suspension upgrades?

Tikkapete

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Hi Guys

I am thinking of doing this conversion to my MK1. I have talked to alot of people and done some research. But havent yet done the conversion, but here is my thinking.

The following mods should be done; Butterfly bracing. Roll Bar. Engine / front turret Bracing. Upgrade brakes, I am going for vented discs etc and braided brake pipes. Clutch is upgraded as part of package. Gearbox from 1.8 should be adequate to cope. Recommend a LSD. V6 engine weight similar to OEM Mazda. I will look at cooling as and when, maybe more modern radiator and twin fans. Suspension will be polybushed with coil overs (meister). Rack on power steering car is adequate as slightly faster than non ps.

Thats my thinking, but happy to be corrected.

I think the 1.8 brakes would be more than adequate - folks running turbo builds get by just fine with them. Same with suspension really - itā€™s wise to pop some decent suspension on any performance vehicle but even the stock is not bad.