Hello guys, Im building an escort mk 2 and I really want to use the duratec/mzr but im not 100% on the gearbox to use. The escort boys dont seem to be that knowledgable on the engine and gearbox so I thought I'd try you guys. Ive read online that you can run a MX-5 gearbox with a 2.0 duratec and Im just wondering weather it would be worth me considering that over a type 9? Does anyone know what costs are involved in fitting these? it will be coupled to an atlas axle on the rear end.

Firstly Welcome to the forum,

We've got the Fiesta ST150 duratec engine mated upto the Mazda 5 speed box and its a beauty compared to the old standard type 9.

To fit in the same sort of place as the type 9 I believe you can only use the 5 speed as the 6 speed is much larger and even for the 5 speed it required some of the casting webs and original mounts removing, but if its going in an Escort you might have more room than we did.

Even though the Mazda and Ford share the same engine Mazda has its own flywheel and clutch arangement, we just presumed we could use a mis match of the ford parts we had but this is not so.

To fit the ford engine to the Mx5 gearbox you require these Mx5 parts:
Flywheel
Starter motor
Pressure plate
Friction plate
Clutch slave cylinder (as the Mx5 is Hydraulic)
Spigot bearing (measure up your own as Mazda want over £30 for one!)

It might be easier to use a complete Mazda drivetrain setup but I believe the Mazda version of the engine has Variable Valve Timing so it may be harder to setup, oh and its only the Later Mazda gearbox that fits known as the NC from 2007 ish onwards.

type 9 sierra with one of these

http://www.rwdmotorsport.com/bellhousings/duratec-engine-to-ford-gearbox-hydraulic-clutch-bellhousing/prod_20.html

Thanks for the quick reply! Space isnt so much of a problem, Im just planning at the minute, Im having a bigger gearbox tunnel put in anyway so space shouldnt be an issue. All my bodyworks getting done soon so I want to make sure Ive got every angle covered. Im a bit worried about the propshaft. Im a bit worried about the cost of the type 9, as it would need a rebuild and possibly uprating whereas the mx-5 would bolt strait on, would need a custom prop making up though

That was pretty much our thoughs, we couldn't get the old type 9 into first unless the car was at a dead stop which we never liked and by the time you've priced up conversion bell housings etc it sempt like throwing good money after bad.

Indeed we needed a new prop as the Mazda one has a different number of splines, but it was only about £150 from Dunning&Fairbank in Leeds

I'd say its worth it, that box is so smooth and a rifle bolt like change on it, lots of nice well engineerd features to it aswell (dampers on the gear change lever, oil channels to the rear oil seal, reverse and neutral switches etc).
Think it was about 7kg lighter than the type 9 but probably more.

If the type 9 before it needed a remote gear change the MX5 box probably would aswell unless you can get the whole setup further back, out limiting factor was the clutch arm catching on the footwell.

No idea of ratios etc but first gear is much more usable and ours seems to cruise at 70mph at lower rev's only about 2800 and i'm sure it was over that with the pinto and Type 9 with the standard Sierra rear diff (3.62?)