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Mazda B engine
The Mazda B engine family is a four cylinder SOHC and DOHC engine family ranging from 1.1 L to 1.8 L. It was designed for front wheel drive economy car applications but was later modified for the turbocharged full-time 4WD 323 GTX and rear-wheel drive Miata as well as numerous other models.
B1
1.1L B1 - 1138 cc (59.2x78.3 mm) - came only as a SOHC 8-valve. It was available in the 1987-1989 Mazda 121 and later model Kia Pride in European and Asian markets. A fuel injected variant was used in select European market 1991-1995 Mazda 121s
B3
1.3 L B3 - 1324 cc (71x83.6 mm). It was available in SOHC and DOHC variants and was found in the Kia-built 1988-1993 Ford Festiva, the 1987-1989 Mazda Familia and the 1987-1989 Ford Laser, and 1994-1997 Ford Aspire. Later variants were used in the Mazda Demio microcar as late as 1999.
B5
1.5 L B5 - 1498 cc (78x78.4 mm) - The SOHC B5 upped the displacement to 1.5 L and was found in the rear-wheel drive 1977 Familia/GLC, the 1987-1989 Mazda Familia and the 1987-1989 Ford Laser. Later variants were used in the Kia Sportage, Sephia, Ford Festiva and Mazda Demio microcar as late as 1999.
B5 DOHC
1.5 L B5 - 1498 cc (78x78.4 mm) - A Japanese-only variant of the B5 with fuel injection and revised head/intake system. Found in the 1989-1994 Mazda Familia Interplay and Ford Laser S. Power output 81 kW (110 PS) at 6500 rpm and 12.9 kgf·m (127 N·m) at 5500 rpm.
B6
1.6 L B6 - 1597 cc (78x83.6 mm) - This was a bored-out version of the B3. The 8-valve SOHC B6 was found in the 1985-1989 Mazda 323, the 1988-1990 Mercury Tracer, and the 1990-1994 Mazda 323, and the 1992 Mazda mx-3. The B6 produced 82 hp (61 kW).
In Japan and Australia a fuel-injected version called the B6F was available.
B6-2E
1.6 L B6-2E - 1597 cc (78x83.6 mm), also known as B6-ME - This was a variant of the B6-E with a 16-valve cylinder head. It is found in the 1992-1994 California-spec Mazda 323 and 1993-1996 Mazda MX-3. The B6-ME produced 88 hp (66 kW) and 96 ft·lbf (130 N·m).
B6T
1.6 L B6T - 1597 cc (78x83.6 mm) - The ubiquitous turbocharged, fuel-injected and intercooled 16-valve DOHC B6, released in 1985 and used in numerous models worldwide including the 323 GT-X, 1985-1989 Mazda Familia GT-X/GT/Infini, 1985-1989 Ford Laser TX3 turbo, and later Mercury Capris. This engine was most commonly found mated to a 4WD drivetrain although FWD models were also available. Power and torque outputs varied across markets due to emission and fuel standards, but the Japanese version of the B6T was the most powerful, producing 147 hp (110 kW) and 137 ft·lbf (186 N·m) This Japanese version of the engine is a complete and powerful swap for the Ford Festiva. The Festiva has a direct swap with this and other Mazda engines and accessories. Although this is the most common.
B6D
1.6 L B6D - 1597 cc (78x83.6 mm) - The same strengthened and fuel-injected 16-valve DOHC B6 but with higher compression, no turbo, and the first Mazda engine to feature VICS (Variable Inertia Charge System). Most commonly found in the 1985-1988 Japanese market Familias, Etudes and Lasers, this engine was updated in 1989 with revised compression, heads and intake system (in a similar vein to the B5 DOHC) for the 1989-1991 Familia and Laser, then further refined for the 1991-1994 Mercury Capri and 1994-1996 2nd Generation Mazda MX-3 RS. The third generation B6D features a silver cam cover.
B6ZE(RS)
1.6 L B6ZE(RS) - 1597 cc (78x83.6 mm) - Developed for the Mazda Miata (1989-93). The engine uses a DOHC 16-valve alloy head with a lightened crankshaft and flywheel to allow a 7200 rpm redline. An aluminum sump with cooling fins is an unusual feature of this engine. The Japanese version of the engine had a 9.4:1 compression ratio and produced 120 hp (90 kW) and 100 ft·lbf (136 N·m).
B8
The 1.8 L (1839 cc) B8 is not just a bored and stroked B6. Rather, a new block with widened cylinder spacing is used. The bore was 83 mm and the stroke was 85 mm. This SOHC engine was used in various Australian Mazda 323s and the American 1990-1994 Mazda Protege. It came in both 8 (B8-E) and 16-valve variants (B8-ME).
BP
The 1.8 L (1839 cc) BP is a dual-overhead variant of the B8. It was first found in the 1989 Mazda Familia and American-market 1990 Mazda Protege LX. This engine was dubbed BP-ZE and featured a forged crankshaft, piston oil squirters, an aluminum baffled oil pan, and VICS. This particular variant can be found in the following vehicles:
- 1989-1994 Mazda Familia GT (European & Australian Market)
- 1989-1994 Ford Laser TX3 (Australian Market)
- 1990-1994 Mazda Protege LX (with VICS)
- 1990-1994 Mazda Protege GT (Canadian Market)
- 1990-1993 Mazda 323 (European Market)
- 1992-1993 Ford Escort LX-E
- 1991-1996 Ford Escort GT
- 1991-1996 Mercury Tracer LTS
- 1994-1997 Kia Sephia GS
- 1994-1998 Mazda Familia (Japanese Market)
- 1994-1997 Mazda MX-5/Miata (this did not have VICS until 1999)
There is also a non-performance version that is most easily recognized by its black stamped-steel oil pan. It also features a cast crankshaft, no oil squirters, a plastic oil pickup tube and less aggressive camshafts. It is found in the 1995-1998 Mazda Protege ES.
BPT
The BPT is a turbocharged and intercooled variant of the BP. It produced 179 hp (134 kW) and 174 ft·lbf (237 N·m) of torque.
The most powerful version was named the BPD. It is commonly known as the 'big turbo' variant as it utilised a much larger IHI RHF6CB turbocharger. The BPT was used as the basis for the engine, with changes such as sodium filled exhaust valves, larger (and front mounted) intercooler, bigger fuel injectors and stronger engine internals helping to up the performance of the engine to produce 206 hp (154 kW) and 184 ft·lbf (250 N·m). This engine was designed to power Mazda to a world rally championship win, and was thus used in the limited production Mazda Familia GT-R (2200 built) and GTAe (300 built).
Applications:
- 1989-1994 Mazda Familia GT-X (Japan)
- 1992-1993 (BPD) Mazda Familia GT-R / GTAe (Japan)
- 1989-1994 Ford Laser TX3 turbo (Australia)
- Ford Laser GT-X
BP-4W
The 1999 Miata uses a modified BP, the BP-4W, which replaces the old Hall Effect Cam Angle Sensor with a magnetic unit at the front and has an improved intake system. The United States 2004-2005 Mazdaspeed MX-5 turbo is based on this engine rather than the newer BP-Z3 and produces 178 hp (133 kW) and 166 ft·lbf (225 N·m) with slightly-reduced compression.
Applications:
- 1998-2000 Mazda MX-5/Miata
- 2004-2005 Mazdaspeed MX-5 (turbo)
BP-Z3
In 2001, Mazda introduced the BP-Z3 (also called BP-VE) variant of the BP engine with S-VT variable valve timing on the intake side, no more VICS, now replaced with the Variable Tumble Control System (VTCS), a similar torque enhancing set of partial butterflys that increases velocity. This was found in the 2001+ Miata. The Z family is an evolution of this engine.
In Australia, a turbocharged version of this engine produced 201 hp (150 kW) and 206 ft·lbf (280 N·m) in the Mazda MX-5 SP. The United States 2004-2005 Mazdaspeed MX-5 turbo is a BP-4W, not a BP-Z3.
Applications:
- 2001-2005 Mazda MX-5/Miata
- Mazda MX-5 SP (Australian turbo)