Experiences in a MK1.5

[monkeymax]

Total cost would probably be somewhere in the region of £7000 after labour costs, so its definately a big decision.

£7k? Are you including the value of your car into that figure as that sounds mighty high... (then again I've never tried adding up the costs on the conversion yet...)

[superchargedsam]

7K feck me you could the mintest fastest 1.5 ever for that money with a fully forged engine and decent turbo and good chassis (if you self built the engine of course)! engine plus conversion plus parts is easily doable under 5k

[richinlondon]

I was quite surprised when I added it all up,

Decent Shell: £2500-£3,000
Low Mile Rear End MK2: £2000
Labour: £2000
Extras Suggested: £500 (Woodsport)
4AGZE Engine Resale -£500
= £6500-£7000

It can be done cheaper of course but it depends what you are after. They put calibra engines in Corsas and have the performance figures through the roof. I reckon the beautiful lines of the MK1 should dictate a dedicated approach to the conversion! There doesnt seem much point in using a rusty shell or 100k engine, it just doesnt seem to make much sense.

In saying all this though, it is definately not a decision that is going to see any of your money returned if you sell on! That can be guaranteed!

One went on Ebay for only £2k a few months ago, or was it £3k?

[luthor1]

if you already own a Mk1, and want to do the conversion yourself at home, they can apparently be converted to fully driving mk1.5 for under £1000

[monkeymax]

There are many variables and it depends on the condition you want it in. As I would, I'm sure Rich wants it to be in A1 condition once it's done. So, spend the money getting the engine fully sorted, suspension fully sorted etc etc.

Also the engine alone can be (as Rich has said) an expensive part. £1000 will buy you an early Rev engine and ancilliaries, but probably with more miles than Rich wants. I've no idea what Rev 2/3 engines go for though.

But yes, if you don't mind tinkering... happy to do the job yourself and don't mind an engine with 100k miles it could be done for £1000.

[nicedude1976]

No doubt about the power to weight, but how do they drive ? Especially when cornering hard & puting your foot down. What wheel / tyres do you use as well ?

[richinlondon]

Time is money, the labour of converting myself would equate to £10k! Might take a year or so though.

Variables though like you say Max, if you have the expertise and call in a few favours, it could be done for much cheaper.

[Charged]

Yes I must admit, I was very lucky to pick my 1.5 up for the price I paid for it. I have had to upgrade the brakes and suspension and as many of you know it is 'work in progress'

[Charged]

Also the engine alone can be (as Rich has said) an expensive part. £1000 will buy you an early Rev engine and ancilliaries, but probably with more miles than Rich wants. I've no idea what Rev 2/3 engines go for though.

But yes, if you don't mind tinkering... happy to do the job yourself and don't mind an engine with 100k miles it could be done for £1000.

Its the same as any part required for any car, it is all about how shrewd you are when buying the parts. Before I bought my 1.5 I was going to do the conversion to my broken tin top supercharger. I had EVERYTHING I needed for the swap. I paid £300 for the engine and ecu ( low mileage Rev2), £150 for the gear box (low mileage Rev2) and £40 for the wiring loom. I would have been able to use my SC driveshafts and fuel pump, so I was already to go with all those parts costing UNDER £500. i actually sold the bits on (all except the gear box) for a profit.

Ollie

[Charged]

No doubt about the power to weight, but how do they drive ? Especially when cornering hard & puting your foot down. What wheel / tyres do you use as well ?

Drives well mate, although I'm still learning how drive it to be honest. As I've mentioned, in the wet it is an accident waiting to happen. In the dry it handles well, I dont notice the extra weight in the back. I'm running in 15" wheels and budget tyres at the moment!!

[lodgeman]

i have a v6 1.6 and the tyres i use are 16" 215/40 fronts and 225/40 rears with no arch modifications and 30mmlowered. a v6 mk1 was tried at the weekend on r888's - horrible in the wet ........... but absolutely fantastic in the dry!!!!

[Speedy]

Have to agree with the r888s - also they do wear very quickly, and they are not progressive at all, once it lets go, it'll spit you off into the nearest tree/ditch/hedge etc..

[richinlondon]

I read that the weight difference beween the 4AGZE and 3SGTE isnt that vastly different, the 3S just a little heavier?

[Charged]

I've heard that too, as i said , I cant feel any weight difference, and I've driven mk1a's, b's, tintop scs and t bar scs. Luthor and his famous cartest will obviously say different, but most people ignore cartest anyway.

[mr2mk1chick]

I'm still not convinced that a conversion can be done diy stylee for under £1000.

Maybe if you get the engine cheap enough, but when you start to tadd up all the brackets and pipework that needs to be made up, i'm sure that will add on unexpected costs etc.

Anyhow - £7k - i would honestly buy something faster and newer than a mk1.5: (not any personal preference, but examples)

RX7(FD)
R33 GTST
Porshe 944
Evo (older)
Scooby

and the list goes on....

If you can do a conversion on your existign mk1 for £1-2K then maybe it makes sense

[mart1975]

my first one cost £2800, this v6 jobby is well under a grand and all thats missing is a clutch and exhaust back box so it can certainly be done.

[richinlondon]

It would really be about buying something newer without the hassle of up and coming rust problems. The MK1.5 performance though is up there apparently with a lot of them newer cars.

I have had this dilemma before when considering importing a nice Supercharger with prices around £5.5k on some sites. Privately sourcing always an option but your never guaranteed on what youll get and people have been very disappointed. For £7k there are some excellent RX-7's out there.

I think this price conundrum will dictate my choice in the future and probably sway me away from the MK1.5, unless of course there is one for sale on here or Ebay. It really is pointless in my eyes doing half measures, a poorly done MK1.5 will be in a boy racers sights in a few years time if the 3SGTE is just thrown in any old MK1.

[OlberJ]

So build a Mk1.6, we're at just under 3k including all parts and that's everything done, suspension, brakes, rebuilt head, clutch, d/shafts, gearbox, filter etc.

And the V6 is sooooo good in the mk1 and a great base when you want ot go wild and spend another grand on it

[Mk1 Turbo Powered Steve]

Kieran - I own a Mk1.5

I was being sarcastic.....

Why didn't you bring it to JAE then

[Mk1 Turbo Powered Steve]

This has got me thinking again about doing the 1.5 transplant into my sc se.
I must admit i was a bit pi$$ed off with the way a mk2 tubby that he told me was standard left me when we where side by side doing about 70 on the way to JAE.
I know the sc is for instant speed and might pull ahead from a tubby from the lights but i have the fensport pulley,so i thought i would have given him a bit more of a go
People on here have told me before to stick with my sc se as it is but it's not a standard se anyway! Mine has a very good shell and most of the parts that need to convert it, eg, lsd,uprated brakes and suspension, along with an sc gearbox that will be fully reconditioned.
Maybe i will be phoning Paul Woods, afterall
Spend the money on the conversion rather that getting a Supra, that i was thinking of!