I'm a little confused on what I bought today. I decided to buy a project engine to rebuild and prep for a turbo build. I wanted another 1.6L Miata engine because I just prefer it over a 1.8L

Anyways, a friend of mine was selling his "JDM Miata Engine" whatever that means. $200 bucks and a drive across town later and it was mine. He bought it from an importer shop in Los Angeles. He thinks he recalls the guy telling him it was from a 1991 or 1992 Miata.

I looked at it more while at my house and I am not familiar with this engine at all. I tried to do some research but it's all over the place.

The valve cover has the recessed lettering of a 1.6 motor. The head has the casting B660 (From my research it's apparently a better flowing head?) The headers are a two piece tubular (Which I've heard that means 99-00 NB motor?) and the heat shield has BP5A casted into it.

The water neck is protruding forward like a 1.8 motor (unlike the 1.6 going upward) and the Cam Angle Sensor (typically on the back left side of the motor next to the coil pack) is not there. Instead there is a freeze plug. Also on the front of the valve cover there is a hole as if a sensor were to go there directly in front of the intake cam.

I can take some pictures tomorrow while there is light, but does anyone know anything about what this is?

 

sounds like an nb6c

Stating here that you like 1.6 over 1.8 is one of the fastest ways to distinguish yourself as the village idiot lol

 

Popular belief is definitely 1.8>1.6
I've never driven a turbo 1.6 or 1.8, but both N/A I always enjoyed my 1.6 more! It's possible the couple 1.8 variants I drove were just not well put together engines.. Plus I have so many spare 1.6L parts. I almost feel bad swapping to a 1.8 and not using anything I already have.

Back to the topic, the NB6C looks extremely similar. Do you happen to have any specific info or any links to something with more info? I got this motor for cheap and wasn't really looking for it. It just kind of happened. Is it even worth the time?

 

Replace "popular belief" with "cold hard fact".

 

When people say they prefer the 1.6 over the 1.8


If the freeze plug where the CAS should be is still on the intake side then it'll most likely be a NB6 engine. Not sure why you wouldn't want to swap in a 1.8 though. It's not popular belief that 1.8>1.6, it's fact.

 

 

NA, as in 1990-1997, motors are trash. Find someone with an NB to drive.

Also: this would be the first i would have heard that the NB 1.6 head castings are different.

 

To be fair, NB motors are dumpster fire trash too, along with every other 4cyl mazda has ever made. But I digress.

 

Agree, but they don't burn with a ferocity enough that you can't get within 20 feet of them without acquiring 3rd degree burns. Just mild discomfort.

Very disagree.

 

So why are you on a miata forum then?

 

To their credit, these B6 and BP motors are borderline indestructible as long as you run them as designed. Maybe more so for the long-nose B6. I generally don't see people under Miatas in the paddock, which I can't say for many other makes.

Right now I like the B6 better than the BP because the B6 is in my car doing what I ask it to, and the BP is in pieces all over my house, waiting for new expensive parts. That makes the B6 better.

 

So essentially, every motor is trash and don't waste my time with any of them. Hell. Looks like I'm stuck.

 

This forum has a lot of engine self loathing. I think its because nobody is trying to bullshit each other posting dubious dynos like every other make, so now Miata guys think every other engine is basically magic and the BP is a turd.

From what Ive experienced the BP is a great engine, very reliable if you keep the revs around stock.

 

revvy.

 

You'd have an aneurysm near any UK forums then. They will defend "revvyness" to the death.

 

Yeah, but they also drive on the wrong side of the road, drink beer at room temp, and are incapable of the correct pronunciation of the word "aluminum."

 

 

My laughs are too high.