2003 Mazda B4000 4x4 Rotary Swap: B1300B or B2000B
10-07-13 | 04:08 PM
#1
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From: Quantum Superposition ▲▼
2003 Mazda B4000 4x4 Rotary Swap: B1300B or B2000B
Hey 'Other Rotary', help me figure this out, please! 
I've been combing teh internets in search of information in regards to the feasibility of swapping a 13b, or 20b into my 2003 B4000 4x4, while retaining the 4x4 capabilities, without much luck thus far. (Kinda hoping not to have to "trail-blaze" on this.) Does anyone have any experience, opinions, or information to share on such a swap?
If I were to go through with it, I would want to be able to safely haul my '93 FD RX-7 R1, and of course factor in the weight of the trailer... I'm thinking 20B for the potential torque aspects... Also wondering if there might be enough room for a 4-Rotor? (Just crazy thoughts at this stage.)
Pics of the truck in question below with cancerous Ford engine! Bleh! (B-Series trucks are basically Ford Rangers):
Factory info, fyi:
4.0-liter V-6
Horsepower 207-hp @ 5,250 rpm
Torque 238 lbs.-ft. @ 3,000 rpm
Engine orientation longitudinal
5-speed automatic w/OD
Transmission gear ratio (1st) 2.47
Transmission gear ratio (2nd) 1.85
Transmission gear ratio (3rd) 1.47
Transmission gear ratio (4th) 1.00
Transmission gear ratio (5th) .75
Transmission gear ratio (reverse) 2.10
0-60 mph 7.95 seconds
1/4 mile 16.31 seconds at 81.87 mph
Lateral acceleration .77 g Slalom 58 mph
Towing capacity 5,480 lbs.
I've been combing teh internets in search of information in regards to the feasibility of swapping a 13b, or 20b into my 2003 B4000 4x4, while retaining the 4x4 capabilities, without much luck thus far. (Kinda hoping not to have to "trail-blaze" on this.) Does anyone have any experience, opinions, or information to share on such a swap?
If I were to go through with it, I would want to be able to safely haul my '93 FD RX-7 R1, and of course factor in the weight of the trailer... I'm thinking 20B for the potential torque aspects... Also wondering if there might be enough room for a 4-Rotor? (Just crazy thoughts at this stage.)
Pics of the truck in question below with cancerous Ford engine! Bleh! (B-Series trucks are basically Ford Rangers):
Factory info, fyi:
4.0-liter V-6
Horsepower 207-hp @ 5,250 rpm
Torque 238 lbs.-ft. @ 3,000 rpm
Engine orientation longitudinal
5-speed automatic w/OD
Transmission gear ratio (1st) 2.47
Transmission gear ratio (2nd) 1.85
Transmission gear ratio (3rd) 1.47
Transmission gear ratio (4th) 1.00
Transmission gear ratio (5th) .75
Transmission gear ratio (reverse) 2.10
0-60 mph 7.95 seconds
1/4 mile 16.31 seconds at 81.87 mph
Lateral acceleration .77 g Slalom 58 mph
Towing capacity 5,480 lbs.
Last edited by LO7; 10-07-13 at 04:10 PM.
10-07-13 | 05:23 PM
#2
For the sake of curiosity I hooked a small trailer behind an RX-2 once when a friend was moving. Although the flywheel was slightly lighter than stock I was surprised how much it struggled to even pull the trailer, I only tried as I had a dealer option tow hitch on it that looked like it had never been used. Now I know why! I lived in an area with a few hills and was on the clutch just trying to get back up the hill with an empty trailer. You will want to go bigger than a 13b that's for sure.
10-08-13 | 07:05 PM
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From: Quantum Superposition ▲▼
For the sake of curiosity I hooked a small trailer behind an RX-2 once when a friend was moving. Although the flywheel was slightly lighter than stock I was surprised how much it struggled to even pull the trailer, I only tried as I had a dealer option tow hitch on it that looked like it had never been used. Now I know why! I lived in an area with a few hills and was on the clutch just trying to get back up the hill with an empty trailer. You will want to go bigger than a 13b that's for sure.
Mehehheh
Interesting, what sort of torque #'s is it putting out?
I'd like to stay with the current truck, as I like it quite a bit-- good idea on the aluminum trailer. Thanks for the opinions thus far, I'm just feeling around right now if it'll even be possible to have enough torque and towing capacity to begin with.
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10-09-13 | 02:55 PM
#8
the B4000 is going to have a ford powerplant, so the engine isn't going to work with the transmission you have.
the B2600 has a type "R" transmission found in the turbo rotary cars and should work with minor modifications(namely using a rotary bellhousing). whether the R tranny will work with the rest, i couldn't even guess.
the B2600 4 wheel drive transmission is a project i am going to undertake with an all wheel drive project i am working on in the near future.
given that info you could make it work, but how much work only you can answer. if you do consider it, i would only bother if it was a 20B swap and then you have to ask: why? it's going to cost you about $20k at that point. just to be unique you're creating a massive headache and gutting a perfectly fine truck, you will also never recoup your investment.
the B2600 has a type "R" transmission found in the turbo rotary cars and should work with minor modifications(namely using a rotary bellhousing). whether the R tranny will work with the rest, i couldn't even guess.
the B2600 4 wheel drive transmission is a project i am going to undertake with an all wheel drive project i am working on in the near future.
given that info you could make it work, but how much work only you can answer. if you do consider it, i would only bother if it was a 20B swap and then you have to ask: why? it's going to cost you about $20k at that point. just to be unique you're creating a massive headache and gutting a perfectly fine truck, you will also never recoup your investment.
Last edited by RotaryEvolution; 10-09-13 at 03:04 PM.
10-09-13 | 06:33 PM
#9
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From: Quantum Superposition ▲▼
I have no idea what a moo weasel is, but the RX-7 is too pristine for me to want to modify it too much. This truck will tow it to shows, then I'm imagining leaving it up on the trailer, and popping the hood of the truck to reveal the very un-expected powerplant.
Ok! Thanks for this helpful info and the pm!
From what I've been researching it appears that the chassis of the 1993 B2600 4x4 is the same as the 2003 model I have, and the 1993 model offered the B2600 4x4 model with (what hopefully is!) the R-transmission you speak of...
This would mean that (possibly) even the transmission mounts, driveshaft, and wiring would be able to be used! ...That would make the only real "task" to fabricate engine mounts for a 3 or 4 rotor. ...I'm liking this ...Time to dig deeper...
the B4000 is going to have a ford powerplant, so the engine isn't going to work with the transmission you have.
the B2600 has a type "R" transmission found in the turbo rotary cars and should work with minor modifications(namely using a rotary bellhousing). whether the R tranny will work with the rest, i couldn't even guess.
the B2600 4 wheel drive transmission is a project i am going to undertake with an all wheel drive project i am working on in the near future.
given that info you could make it work, but how much work only you can answer. if you do consider it, i would only bother if it was a 20B swap and then you have to ask: why? it's going to cost you about $20k at that point. just to be unique you're creating a massive headache and gutting a perfectly fine truck, you will also never recoup your investment.
the B2600 has a type "R" transmission found in the turbo rotary cars and should work with minor modifications(namely using a rotary bellhousing). whether the R tranny will work with the rest, i couldn't even guess.
the B2600 4 wheel drive transmission is a project i am going to undertake with an all wheel drive project i am working on in the near future.
given that info you could make it work, but how much work only you can answer. if you do consider it, i would only bother if it was a 20B swap and then you have to ask: why? it's going to cost you about $20k at that point. just to be unique you're creating a massive headache and gutting a perfectly fine truck, you will also never recoup your investment.
Ok! Thanks for this helpful info and the pm!
From what I've been researching it appears that the chassis of the 1993 B2600 4x4 is the same as the 2003 model I have, and the 1993 model offered the B2600 4x4 model with (what hopefully is!) the R-transmission you speak of...
This would mean that (possibly) even the transmission mounts, driveshaft, and wiring would be able to be used! ...That would make the only real "task" to fabricate engine mounts for a 3 or 4 rotor. ...I'm liking this
...Time to dig deeper...
Last edited by LO7; 10-09-13 at 06:41 PM.
10-09-13 | 06:50 PM
#10
just keep in mind the R transmission is a manual 5 speed with slightly different gear ratios than the turbo R transmission, geared lower so it might actually be helpful with the lacking torque even if you used a smaller 2 rotor.
the early REPU trucks for example had something like a dismal 4.7:1 differential with the original version R type transmission which was only a 4 speed. it could go, but it only had about 100 crank horsepower and only did about 85mph downhill.
the early REPU trucks for example had something like a dismal 4.7:1 differential with the original version R type transmission which was only a 4 speed. it could go, but it only had about 100 crank horsepower and only did about 85mph downhill.
10-09-13 | 09:04 PM
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From: Quantum Superposition ▲▼
Keep in mind I'm wanting to KEEP 4x4, for some Missouri winter daily driver duty... and yeah(!), I just recently saw a supercharger application- Definitely checking into that as well. If you have any specifics on which Supercharger (kit?) might be the minimum that would work for this application, I'm all ears!
By the way, 4-rotor has been ruled out-- Wow, that's alot of coin from rotaryengine(dot)com, atleast... $55k, in aluminum?! Definitely not that.
Looks like a 20b will definitely have to be boosted to get the necessary torque.
By the way, 4-rotor has been ruled out-- Wow, that's alot of coin from rotaryengine(dot)com, atleast... $55k, in aluminum?! Definitely not that.
Looks like a 20b will definitely have to be boosted to get the necessary torque.
Last edited by LO7; 10-09-13 at 09:09 PM.
10-09-13 | 09:41 PM
#14
a 20B will run about $6k for a Jspec, probably an early code block. then you'd probably have to refresh it for another $2500, then you're stuck with a stock swap or upgrade to a standalone and single turbo or run it n/a. all that puts you at about $10k just to get started with a 20B unless you stumble upon one used in good shape, the numbers just grow from there.
first i would check to see if the front driveline is on the passanger side like most japanese trucks. ford and domestics like to put it on the driver side, which may make your life that much more difficult even if you still wanted to attempt it. the B2600 4wd transfer case does use a passenger side front driveline. your truck is more of a ford ranger(sorry, it's just badged as a mazda) than a mazda B series and i suspect it had a domestic configuration which would also entail a front axle swap as well as R+P matching for gearing, at which point it would be easier to just have an adapter made for the stock drivetrain(which entails more problems, if it has an electronically controlled shift computer. luckily most trucks are dumbed down and just use mechanical hydraulics and a sort of load input).
first i would check to see if the front driveline is on the passanger side like most japanese trucks. ford and domestics like to put it on the driver side, which may make your life that much more difficult even if you still wanted to attempt it. the B2600 4wd transfer case does use a passenger side front driveline. your truck is more of a ford ranger(sorry, it's just badged as a mazda) than a mazda B series and i suspect it had a domestic configuration which would also entail a front axle swap as well as R+P matching for gearing, at which point it would be easier to just have an adapter made for the stock drivetrain(which entails more problems, if it has an electronically controlled shift computer. luckily most trucks are dumbed down and just use mechanical hydraulics and a sort of load input).
Last edited by RotaryEvolution; 10-09-13 at 09:54 PM.
10-09-13 | 10:18 PM
#15
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From: Cedar Rapids IA
Why not just buy a project truck to haul? It would probably more cost effective that way too. Have you seen the Bongo Mad Mike has? He used it to haul his FD to the track. Though the roads down there are probably pretty flat and nice.
10-11-13 | 04:57 PM
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From: Quantum Superposition ▲▼
a 20B will run about $6k for a Jspec, probably an early code block. then you'd probably have to refresh it for another $2500, then you're stuck with a stock swap or upgrade to a standalone and single turbo or run it n/a. all that puts you at about $10k just to get started with a 20B unless you stumble upon one used in good shape, the numbers just grow from there.
first i would check to see if the front driveline is on the passanger side like most japanese trucks. ford and domestics like to put it on the driver side, which may make your life that much more difficult even if you still wanted to attempt it. the B2600 4wd transfer case does use a passenger side front driveline. your truck is more of a ford ranger(sorry, it's just badged as a mazda) than a mazda B series and i suspect it had a domestic configuration which would also entail a front axle swap as well as R+P matching for gearing, at which point it would be easier to just have an adapter made for the stock drivetrain(which entails more problems, if it has an electronically controlled shift computer. luckily most trucks are dumbed down and just use mechanical hydraulics and a sort of load input).
first i would check to see if the front driveline is on the passanger side like most japanese trucks. ford and domestics like to put it on the driver side, which may make your life that much more difficult even if you still wanted to attempt it. the B2600 4wd transfer case does use a passenger side front driveline. your truck is more of a ford ranger(sorry, it's just badged as a mazda) than a mazda B series and i suspect it had a domestic configuration which would also entail a front axle swap as well as R+P matching for gearing, at which point it would be easier to just have an adapter made for the stock drivetrain(which entails more problems, if it has an electronically controlled shift computer. luckily most trucks are dumbed down and just use mechanical hydraulics and a sort of load input).
If not Rotary-powered, it'll be LSx or Cobra... Though it just wouldn't be the same.
Speaking of this, it appears that Atkins Rotary makes a 20B Camden 12" Supercharger kit for around $4k!
Checking into the Hp/Torque #'s possible now...
Last edited by LO7; 10-11-13 at 05:00 PM.
