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Hi Jarrett,
Just read your post. 20B's were and still are imported into Australia, as are the cars. The engine only came out in a 2 door Coupe called a Cosmo. (The same car also came out in a "poverty pack" 13B 2 rotor version).
However, the 20B engines are becoming REAL thin on the ground as there were limited numbers made and they are just about all "retired" from Japan's roads. Current prices for a S/H 20B is in the vicinity of $7,000 AUD.
I can still get them - have one on the way from Japan at the moment - but they won't get any cheaper or more plentiful over time. These engines all have 100,000 + kms on them, and would have to be rebuilt to make them safe for use in an aircraft.
Interestingly, ALL parts are still available brand new ex Mazda in Japan (including eccentric shafts and Intermediate plates - most of the other parts have commonality with 13B stuff).. If your budget isn't too tight, it is eminently possible that a Brand New 20B could be assembled from ALL brand new bits for about $15,000 AUD ( I recently did the pricing exercise). Using 9.7:1 rotors, some judicious inlet and exhaust porting, that would make in excess of 300 BHP with the correct inlet and exhaust systems. There are also some people here and in NZ who modify a norrmal centre housing to make a 3 rotor from a 13B, and make 3 rotor eccentric shafts to suit. However, I'm still not convinced at this stage how durable these will be, and I continue to ponder the wisdom of the really long thru bolts (more like violin strings!).
Whole 20B Cosmo cars are also still available, and currently sell for $12,000 - $15,000 AUD landed here in Oz (depending on condition). An importer mate of mine has 2 whole cars in stock, and they are currently being made compliant for Australian rego. This process adds another $5,000 AUD to the price. Unfortunately, they were only ever available in "right Hook", so getting one into the USA for road use would be hard yards.
Please feel free to contact me privately should you wish to discusss this futher at:
leon@aerota.com
Cheers,
Leon
I was reading Tracy's old newsletters last night and noticed that
he had
an adress of someone in New Zealand whom a person could contact about
buying a 20b overseas. Can anyone tell me if the Cosmo or some other
Mazda car w/ the 20b was exported from Japan to New Zealand [or
Austrailia]? I don't have the address/name of this gentleman right in
front of me but does anyone know if he's still selling them?
Thanks again for the great list!
Jarrett Johnson
>> Homepage: http://www.flyrotary.com/
>> Archive: http://lancaironline.net/lists/flyrotary/List.html
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