Mazda MX5 Mk1 1.6 Turbo Kit, GT28 with Sports Cat

This foundation kit contains all the parts you will need to fit a turbo to a Mazda MX5 Mk1 1.6.

Please note we have deliberately omitted the actual turbo from the kit to give you full flexibility in choosing a turbo that’s right for your set-up.

It has been designed to run using a Garrett GT2860RS or GT2871R or any hybrid using the same dimensions. This gives you the flexibility to choose to go for a cheap eBay version, a second hand unit from a Nissan 200SX with the compressor side adapters , a Garrett GT2860/GT2871 or even the much loved Disco Potato.

Recommended Compatible Turbos:

What’s inside?

All the fittings are supplied to fit any of these turbos including the oil feed (plus adapter to the oil pressure switch) and return (with sump fitting) and the water feeds.

This kit comes complete with a 200 cell sports cat.

The intercooler supplied is rated to 400 BHP and comes with the brackets, silicone hoses and couplers with T-bolt clamps and aluminium pipework. The pipework has a flange for the 50mm Tial-type blow-off valves and a 3/8 NPT boss for an IAT sensor.

On the hot side, the manifold supplied is a 3mm-thick log type, this will flow enough for over 300 BHP. The downpipe also has an M18 boss welded in for a wideband lambda sensor and connects to the standard exhaust just after the diff. There is no cat in this pipe so it will not pass a UK MOT test.

For the BOV, there is a flange already welded into the intercooler pipework which accepts the 50mm Tial BOV, from here you can choose to go for genuine Tial or have a look on eBay to see what is available.

This turbo kit was never designed to use the Mazda MAF meter so we recommend running some form of standalone management or make your own adaptions. There is a 3/8NPT boss welded into the intercooler pipework ready to take the popular GM open element IAT sensor. Megasquirt or the ME management is a good budget option or you can of course spend to your budget and go for AEM or Link etc.

Standard injectors do no flow sufficiently, so again it is recommended to go for the RX8 yellow or blue ones if on a budget or choose from the likes of Deatschwerks or Injector Dynamics if the budget allows.

Finally, the OEM clutch cannot withstand the power once a turbo has been fitted so a Competition Clutch stage 4 or similar is recommended.

Below is a list of all the parts included:

1 x Turbo manifold
1 x Head to manifold gasket
1 x Manifold to turbo gasket
4 x Manifold to turbo studs and nuts
1 x Turbo to elbow gasket
5 x Turbo to downpipe studs and nuts
1 x 2.5″ V-band clamp
1 x 2.5″ Stainless downpipe
1 x 2.5″ Stainless centrepipe with Sports Cat to catback to suit the pre-97 catback
1 x 2.5″ Gasket bolts
1 x 1/8NPT T-Piece
1 x 1/8NPT to AN-3 adapter
1 x Turbo oil feed line
1 x AN-3 to banjo fitting
1 x Banjo bolt with washers
1 x T28 to AN-10 oil drain fitting
1 x AN-10 oil return braided hose, 40cm long, straight fitting at one end and 30 degree at the other
1 x AN-10 sump adapter, uses 1/2NPT thread to go into the sump
1 x AN-6 water feed braided hose, 50cm long, open at one end, AN-6 straight fitting at the other
1 x AN-6 water feed braided hose, 40cm long, open at one end, AN-6 straight fitting at the other
2 x AN-6 to M14 banjo fittings with bolts and washers
2 x AN-6 hose finishing clamps
2 x 19mm to 10mm T-pieces
4 x Jubilee clamps 25mm
1 x 2″ 90 degree turbo to intercooler pipe silicone elbow
1 x 2″ to 2.5″ 90 degree expanding silicone elbow from intercooler pipe to intercooler
1 x 2.5″ 90 degree silicone elbow from intercooler to intercooler pipe
1 x 2.5″ 90 degree intercooler pipe to throttle body silicone elbow
8 x T-Bolt clamps
1 x Intercooler
2 x Intercooler brackets
2 x Intercooler aluminium pipes
1 x Set of intercooler bolts

The below parts are also required but not included in this kit:

1 x Turbo – ideally a GT2860RS
1 x BOV – 50mm Tial-type required
1 x ECU – Will need a Megasquirt or similar with IAT sensor
4 x Injectors – Mazda RX8 Yellow or Blue work well in this car
1 x Clutch – Competition Clutch stage 4 or similar
1 x Air filter – measure the size of the turbo intake to find one that fits.