Softy BP4W head
 

Hi Guys,

I have a 2004 NB SE that I'm currently putting a built engine in and I have been informed by the machine shop that the existing head is very soft and not salvageable.
I need to locate a replacement and despite searching on the forum and through parts catalogues haven't been able to explicitly determine which heads are interchangeable with the SE.

It looks like an NB8A head may be but I thought I better check with the experts first, any ideas?

If looking for direct replacement, you need a Vvt head from any 2001+ Miata excluding the Mazdaspeed turbos.

Thanks for your reply, but aren't the MX5 NB SE and Mazdaspeed Miata the same car?

Yeah, where are you Sabot?

The ADM MSM was labelled SE. It is an NB8A head, ie no VVT. That is, same same SE-MSM.

No reason you can't use a VVT, if your ECU will support it. If it is a stock car, you need to chase the correct head.

Hi mate,

I am in QLD.

This is the answer I was looking for, the car is not standard (Link ECU, big turbo etc).
Looking at the EPCs they looked the same (I was looking at a '99 NB8A head) but I wanted to be sure before I went hunting for one.

good catch and my apologies. I didn’t know that about the AUS cars.

You would if read my sig.

I presume you are on a phone. I believe they trim the content they show.

Sabot, you wear the green? I'm down south, also running Link in a built SE. Maybe start a build thread? My build thread if you too can't see the link.

Gee Emm,

I am up North in QLD, not sure what you mean about wearing the green, we wear Maroon up here!
I will give your build thread a look, thanks for the assistance.

P.S. if you come across or know of a head for sale that would suit, let me know!

I know someone who had at least a dozen or so, but they were all useless for the same reason yours is too! Then he retired, and I I don't know what he has done with them, he was waiting until he could do a batch in an industrial oven to try and regain the strength in them, but AFAIK that never happened.

There is an engine+gearbox on FB marketplace basically for free, selling for little more than the ask for a 6-speed. IIRC it is up your way, GC I think. It is probably VVT as it is attached to a 6-speed though, but with the Link that is no problem, in fact my previous tuner preferred the VVT for turbos.