Elford Turbo questions

[rotary emotions]

I'm seriously looking into buying a (used) Elford turbo kit from a fellow member on this forum. However, I know only little about these, since there are obviously not so many around in Belgium.
So, who knows something more about them? Especially: what power can I expect, what can be done to make it better,...
I know they use SU carbs, which, to me, look like they are from the pre-historic period of car engineering. Maybe I'm wrong, and they are very good things, but I'm just not sure. Since I also have a Mikuni (mounted on my car right now, and giving a lot more power then the stock one) I wonder if it wouldn't be a good idea to put that one on.
There are also some general turbo questions: like how reliable are these kits, what about fuel consumption (not that I care too much, just like to know)... And any other info I can get.
I'm mainly intrested in what people have achieved from these things, but can't find anything on the internet...
Also: do you change the ignition (boost retard?), maybe a J-spec 12AT dizzy?

[MikeLMR]

have you asked Mirek ?

The SU carbs are generally very reliable and take boost very well also.

[rotary emotions]

Yes I talked to Mireck. I did learn a few things from him, but I'd like to gather as much info as I can before installing that kit.
My engine is very young (15.000km) so I want to be sure I don't blow it up! I was also wondering if porting (street port) would make much difference when turbo-ing the setup. Normally, the gain in hp is very low when you port a turbo engine, as the turbo pushes anyway, and therefor you can't really do much to increase flow. Since the Elford setup is a low-pressure turbo that might be a bit different though. I was also wondering if people had installed boost-sensetive fuel pressure regulators etc...

[Glenn Butcher]

Hi there,

If you can afford it, try to run Fuel Injection on your turbo rotary. I know the Elford turbo was quite good, but there are a lot more modern turbo's available now, and if you can install fuel injection it would be much better to tune (safer in the long run etc.).

You can actually gain quite a lot by porting, especially when porting a turbo engine (mainly the exhaust ports).

Carl on the Forum knows quite a lot about this - he is pretty busy, but if you send him a PM I'm sure he'll give you some sound advice.

[rotary emotions]

Thanks for the help. The reseons for me to go with the Elford kit are mainly legal matters.
In Belgium, we are not allowed to do changes to any of the parts of the car that has been part of the homologation. This means it is illegal to put in larger engines (as 13B into 12A). Some manufacters will give you the paperwork needed to do a job like that legally, but Mazda isn't one of them.
However, the Elford turbo was officially homologated in Belgium, making it legal to put it in a 1st gen. I will only get tghe paperwork done if it would turn out neccessary (they probable never notice the differences), but it'd be good to know that I can get the car legally registred as a Turbo 12A.
So if I use a turbo system build from scratch, in other words designed around modern EFI systems, that'd be illegal again, and I'm not going to take any chances anymore.
There's also the cost: if I'd install a custom turbo system, using a serious modern turbo, and EFI, it'd soon be very expensive, but would the power gains be worth it? Once the car is 25 years old I can be exempt from MOT, making it easier to throw in a 13B(T?) and this would be both more powerfull AND cheaper.
So that's why I want a Elford now. Also, I'd like a carburated turbo engine just for the fun of it: it's old school, and even if my car is altered in many ways, I kinda like to keep that old school idea.
So now I'm still searching for ways to improve the Elford design, or to get the maximum out of it... ;)
This winter I'll probable build a 12A with street ports and a ported exhaust, we'll see what that brings.